DR1 Group managed to reduce downtime for a ballast tank inspection on a drilling rig by an impressive 80% using the Elios 2—read this case study to discover how.

Key Benefits at a Glance

Introduction

In the oil and gas industry, offshore drilling rigs are essential for extracting resources from beneath the ocean floor. These massive structures are designed to either sit on the seabed or float in deep waters, depending on their location.

For floating rigs, stability is maintained through a system of columns and ballast tanks that help regulate buoyancy. These tanks, located in both the columns and the underwater pontoons, must be regularly inspected to ensure the rig remains safe and operational.

The drilling rig DR1 Group inspected

These inspections are critical but often time-consuming and risky, especially when done manually. That’s why many companies are turning to drone technology to improve efficiency and safety.

Customer Needs

A shipyard in Angra dos Reis, Brazil, faced challenges with traditional inspection methods. They had been using rope access to send inspectors into the ballast tanks and columns, which was not only dangerous but also costly due to extended downtime.

To address these issues, the shipyard reached out to DR1 Group and asked them to conduct a test inspection using drones. The goal was to find a safer and more efficient way to inspect the drilling rigs without disrupting operations.

Solution

DR1 Group worked closely with the shipyard to plan two test missions. One focused on external areas like towers, while the other involved internal inspections of the columns and ballast tanks.

Before conducting the tests, the team spent two months preparing, ensuring all legal and safety requirements were met. This planning helped make the inspections as smooth and effective as possible.

The main objective was to collect enough visual data to prove that drone inspections could be a viable alternative to manual methods.

Results

During the internal inspection, the DR1 team used Flyability’s Elios 2 drone and successfully inspected 40% of a ballast tank in just 30 minutes of flight time. The entire process took about two hours, including battery swaps and footage reviews.

Based on the results, the shipyard estimated that using the Elios 2 could reduce the total inspection time from 60 days to just 20. This represents a major leap in efficiency and cost savings.

Here’s a video capturing some of the footage from the ballast tank inspection:

After presenting the collected data, the shipyard administrators were extremely satisfied with the results. The improved safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of the Elios 2 made it a clear winner.

Some of the images captured during the inspection include:

Conclusion

The tests were conducted in early 2020, but operations were soon halted due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the shipyard has since resumed its activities and plans to bring DR1 Group back for future inspections on the same rig.

Beyond this project, the shipyard is considering using the Elios 2 for inspections on several other drilling rigs. DR1 Group has also continued deploying the Elios 2 for confined space inspections across various vessels in the oil and gas sector, including ballast tanks and cargo tanks on FPSOs.

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