Drones for Pipelines | Upgrading Components Will Get You There

One of the fastest growing trends in the oil and gas industry is the use of drones for pipelines. Pipelines are positioned across widespread areas that until recently have been difficult to monitor. Drones have become an economical way to monitor and inspect the thousands of miles of pipelines that transport oil and gas all around the world. In order to get the best performance and longest flight time it’s important to upgrade to components designed specifically for extreme weather and heavy lift.

Before the surge in drone technology, monitoring, surveying and detecting leaks and damage in oil and gas pipelines has been costly and ineffective. The ineffective nature of monitoring pipelines often caused lengthy repairs and shutdowns. According to a U.S. government report on pipeline safety, the public reported pipeline leaks quicker than in-house company detection systems in a third of cases reported between January 2010 and July 2012.

Drones for Pipelines

Using drones for pipelines has many advantages, especially when it comes to inspecting and monitoring the thousands of miles of infrastructure. Pipelines must be monitored constantly to reduce the potential of undetected leaks, which can cause explosions and life-threatening fires. Drones are able to use thermal imaging cameras to spot the differences between fluid and soil, easily showing if a leak has occurred. Operators can fly drones for pipelines at low altitudes with special cameras and sensors that send information about the conditions.

Importance of Upgrading Drones for Pipelines

Due to the toxic nature of gas and oil, it’s essential to constantly monitor the conditions using drones for pipelines. Upgrading the components, including motors, propellers and electronics, improves flight time and performance of drones for pipelines. Because of the amount of miles and harsh climates pipelines can be located in, performance and length of time in the air is especially important.

Building and upgrading drones for pipelines requires components that can withstand the extreme cold climates in Alaska and Canada. Brushless motors from KDE Direct has been designed for operation in extreme climates, which makes them the perfect upgrade for drones for pipelines.