By : Franyi Sarmiento, Ph.D., Inspenet, June 15, 2022
While 3D printing has been around as a technology for years, its potential in the oil, gas and renewable energy sectors is only just being realized.
[post_relacionado]As the oil and gas industry modernizes and digitizes, it stands ready to embrace new technologies that can reduce costs and the carbon footprint of operations.
The current supply chain crisis is only increasing interest in 3D printing, with on-site printers taking the hassle out of sourcing vital parts.
The potential of 3D printing in the energy industry is increasing. After years of encouraging big oil and gas companies to adopt the technology for on-site manufacturing, printing companies are finally being recognized for their potential in the field.
The global 3D printing market was worth more than $13 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20.8 percent. between 2022 and 2030. Until now, one of the biggest uses of the technology has been for medical needs. But as the market rapidly expands, other industries are looking at how the technology could be used to improve operations.
Manufacturers of 3D polymeric materials have been making medical devices like hearing aids, which are in high demand in the US, by perfecting the technique they have been able to design medical devices, 3D printing companies believe they can also add a Significant value to the energy sector by creating the components needed at energy sites. This would decrease the amount of time it takes to source vital components when they break, as well as reduce the carbon footprint of having to ship these parts. Furthermore, it has the potential to solve some of the key supply chain problems that energy companies are currently facing.
In Scotland, a company saw an opportunity to work in the oil and gas sector based on its experience of providing printing services to engineering, aerospace, automotive and other sectors. Orthogonal has established an office in Aberdeen, Scotland, where it can partner with a number of oil and gas companies working in the North Sea. Its founder, John Niven, explains: “Having operated in the oil and gas sector for many years, I saw a gap in the market for 3D printing services and decided to establish the business.”
This is not the first company to set up shop near oil and gas operations, hoping to create strategic partnerships with energy companies. And energy companies are quick to recognize the benefit. In fact, according to a 2021 report, some 83% of surveyed oil and gas companies said they were considering using 3D printing or on-demand manufacturing to support their operations.
This comes as part of a larger drive towards modernization and digitalization in oil and gas, where 87% of respondents also demonstrated an interest in robotics and automation.
Big oil companies such as Shell and BP have already begun to adopt 3D printing technologies to deliver parts to site quickly. The ability to print a multitude of different parts means oil and gas companies don’t need to store large inventories of parts on site, nor do they have to rely on third-party companies to deliver components. This was once thought to be impossible, but thanks to innovations in 3D printing, the technology has become more reliable, offering parts that can withstand the harsh conditions of oil and gas operations.
3D printing for the oil industry is expected to be worth around $32 billion by 2025 and $60 billion by 2030. It is believed that the adoption of this technology could improve efficiency in all operations and reduce costs.
This technology is not only useful for oil and gas, as more renewable energy companies are looking to use it. For example, a PhD student in the Netherlands recently proposed the possibility of building an electrolyser using a 3D printer. Electrolyzers are used to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. If a successful electrolyser model could be established for 3D printing, it could help save huge amounts of money over traditional manufacturing.
And large-scale projects are already underway in the wind power industry, with GE planning to print components for wind turbines. GE Renewable Energy issued a statement about its investigation into the potential for using this type of printing in its projects, explaining that it “would allow GE to 3D print the undersides of wind turbine towers at wind farm sites.” . Which would drastically reduce transportation costs.
GE established a multi-year relationship with major cement maker Holcim and 3D printing company Cobod in 2020, launching a research facility in Bergen, New York. The 3D printer is the size of a three-story building and can print segments of turbine towers up to 20 meters high, according to GE. It is believed to be the largest printer of its kind in the world, with the ability to “print more than 10 tons of actual concrete per hour.” It has the potential to encourage other companies to adopt similar technologies to lower transportation costs and reduce the company’s carbon footprint.
The US Department of Energy awarded a grant to support the research and the first field applications of the components are expected to be seen within the next half decade.
This is just the beginning of the printing revolution, as technology continues to improve and energy companies better understand the potential for innovation to provide vital components for their operations. 3D printing will soon become much more common in renewable energy, oil and gas projects, reducing costs and improving efficiency.
This OilChannel portal material has been edited for clarity, style and length.
Source : https://oilchannel.tv/noticias/como-las-impresoras-3d-podrian-transformar-la-industria-energetica