A New Era of Drone Technology for Offshore Inspections
The Edvard Grieg platform in the North Sea now has a drone with its own docking station.
Edvard Grieg platform.
Aker Solutions has permanently installed an autonomous drone system on Aker BP's Edvard Grieg platform in the North Sea, enabling frequent remote inspections from shore.
The use of drones is not new, they have been used for years to monitor infrastructure and emissions across the world. But the fixed-mount drone system sets a new standard in the industry.
Aker Solutions predicts that fully autonomous drones, flying without remote pilots, could become a reality in the next few years and potentially change the way the industry operates.
“We believe that autonomous drones will revolutionise inspection and maintenance in the energy industry,” says Anja Dyb, Head of Lifecycle Services at Aker Solutions.
Control Room Hundreds of Kilometres Away
The drone system on Edvard Grieg includes an offshore docking station and supporting infrastructure.
Aker Solutions has also developed software systems and established an onshore control room.
The solution includes airspace and AIS monitoring, two-way communication with the Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO), aviation management and platform operations.
The drone is equipped with autonomous navigation capabilities and advanced sensors that collect high-resolution images and data during its inspection rounds.
BVLOS operations are piloted remotely from an onshore control room located hundreds of kilometres away.
Drone in a box. Aker Solutions has installed a drone docking station offshore and built the infrastructure required to support it.
The First Test Flight Was Successful
Last summer, the company conducted its first Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operation, controlled from its ground-based control centre.
The flight is seen by the industry as a major step towards fully autonomous offshore inspections.
“The permanent deployment of drones on an oil rig, combined with robotics, artificial intelligence and digital technology, will take offshore maintenance to a new level, improving safety, reducing costs and enhancing the management of the entire offshore asset,” says Anja Dyb.
The system’s ability to operate remotely also aligns with Norway’s efforts to free up airspace above North Sea oil rigs for drone operations. The aim is to set a precedent for other regions.
“Aker BP’s business strategy is based on the assumption that robotics and drones will be an integral part of offshore monitoring, inspection and operations,” underlines Thomas Øvretveit, Chief Operating Officer at Aker BP.
Innovation reduces operational risks and cuts costs by minimising offshore labour.
Sensors Transmit a Wide Range of Information
An installed DJI drone can perform structural integrity checks, monitor discharges and detect leaks, transmitting live footage to the control room.
The recorded data is analysed using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms.
This enables predictive maintenance that identifies potential problems before they escalate.
According to Aker Solutions, this is crucial for facilities operating in the harsh environment of the North Sea.
Inspection Engineer piloting the drone during the historic event at Edvard Grieg.
Bringing Significant Savings
Permanent installation will eliminate the logistical challenges of transporting drones to offshore locations, which often require helicopters or boats.
By reducing human involvement, the technology not only improves safety but also reduces operating costs.
“Instead of the crew carrying the drone to the platform, doing the work and then taking it back home, the drone is always there,” says Joachim Hovland, Head of Aker Solutions’ Drone and Robotics Division.
“We estimate that autonomous drones can reduce inspection costs by up to 70 per cent and produce detailed data in a matter of hours, a process that traditionally takes days for manual drone operations.”
Autonomous drones and AI analytics enable frequent, high-precision inspections
The scalability of the system is another advantage.
“Not too much at once, because it has to be done safely,” says Anja Dyb, noting that people currently programme flight paths in advance and monitor inspections.
Full BVLOS Certification
Aker Solutions is the first company in Europe to be awarded full BVLOS certification.
The certification allows the company to operate autonomously alongside manned helicopters and aircraft, ensuring zero interference with helideck operations, airports or controlled airspace.
It is independent of systems and products, enabling the company to remain flexible in its choice of platforms, suppliers and technologies.
Protecting critical offshore infrastructure
Recent incidents involving unidentified drones in the vicinity of critical installations have highlighted the growing need for reliable detection systems.Several companies are now developing solutions to this problem.
Kongsberg Discovery and Aker Solutions have launched a joint project this autumn. The aim is to demonstrate Aker’s UAV detection system using Kongsberg’s UAV detection radar at Aker’s control centre in Stavanger.
The aim of the collaboration is to provide solutions to improve situational awareness around offshore assets and transit routes in the North Sea.
Aker Solutions will act as the system integrator and Kongsberg Discovery as subcontractor.
Kongsberg’s technologies are widely used in navigation and infrastructure protection.
The goal is to create a system with phases that include installation of the detection system on service vessels, integration with shore-based control centres, and wider deployment on drilling rigs and vessels, with possible expansion to other areas.
Cato Giil Eliassen, Director of Infrastructure at Kongsberg Discovery, stresses the urgency of the matter:
"Over the past couple of years, there have been several sightings of drones in the vicinity of critical infrastructure. Few of them have been properly documented."
Text: Vaula Aunola Photos: Aker Solution, Aker BP
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