PERTH, Australia– Woodside has installedand put into service a 3D printed valve on its Goodwyn A platform, part of theNorth West Shelf (NWS) project offshore Western Australia.
The company worked with the FutureLab atMonash University and various equipment manufacturers to apply 3D printing (otherwiseknown as additive manufacturing) for the re-design of a stainless steelmonoflange body, a double block and bleed valve used to safely isolateinstruments during maintenance work.
Following approval for the additively-manufacturedpart for pressure-containing critical service use, the valve was installed onthe platform last month.
According to Woodside the result was animproved design of the monoflange as it increased flowthrough by avoidingrestrictive internal channel junctions, also providing reduced mass and size.
Executive Vice President–SustainabilityShaun Gregory said that additive manufacturing can solve problems the industryfaces when looking to replace parts that the OEM can no longer supply. “It canbe energy intensive, time consuming and expensive to source replacements forsuch parts,” Gregory commented.
Next up for Woodside will be an additivelymanufactured stainless steel inducer on the FPSO Okha at the NWS complex during1Q 2022.
The company has also developed a digitalapp that allows users to submit requests for items to be additivelymanufactured. Following screening, requests are transferred to a vendor toprint and deliver the part, with the details subsequently be added toWoodside’s digital library.
