Aker Solutions has successfully installed an autonomous drone system on Aker BP’s Edvard Grieg platform in the North Sea, enabling frequent, remote inspections from shore.
The
company recently completed the first offshore beyond-visual-line-of-sight
(BVLOS) drone operation, piloted from its onshore control center in Stavanger.
The inspection flight was carried out using an installed drone on Aker BP’s
Edvard Grieg platform.
The drone is equipped with
autonomous navigation capabilities and advanced sensors, collecting
high-resolution imagery and data during its inspection rounds. The flight marks
a major step toward fully autonomous offshore inspections.
“We believe autonomous drones
will revolutionize how inspection and maintenance are performed in the energy
industry. Permanently deploying a drone on an oil platform — combined with
robotics, AI, and digital technologies takes offshore maintenance to a new
level, improving safety, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency across
offshore asset management,” said Anja Dyb, SVP Life Cycle Services, Aker
Solutions.
The drone system on Edvard
Grieg includes a drone docking station offshore and supporting infrastructure.
Aker Solutions has also developed software systems and set up an onshore
control room. The solution includes airspace and AIS monitoring, two-way communication
with the Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO) aviation management, and platform
leadership.
“Aker BP's operational strategy
is based on the assumption that robotics and drones will be an integral part of
observation, inspection and task executions offshore. These technologies will
operate autonomously or remotely, either on-site or from land. The successful
remote-controlled offshore drone operation at the Edvard Grieg platform,
executed by Aker Solutions, is an important milestone for Aker BP as
well," says Thomas Øvretveit, Director of Operations at Aker BP.
Autonomous drones, combined
with AI-powered analytics, make it possible to perform frequent and highly
accurate inspections. The drone takes consistent, precisely positioned images
and videos, allowing for regular monitoring of equipment over time. This enables
faster detection of wear, corrosion, and other issues — so maintenance can
take place before problems grow.
“We estimate that autonomous
drones can reduce inspection costs by up to 70% and deliver detailed insights
within hours — a process that traditionally takes days with manual drone
operations,” said Joachim Hovland, Head of Drones and Robotics.
Autonomous drones, machine
learning, and robotics are integral to Aker Solutions’ digital strategy.
To deliver on those ambitions, the digital strategy focuses on improving
project execution, developing new services, and building a digitally ready
organization with a strong foundation in data and software technology.
For more information, please visit Aker Solutions' website.