Last updated at 16:43, Monday, 30 July 2012

A HIGH-TECH helicopter which normally keeps an eye on insurgents in Afghanistan has been taking to the skies in Barrow.

STATE-OF-THE-ART: An unmanned aerial vehicle, normally used in Afghanistan to keep an eye on insurgents, being used at Barrow gas terminals. From left, Gary Livingstone, Alistair Fox and Phil Horrocks SUBMITTED

But this remote-controlled vehicle was not used because of any threat of a terrorist attack.

The unmanned aerial vehicle – converted for civil use – flew up 10 storeys to take a closer look at flare and chimney stacks at Barrow’s gas terminals.

The move was a first for Centrica Energy and offered a safer and cheaper way to check the terminals for signs of damage during the annual maintenance shutdown.

The £100,000 kit is equipped with a high-definition film camera to take close-up movie-quality footage and still pictures, which can then be transmitted live to people on the ground. Gary Livingston, senior mechanical integrity engineer, oversaw the project.

He said: “Using this helicopter brought us three major benefits. It cut out the need for people working at height, so it reduces risk.

“It saves money on scaffolding and craning operations, as some of our stacks that flare unwanted gas are 30 metres high and we would need a lot to carry out an inspection.

“And of course it saves time – two and-a-half days to inspect two flare stacks, two compressor stacks and an incinerator tower, compared to about two days for each if you get a couple of guys up there.”

The machine, built by Air Rotor Media with Micro Drones UK, also delivered video and still images of components that cannot be seen from the ground.

Phil Horrocks, asset integrity manager for Centrica in the east Irish Sea, said it has the potential to transform the way the company inspects its equipment, onshore and off.

He said: “If development of this technique carries on as we expect, we want to explore using the helicopter to inspect structures and platforms offshore.

“This would make a huge difference, reducing risk and saving money and time.

“The UAV could reach really difficult spots, such as the underside of platforms, by flying inside the structure. There is huge potential.”

First published at 16:16, Monday, 30 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk