Case Study: a major oil and gas operator improves access-constrained inspection with Applus+ drone-based NDT

a major oil and gas operator validates drone NDT readings within tolerance with Applus+

The customer, a major oil and gas operator, faced the challenge of inspecting elevated and difficult-to-access assets, which traditionally required scaffolding or rope access, posing safety risks and operational disruption. Vendor Applus+ addressed this with a demonstration of its integrated drone-based inspection service, which combined aerial visual inspection with advanced non-destructive testing (NDT).

Applus+ implemented a solution using drone-mounted Ultrasonic Testing, Dry Film Thickness, and Pulsed Eddy Current techniques. The results showed that the drone-enabled inspection provided reliable data that correlated closely with conventional hands-on verification, all within acceptable tolerances. This approach reduced the need for temporary access systems, minimized personnel exposure to working at height, and enabled more efficient and safer inspection planning, confirming its validity for integration into established inspection frameworks.

Major Oil and Gas Operator