Oil & Gas Pipeline, Shaanxi

Project Background

Traditional manual inspection methods for long-distance oil and gas pipelines often face challenges including large inspection areas, complex outdoor environments, high labor requirements, and operational safety risks. In remote pipeline scenarios, dispersed inspection points and demanding inspection frequencies further increase operational complexity.

To improve inspection automation and intelligent operation capabilities, a project in Yulin, Shaanxi deployed an autonomous methane inspection solution provided by BLV Technology. The solution integrates an industrial UAV platform, laser methane detection equipment, a drone docking station, and the customer’s management platform to achieve fully automated inspection workflows.

The project successfully completed on-site testing, system integration, and final delivery, demonstrating the practical feasibility of autonomous UAV inspection in oil and gas pipeline applications.

Solution Overview

The project adopted a multi-device collaborative inspection system to establish a fully automated oil and gas inspection workflow.

UAV Platform

The system utilized the DJI Matrice 400 industrial drone platform, capable of stable autonomous flight along predefined inspection routes.

Methane Detection Equipment

The UAV was equipped with the BL-CH4 400 based on TDLAS (Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy) technology for long-range, non-contact methane detection.

Key capabilities include:

• High-sensitivity detection of low-concentration methane leaks

• Real-time methane concentration monitoring

• Dynamic leak detection during flight operations

• Rapid identification of abnormal leakage areas

• Integration with automated inspection systems

Drone Docking Station

The project incorporated an autonomous drone docking station system capable of:

• Automated drone storage

• Intelligent charging

• Automatic takeoff and landing

• Mission scheduling and unattended operation

Data Management Platform

Inspection data was automatically uploaded to the customer’s management platform for:

• Alarm management

• Data storage and traceability

• Inspection task management

• Remote operation and maintenance monitoring

Project Implementation

During on-site deployment in Yulin, Shaanxi, the project team completed system integration and field testing for the entire inspection solution.

The UAV automatically executed inspection tasks along predefined routes while collecting methane concentration data in real time and transmitting it to the management platform. After completing the mission, the UAV automatically returned to the docking station for landing and charging.

Field testing verified stable operation of the following functions:

• Automatic takeoff and return

• Autonomous route inspection

• Real-time methane leak detection and alarms

• Automatic inspection data upload and storage

• Remote monitoring of equipment status and alarms

• Customizable inspection schedules

Project Results

Improved Inspection Automation

The integration of UAVs, methane detection equipment, and drone docking systems enabled fully automated inspection workflows.

Reduced Operational Risks

The solution minimized the need for personnel to frequently enter hazardous outdoor environments, improving inspection safety.

Higher Inspection Efficiency and Coverage

Automated operations increased inspection frequency and expanded pipeline coverage for routine monitoring.

Rapid Methane Leak Identification

The system quickly detected abnormal methane concentration areas, providing accurate data support for maintenance and risk management.

Digitalized Operation Management

Inspection data was automatically recorded and stored for future analysis, traceability, and operational management.

Project Value

The Yulin deployment successfully demonstrated the practical implementation of autonomous UAV inspection technology for long-distance oil and gas pipeline applications.

By integrating UAV platforms, laser methane detection equipment, drone docking stations, and management systems, BLV Technology provides the energy industry with a smarter, safer, and more efficient inspection solution.

The solution is suitable for broader deployment across oil & gas, power utilities, chemical plants, and large-scale energy infrastructure applications, supporting the industry’s transition toward intelligent and digitalized safety operations.

Video：https://youtu.be/Mmdvfer1C0A?si=eYw2W4IsXiGZ56b9