API 3D Printing Standard is First of Its Kind for Natural Gas and Oil Industry

Mark Green
Posted October 19, 2021

Advancing the use of 3D printing in natural gas and oil operations – a technology that can significantly reduce lead times and drive efficiency, safety and other technological improvements across all oil and gas segments – is the focus of API’s newest standard released this week.

The first edition of Standard 20S – the first of its kind for our industry – supports oil and gas uses of 3D printing, where three-dimensional objects are created under computer control, usually layer by layer. For our industry, 3D printing to create additively manufactured metallic components can bring critical manufacturing functions closer to where components will be used, while maximizing production capability, reducing supply chain stresses and reducing emissions. Standard 20S key features:

• Requirements for qualification in the manufacturing, production, marking and documentation of metallic components manufactured using 3D printing.
• Introduction of three additive manufacturing specification levels that define technical, quality and qualification requirements to help ensure that metallic components produced with 3D printing technology are fit for purpose.
• Requirements for training, inspection, monitoring and measuring equipment as well as materials testing, acceptance and quality control of final products.

Issuance of Standard 20S comes as industry capitalizes on 3D printing technology to improve operations and accelerate environmental progress. API is currently developing a sister standard for additively manufactured polymeric components. Alexa Burr, API vice president for Global Industry Services:

“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.”

The new standard reflects the natural gas and oil industry’s focus on new technologies and innovations to meet rising global demand for energy while protecting the environment – by continuously striving to be cleaner and more efficient.

Burr said the ability to use innovation and deploy cutting-edge technologies is one of the pillars in API’s new Climate Action Framework, which details industry’s commitment to protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions.