Tokyo, July 1, 2024 – Terra Drone Corporation, a leading drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology company headquartered in Japan, and MODEC, Inc. (“MODEC”) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a joint research and development agreement to enhance inspection drones for Floating Production, Storage and Offloading system (FPSO). This agreement follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both companies on November 7, 2023.
Since November 2023, MODEC has continuously utilized Terra Drone’s drone technology to measure the hull thickness of crude oil storage tanks of FPSOs operating in Brazil. This implementation has yielded a safer inspection process by reducing the need for working at height. However, further optimization of drone inspection technology is essential to overcome the harsh working environments on offshore platforms. Due to issues with the current execution and efficiency of hull thickness measurements, the inspection tasks conducted by crew members have not yet been fully replaced by drones.
In order to enable FPSOs and other offshore platforms to operate safely for more than 20 years, maintaining asset integrity (1) is crucial. While periodic structure inspections are indispensable, there is a constraint that the inspection work must be performed in parallel with production operations by a limited number of crew members. Consequently, reducing manpower has become a shared challenge across the industry.
MODEC and Terra Drone have engaged in extensive technical discussions, identifying improvement areas based on field feedback, and agreed to pioneer in developing drone inspection technology tailored to the harsh environments of offshore platforms. The goal is to fully replace manual inspections of crude oil storage tanks with drones in the near future. By innovating drone inspection techniques, Terra Drone and MODEC aim, in the short term, to triple inspection efficiency and reduce inspection costs. Through these initiatives, we hope to deploy this drone inspection technology not only on MODEC-operated FPSOs but also widely throughout the industry, addressing shared industry challenges related to occupational safety and manpower reduction in offshore platform operations.
By virtue of this agreement, Terra Drone and MODEC will contribute to the sustainable operation of FPSOs and other offshore platforms from environmental, economic, and social perspectives by enhancing safety, reducing labor, and increasing efficiency in inspection operations.
Notes to Editor
1 Asset integrity: the ability of an asset to perform its intended function safely, effectively and in compliance with all relevant regulations, while minimizing risks to people, the environment, and the asset itself. It enables improvements in competitiveness and fosters sustainable growth.
About MODEC
MODEC is a leading contractor in Japan specializing in Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI), leasing and operation and maintenance (O&M) services of floating offshore facilities used in offshore oil and gas development projects, including FPSOs. As a leading company, MODEC is exploring the next generation of inspection technology to address the challenges facing the industry as a whole.
For more information, please visit https://www.modec.com/
About Terra Drone Corporation
Terra Drone is a pioneering drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology company headquartered in Japan, with the mission to [Unlock “X” Dimensions], creating a prosperous future by “crossing” bridges by integrating diverse fields to foster innovation and find solutions. Its proprietary, patented technologies in drones, sensors, software are the foundation of the specialized solutions—ranging from surveying and inspections to pesticide spraying—which are revolutionizing key industries including oil and gas, construction and engineering, chemicals, electricity, and agriculture on a global scale.
In July 2023, Terra Drone acquired a majority stake in Unifly, a world leading provider of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM) systems, having a proven track record of implementing its system on a national level in over eight countries. Terra Drone’s ambition is to develop comprehensive solutions for drones and UAM, with the overarching aim of establishing a digital infrastructure in the skies to maximize the potential of air mobility.
For more information, please visit our website: http://www.terra-drone.net
Media Contact
PR Team, Terra Drone Corporation
Tel: +81-3-6419-7193
Email: pr@terra-drone.co.jp
