Repair, retrofit & reliability: Is AM the key to extending asset life in the oil & gas sector?
Last week, we hosted a very dynamic conversation on the use of AM in the oil and gas sector. Unlike the very first panel in the field, which primarily focuses on the first step in implementing a digital warehouse and what happens next, this panel refocuses the debate on the practical aspects of AM as a key solution to extending asset life.
As said in this introduction, if producing a single 3D-printed part is already considered a celebration, shouldn’t the ultimate milestone be its repeatable, certified production at scale?
Angeline Goh (Shell), Dr. Sastry Kandukuri (DNV), and Lee Djumas (Woodside Energy) led a very engaging conversation, sharing insights on the AM decision matrix — how to evaluate whether a part is a good candidate for additive manufacturing versus traditional sourcing or repair.
They also discussed real-world deployment challenges, potential bottlenecks in AM adoption, and the differences in qualification and certification between repaired or remanufactured parts and newly printed components.
Building confidence across critical units: the human side of AM adoption
Maintenance and reliability teams are responsible for ensuring the ongoing performance, durability, and safety of equipment. These teams are often risk-averse because failures can be costly or dangerous.
The questions “How were the maintenance and reliability units convinced of metal AM?” and “How were more hesitant individuals warmed up to new technologies?” remained unanswered during the panel due to time constraints. However, they push the conversation further by raising critical issues of change management and the adoption of metal AM—particularly among cautious, pragmatic professionals.
Aware of these concerns, Goh and Djumas emphasize the importance of working collaboratively on the first use case, engaging the technical members (maintenance, reliability, and other discipline engineers as appropriate) to build understanding on the required technical assurance for AM parts and to ensure risks are managed. Ultimately, the goal would be to articulate clearly the value for all teams included and to understand how new processes will improve their jobs.
Since the ultimate goal is to build confidence among various stakeholders, it is essential to create opportunities for learning and to establish trust in the technology while understanding its potential and limitations.
Lastly, a key recommendation from Goh is not to stop at the proof-of-concept stage. Once the first use case is implemented, focus on building momentum to scale the technology. Start conversations around the value it brings, and be strategic in selecting parts that truly matter to the business. This helps people become more comfortable with the technology and supports a sustainable path to broader adoption.
Watch below for more insights
The main conversation takes place until the 26th minute of the video below, and is followed by several questions from the audience that the experts answered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXiVd3OYrRQ
Listen to the previous sessions of Additive Talks.
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