In December of 2017, Ms. Georgina Ford, Assistant Editor at ITP Media Group interviewed Mr. Bill Wimberley, Chief Revenue Officer at CAPE Productions, Redwood City, California for an article to run in Arabian Oil & Gas. The article discussion centered on unmanned aerial vehicles (aka Drone) applications in the Oil & Gas Industry in the Middle East. Following is the transcript of that interview.
Georgina Ford: Why are unmanned surveillance vehicles of such importance in the oil and gas industry?
Bill Wimberley: First of all, drones can provide an aerial perspective that is only otherwise achievable with a helicopter at a tiny fraction of what a helicopter costs to fly and maintain. Some of the applications for this aerial perspective are listed below.
Georgina Ford: In the Middle East, the conditions are pretty harsh in many areas with extreme heat etc., are there any precautions/special features a O&G company should look for in UAVs?
Bill Wimberley: Heat, dust, sand…..and rain are definitely not ideal for drone flight, however, various manufacturers have recently built drones that are as resilient as possible under these conditions. As demand for drones for these conditions increases, so will the technology to protect them even further. Only recently has drone aircraft technology advanced beyond the line-of-sight technology required to actually fly the drone, e.g. the drone’s controller unit. Most commercial drones today utilize an iPad, or similar Android device, to control drone flight in proximity (generally less than 5km) to the drone itself. At CAPE we discovered that these “pads” are actually more susceptible to harsh conditions, particularly heat, than the drones themselves. This initially presented a difficult problem in extreme heat conditions. There are currently a few companies addressing this issue with a cooling device that straps on to the back of the pad to greatly reduce the effects of heat. Again, as demand increases, solutions to challenges like heat, battery life, payload, etc. will emerge in greater and greater numbers. These solutions are coming at a very rapid pace.
Georgina Ford: What are the uses for unmanned surveillance vehicles in the O&G sector?
Bill Wimberley: I have direct experience with the following applications:
1) Investor acquisition. I have successfully used aerial photos and video to enhance the presentation of O&G projects for prospective investors.
2) Surveillance, perspective and documentation of a well site, or sites, for investor acquisition. In addition to encouraging geology, geophysics and financial return prospects, remotely located investors want to see the physical well site, where it is in relation to other sites, what the surrounding terrain looks like, etc. Aerial photos and video can provide a valuable perspective for investors.
3) Project progress reporting & documentation. It is said that “a picture is worth 1,000 words.” Using periodic photos and/or video provides invaluable information for investors, and provides a perspective that enhances reports, charts and graphs that generally flow out of an O&G project.
Bill Wimberley: In addition to these benefits, an effective drone deployment strategy can provide:
1) An excellent tool for early detection of environmental problems. A company here in the USA uses drones for early detection and documentation of environmental impacts for the chemical industry. Drones can carry a wide variety of sensors and cameras for this purpose.
2) A quick detection tool for operational efficiency and human safety. Drones can be used for activities such as flare stack, topside, under deck, and splash zone inspections. They can be used on any part of the well platform where inspections typically require rope access or scaffolding, and the risky involvement of humans.
3) Conducting real-time safety inspections of equipment greatly reduces the need for equipment shut-down. With appropriate sensors, drones can detect hazardous materials such as escaping methane, sulphur, etc. before they become life or project threatening issues.
4) Close-up equipment inspection & documentation. Utilizing high definition zoom equipped cameras, drones can inspect and detect imminent equipment failures, upstream and downstream, before they fail in places that are very difficult for a human to examine.
5) Security and rapid response. In areas of the World where security is a challenge, drones are being used very effectively to monitor assets and provide quick response to security events. Smaller drones, flying at altitude, can be nearly silent in their surveillance of perimeter fencing and detection of movement. Furthermore, when events are detected by terrestrial sensors, drones can often be dispatched quicker than humans and provide valuable video feed to security command centers. Modern commercial drones can carry high-powered zoom cameras, infrared, thermal-imaging, etc.
Georgina Ford: What are the benefits of an unmanned vehicle, as compared with "boots on the ground?"
Bill Wimberley: My experience confirms that these work best together, in tandem, where each compliments the capabilities of the other. Drones can be a highly effective tool in the toolbox of O&G field professionals. Drones may someday have sophisticated enough artificial intelligence that they can conduct some tasks completely independent of human intervention, but there is currently no replacement for the expertise of experienced O&G professionals today. I see drones extending and enhancing the work of field personnel. I also see drones providing a safety factor that will greatly reduce accidents. This is always a good thing.
Georgina Ford: What kind of cost-savings could be expected from using UAVs?
Bill Wimberley: his is virtually impossible for me to quantify broadly. ROI and cost savings will depend on the specific application of the drone(s) for an O&G company. I can say from experience and with confidence that ROI and cost savings are relatively easy to quantify for many O&G applications. One reason for my confidence is the relatively low cost of drone applications compared to alternatives.
Georgina Ford: Do oil and gas companies still need to get permissions/government approvals in the region (UAE specifically) to use UAVs?
Bill Wimberley: I am not personally an expert on UAE laws regarding drone usage. This question is best answered by local authorities. In many parts of the World, however, drones have initially been considered more of a threat than a help. This is very unfortunate, and is short-sighted, in my opinion. As ROI and cost-savings become increasingly documented and more widely publicized, this perception will undoubtedly change.
Georgina Ford: What kind of lifecycle does a UAV have and what are the upkeep concerns/costs like when compared with hiring a person?
Bill Wimberley: As stated earlier, drones and human work most effectively and powerfully when they work together. Drones can be, and should be, excellent tools for O&G professionals. Modern commercial UAV’s, from most leading manufacturers, are very resilient and can operate for 1,000’s of hours with proper maintenance and repair….like any other piece of industrial equipment. Commercial drones are highly cost-effective, costing as little as 10,000 USD with standard equipment. Adding sensors and specialized cameras increases these costs significantly, but depending on the application, the alternative is often many multiples of the cost of drone operations. Keep in mind that drone deployment requires human operators and pilots. This is a cost that has to be considered in the economics of a drone deployment strategy.
Georgina Ford: What are the safety/security concerns associated with using UAVs in the oil and gas industry?
Bill Wimberley: With proper maintenance and piloting, drones are quite safe. However, with anything aerially deployed, accidents can happen. Drones must be flown responsibly, by qualified personal and follow local flying rules. Drones and civilian/commercial/military aircraft don’t mix well. This is why most countries require a significant separation between drone flights and other aircraft.
Georgina Ford: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Bill Wimberley: As a management consultant and serial entrepreneur, I am interested and engaged in the effective deployment of drone, and other technology, solutions for several different business applications in multiple and diverse industries. Recently, I represented a drone SaaS company at the ASIS Security Conference in Bahrain where I discussed the application of drone technology to the private security industry with numerous global companies. I was fascinated to hear how concerned the Middle East countries are about security and its direct impact on economic development and regional prosperity.
LinkedIn: http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/WilliamSWimberley
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Georgina Ford | Assistant Editor | ITP Media Group
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