Aramco Sheyba Plant Drone Inspection

About the work

ATINUM supported Aramco Sheyba NGL Plant in evaluating advanced drone inspection technology through a complete aerial inspection test conducted on August 15, 2023. The inspection assessed the DJI Enterprise M300 RTK drone integrated with Zenmuse H20T for high-quality visual and thermal inspection, and the U10 sensor for methane gas detection. The missions were executed through controlled flight operations over defined plant areas to capture inspection data and verify the drone system’s practical suitability for improving safety, operational efficiency, and environmental compliance within gas plant operations.

Objective

• Assess the quality and effectiveness of visual inspection using DJI M300 RTK + H20T
• Evaluate the drone’s thermal inspection capability to detect anomalies and heat signatures
• Test and validate methane gas detection and leak monitoring using the U10 sensor
• Determine feasibility of integrating drone inspection into daily gas plant operations
• Enhance inspection safety, speed, and environmental responsibility through UAV technology

Goal

Improve plant inspection efficiency and safety by using UAV-based visual, thermal, and methane detection inspections to enable faster issue identification and stronger environmental compliance.

Outcome

• Completed a full drone inspection evaluation at Aramco Sheyba NGL Plant
• Captured high-resolution visual inspection imagery of plant assets using DJI M300 RTK + H20T
• Performed thermal inspections to identify heat-related anomalies, supporting faster detection of hidden issues
• Conducted methane gas inspection missions using DJI U10, demonstrating efficient aerial gas leak detection
• Validated drone inspection benefits including improved safety (less exposure to hazardous zones), faster inspections, and enhanced environmental monitoring
• Confirmed practical suitability for adoption, supporting future integration of drone technology into ongoing plant inspection operations