Analysis of Remote Sensing Applications in Oil and Gas Industry

This report examines the applications of remote sensing technologies, focusing on aerial photography and drone usage, within the oil and gas industry. The study highlights the historical use of aerial photography for mapping and its evolution with the advent of unmanned vehicles. The report details how drones, equipped with various sensors, provide cost-effective and safe solutions for aerial explorations, data collection, and analysis in both offshore and onshore sites. It emphasizes the benefits of drones in pipeline inspections, detecting damages, spills, and leaks, as well as monitoring structures for external threats and seismic activities. Furthermore, the report discusses how remote sensing streamlines manufacturing and purification processes, improving operational functions such as logistics and product analysis. The conclusion stresses the increasing adoption of drone technologies for performing aerial inspections and asset monitoring in the oil and gas sector.

Running head: APPLICATIONS OF REMOTE SENSING
APPLICATIONS OF REMOTE SENSING
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1APPLICATIONS OF REMOTE SENSING
Aerial Photography in oil and gas industry
In oil and gas industry’s early stages, there was no consideration of mapping work as
operations were less or more localized, however as operations expanded, need of information of
extensive map. There was use of photographic information in mapping several years before
advent of the aerial photography as well as mosaic assembly (Topchiev, 2020). Aerial
photography was used first as mapping medium extensively by army in World War. With aerial
photography’s advent within oil and gas industry came use of map compilation’s higher
standards.
Unmanned vehicles give safe solution and cost effective in new as well as exiting
offshore and onshore sites. Devices could help oil and gas industry in carrying out aerial
explorations through visual images. Data from off shore platforms, oil rigs as well as other areas
give valuable information which organizations could use for improving efficiency, production as
well as operations along with ability for forecasting as well as addressing breakdowns. During
the exploration, appropriate software tools and sensors would provide faster way to collect data
as well as calculate seismic and geographical data in offshore and onshore exploration sites
(Donnelly, Cobbinah Wilson & Oduro Appiah, 2017). Researchers are enabled by drone
inspection to collect essential information from the oil wells. By using technologies like GPS and
laser scanning, drones would provide topographical information by aerial photography about
new locations before sending the people to ground.
Drones would provide services within oil and gas industry to ensure that the pipelines are
working safely and efficiently. Drones provide cost effective and fast means to inspect he
pipelines of oil and gas industry. Additionally, drones could access the remote locations, difficult

2APPLICATIONS OF REMOTE SENSING
terrain and other tough areas to reach without exposing workers to the risk. Drones with the help
of aerial photography could inspect as well as monitor pipeline and check for the natural
conditions. Regular inspections with the help of aerial photography could detect damages, spills
and leaks which might cause environmental degradation and spillage (Prasetya, Sufiadi & Sadik,
2017). Equipping drones with correct sensors help to give visual inspections for both external as
well as internal surfaces. Identifying gas leaks or spillages would help to evacuate and keep
everyone away from fire risks and potential toxic.
The drones would monitor structure against the external threats like theft and sabotage
along with natural hazards like earthquakes. Special drones would be used for detecting as well
as reporting seismic activities close to pipelines. The information provided by aerial photography
would enable the organizations in responding promptly as well as reducing natural disasters’
impact. Drones would help in streamlining as well as improving manufacturing and purification
process through supporting the operation functions like logistics, product segregation and
analysis within oil and gas industry (Uyanik & Wesley, 2019). Drones are appropriate to provide
continuous monitoring of the pipelines as well as other infrastructures. Drones combine many
sensors along with abilities for performing complicated inspection. Oil and gas industries would
adopt more techniques of drone for performing pipelines’ aerial inspections through aerial
photography. Oil and gas industries enable drone in inspecting the assets and infrastructure.

3APPLICATIONS OF REMOTE SENSING
References
Donnelly, S., Cobbinah Wilson, I., & Oduro Appiah, J. (2017). Comparing land change from
shale gas infrastructure development in neighboring Utica and Marcellus regions, 2006–
2015. Journal of Land Use Science, 12(5), 338-350.
Prasetya, A. E., Sufiadi, E., & Sadik, H. U. (2017, October). Optimising Operation Oversight of
Oil and Gas through Aerial Surveillance. In SPE/IATMI Asia Pacific Oil & Gas
Conference and Exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Topchiev, A. G. (2020, January). Design and monitoring of oil and gas industry facilities based
on the use of ultra-light aviation and digital technologies. In IOP Conference Series:
Materials Science and Engineering (Vol. 734, No. 1, p. 012005). IOP Publishing.
Uyanik, I., & Wesley, A. (2019, March). Next Generation Gas Emission Monitoring System.
In SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers.