Shell has received federal approval to deploy drones on offshore oil platforms in the Gulf, aiming to speed up damage inspections and restart production sooner after hurricanes. The company expects its first drone to be installed at its Mars project, a deep-water oil and gas development in the Gulf, about 130 miles south of New Orleans, before the end of 2026 and estimates the technology could save nearly $50 million over three years by allowing production to resume a day earlier after major storms.
Shell plans to add at least five more drones in 2027, with the technology transmitting real-time footage to shore to identify damage and equipment problems without waiting for helicopter inspections. Bloomberg has the full story.
