Drones and the Future of Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
Drones and the Future of Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas Guide Overview
With advances in technology, the future looks promising for the pipeline transportation of natural gas. Drones are set to play a key role in the industry, offering benefits in terms of regimen inspection, productivity, and overall safety. This guide takes a deep dive into the impact of drone technology on the pipeline transportation of natural gas, providing key demographics about drone usage, cost efficiency, and potential environmental effects. It also introduces Californian software technology company, 3Laws Robotics.
Drone Usage in Pipeline Transportation
With the global market for drones in the oil and gas industry predicted to reach $4.1 billion by 2028, drone usage is seeing exponential growth in recent years. Drones provide attractive options for pipeline inspection tasks considering their ability to access hard-to-reach locations, minimising risks to human personnel. Studies show that currently over 60% of oil and gas companies utilise drone technology in some forms for their operations, a testament to its effectiveness and efficiency.
Cost-Efficiency of Drone Technology
The potential for cost-efficiency is one of the key reasons for the rising adoption of drone technology. Right now, drone tech could save the oil and gas industry up to $1 billion annually. On top of this, it is reported to decrease inspection times by up to 75%, providing significant operational cost savings. Particularly in terms of maintenance and inspection of pipelines, which can extend hundreds and even thousands of miles, the use of drones to cover these distances swiftly and economically is a significant advantage.
Environmental Impact and Safety
The commitment to environmental sustainability drives many industries, and natural gas pipeline transportation is no exception. Drone inspection reportedly reduces greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 90% compared to traditional manned inspection methods. Furthermore, using drones for pipeline inspection significantly lowers potential safety risks to field personnel by reducing their exposure to harmful environments and decreasing the chance of incidents on-site.
Key Takeaways
• Drones are revolutionizing the pipeline transportation of natural gas, with projections showing a $4.1 billion industry by 2028.
• Over 60% of oil and gas companies are already reaping the benefits of incorporating drones into their operation strategies.
• Potential annual savings in the industry could amount to over $1 billion, with on-site timing reduced by up to 75%.
• Environmental and safety aspects significantly profiting from drone usage, with a reported decrease in greenhouse gas emissions by about 90%.
3Laws Robotics and Its Role in the Industry
3Laws Robotics is at the cutting edge of safety and reliability systems in robotics. Addressing certification challenge, core software of 3Laws, the 3Laws Supervisor, is designed for robust safety features and for providing evidence of system robustness, making certification smoother. Implementing this software greatly reduces the incidents of e-stops and collisions, thus increasing operational efficiency.
The 3Laws Supervisor is built on Control Barrier Functions, a technology developed at Caltech, providing mathematically provable safety. It can be used for various robots, mobile or fixed, including drones. It is easily integrated into a multitude of platforms, compatible with popular robotics middleware, such as ROS and ROS2.
Some examples of 3Laws implementation include warehouse automation - resulting in a 40% efficiency gain; human-robot interaction - enhancing safety and smooth operation; dynamic environments - with reactive collision avoidance capabilities for effective navigation. Thereby, 3Laws is positioned as an adaptable next-generation safety solution, doing more than just traditional e-stop methods, by offering dynamic and predictive safety, safety certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262.