Drone-Based Gas Leak Detection in Oil and Gas Market Report 2026

The drone-based gas leak detection in oil and gas market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $6.02 billion in 2025 to $6.54 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to need for pipeline safety inspections, high cost of manual leak detection, growth of oil and gas infrastructure, regulatory pressure on emissions, safety concerns in hazardous zones.

The drone-based gas leak detection in oil and gas market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $9.11 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to stricter methane emission regulations, demand for real-time monitoring, expansion of smart inspection technologies, adoption of autonomous drones, focus on cost-effective inspections. Major trends in the forecast period include rising adoption of uav-based inspection, increasing use of optical gas imaging, growth of real-time emissions monitoring, expansion of drone services for pipeline surveillance, integration of ai-based leak analytics.

The rising natural gas exploration is expected to drive the growth of drone-based gas leak detection in the oil and gas market in the coming years. Natural gas exploration involves identifying, locating, and evaluating underground or underwater natural gas reserves, which requires geological surveys, seismic imaging, and exploratory drilling to assess the presence and viability of deposits. The growth in natural gas exploration is fueled by increasing global energy demand, technological advancements in exploration, and the transition toward cleaner energy sources. Innovations such as 3D seismic imaging and AI-driven data analysis enhance the accuracy of reserve identification, making exploration more efficient and cost-effective. Drones are utilized in natural gas operations to detect and monitor leaks from pipelines, storage facilities, and drilling sites. For example, in November 2025, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that preliminary dry natural gas production in September 2025 reached 3.24 trillion cubic feet (Bcf), or 108.2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), representing a 6.3% increase (6.4 Bcf/d) over September 2024 (101.8 Bcf/d). Consequently, the expansion of natural gas exploration is propelling the growth of drone-based gas leak detection in the oil and gas sector.

Companies operating in the drone-based gas leak detection market are focusing on advanced technologies such as mid-wave infrared (MWIR) in optical gas imaging cameras to improve detection accuracy, reduce operational costs, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. MWIR, a spectral range used in thermal imaging and gas detection (3-5 µm), is valued for its ability to detect heat and emissions, making it suitable for various industrial, security, and environmental applications. For instance, in January 2024, Teledyne FLIR LLC, a US-based thermography company, introduced the Neutrino LC OGI optical gas imaging camera module designed for UAV-based gas leak detection. This MWIR imager is capable of detecting methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and features a 640x512 VGA resolution, up to 8x digital zoom, sensitivity improvements of less than 20 mK, and a design optimized for size, weight, and power (SWaP). The Neutrino LC OGI is expected to be integrated into UAVs and other monitoring solutions to address environmental and regulatory challenges associated with gas emissions.

In September 2024, SeekOps Inc., a US-based provider of drone-based methane leak detection and quantification solutions for the oil and gas industry, partnered with Montrose Environmental Company to integrate SeekOps' advanced technology with Montrose’s Sensible EDP data analytics platform. This collaboration enables industries to achieve more accurate, real-time emissions monitoring and ensures better regulatory compliance. Montrose Environmental Group Inc. is a US-based company providing environmental consulting, testing, and technology solutions.

Major companies operating in the drone-based gas leak detection in oil and gas market are ABB Ltd., ChampionX Corporation, Teledyne FLIR LLC, Montrose Environmental Group Inc., AeroVironment Inc., Cyberhawk Innovations Ltd., Flyability SA, Volatus Aerospace Corp., Delair SAS, Opgal Optronic Industries Ltd., Percepto Ltd., Consortiq Ltd., Aerodyne Group, Sierra Olympia Technologies Inc., SkyX Systems Corp., Vision Aerial, Viper Drones, Encino Environmental Services LLC, FlytBase Inc., DJI Enterprise, senseFly Ltd., Avitas Systems, Terra Drone Corporation.

North America was the largest region in the drone-based gas leak detection in oil and gas market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the drone-based gas leak detection in oil and gas market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the drone-based gas leak detection in oil and gas market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The drone-based gas leak detection in oil and gas market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as leak detection, monitoring and surveillance, quantification of emissions, and data collection and analysis. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The drone-based gas leak detection in oil and gas market also includes sales of ultrasonic sensors, chemical sensors, and data analytics software. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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