Chevron and Percepto Collaborate on AI-Driven Drone Inspections
On March 10, 2025, Chevron Corporation, based in San Ramon, California, and Percepto, a drone technology firm from Austin, Texas, celebrated the completion of a six-month pilot program exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in remote inspection tasks. This initiative, launched near Midland, Texas, aims to evaluate the effectiveness of AI-enhanced autonomous monitoring for facility management.
The primary goal of the program is to diminish the time field teams spend on the road, thus allowing them to concentrate on other important tasks while enhancing response times for any identified issues. “With advanced technology, we can take a more proactive approach to managing our operations,” stated Kerri Harvey, the Operations Superintendent at Chevron’s Midland Basin. “This enables us to make smarter decisions and remain aligned with our commitment to responsible energy production.”
Percepto’s drones, which execute pre-programmed missions, utilize AI to identify anomalies, triggering automated alerts whenever irregularities are detected. The integration of this technology with facility management systems, including remotely operated valves and sensors, boosts monitoring capabilities without increasing the workload for existing personnel.
In the first three months of the program, Chevron noted enhanced monitoring efficiency, quicker detection of issues, and time savings for its employees. Harvey further remarked, “Leveraging automation allows our teams to be on the road less and focus more on high-priority tasks. This not only preserves the safety of our workforce but also directs resources to areas where they can have the most significant impact.”
This initiative showcases a growing trend in the energy sector toward utilizing AI and automation, emphasizing operational enhancements. Dor Abuhasira, CEO of Percepto, highlighted the importance of such technology, stating, “This is what AI-powered automation is all about—providing operators with the ability to inspect more areas, detect issues more rapidly, and make informed decisions using real-time data, all without adding strain to operations.”
Chevron’s initial findings underscore the promise of autonomous monitoring systems in enhancing safety and operational efficiency in industrial environments.
