New standard is expected to pump up use of 3D-printed parts by gas industry

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has published a new standard aimed at driving adoption of additively manufactured components by the natural gas and oil industry. According to a statement from API, components designed for 3D printing significantly reduce lead times and drive efficiencies, safety, and technological advancements across the industry.

“This new standard expands API’s best-in-class safety and efficiency requirements and supports cutting-edge operations, helping producers to deploy new 3D printing technologies to meet rising global demand for natural gas and oil products,” said Alexa Burr, API’s vice president of global standards and services. “The ability to deploy innovative technology and bring critical manufacturing closer to the point of use reduces stress in the supply chain while driving down … emissions and maximizing production capability.”

The first edition of API “Standard 20S-Additively Manufactured Metallic Components for Use in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries,” provides requirements for qualification of the manufacturing process, production, marking, and documentation of metallic components. The standard introduces three additive manufacturing specification levels, which define technical, quality, and qualification requirements to help ensure that metallic components are fit for purpose. Additionally, woven throughout the standard are requirements for training, inspection, monitoring and measuring equipment, as well as materials testing, acceptance, and quality control of final products.

The standard is a first-of-its-kind document for the natural gas and oil industry, says API, but only the beginning of the work that will be done in this space, applying transformative technologies to improve operations and accelerate environmental progress.

“Standard 20S-Additively Manufactured Metallic Components for Use in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries,” can be purchased at the API web store.