BAKU, Azerbaijan — bp is using Flyability's Elios 3 drone to perform tank inspections on various platforms in the Caspian Sea offshore Azerbaijan.
The drone has already completed inspection of an empty tank on the Shah Deniz Alpha platform.
According to bp, use of Elios speeds up inspection operations and is also safer than manual inspections, completing the task in 45 minutes compared to up to four weeks using technicians.
In addition, the technology should provide consistent and more accurate inspection data to support operational decisions.
bp now plans to extend use of the Elios 3 drone for visual inspections of non-hydrocarbon vessels or tanks in its operations throughout the Caspian region.
In 2019, bp began using robotic crawlers for inspecting crude oil storage tanks at the Sangachal terminal in Azerbaijan, with costs savings due to the benefits of uninterrupted service during maintenance.
