ZALA AERO drones will be used to monitor the pipelines of the Samotlor field

Modernised ZALA AERO drones with new-generation payloads and updated software allowing automatic tracking of changes in the terrain will be used to monitor the pipelines of the Samotlor field and the Northern group of fields of Samotlorneftegaz JSC.

The work will be carried out using modernised ZALA 421-16E HD unmanned aircraft with artificial intelligence on board.

An innovation at this site will be the use of specialised software to automatically detect changes in terrain that have occurred over different periods of time.

Work on more than 750,000 kilometres will start in January 2022 and continue until the end of 2024. The monitoring is expected to enable rapid assessment of pipeline condition, third-party misconduct and other tasks.

The work will be carried out both from the stationary take-off site at the Samotlor field and from mobile command and control centres.