Drone operation system launched to boost offshore oilfield management efficiency in China's Beibu Gulf

A drone operation system designed to support offshore oilfield operations was officially deployed in the Beibu Gulf of the South China Sea on Saturday, marking a major step forward in integrating marine energy development with low-altitude drone technology.

The system completed its pilot phase at the Weizhou 12-1 oilfield's central platform, which handles crude oil processing and centralized outward transportation for 13 surrounding production platforms, supported by 18 subsea pipelines totaling 238 kilometers in length.

In the past, to ensure the safety of these subsea pipelines, regular inspections had to be carried out using tugboats.

The tugboats would depart from the platform and sail along the pipeline route. A complete inspection would take 33 hours, with fuel costs alone reaching tens of thousands of yuan per mission.

Moreover, the process would be highly susceptible to sea conditions, and inspections had to be postponed in adverse weather.

"With the drones, we can transmit real-time footage back to our central control. The drones have greatly increased our inspection efficiency by 30 percent," said Li Yanchuang, director of the Weizhou 12-1 oilfield of the Zhanjiang Company of China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

The drone system has now been deployed across 41 offshore platforms and two onshore terminals across China, supporting subsea pipeline inspections, logistics delivery, and emergency response operations.

"To date, we have inspected more than 3,600 kilometers of pipelines and deployed drones for small cargo and meal deliveries, saving us nearly 15 million yuan (about 2.2 million U.S. dollars) annually in vessel rental and fuel costs and cut carbon emissions by 25,000 tons. This truly achieves cost reduction, efficiency increase and intelligent upgrade in the operation of offshore oilfields," said Meng Wenbo, Manager of Coordination at the company.

However, achieving large-scale and routine drone operations at sea has never been an easy task. Developers of the drone system have overcame significant challenges, particularly those posed by limited maritime communication coverage.

"We have realized data transmission and communication by deploying self-assembled communication base stations and equipping drones with communication modules. In addition, we have adopted a solution combining the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System with BeiDou ground stations to meet high-precision navigation requirements of the drones, which ensures seamless coverage and stable flight in complex environments and areas beyond the reach of shore-based signals," Li said.

In addition, the drones are also custom-designed to withstand the sea's high-temperature, high-salinity, and high-humidity conditions, which can severely corrode electronic components and airframe materials.

"In light of the specific environmental conditions of the offshore oil industry, we've carried out tailored research and development, promoting the upgrade of domestically produced drones in the high-end manufacturing sector. Based on this, we have preliminarily established China's first set of operational and management standards for drones used in offshore oilfield operations," Meng said.

Drone operation system launched to boost offshore oilfield management efficiency in China's Beibu Gulf

Drone operation system launched to boost offshore oilfield management efficiency in China's Beibu Gulf

People in Yemen are struggling for survival as the country continues to grapple with a deepening labor crisis after more than a decade of war, with many lamenting the lack of opportunities which are leaving the livelihoods of many hanging in the balance.

As the world marks International Workers' Day on Friday, the situation in Yemen seems all the more poignant as millions of people are finding it increasingly hard to find any work at all.

In the crowded streets of the capital Sana'a, workers gather on street corners, waiting for jobs that may never come. Ahmed Muawadah is one of the many who are sitting here, watching passing cars, desperately hoping that one will stop and offer work.

"Our suffering is that we sit here without work. Sometimes we spend a whole month without working, except for one day, or just one day every two weeks. Work is very limited, almost non-existent. I have nine children, and I only work one day a month. I cannot support them. Jobs have completely disappeared. If opportunities were opened for us, I and all the workers would work," said Muawadah.

This individual story reflects a broader reality affecting an estimated eight million workers across Yemen. Many of them are hoping to receive a daily wage, but the challenges are mounting in an increasingly strained labor market.

Activity in key sectors such as construction and services has dropped sharply, largely due to the suspension of several international initiatives, including those backed by the World Bank. As a result, income opportunities have narrowed for those who rely primarily on daily wages.

Meanwhile, the widening impact of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and the disruption caused along the key Strait of Hormuz -- a key shipping route for global trade -- has brought more misery in recent weeks.

"There has been a significant decline in business activity as a result of the war, the blockade, and the disruption of work. Foreign capital has also left the country, and large companies have moved out of Yemen and stopped their operations. This is one of the main reasons," said Abdul Karim Al, secretary general of the General Federation of Trade Unions in Sana'a.

Yemen residents struggling to survive as work dries up amid deepening labor crisis