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bp ventures has made a 拢3 million equity investment in Flylogix 鈥� a pioneering unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) business that uses drones to aid methane detection.听听

The financial injection is part of a funding round led by Amati Global Investors, totalling 拢6 million. Flylogix combines its UAV with artificial intelligence, satellite communications and听 methane sensor technology, from partner SeekOps, to monitor and measure methane in some听 of the most remote and relentless locations in the world.听

Flylogix, which holds the UK record for the longest commercial drone flight, has worked with bp since 2018, to monitor assets across the UK North Sea. Its unmanned aircrafts take听 measurements that verify emissions safely, reliably and consistently, helping to validate the听 accurate reporting of emissions data.听听

The investment supports bp鈥榮 Aim 4 of installing methane measurement on all existing major oil听 and gas processing sites by 2023 and deliver a 50% reduction in methane intensity across its听 operations.听听

David Hayes, managing partner of bp ventures, said: 鈥�We are investing in companies that can听 help us with our Net Zero ambition and aims. And Flylogix has been instrumental in how we听 undertake measurements of methane emissions in the North Sea. Accurate emissions听 measurements are the basis upon which mitigation plans are based 鈥� we look forward to听 continuing our partnership with Flylogix as it expands into new regions.“

During the flight, the aircraft manages itself autonomously with pilot oversight from shore. It can 听fly as close as 250m away from installations. Flylogix then live streams data collected by a 听SeekOps sensor on its wingtip to the onshore support crew 鈥� the sensor technology was 听originally designed by NASA for the Mars Curiosity Rover.听

This technique provides bp and other operators with accurate and quantifiable emission data听 which can improve how that data is assessed and collated.听

This method of methane monitoring supports bp and the wider industry in its efforts to monitor听 and drive down emissions from its operations without the need for additional people offshore听 and the cost and carbon emissions associated with that.听

Charles Tavner, CEO of Flylogix, said: “This latest investment will help Flylogix bring our proven听 UAV technology to new regions and develop applications to realise the potential of unmanned听 aerial vehicles. It is a significant moment for the business. We see endorsement from bp as a听 vote of confidence and are proud to build on our existing partnership, in pursuit of net zero.鈥澨�

Flylogix will leverage the funding round to expand to new geographies, including the US, Norway听 and Trinidad & Tobago. It will also crossover into the biodiversity and renewable energy听 industries, conducting wind turbine blade inspections for offshore sites.听

bp ventures plays a key role in helping bp reinvent itself as an integrated energy company. It invests in a portfolio of high growth technology businesses that will benefit and extend bp鈥檚 core听 businesses, as well as open up opportunities in digital adjacencies. It also invests in businesses that听 can help bp reduce carbon in its operations and production.