As oil and gas assets age and safety expectations rise, the industry is turning to advanced technologies to monitor corrosion more effectively. In an interview with Azernews, Azer Valiyev, Engineering Manager at SOCAR Upstream Management International, explains how drones, robotic crawlers, and artificial intelligence are transforming inspections in hazardous and confined environments - while reducing downtime and protecting personnel.

From high-risk access to remote precision

Valiyev notes that drones and robotic crawlers are fundamentally reshaping corrosion inspection practices, particularly in areas that were once difficult or dangerous to access. Traditionally, inspections required scaffolding, rope-access teams, confined-space entry, or even full shutdowns of assets. Today, he says, much of this risk has been eliminated.

“Drones and crawlers allow us to perform the same inspections without putting people in danger,” Valiyev explains. According to the expert, drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging systems can safely inspect flare stacks, tank roofs, ship hulls, and offshore structures while operations continue.

What once took days of preparation can now be........

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