The Use of Drones for Innovative Seismic Acquisition: A Change of Paradigm for HSE

The use of drones in the oil and gas industry is still relatively recent, and is currently unlocking new methods and approaches of geophysical acquisition and subsurface imaging. METIS®, a disruptive and integrated research project, employs the use of drones to perform an innovative 3D high density geophysical acquisition, that targets hard-to-access acreage. The benefits associated with the use of drones are easily recognized: an increased efficiency, fewer man hours, reduced HSE risks, and a lower environmental footprint. However a number of new safety, security, regulatory, and public perception issues are raised and need to be better understood before the use of drones can become standard practice. The acceptability of drones and a new method to assess the risks associated to METIS® drone operations is investigated. This study presents how the use of drones is changing the HSE risks associated with an onshore geophysical acquisition, but also how this technology brings new solutions to reduce them.