Inspecting a pipeline with an unmanned aerial vehicle

A pipeline inspection system, comprising:

• at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operable to travel in an airspace above a pipeline configured to transport a hydrocarbon fluid, the at least one UAV comprising:
• at least one power source configured to provide power to the at least one UAV,
• a plurality of sensors configured to detect a leak of the hydrocarbon fluid from the pipeline, and
• a communication module;
• and
• a control system communicably coupled with the communication module of the at least one UAV and configured to perform operations comprising:
• operating the at least one UAV to travel at a first altitude range in the airspace above a first detection zone of the pipeline,
• identifying a measurement, taken at the first altitude range, from a first sensor of the plurality of sensors that indicates a location of a potential leak of the hydrocarbon fluid from the pipeline,
• based on the identified measurement from the first sensor, operating the at least one UAV to descend from the first altitude range to a second altitude range and travel at the second altitude range lower than the first altitude range in the airspace above a second detection zone of the pipeline to confirm the location of the potential leak and a presence of the potential leak of the hydrocarbon fluid, the second detection zone smaller than the first detection zone,
• identifying a measurement, taken at the second altitude range, from a second sensor different than the first sensor of the plurality of sensors,
• confirming, based on the measurement taken at the second altitude range from the second sensor, the location and the presence of the potential leak of the hydrocarbon fluid from the pipeline, and
• generating a recommended action based on at least one of the identified measurement from the first or second sensors.

A pipeline inspection method, comprising:

• operating at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in an airspace above a pipeline configured to transport a hydrocarbon fluid, the at least one UAV comprising:
• at least one power source configured to provide power to the at least one UAV, and
• a plurality of sensors configured to detect a leak of the hydrocarbon fluid from the pipeline;
• and
• commanding the at least one UAV to travel at a first altitude range in the airspace above a first detection zone of the pipeline;
• identifying a measurement, taken at the first altitude range, from a first sensor of the plurality of sensors that indicates a location of a potential leak of the hydrocarbon fluid from the pipeline;
• based on the identified measurement from the first sensor, commanding the at least one UAV to descend from the first altitude range to a second altitude range and travel at the second altitude range lower than the first altitude range in the airspace above a second detection zone of the pipeline to confirm the location of the potential leak and a presence of the potential leak of the hydrocarbon fluid, the second detection zone smaller than the first detection zone;
• identifying a measurement, taken at the second altitude range, from a second sensor different than the first sensor of the plurality of sensors;
• confirming, based on the measurement taken at the second altitude range from the second sensor, the location and the presence of the potential leak of the hydrocarbon fluid from the pipeline;
• and
• generating a recommended action based on at least one of the identified measurement from the first or second sensors.