Oil & Gas Asset Intelligence

Safety-Critical Inspection With 80% Less Production Interruption.

We deliver engineering-grade condition data. Inspect storage tanks, flare stacks, pipelines, pressure vessels, and offshore structures without confined space entry, reducing your production shutdowns by up to 80%.

SCOPE YOUR INSPECTION PROGRAM

The True Cost of Deferred Inspection

Unplanned shutdowns in oil and gas cost $500,000 to $5,000,000+ per day in lost production

Every inspection that requires shutdown, confined space entry, or scaffolding competes directly with production revenue

Confined space entry for tank inspection requires 4-8 hours of isolation, purging, and atmospheric testing before a single photograph is taken

Corrosion under insulation (CUI) causes 40-60% of piping failures in ageing facilities, yet remains invisible to external visual inspection

Flare stack inspection traditionally requires full shutdown and scaffolding at $150,000-$500,000

Regulatory Compliance (AS 1210, AS 3788, API 510/570/653) demands inspection cycles that outpace available shutdown windows

Every hour your asset is offline for inspection is an hour of lost production. Every confined space entry is a risk that doesn't need to exist.

The True Cost of a Refinery Turnaround

How costs compound beyond base budget. Every additional day, every scope addition, every overrun multiplies exposure.

Costs compound beyond base budget →
$39M
Base Turnaround
Cost (29 days)
Opus Kinetic / Valero St. Charles
+$6.2M
$45.2M
Average Cost
Overrun (+16%)
AP-Networks (industry database)
+$1.5M
$46.7M
Scaffolding
(3-6 units)
Arix Tech ($250-500K/unit)
+$6.0M
$52.7M
1-Day Production
Loss (overrun)
PetroHab 2026 ($250K/hr, large facility)
$52.7M+
Total Risk
Exposure
Per turnaround event

Sources: Opus Kinetic (2017), AP-Networks Turnaround Database (1,350+ events), Arix Technologies (2024), PetroHab Operational Analysis (2026). Base cost in 2017 dollars. Production loss based on large-scale facility ($250K/hr offshore benchmark). Actual exposure varies by facility size, complexity, and product margins.

Complete Condition Intelligence

All Environments. One Platform. Clear Insights

3D rainbow UTM digital twin of a tank by DeepSky IQ with ultrasonic measurements and condition detection of defects

Elevated Asset Inspection

Flare stacks, columns, pipe racks, and cooling towers inspected from the air. No scaffolding, rope access, or shutdown required.
Sensor capability:
High-resolution visual with up to 200x hybrid zoom from safe standoff distances.
Radiometric thermal (640x512) for CUI detection and gas leak screening
LiDAR at 3cm vertical accuracy, 950m detection range 
59-minute flight endurance, IP54 weather rated 
Survey control: Ground control points (GCPs) and tilt-compensating GNSS receiver for survey-grade positional accuracy (+/-2cm).
Deliverable: Classified point clouds (LAS/LAZ), photogrammetric reality meshes accurate to 3cm, and AI-powered defect detection trained on corrosion, pitting, cracking, and coating degradation specific to your asset types.

Zero-Entry Internal Inspection

Inspect pressure vessels, storage tanks, and columns internally using our collision-tolerant confined space drone. No human entry, or internal scaffolding required. The vessel is isolated, drained, and ventilated before drone deployment.

Single deployment captures:

Visual, thermal, LiDAR, and ultrasonic thickness data (250 UTMs per hour)

Tethered power unit for unlimited flight duration in large vessels

Onboard gas safety sensor: triggers immediate withdrawal if combustible gas detected. Gas detection at 0.1% LEL resolution provides early warning for safe withdrawal

Digital iTwin deliverable:

All data unified in a single digital twin for engineering measurement, defect tracking, and compliance reporting.

Independent inspection capability across aerial, internal, subsea, and ground environments. All data unified in a single digital twin for engineering measurement, defect tracking, and compliance reporting.

Subsea & Submerged Assets

Inspection-class ROVs rated to 500m depth. No divers required. Minimal operational disruption.
Capability:
4K HDR imaging with 8x optical zoom 
Multibeam sonar for zero-visibility navigation 
Contact ultrasonic thickness measurement (UTM) for remaining wall thickness
USBL acoustic positioning for defensible georeferenced records 
Topside power option for unlimited dive duration
AI computer vision for real-time defect identification and autonomous survey patterns
Deliverable: Subsea inspection data integrated into the unified asset digital twin alongside aerial and internal datasets for whole-of-asset condition visibility.

Aerial & Ground Industrial Washing

Pre-inspection surface cleaning and ongoing maintenance washing using a purpose-built wash drone with a proprietary advanced surface tracking and variable distance sensors. 
Capability:
  • High-pressure or soft wash to 100m height 
  • Solar panels, substation insulators, cooling tower surfaces, building facades 
  • No scaffolding, rope access, or EWP required 
  • Improves inspection data quality by removing surface contamination before sensor deployment 
Deliverable: Before/after condition comparison overlaid on the asset digital twin for maintenance planning.
SCOPE A ZERO-ENTRY INSPECTION PROGRAM

Oil & Gas Assets

  • Storage Tanks (API 653)

    Confined space drone (internal) + aerial (external) + UTM

    Shell condition, floor mapping, roof integrity, corrosion mapping

    Digital Twin output: Reality mesh + classified defect register + change detection


  • Pressure Vessels (AS 3788)

    Confined space drone + thermal

    Internal lining condition, refractory wear, corrosion under insulation indicators

    Digital Twin output: 3D defect map with position-tagged UTM readings

  • Flare Stacks & Columns

    Aerial zoom + thermal (no shutdown)

    Tip condition, refractory lining, structural integrity, and guy wire tension

    Digital Twin output: Point cloud + thermal overlay + AI defect detection

  • Pipe Racks & Piping

    Aerial thermal + visual

    CUI indicators, flange leaks, insulation damage, and support corrosion

    Digital Twin output: Thermal anomaly map georeferenced to point cloud

  • Refineries & Processing Plants

    MULTI-SENSOR & Platform + CONFINED SPACE

    Comprehensive condition assessment, thermal anomaly mapping

    Digital Twin output: Facility-wide digital twin with defect classification

  • Pipelines & Corridors

    Aerial LiDAR + thermal + visual

    Easement compliance, third-party encroachment, leak detection, and subsidence

    Digital Twin output: Classified point cloud + change detection over time

  • Jetties & Marine Loading

    AERIAL + UNDERWATER ROV

    Scope: Pile condition, cathodic protection, marine growth, structural integrity

    Digital Twin output: Combined above/below waterline digital twin

  • FPSOs & Offshore Platforms

    Topside condition, hull UTM, riser inspection, flare tip assessment

    Digital Twin output: Unified topside + subsea model with UTM overlay

  • Solar Panels & Insulators

    AERIAL + GROUND DRONE WASHING

    High-pressure or soft wash to 100m, no scaffolding, no ropes, no EWP

    Digital Twin output: Before/after thermal comparison for performance validation

Measurable Outcomes for Oil & Gas Operators

$150K - $500k

Saved per flare stack inspection by eliminating scaffolding and shutdown

4 - 8 Hours

Eliminated per tank entry (isolation, purging, atmospheric testing)

From Scope to Actionable Intelligence

40-60%

Of piping failures are caused by CUI, detectable with thermal & UTM before failure

90%

Reduction in personnel exposure to hazardous environments

Step 1: Technical Scoping

We review your asset register, inspection history, and compliance obligations. We identify which assets can be inspected without shutdown, which require coordination with planned outages, and what sensor combinations deliver the data your engineers need.

Step 2: SIMOPS Planning & Mobilisation

We develop a detailed inspection plan that integrates with your PTW system, SIMOPS requirements, HAZID and site safety protocols. Our team mobilises with enterprise platforms configured for your specific asset types and hazardous area classifications.

Step 3: Multi-Environment Capture

Aerial drones capture elevated assets and thermal baselines. Confined space drones enter vessels and tanks without human entry. ROVs inspect submerged and subsea components. All data is georeferenced and time-stamped for audit trail integrity.

Step 4: Engineering-Grade Reporting

Every dataset is processed through our enterprise reality modelling platform.
Outputs include:
Defect registers with severity classification 
Corrosion mapping with remaining life estimates 
Reality meshes and classified point clouds 
AI-powered defect detection (corrosion, pitting, cracking, coating degradation) 
Browser-based 3D delivery (no software install, shareable, measurable from any device) 
Compliance-ready reports aligned to AS 3788, API 510/570/653, and your internal standards.

Zero-Exposure Inspections for Hazardous Environments

Process Thermal Anomaly Detection:

Identify failing equipment before it fails. Detect overheating bearings, pump seals, electrical faults, and heat exchanger degradation across your entire facility in a single aerial campaign. 

Radiometric thermal identifies temperature anomalies that indicate imminent failure: overheating bearings, deteriorating pump seals, loose electrical connections, blocked heat exchanger tubes, and refractory breakdown. Aerial deployment systematically covers all process areas, building a thermal baseline that enables change-over-time comparisons. Anomalies are georeferenced to the asset digital twin for integration into your predictive maintenance program.  
What you eliminate: Unplanned shutdowns from equipment failure. Manual thermography requires scaffolding or rope access. Reactive maintenance costs (typically 3-5x planned maintenance). Production losses from cascading failures.
Infrared thermal image of industrial pumps and piping at an industrial site, with drone radiometric temperature readings on the right indicating hot spots at around 150°C and cooler areas at 15°C, timestamps, and location details by DeepSky IQ.
Infrared thermal image of industrial pumps and piping at an industrial site, with drone radiometric temperature readings on the right indicating hot spots at around 150°C and cooler areas at 15°C, timestamps, and location details by DeepSky IQ.

Confined Space Vessel Inspection

Complete internal condition data in hours, not weeks. No human enters the space. The vessel is isolated, drained, and ventilated, but does not require the full gas-free certification process that human entry demands. This alone saves days from your shutdown window. A single deployment captures visual imagery, thermal data, LiDAR point clouds, and ultrasonic thickness measurements (250 UTMs per hour) simultaneously. An onboard gas sensor provides continuous safety monitoring, with the pilot trained to withdraw immediately if any combustible gas is detected. What you eliminate: Full gas-free certification (days of purging). Internal scaffolding. Confined space entry permits. Rescue standby teams. Breathing apparatus. Human exposure to residual hydrocarbons.

LiDAR 3D rendering by DeepSky IQ of an industrial refinery or plant with various pipes, structures, and equipment, surrounded by trees on a dark background.

Aerial Thermal Gas Leak Detection:

Screen entire pipe rack runs, valve manifolds, and tank connections from the air in a single flight. No ground crew exposure to hazardous atmospheres.‍ ‍

Radiometric thermal imaging (640x512 resolution) detects gas leaks at flanges, valves, and pipe connections by measuring temperature differentials. Escaping pressurised gas creates a measurable cooling effect visible on thermal imagery. This enables rapid screening of large areas that would take ground crews days to cover on foot, identifying leak locations for targeted repair without exposing personnel to potentially toxic or explosive atmospheres.  
What you eliminate: Ground crew walking pipe racks in hazardous zones. Manual sniffers and leak detection. Multi-day screening campaigns. Personnel exposure to H2S, hydrocarbons, and toxic gases.
DeepSky IQ Aerial Drone Infrared thermal image of gas leaking from an industrial plant with pipes, valves, and tanks, showing a gas flare emitting bright orange heat.

Calculate Your Estimated Savings

Oil & Gas Inspection Program Savings Calculator

Estimate the total value of transitioning from traditional to robotic inspection across your facility.

Your Current Inspection Approach
Helps quantify where robotic methods add most value
Include scaffolding, rope access, permits, contractors
Turnaround & Production Impact
If unchecked, we'll show the value a pre-turnaround survey could add (typically 3-5 days saved per turnaround)
Revenue per day of operation
Typically 70% eliminated with aerial methods
Asset & Risk Profile
Estimated years before major replacement required
Unplanned Downtime
Include lost production, emergency repairs, environmental penalties
Asset & Risk Profile
Est. 10% reduction for demonstrated risk elimination
Early detection avoids 5% of deferred failure costs annually
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Inspection Cost Reduction
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Production Revenue Preserved
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Unplanned Downtime Avoided
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Estimated Annual Financial Savings
Inspection cost reduction (60-75% typical) -
Turnaround days reduced (production preserved) -
Scaffolding/access eliminated (est. 70%) -
Insurance premium reduction (est. 10%) -
Deferred maintenance failure avoided (5%) -
Unplanned downtime reduction (40% via predictive maintenance) -
ESTIMATED ANNUAL FINANCIAL SAVINGS -
Asset Lifecycle Extension
-
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Sources: Aberdeen Group — condition-based maintenance extends equipment life by 20% and reduces costs by 30%. McKinsey & Company (2017) — predictive maintenance reduces downtime by up to 50%. Opus Kinetic — avg refinery turnaround: $39M USD over 29 days.

Request Your Full Scoping Report

We'll prepare a detailed assessment based on your inputs above, including a tailored inspection program, timeline, and ROI analysis.

Risk Elimination Comparison: Oil & Gas Assets

Risk Elimination Comparison: Oil & Gas Assets
Asset Traditional Method Traditional Risk DeepSky Method Risk Eliminated Cost Impact
Flare Stacks Shutdown + scaffold to 80-120m Falls from extreme height, hot work, $500K-$2M shutdown Drone visual/thermal while operating Avoids shutdown entirely $500K-$2M saved per event
Pressure Vessels Confined space entry, toxic atmosphere (H2S, hydrocarbons), rescue team Fatality from atmospheric hazard Confined space drone captures visual, thermal, LiDAR, and 250 UTMs/hour. No human entry. No scaffolding. No rescue teams. Shutdown reduced from weeks to days. Zero human exposure to toxic atmosphere 60-80% reduction
Columns & Towers Internal scaffold or rope access, gas-free required Confined space + falls from height combined Confined space drone internal flight, systematic coverage Eliminates both hazards simultaneously 70-85% reduction
Storage Tanks (API 653) Scaffold internal, confined space entry, 3-7 days gas-free Confined space fatality, residual hydrocarbon exposure Confined space drone with UT payload, no gas-free required for visual Eliminates entry requirement 60-80% reduction
Subsea Pipelines & Risers Commercial diving, saturation diving at depth Drowning, decompression illness, hypothermia ROV with UTM probe, unlimited bottom time Eliminates all diving hazards 60-75% reduction
FPSOs / Platforms Rope access over water, dropped objects Over-water falls (often fatal), struck-by Drone topsides + ROV hull/risers Eliminates over-water fall risk 40-60% reduction

The Value Drivers

Quantified Value: Oil & Gas Inspection Program
Inspection Scope Traditional Cost Your Saving
Vessel inspection (internal, 10m diameter) $120K - $200KScaffold + confined entry + gas-free certification $90K - $170K per vessel
Flare stack inspection $500K - $2MFull shutdown + scaffold erection to 80-120m $490K - $1.98M per event
Subsea pipeline (1km section) $80K - $150KCommercial dive spread, 3-5 days $55K - $100K per km
Tank farm (10 tanks, API 653) $800K - $1.5MScaffold each tank + confined entry $500K - $1.2M per campaign
Annual inspection program (typical refinery) $2M - $5M $1.4M - $3.5M annually

Liability Mitigation

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (s.17-18), a PCBU must eliminate risks so far as is reasonably practicable. The hierarchy of controls mandates elimination as the first priority. If robotic inspection delivers the same data without human exposure, human entry for routine inspection is no longer "reasonably practicable."

Scope Your Next Turnaround Inspection

Whether you need a single tank entry or a facility-wide integrity assessment, we scope to your shutdown schedule, PTW requirements, and compliance obligations. No obligation. Scoping discussions define deliverables and program structure.

Applicable Services

A collage of four images showing different technological capabilities by DeepSky IQ: Aerial, underwater, a thermal image and a digital model of a city skyline.

Asset Inspection & Condition Intelligence

A tall building image representing how a drones will fly to capture a digital twin of a building by DeepSky IQ, featuring a digital overlay of a futuristic architectural structure in blue lines over a building.

Digital Twins & 3D to 8D Modelling

An industrial, rusty metal interior with a circular opening at the top letting in bright light. A confined space drone by DeepSky IQ hovers inside the cylindrical space, mapping a defect during an inspection.

Confined Space & 360° Interior Inspections

Dark-themed representation of a protfolio of assets after being inspected by DeepSky IQ to make more informed decsions and priotisation of resources by a Dashboard

Asset Monitoring Programs

Underwater ROV, using UTM to inspect the integrity of the hull of a ship by DeepSky IQ.

Underwater & Submerged Assets

Infrared radiometric thermal image of a gas pipeline with a leak at a valve flange connection taken by a drone from DeepSky IQ.

Thermal & Condition Assessments

deepSky IQ - Exterior drone and ground based soft washing shown cleaning a Gas terminal with the before and after images showing the excellent results they can achieve using less water, removing risks and faster than other methods

Aerial & Ground Based Washing

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Oil and gas inspection, integrity management, and zero-entry condition intelligence.

How do you inspect flare stacks without shutdown?
Our aerial platform inspects flare stacks while operating. High-resolution zoom and radiometric thermal capture tip condition, refractory lining, structural integrity, and guy wire tension from safe standoff distances. No shutdown, no scaffolding, no rope access. Traditional methods cost $500K-$2M per event when you include the shutdown window and lost production. Our approach eliminates that entirely.
What does confined space drone inspection involve for pressure vessels and tanks?
The vessel is isolated, drained, and ventilated. No full gas-free certification is required because no human enters the space. Our collision-tolerant drone captures visual, thermal, LiDAR, and ultrasonic thickness data (250 UTMs per hour) in a single deployment. An onboard gas sensor monitors for safety, triggering immediate withdrawal if combustible gas is detected. You eliminate confined space entry permits, rescue standby teams, internal scaffolding, and breathing apparatus. Shutdown windows reduce from weeks to days.
How do you detect corrosion under insulation (CUI) without removing lagging?
Radiometric thermal identifies CUI through temperature differential patterns in the insulation surface. Moisture trapped under lagging creates measurable thermal anomalies visible from the air. This screens large pipe rack runs rapidly, prioritising locations for targeted lagging removal rather than stripping entire systems. CUI causes 40-60% of piping failures in ageing facilities, making early detection critical to avoiding unplanned shutdowns.
Can drones detect gas leaks at refineries and processing plants?
Radiometric thermal detects pressurised gas leaks at flanges, valves, and pipe connections through the Joule-Thomson cooling effect. A single aerial campaign screens entire valve manifolds and tank connections without ground crew exposure. This is a screening tool that identifies leak locations for targeted repair. For quantified leak rates required under LDAR programs, optical gas imaging (OGI) with specialised spectral cameras is the appropriate method.
What ROI does robotic inspection deliver for oil and gas facilities?
Typical annual savings for a mid-size refinery: $1.4M-$3.5M through reduced scaffolding, eliminated shutdown days, and avoided confined space entry costs. A single flare stack inspection saves $490K-$1.98M by avoiding shutdown. A 10-tank API 653 campaign saves $500K-$1.2M by eliminating internal scaffolding and reducing gas-free duration. ROI is driven by recovered production days and eliminated access infrastructure, not just the inspection cost difference.
What subsea inspection capability do you have for pipelines and marine structures?
Inspection-class ROVs rated to 500m depth. 4K imaging, multibeam sonar, contact ultrasonic thickness measurement, and acoustic positioning. No commercial divers required. Topside power provides unlimited dive duration. All subsea data integrates into the same digital twin as aerial and internal inspection data, giving whole-of-asset condition visibility from a single platform.
How does your data integrate with our asset management systems?
Point clouds (LAS/LAZ), reality meshes, defect registers with severity classification, and compliance reports aligned to AS 3788, API 510/570/653. Delivered via browser-based 3D platform accessible from any device without software installation. Defect registers export to SAP PM, Maximo, or your existing CMMS. Georeferenced data enables change-over-time comparison across inspection cycles.
What safety certifications and approvals do you hold for oil and gas operations?
CASA-certified remote pilot licence (RePL) and operator certificate (ReOC) with advanced endorsements including EVLOS I and II, Enclosed BVLOS, and night operations. All operations integrate with your PTW system, SIMOPS requirements, and HAZID protocols. Full aviation safety case, Job Safety Analyses, and emergency response procedures provided for each campaign. $20M public liability and professional indemnity insurance.