Chevron Corporation is expanding robotics and remotely operated tools across its global field operations to improve safety, efficiency and data quality, with the company reporting more than $92 million in savings and over 143,000 at-risk hours eliminated across its robotics initiatives since 2024. Within that broader program, robotic tank inspections alone have saved more than $25 million and about 43,000 work hours since 2024, while robotic cleaning has generated more than $6 million in savings and reduced roughly 28,000 hours. Submersible inspection robots can examine tank bottoms without fully draining and venting equipment, limiting downtime and improving data quality, and Chevron has deployed such systems at multiple U.S. facilities including its El Segundo refinery in California. Beyond tanks, Chevron uses drones for visual and thermal inspections and emissions detection, is developing autonomous drone-in-a-box systems to reduce field visits, and deploys Spot robots to patrol facilities, inspect equipment and collect images that help maintenance teams flag potential issues earlier. Chevron's latest Form 10-Q does not separately quantify robotics benefits but identifies technology-enabled productivity as one contributor to its broader cost-reduction program and evolving operating model. Peers Shell and TotalEnergies are pursuing similar automation, with Shell using land, subsea and aerial systems including Sensabot and ExR-1, and TotalEnergies advancing its ARGOS autonomous inspection program through trials in the North Sea and Angola. Chevron currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Chevron CorpChevron's robotics and remote-inspection deployment delivered $92M in savings and eliminated 143,000 at-risk hours since 2024.
TotalEnergies SE
Shell plc
