First Metal 3D Printed Product, Up and Running

In a Woodside first and after extensive 3 years testing, our teams in Technology, Engineering & Maintenance have successfully installed a 3D printed part into service at our offshore platform, Goodwyn A.

Woodside's Technology Development team collaborated with the FutureLab at Monash University to create 3D printed parts (also known as additive manufacturing).

Our first 3D printed product, was the redesign of a stainless steel monoflange, a type of valve assembly used to safely isolate instruments during planned maintenance work.

This emerging technology has improved the design of the previous stainless steel monoflange, by increasing flow-through and avoiding restrictive internal connections, and reducing its mass and size.

Executive Vice President Sustainability Shaun Gregory says additive manufacturing can solve many problems that heavy industry faces when it comes to replacing parts that manufacturers can no longer supply.

“It can be energy intensive, time consuming and expensive to source replacements for such parts. Using additive manufacturing offers an innovative solution to these constraints," he said. 

Teams from Technology have created a digital app which allows users to submit requests for items to be additively manufactured. After being screened, requests are passed to a vendor who will print and deliver the part, the details of which will subsequently be added to Woodside's digital library.

“At Woodside, we embrace innovation, and our digital app will further empower our people to continue looking for opportunities to apply additive manufacturing in our operations.” Mr Gregory said. 

The next part to be installed under Woodside’s program is an additively manufactured stainless steel inducer on the Okha Floating Production Storage and Offloading facility in the first quarter of 2022.