Energy major, ExxonMobil is redefining offshore oil and gas inspections in Angola by swapping ropes and risky manual checks for high-tech drones and 3D sonar imaging. The move is not only cutting inspection times by more than half but also boosting safety, data accuracy, and efficiency across its deepwater operations.
The company invests roughly $1 billion annually in new technologies, and its latest focus on drone-based inspections and 3D sonar imaging is already proving to be a game-changer.
At a pre-conference session ahead of the Angola Oil & Gas 2025 summit, Vera Veloso, Integrity Engineering Supervisor at ExxonMobil, explained how drones and sonar are making operations safer, faster, and more precise. The company holds interests in three deepwater blocks in Angola, including Block 17, and is gradually replacing traditional inspection practices such as rope-access teams with drone-powered solutions.
“These drones can reach hazardous areas without human intervention. This boosts safety and efficiency, while allowing inspections to take place without shutting down operations,” Veloso said. According to her, ExxonMobil has already cut inspection time by 60%, while significantly improving data quality and minimizing disruptions.
Beyond drones, the company is deploying echoscope technology that uses 3D sonar imaging to capture highly accurate data in underwater conditions, even where visibility is near zero. The system enables real-time monitoring, validates trench dimensions, and identifies anomalies around subsea infrastructure. “The main benefit is accuracy, we can measure more dimensions of the trench and conduct surveys more efficiently without visibility limitations,” Veloso added.
Looking to the future, ExxonMobil is exploring AI-driven robotics, autonomous drones capable of acoustic and ultrasonic inspections, AI-powered digital twins for predictive maintenance, and advanced connectivity tools like 5G and Starlink for remote operations.
The shift signals ExxonMobil’s broader ambition to integrate advanced technologies into its Angolan operations, strengthening efficiency while reinforcing its commitment to safety and sustainability in one of Africa’s most critical oil and gas markets.
