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AIS Case Study - Confined Space Leak Survey using Drones

Objective

Confined space drone inspection survey as part of a scheduled asset integrity management programs.

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The Project

This example shows us performing an integrity survey of a vertical shaft bearing assembly on a rotary heater inside a 510-Megawatt gas fired power station.

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Key Results

  • Detect, validate, quantify, geo-tag, and report oil leaks from the bearing and casing assembly while flying inside the rotary heater.

  • Annotated photos of potential leak sources.

  • Marked-up drawings.

  • High-definition videos of the observed leak locations.

  • Quickly, safely and cost effectively locate leaks inside structures

  • Quantify shut-down work scope.

  • Save overall labour (cost) and reduce risk using experienced leak detection personnel and dedicated technology.

  • Expedite maintenance shut-downs through early issue detection in the inspection and test plan (ITP)

  • Capture visual context of asset integrity issues,

  • Measure deviation to prioritise and scope repair costs.

  • Manage occupational risk by eliminating the need for confined space entry of inspection personnel.

Key Challenges

Hazardous Environment 

  • Confined Space.

 

Hazardous work areas

  • A Pitch black working environment.

  • No detailed as-built drawings of the asset.

  • GPS denied environment.

  • Tight working space with obstructions.

  • Working in proximity to protruding surfaces

  • Working at Height

  • Noisy environment

 

AIS Survey Solution

 

Confined Space Drones

  • On-board adjustable lighting.

  • On-board LiDAR scanner to generate a point cloud.

  • On-board gyro-stabilisation.

  • Flight referencing the LiDAR point cloud.

  • Experienced Drone pilots performing precise and accurate flight inside the workspace.

  • On-board thermography.

 

Risk Management

  • AIS is experienced operating drones in hazardous Oil & Gas Process plants and Petroleum Refining Plants.

  • Comprehensive JSEA Job Safety & Environmental Assessments.

  • Civil Aviation Safety Authority approved drone operations risk management system.

Value Added

Risk minimisation

  • Eliminate requirement for inspection personnel to enter the confined space.

 

Cost Savings

  • Significant cost & time saved by eliminating scaffold erection inside the workspace.

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Reporting & Data Visualisation

  • Marked-up conventional 2-D images, video and 360 Degree panoramic SiteView scenes of leak locations.

  • Contextually rich scene information that facilitate risk assessment and repair action prioritisation.

  • 360 Degree panoramic SiteView of the point of interest providing a visual reference for all personnel when developing remediation work scopes.

 

Related AIS Shutdown Services

  • Plant shut-down work-pack collaboration and digital twin reality capture services.

  • Confined space asset surveys using reality capture sensors on remote operated vehicles: AISS-ROV 360

  • Regulated Leak Detection And Risk Management (LDAR) monitoring programs.

  • Inert Gas- Instrument Air, Compressed Air.Ultrasonic Leak Detection.

  • Flare tip condition monitoring programs.​

  • Gas Turbine Leak Surveys

 

Contact us to discuss how we can help you with your asset integrity management programs

Client

Gas Fired Power Station

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Work Site

510 MegaWatt Power Station

Victoria, Australia

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Type of work

Shut-Down Asset Integrity Surveys

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Scope of work

  • On-Site Risk Management, JSEA, Permitting

  • Leak Detection

  • Quantification

  • Leak Risk Assessment

  • Asset Condition Capture

  • Contextual Reporting

  • Repair Action Priority Assessment

  • Asset Integrity Verification

AIS Elios 3 Confined Space drone with LiDAR
AIS Elios 3 Confined Space drone with LiDAR
AIS Elios 3 Confined Space drone with LiDAR
AIS Elios 3 Confined Space drone with LiDAR
AIS Elios 3 Confined Space drone
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