Additive Manufacturing (3D) Printing

"Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) in the Oil & Gas Sector" - Woodside Energy and Monash University applications. Dr. Lee Djumas completed his PhD in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Monash University. His topic was "Additively Manufactured Composite Structures", during which time he began working with Woodside Energy. He is now the Research and Innovation Manager of the Woodside Energy Futurelab at Monash and presented an introduction to Additive Manufacturing technologies and applications, followed by case studies highlighting how Woodside Energy, Monash University and their partners are approaching the utilisation of AM in the Oil & Gas industry.

The technical presentation on 20th June at the Mission to Seafarers opened with a description of the Monash University open technology research centre that is dedicated to this technology.

Much of its funding is provided by the Woodside Petroleum Group of companies.

A focus and point of difference of the Monash research to other centres was stated to be its analysis and optimisation of the metallurgical qualities of 3D printed products.

Dr. Djumas emphasised that this technology should be regarded as just another manufacturing production technology. Whilst not new, he emphasised that it still is under development and the skills required currently take about 5 years to acquire.

Of particular interest was his presentation of research results that showed that the intrinsic strength of stainless-steel type 316 products produced using additive techniques was significantly greater than equivalent cast products.