Gazprom Neft has successfully tested the first Russian multifunctional geological exploration aerial complex. The drone performs several types of geophysical surveys at once, which were previously carried out exclusively with the help of aviation or ground equipment. The equipment allows to cut costs by half in comparison with manned aircraft and 50 times to accelerate the time of geological exploration in relation to ground methods. The aero complex was developed by the Gazprom Neft Science and Technology Center, Gazpromneft-GEO and Gazpromneft-Digital Solutions.
The drone is capable of conducting multi-level magnetic prospecting, shallow electrical prospecting, aerial photography, as well as monitoring field work using video in the visible spectrum and infrared range. For the first time in Russia, some of these studies were conducted using a drone.
The drone can survey about 200 km2 per day. And ground reconnaissance methods cover only 4 km2 during the same time. The drone is planned to be used for work both in central Russia and in the Arctic. The equipment is capable of operating at air temperatures below -40 C, wind gusts up to 20 m / s, in rain and snow with up to 5 mm of precipitation.
In 2019, Gazprom Neft began using drones for multilevel magnetometric aerial photography. Large-scale tests of drones in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra in early 2021 proved that they are effective in other studies as well.
“The use of new technologies, in the development and replication of which Gazprom Neft systematically invests, is a priority tool for increasing the speed and quality of gathering geological information for decision-making. – noted Yuri Masalkin, Director for Geological Exploration and Development of the Resource Base of Gazprom Neft. “Taking into account the increasing remoteness and inaccessibility of license areas, we already regard unmanned aerial vehicles as an integral exploration tool.”
