Autonomous monitoring is becoming a key tool for energy companies seeking to improve the efficiency of their operations, cut costs and improve safety – and it’s an area where AI is making a growing impact.
The use of AI-supported drones to monitor infrastructure are a good example of what can be achieved, as Chevron found when it did an evaluation of its recent deployment of drones developed by Percepto, an advanced technology company with bases in the US and Israel.
The supermajor has been using Percepto’s drones to carry out remote inspections to see if they cut down on the time its teams have to spend on the road, detect problems more quickly, and identify their origin with more accurately. The test case has been running near Midland, Texas, where Chevon has shale operations.
Over the first 90 days of deployment, Chevron reported indications of time savings that allow personnel to better organize their activities, along with cost-efficient, higher frequency monitoring at remote sites, and faster issue detection that allowed for quicker responses to operational concerns.
Kerri Harvey, Chevron’s Midland Basin Operations Superintendent said such advanced technology was helping the company to take a more proactive approach to managing its operations.
“This enables us to make smarter decisions and remain aligned with our focus on producing energy responsibly,” he said. “Leveraging automation enables our teams to spend less time on the road and more time focusing on high-priority tasks. This not only keeps our workforce safer but also allows us to direct resources where they can make the biggest impact.”
So, where does the AI come in? Firstly, the drone flies on automated missions with logic built in from pre-programmed flights. Then, when the drone is actively monitoring, AI built into its software enables automated alerts when it detects any anomalies from normal operations.
Significant impact
Percepto says that integration of its remote inspections with other facility management technologies, such as remotely operated valves and sensors, makes a significant impact.
Dor Abuhasira, Percepto’s CEO said Chevron was leading the way in proving how scalable autonomous monitoring could transform industrial efficiency and safety.
“This is what AI-powered automation is all about—giving operators the ability to inspect more, detect issues faster, and make decisions with real-time data, without adding operational strain,” he said.
Percepto’s drones are used around the world to monitor infrastructure, including in the wider energy industry. In 2022, the company started deploying autonomous drones for remote monitoring of Florida Power and Light’s substations and power distribution grids across the state. Percepto said at the time that the arrangement represented the largest commercial autonomous drone project in the world.
The technology is also used at refineries, where drones equipped with Percepto’s software can detect gas leaks. Further uses include, environmental monitoring in heavy industries, and monitoring progress with construction projects in areas such as solar farm development, among others.
Chevron and its fellow energy producers put their growing use of AI tools across their businesses in the spotlight at this year’s CERAWeek meeting, as we recently reported.
(Photo: Percepto)
