Skyports and Equinor have partnered to trial drone delivery to off-shore drilling platforms.
by DRONELIFE Staff Author Ian J. McNabb
Skyports Drone Services, a UK-based drone logistics company, and Equinor, a Norweigan energy firm, have partnered up for a brand new trial program that may see electric drones delivering supplies and other cargo to off-shore drilling platforms within the North Sea. The 2-month flight program, launched in early September, is the primary every day offshore delivery project piloted from dry land. Skyports has already accomplished dozens of cargo runs, and is scheduled to finish lots of more before the project winds up, delivering supplies like spare parts, equipment, and care packages. Each firms hope electric drones may be an answer to the recurring problems with North Sea logistics, including the punishing weather conditions and infrequently limited visibility. Each firms also touted the environmentally friendly nature of the UAV transports, that are fully emissions-free.
The project chosen Australian company Swoop Aero’s Kite UAV, which may fly as much as 70 miles (or 114 km) from Equinor’s Mongstad-based logistics center on the west coast of Norway to a few installations on the Gullfaks oil field within the north sea, along with intra-rig transports. The fixed-wing drone, which may carry as much as 11 lbs or 5 kg, has a maximum range of 175 km in the sort of inauspicious conditions found offshore.
In a press release, Alex Brown, Director of Skyports Drone Services, said, “This project with Equinor proves that drone delivery can offer a safer, cost-effective, more sustainable alternative to standard transport methods in offshore environments. The offshore energy sector is perfectly placed to profit from drone deliveries as a consequence of the inherent time sensitive nature of working offshore, in addition to the acute remoteness and ruggedness of operations. We’re currently exploring how we are able to expand this groundbreaking work into adjoining sectors equivalent to offshore wind and ship resupply”.
Skyports Drone Services has worked with Avinor and the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway to secure flight permissions.
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