Dangerous work environments and materials have contributed to high rates of workplace fatalities in the oil and gas industry, with the industry fatality rate in the US is 7 times greater than average. These are but one of the many problems that drones are increasingly being developed and used to improve. Industrial drones have a variety of uses, including monitoring of remote sites and assessing dangerous parts of plants. The trade-off, however, cannot always be justified, as cost of certified drone pilots, timing issues, maintenance, and the potential for human error can create significant logistical difficulties. While low prices in the industry have reduced research and development in this area, a future upswing may change the economic equation and create a strong move toward extensive drone integration into the industry.
Source: Outside Content Contributions – Drones within the oil and gas industry | Oil and Gas Technology
