Can you imagine what it's like to inspect subsea pipelines with drones and digital technology?
Pipeline inspections are very important in the operational development of the oil industry, since through these inspections we can determine the condition of the pipeline and we can even know if it is convenient to change it before it collapses.
On land it is very easy to inspect these pipelines, from oil pipelines, pipelines covering surface facilities, well production pipelines, drill pipes, among others.
But you may be wondering: Is it just as easy to inspect in subsea waters?
Well it is logical that the answer is no, from a logistical point of view the subsea pipeline inspections require a higher degree of complexity than the terrestrial, which is why the proposal to perform these inspections by drones and digital technology seems to be a great solution to break with that degree of difficulty.
The proposal takes shape as subsea pipeline inspections are currently performed with surface vessels which is a rather complex task, so the use of drones and digital technology seems to be a good option.
The offshore oil industry is working together with other companies specializing in artificial intelligence to develop a pipeline inspection solution that combines underwater drones and the use of visual markers, eliminating the need to use surface vessels. This means that the process of inspecting pipelines on the seabed is being optimized.
Nothing within the oil industry and under the framework of engineering is done without the intention of optimizing processes and minimizing costs, which is why the proposal to use drones and digital technology arises, with surface vessels necessary information such as the general appearance of the pipeline and for example the route of a pipeline, the consumption of anodes, the free section, the burial and crossing areas by observation sensors is obtained.
All the above mentioned variables that are obtained using surface vessels have a rather high operational cost, and with this arises as a solution the application that can get to use technological tool that allows underwater navigation without manned vessels.
For the use of this technology it is necessary that the pipeline to be installed on the underwater floor can have installed bar codes that together with the use of drones and digital technology can be used to position the pipeline with its own coordinates regarding its exact position, whose location will remain available throughout the life of the pipeline.
The drones will also be guided by these indicators that can navigate in the vicinity of the sea floor and thus record relevant information of the conditions of the pipeline, one of the costs that are reduced with the use of drones is generated by the need for acoustic positioning systems and expensive mother ships.
Conclusion and contributions
Taking into account that this is an emerging and cutting-edge technology, it is important to consider that it can become a technology that can be improved in terms of being able to develop new existing digital solutions by some companies that have already been using this type of technology.
The advancement of this technology could even improve spill accidents since the inspection of pipelines on the seafloor would be performed in an optimized way.
Hi @carlos84
It is good that this technology is used in this type of work because it reduces the risk of human beings suffering an accident while trying to inspect.
I remember h that many vessels that have sunk have been inspected in this way.
Certainly it is a very important point that you mention friend, employing the use of drones in pipeline inspections on the seabed we are achieving that operators do not have to do it, and with this we minimize risks.
Greetings and thanks for sharing this very important comment.
Hello friend, excellent information, I think it is something that would benefit us a lot, especially the people who work directly with it. Technology came to make things easier for us so we should take advantage of it. Thanks for sharing it.
Undoubtedly, one of the beneficiaries will be the operators performing pipeline inspections on the seabed, who will no longer be exposed to risks associated with occupational accidents.
Greetings friend and thank you for commenting.
I love seeing and hearing any interesting innovation in the technology which seems to make life much easier for both industries and individual.
Thanks for sharing such vital information
Certainly one feels a great thrill when people can also benefit from these technological advances.
Greetings and thank you for your comment
Hello, dear friend @carlos84.
Drones have a very extensive field of applicability, both in industry, as well as in the area of entertainment and shows.
When we think of a drone, we immediately imagine it flying. But the truth is that we can control drones under water and even underground. In caving, drones are of great operational value.
It is true what you say, since the operability of the drone is very widespread, with the drone we can reach any inaccessible part.
Very valuable your comment my dear friend @juanmolina thank you for your comment.
My real pleasure, friend.