The Largest Offshore Drone-Based Emissions Monitoring Campaign in the Norwegian North Sea

Two players, Cyberhawk and Explicit, have initiated an offshore drone campaign for emissions measurement in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. This groundbreaking project is being conducted on 33 offshore platforms operated by Equinor, Norway’s energy giant.

Under the United Nation’s Climate and Clean Air Coalition, Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0 framework, this campaign is considered the largest offshore drone-based emissions monitoring initiative in the Norwegian North Sea. Explicit, utilizing unmanned aerial system (UAS) technology to monitor and quantify methane emissions, is the prime contractor for this endeavor.

The campaign, which commenced on April 1, 2025, involves deploying eight teams to survey 33 offshore platforms in the Norwegian North Sea using advanced drone-based methane emissions sensing. The operation is scheduled to be completed by the end of September 2025.

Collaborative Efforts

Philip Buchan, Cyberhawk’s Chief Operating Officer, expressed his thoughts on the campaign, stating, “This landmark campaign is spearheaded internally by Cyberhawk’s Oil, Gas & Marine (OGM) team, which brings together industry experts with deep operational knowledge of the offshore sector.”

Moreover, the entire scope of the campaign was awarded to Cyberhawk by Explicit due to its ability to mobilize teams quickly and its existing pilot experience with the DFM methodology. This single-vendor model offers operational benefits such as curtailed risk, accelerated execution, standardized data collection processes, and streamlined communications.

Industry Recognition

Bettina Knudsen, COO and Commercial Director at Explicit, highlighted the significance of the collaboration with Cyberhawk in executing this monumental task. She mentioned, “Equinor is committed to mitigating the effects of methane emissions, and the use of innovative technologies such as drones to document emissions.”

Fieldwork is being carried out by drone pilots and engineers using Explicit’s proprietary drone flux measurement (DFM) technique to quantify methane emissions. The campaign, running several specialized teams in parallel, showcases the players’ ability to deliver high-performance and scalable drone solutions in complex offshore environments.

Quality Assurance

Cyberhawk ensures full campaign coverage backed by ISO-certified systems to uphold the highest technical, safety, quality, and environmental standards. The collected data will be processed by Explicit’s ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, specializing in emissions analysis using drone technology.

Callum Kottis, Senior Vice President of Oil, Gas & Marine Operations at Cyberhawk, emphasized the importance of integrated, data-driven approaches to environmental measurement in the energy sector. He stated, “Our journey with Explicit has been dynamic and rewarding, marked by shared achievements and continued growth. This latest milestone is a testament to the strength and evolution of our partnership.”