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Problems of risk management in the technosphere
Journals / Problems of risk management in the technosphere / Issue 3, 2026 / ON THE USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT TO EXTINGUISH FIRES AT OIL AND GAS FACILITIES
UDC 629.735.45 UDC 614.84 UDC 665.6

ON THE USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT TO EXTINGUISH FIRES AT OIL AND GAS FACILITIES

Published in Problems of risk management in the technosphere · Issue 3, 2026 · Pages 96–104 · Rubric: Fire safety
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61260/1998-8990-2026-3-96-104
Received: 03.06.2026 Accepted: 14.07.2026 Published: 04.10.2026
Authors
MA
Maxim Sytdykov
ORCID SPIN
NI
Nikita Silnikov
SPIN
YU
Yuriy Motorygin
ORCID SPIN
ABSTRACT
The article provides a systematic analysis of the possibilities of using heavy unmanned aerial vehicles to extinguish fires at oil and gas facilities, primarily at oil refineries and oil depots. The initial formulation of the problem is the high fire hazard of oil and petroleum products storage tanks and technological installations, which are characterized by intense heat generation (up to 150–200 kW/m2), complex fire scenarios (calm burning, boiling, release) and a high risk of fire spreading to neighboring tanks. It is shown that the existing stationary foam extinguishing systems in 18–22 % of cases of large fires are inoperable due to the destruction of pipelines, failure of pumping stations and a shortage of foaming agent, and the capabilities of ground equipment are limited by the height of supply and dangerous levels of thermal radiation. A comparative analysis of the technical characteristics of promising unmanned aerial vehicles samples (Volocopter VoloDrone, GRIFF 300, «Svarog‑Fireman», FireDrone‑R1). Based on the standard intensity of foam extinguishing (0,05 l/(m2·s), a method has been developed for calculating the required amount of UW for extinguishing a typical RVS‑5000 tank, taking into account the UW operation cycle, activity coefficient and consumption of extinguishing agent. It is shown that the use of UVS with on-board tanks for such tasks is economically and technically unrealistic (the need for up to 30 devices), whereas systems with a suspended sleeve provide the required flow rate for 1–2 units of equipment. The key limitations are considered: flight range and power supply, thermal stress, smoke and loss of visual navigation, explosive atmosphere, electromagnetic interference. On this basis, the requirements for specialized UVS for refineries are formulated (take-off weight 400–600 kg, range 80–100 km, temperature resistance up to 180–200 ℃, explosion protection Ex ia IIC T4, integration of LiDAR and thermal imagers).
KEYWORDS
unmanned aerial vehicles, firefighting, oil refineries, oil storage facilities, tank farms, foam extinguishing, fire safety
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The contact persons
Professor of the Department of Physical and Chemical Fundamentals of Combustion and Extinguishing Processes Saint-Petersburg university of State fire service of EMERCOM of Russia
Olga Lozhkina
Head of the Department of Fire, Rescue Equipment and automotive industry of Saint-Petersburg university of State fire service of EMERCOM of Russia
Maksim Sytdykov
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