2023-09-10 22:43:00
Norwegian Aker BP, active in oil and gas exploration in the North Sea, has installed a Roboze Plus Pro 3D printer on board the SKARV platform for the first time. The 3D printer is used to print parts from fiber-reinforced plastics on the platform. It is the first step on the platform towards a digital warehouse.
The production of components directly on it Floating Production Storage and Offloading platform (FPSO), where oil and gas are temporarily stored, represents a paradigm shift in the approach to maintenance and offshore supply management. This innovation not only increases operational efficiency, but also reduces environmental impact through waste reduction and on-site production. The storage space on such a floating platform is limited and therefore expensive; downtime due to parts breaking that are not in stock is even more expensive. Local production with 3D printing can therefore play a major role. You just need to store the material and print the parts on-demand.
3D printing of parts solves the lack of space on board the FPSO platform
The video regarding the digital warehouse on board the platform.
No problems with corrosion
The Italian Robots together with Biesterfeld Norge AS, a supplier of chemicals and plastics, and Aker BP, a Norwegian oil and gas company, created a video regarding 3D printing on-demand on the platform. This also discusses in more detail the significance of high-performance plastics in a sector known for a corrosion-sensitive environment. The use of plastics can reduce the disadvantages and risks associated with metal components in the offshore industry.
Nearest supplier at 200 km
Kjetil Eikeland, production manager on board, says that the super polymers such as PEEK, PEKK and carbon PEEK prevent corrosion problems of parts. In addition, the maintenance team can immediately 3D print parts that break or even adjust the design to improve them. The nearest supplier is 200 kilometers from the platform. Delivery times vary from weeks to months. Digital warehousing and 3D printing shorten this lead time to hours.
Photo above: the relevant platform (photo Aker BP)
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