Pre-Turnaround Inspection: Unlike traditional methods requiring shutdowns, the Voliro T drone allowed for inspection while the flare stack was in service, enabling critical measurements before the turnaround and saving valuable time during the shutdown.
Streamlined Workforce: Efficiency markedly improved by reducing the necessary crew size and eliminating the need for crane operators and additional technicians, simplifying logistics and minimizing human resource deployment for inspection tasks.
Rapid Turnaround: The crew completed the flare stack inspection in just 2 hours, a significant reduction from the typical 3 days required using cranes, streamlining project schedules and minimizing downtime.
Significant Cost Savings: Employing the Voliro T drone demonstrated substantial financial benefits, potentially saving the client around $150,000 by reducing crane rental costs and labor expenses.
The field of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspections is transforming with the introduction of robotic technologies. Inspecting tall structures used to be costly and challenging, often requiring either the construction of scaffolding or the use of specialized rope access teams. These traditional methods were not only expensive and time-consuming but also placed human inspectors at significant risk from working at heights.
Voliro is at the forefront of this transformation with its advanced robotics technology. As a leader in aerial robotics for height-related tasks, Voliro’s drones are designed to carry out precision contact-based inspections close to structures. These drones come equipped with various NDT sensors and Lightning Protection System (LPS) sensors, meeting a wide range of inspection requirements with enhanced safety and efficiency.
Acuren is the leading provider of non-destructive testing and related rope access industrial services to energy and industrial end markets in North America. Acuren serves over 8,650 individual customer sites through its 5,300+ employees across more than 90 field offices in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
They use state-of-the-art technology and access optimization tactics to reduce or eliminate the need for slow, expensive scaffolding. In many cases, they can provide inspection services without the need to take plants offline and can often complete inspections within hours instead of days.
With their unrivaled spectrum of nondestructive testing and examination methods, you can be sure that you’re getting the highest quality, most reliable and most cost-effective inspection services possible from a leading industrial inspection company. From NDT inspection services to rope access and drone inspection services, Acuren is here to assist with all your industrial inspection needs.
Acuren conducted a thickness measurement inspection using Voliro T equipped with UT payload on an in-service 200-foot flare stack at a refinery in California. The goal was to obtain thickness measurements on the flare stack before the refinery’s next turnaround (shutdown), providing significant advantages over traditional methods. Typically, these measurements are taken during a turnaround, but performing them pre-turnaround offers substantial benefits.
The inspection, completed in just 2 hours with the Voliro T drone, demonstrated a remarkable improvement in efficiency. Traditional methods would require a technician to repel down the stack using a tall crane, which could take up to 3 days and cost approximately $150,000. Moreover, traditional inspections cannot be performed while the flare stack is in service, unlike the Voliro T inspection.
This approach not only saved the customer significant downtime and associated costs but also minimized human exposure to dangerous work conditions. By avoiding the need for expensive cranes and reducing the inspection time from days to hours, the customer experienced substantial cost savings. Additionally, the ability to perform inspections without interrupting operations allowed for a more streamlined and less hectic turnaround process.
The customer was extremely pleased with the outcome, highlighting the reduced downtime and enhanced data collection as primary advantages. Acuren’s use of cutting-edge technology and innovative inspection methods provided a reliable, cost-effective solution that improved safety and efficiency.
Our technology significantly enhances operational efficiency, making the process of inspections not only more reliable but also more cost-effective.
Choosing Voliro T for NDT inspection unlocks numerous benefits:
Maximize the utilization of shutdown time by conducting comprehensive inspections within the planned time frame
Conduct more thorough inspections in less time, increasing your efficiency and productivity
Significantly improve cost-effectiveness by streamlining inspection processes
Complement your traditional methods with cutting-edge drone technology, expanding your service portfolio and providing versatile solutions
