Oil rigs set to see 3D printing soon

GE plans to leverage the experience it has developed in its aerospace group

One of the largest suppliers to the oil and gas sector, GE, is working on introducing 3D printers to offshore installations, and has said the technology is set to “revolutionise” maintenance work in the sector within the current decade.

As 3D printing technology matures, it is gathering pace as a logistics solution for the supply of components for maintenance in several sectors, such as aerospace, power generation and defence. GE is the first oil and gas firm to confirm that it is working on the technology, and plans to leverage the experience it has developed in its aerospace group.

Federico Noera, engineering and technology leader for subsea systems and drilling at GE Oil and Gas, said: “It’s a phenomenal breakthrough from a logistics perspective, and will change the mobilisation of components and resupply. You could assess the condition of equipment and 3D-print the component you need to replace. We are thinking about deployment of offshore tools quickly on oil rigs.

“We’re monitoring examples in other sectors, such as where people were sending 3D models up to the International Space Station. It’s the same concept. We will leverage the development that is happening exponentially in other sectors.”

Noera said he believes the offshore printing of small spare parts, such as gaskets, will start within five years, but that larger parts and tools will take longer.

“It’s technology that will help the industry progress,” he said. “Suppliers and their partners must work together to come up with ideas and test them.”