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"Fly Me to the Moon: Drone Use and Regulations in the Oilfield"

Joseph Dancy
University of Oklahoma College of Law

Abstract

Technological advances involving drilling and development have increased the value of properties by millions of dollars as operations become more efficient and profitable. Many of these technological advances have generated new legal, regulatory and strategic challenges.

The most recent technological advance in the oil field involves the use of drones, otherwise known as unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) or unmanned aerial systems (“UASs”). Drones, or UAVs or UASs, are being utilized in the energy sector to address a number of tasks:

• To inspect flare stacks, refinery towers, tanks, and equipment located in dangerous or hard to access areas

• To survey well site and pipelines before commencing construction activity to document the extent of damage caused by the development or repair

• To monitor methane, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, or xylene (“BTEX”) emissions from oil field equipment

• To investigate property for latent environmental defects, or for pre-existing damage, prior to conducting developmental activity

• To survey leases, rights of way, or potential well site locations

• To survey equipment, pipe lines, or gathering systems for corrosion, damage, leaks or spills

Applicable federal, state and local regulations will be discussed, as well as case studies and drone footage from Permian Basin operations. Best practices, as well as legal issues involved in the use of drones will be examined.

Speaker

Joseph Dancy is the Executive Director of the University of Oklahoma College of Law new Oil & Gas, Natural Resource, and Energy Center and teaches several courses on oil and gas law, energy law, environmental law and litigation and energy finance. He is a Texas Representative of the Oil & Gas Compact Commission and is also Adjunct Professor at the SMU Maguire Energy Institute and Faculty Advisor for the SMU Spindletop student managed portfolio. He has published numerous articles, discussing cybersecurity, operational, and regulatory issues involving the energy sector. He has a law, MBA, and Metallurgical Engineering / Mineral Processing degree.