Drone Facility & Refinery Inspection in Corpus Christi, TX

Flare stacks, tank roofs, and pipe racks are hard to reach. Getting eyes on them often means scaffolds, rope crews, or a lift. Sometimes it means a shutdown. A drone gets there in minutes while the plant keeps running.

Skyline Drone Mapping inspects refineries, processing plants, tank farms, terminals, and compressor stations from the air. We are based in Corpus Christi and fly for facilities along the Ship Channel, the Port of Corpus Christi, and across the Coastal Bend. Every flight is run by an FAA Part 107 pilot.

DJI Matrice 4 multi-sensor drone.
Aerial view of industrial site

Why Corpus Christi Facilities Use Drone Inspections

What We Inspect

Flare Stacks

We capture close, high-resolution photo and video of the tip, the structure, and the supports. Thermal imaging shows flare heat patterns. Your team can review the flare without a climb.

Storage Tanks and Tank Farms

We inspect tank roofs, shells, seals, and vents from above. Thermal images can show heat patterns on the tank wall. We also map whole tank farms, so you can see every tank, berm, and road in one view.

Pipe Racks and Process Units

Pipe racks and tall structures are tough to see from the ground. A drone flies along them and records supports, insulation, and connections up close. Engineers review the footage from a desk.

Stacks, Towers, and Structures

We document stacks, columns, towers, and steel structures from every side. You get a clear look at corrosion, damage, and wear high off the ground.

Compressor Stations and Terminals

We inspect compressor stations, loading terminals, and dock areas. Visual and thermal passes cover equipment, piping, and electrical gear.

Roofs and Buildings

Control rooms, warehouses, and shops need checks too. We inspect roofs for damage, pooling water, and wear without putting anyone on the roof.

Inspection Tools We Fly

Visual Inspections

High-resolution photos and video show surface detail on equipment, coatings, and structures. Each image is tagged with its location.

Radiometric Thermal Inspections

Radiometric cameras record a temperature value for every pixel. That helps your team spot hot electrical connections, failing insulation, and odd heat on tanks and machines. It supports condition-based maintenance.

Optical Gas Imaging (OGI)

OGI cameras show methane and VOC leaks on video. Your LDAR team can see where a leak is, rank the repair, and keep the footage on file.

Methane and Multi-Gas Mapping

Drone-mounted sensors screen large sites fast and map gas levels in 2D and 3D. This helps your team narrow down a problem area before sending a crew in close. It also supports incident response.

3D Facility Models

We turn aerial images into measurable 3D models and point clouds of your plant. Planners can measure, review, and share the site without a trip to the field.

Digital Twins

A digital twin ties your 3D model to inspection notes, thermal findings, gas layers, OGI clips, and past flights. Operations, maintenance, and HSE teams all work from the same record.

Aerial photo of industrial site

What You Get

When to Call Us

SituationHow we help
Routine inspectionsA regular schedule for flares, tanks, and racks
Before a turnaroundEarly scouting of problem areas so the work list is ready
After a stormDamage checks after high wind or a hurricane on the Gulf Coast
Incident responseFast visual, thermal, and gas data without sending people into the area
Expansion and planningSite maps and models before new construction
DecommissioningRecords of site conditions before and after closure
Aerial view of industrial site

Who We Work With

Industrial storage facility drone inspection

How a Facility Inspection Works

  1. Scope the job. Tell us the assets, the site, and what you need to find. We pick the sensors and plan the flight.
  2. Work with your safety team. We review site rules, permits, and access with your team before we fly.
  3. Fly and capture. Our Part 107 pilots fly the DJI Matrice 4 with the right sensor for the job.
  4. Process and review. We process the data in Pix4D and check it before it leaves our hands.
  5. Deliver. You get files in the formats your team uses, plus a web viewer anyone can open.
Drone inspection of industrial facility

Why Skyline Drone Mapping

We are a small team based in Corpus Christi. You talk to the people who fly your site. Both founders hold FAA Part 107 and Pix4D credentials. We carry Pix4D certifications across eight of its products. Simple jobs are often done in one to two days of work.

Frequently Asked Questions

In many cases, yes. The drone keeps a safe distance and uses zoom and thermal cameras. We plan each flight with your safety team first.

Most aerial visual and thermal inspections happen while the plant runs. Your team decides what is safe for your site.

OGI shows methane and VOC leaks on video. Drone gas sensors screen wide areas and map gas levels. Both support leak finding and records. Whether the data counts toward a specific rule depends on the sensor, the method, and your program.

A radiometric camera stores a temperature reading for each pixel. The image holds real numbers, so your team can check the reading at any point.

Simple jobs are often done in one to two days of work. Larger jobs with 3D models or several sensors take longer. We give you a timeline when we scope the job.

Yes. We are based in Corpus Christi and fly across South Texas. Tell us where your site is and we will scope it.

No. Our maps and models are non-boundary and are not legal surveys. They are for planning, inspection, and records.

Get Eyes on Your Corpus Christi Facility

Tell us which assets you need checked. We will scope the flight and show you what the data looks like. Call us today to get started.