SKY-FUTURES, a London based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industrial inspection company, has recently spent time in the Middle East exhibiting at Adipec and meeting with new clients.

Set up just over four years ago, Sky-Futures have developed a safe, high technology solution for onshore and offshore oil and gas infrastructure inspections.

Using rotary unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), Sky-Futures’ inspection teams are deployed to inspect assets such as live flare stacks, flare booms, under deck splash zones and emergency inspections.

The UAVs, although new technology, are now recognised as a core inspection tool in the UK North sea and elsewhere.

The main focus is two-fold: increased safety and improved cost efficiency for inspection work. The UAV inspection teams also have the ability to carry out their work quickly and get the information back to the client engineers promptly. This enables almost real time, fact based decision making.

Sky-Futures has already started engaging with a number of Middle Eastern oil companies and operators who are very interested in the technology and the value it adds to oil and gas operations. Work in the Middle East is expected to start in early 2014 with inspections of both onshore and offshore assets.

Speaking about Sky-Futures plans for growth in the Middle East, Chris Blackford, operations director says: “This is an exciting time for Sky-Futures. Having established our reputation for safety and efficiency in the UK North Sea, we look forward to establishing a reputation for service excellence with our Middle Eastern clients.”