Drone use by utility companies reauthorized for oil and gas industry
Congress approved a reauthorization for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that allows utilities to use drones to monitor remote facilities.
Before departing for a seven-week recess, Congress approved a reauthorization for the Federal Aviation Administration that included one important provision for the oil and gas industry. The reauthorization bill kept in place a rule that allows utility companies to use drones to monitor remote facilities.
The bipartisan approval of the reauthorization bill allows for the use of what the bill’s language refers to as "unmanned aircraft systems" to be used for monitoring safety and maintenance.
"The ability to use drones will allow the industry to use the latest technologies to continue to effectively monitor infrastructure and facilities while minimizing the risk to personnel," said American Petroleum Institute (API) midstream director Robin Rorick. "Safety is our core value, and the best way to protect the public and the environment is to prevent incidents from ever happening. Drone technology will complement the comprehensive safety practices that the industry has in place."
Officials at utility companies said the drone program has been a success in both reducing costs and improving response time to problems.
Bob Vavra is content manager for Oil & Gas Engineering, bvavra@cfemedia.com.
Original content can be found at Oil and Gas Engineering.
Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our WTWH Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.
