Standardization of Additive Manufacturing for Oil and Gas Applications

As Additive Manufacturing (AM) progresses forward to industrial production, there is a predominant need for standardization to ensure consistency and reliability. Development of industry accepted standards and guidelines is necessary for qualification and certification of AM parts across several industries. AM affords several advantages when compared to conventional manufacturing, including weight reduction, part consolidation, design freedom and inventory reduction, and has demonstrated its potential in industries such as aerospace. Since it is a relatively new manufacturing technology, there is a lack of testing and inspection procedures specific to AM, which hinders the development of standards. Existing testing procedures were developed for traditionally manufactured parts that are not directly applicable to AM processes. A number of Standards Development Organizations are working towards developing guidelines and standards for various processes in the AM value chain. An overview of the current status of Standard Development Organization's activities in the field of AM will be presented, focusing on gaps and industry specific requirements. Specifically for applications in oil and gas, pertinent standards need to be developed to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.