Trends in Laser Scanning for Oil and Gas

Imagine a technology that allows you enter a building, flash a light around, and then generate a 3D digital model in a fraction of the time it would normally take to gather measurements.

While it may sound like science fiction, that’s exactly what laser scanning does. Oil and gas companies can leverage the technology to generate 3D models of facilities to aid in design and fabrication of facilities and support digital remote management as well as remote training and walk-throughs.

Laser scanners produce models that are accurate to within millimeters, explains Zachary McNeil, owner of Proport Pipefitting. That offers huge efficiencies and cost savings to oil and gas companies, he says.

While laser scanning has been around for decades, today’s generation of laser scanners is far more efficient. The fastest laser scanner available completes a full scan in as little as 26 seconds. This means you can capture comprehensive data in a fraction of the time compared to other measurement methods. All of this data can be collected safely with a single operator working alone.

In this interview, McNeil discusses the key uses for laser scanners, where the technology generates the biggest value, and the trends that he sees emerging in the industry. He is joined by Greg Schneider, Industrial Plant Regional Manager for Leica Geosystems, who offers his advice on key things to look for in a technology provider and how he sees the industry evolving.  

Photo: Laser scanners allow you to generate an 'as built' model of your facilities. Credit: Zachary McNeil

Diana Davis, Oil and Gas IQ:  How exactly does laser scanning work?

Zachary McNeil, Owner, Proport Pipefitting: If you picture yourself standing in one spot and spin around 360 degrees, everything you see would be what the scanner sees and records. The difference is that the laser scanner records it and brings the data into AutoCAD with millimeter accuracy so it enables you to create a true ‘as built’ of what you're seeing.

Diana Davis, Oil and Gas IQ: It sounds like Star Trek. How is laser scanning being used in the oil and gas and the broader energy sector?

Zachary McNeil, Proport Pipefitting: Scanning is being used in lots of areas but mainly in construction and as-built modeling. One example is scanning the site so that you can create an “as built” model to take operators through for safety training.

The area that I work in mainly is fabrication construction for piping. We scan everything after it's been placed or set and then we model the piping for the interconnecting pieces.

Diana Davis, Oil and Gas IQ:  What value does it bring to the operators who are involved in energy projects?

Zachary McNeil, Proport Pipefitting: The cost savings are huge. When equipment shows up, the piping is already fabricated and ready to bolt up. It fits every single time.

Contrast that with what used to happen. Before, for instance, you would have to wait until the building or piece of equipment showed up on site. Then, fitters would have to pull tape or string lines from flange to flange and basically create one at a time. With laser scanning, it’s significantly faster and it virtually eliminates rework.

Diana Davis, Oil and Gas IQ: What are some of the leading-edge uses of the point cloud data that you're seeing among your client base?

Zachary McNeil, Proport Pipefitting:  Engineers in drafting departments are using the data to create their mechanical packages now so that their solution is turn-key. They can fabricate right away and take notes off their drawing. Laser scanning gives them confidence in their measurements and eliminates the need for fitters to measure pipe, which saves them hundreds of thousands of dollars on a project.

Diana Davis, Oil and Gas IQ: How important is 3D digital data capture?

Zachary McNeil, Proport Pipefitting: It’s becoming a norm as engineers and oil and gas companies see how beneficial this technology is. Many tenders for design work from oil and gas companies now have laser scanning as a requirement. You have to be able to do scanning or you can’t even bid on the job.

Diana Davis, Oil and Gas IQ: What advice would you give to oil and gas operators about what they should be looking for in a laser scanning solution provider?

Zachary McNeil, Proport Pipefitting: In my opinion, it comes down to personal preference and affordability. I've used Leica instruments from the time I started measuring pipe, and I’ve found them to be reliable, and very accurate. The support from Leica has been phenomenal throughout my whole career. They do the job, and they do it very well.

Diana Davis, Oil and Gas IQ: Greg, turning to you now, you’ve worked in this space for decades. What advice would you give to oil and gas operators looking for a laser scanning solution provider?

Greg Schneider, Leica Geosystems: Organizations that prefer to outsource their laser scanning work should look for a knowledgeable resource that goes beyond simply meeting accuracy specifications and deliverable requirements to provide real value.

Proport Pipefitting is a great example. Make sure the service provider has a solid field-to-office workflow process and can provide details on that process in their proposal.

Is the service provider designing in the accuracy of the point cloud and using that data to validate their designs? How usable is the data in your current project and processes? Is the service being provided improving your processes?

These are all questions to consider.

Organizations that want to bring the technology in-house should look for quality, reliability, ease of use, and support.

Digital twins bring extraordinary value, but the underlying as-built data has to be accurate, usable, and accessible to realize those benefits. Look for a manufacturer with a proven track record of performance and innovation, and talk to others who use the technology. And if you are relying on a service provider, make sure they’re using the best technology for the job.

Diana Davis, Oil and Gas IQ: What other trends do you  see coming down the pipeline – no pun intended – for the industry?

Zachary McNeil, Proport Pipefitting: Virtual Reality is emerging as one of the big trends.  Operators and engineers can use virtual reality to get a sense of actually being in the plant so they can see the height of valves, orientation, catwalk platform heights, etc. It enables the people making executive decisions to virtually walk through the plant remotely from their head offices.

Diana Davis, Oil and Gas IQ: Greg, do you have anything to add to what Zachary has said?

Greg Schneider, Leica Geosystems: The digital twin isn’t only about engineering- or survey-grade accurate data; it’s about documenting the facility. Laser scan data – the point cloud – is the most accurate representation of reality, the true facility as-built.

Seeing and having general facility information that can be shared quickly throughout the entire organization is invaluable, and the use of laser scan data as the currency for this information is growing rapidly as the technology continues to advance.

Mobile laser scanning solutions capture accurate enough GIS-type data very quickly. Now this GIS level data can be collected autonomously by deploying mobile laser scanning solutions that can continuously scan and capture panoramic images of a facility. They can deploy robotic dogs or install these devices on their existing autonomous robots/systems that travel the facility on a regular basis to update their digital twin data without requiring an operator.

The capture of data for a digital twin is becoming limitless, and the applications for this data will continue to grow.

Interested in Learning More About this Topic? 

Leica Geosystems will be hosting a workshop on "Developing a High Value Digital Twin" at Oil and Gas IQ's upcoming Operational Excellence in Energy, Chemicals & Resources conference in Calgary 31 May - 2 June 2022. Go behind the scenes with their experts and find out how laser scanning reality capture can help you optimize safety, efficiency and environmental responsibility. Find out more about the event here.