3D Printing Benefits Texas’ Oil and Gas Industry

After cows and cowboys, Texas is probably best known for its oil & gas industry. From exploration and production to refining and processing, the Lone Star State is a global leader in all segments of the oil & gas market. It’s one of the reasons for the state’s strong economy.

3D Printing is Used for Applications in Every Segment of the Oil & Gas Market

In their quest to reduce costs and improve efficiency, more and more companies in Texas’ oil & gas industry are utilizing 3D printing technology for a wide range of applications in every segment of the oil & gas market:

In the Upstream Market (Also known as the exploration and production segment), 3D printing is used for rapid prototyping during the R&D process. To avoid supply chain-related production delays, many replacement parts are being manufactured onsite using 3D print technology.

The Midstream Market links the upstream and downstream segments of the oil & gas industry. It includes pipelines, compressors, pumping stations, and other machinery to transport oil and gas from the field to refineries and processing facilities. Like the upstream market, 3D printing is being used to produce replacement parts on-site. It is especially useful to make repairs to sites in remote locations where it may be difficult to impossible to ship replacement parts.

In the Downstream Market, 3D printing is used to manufacture a wide variety of parts, including drill bits, pup joints, nozzles, rotors, pump manifolds, control valve and pressure gauge components, jigs and fixtures, and more. Manufacturing parts on demand reduces inventory costs; manufacturing parts onsite eliminates the risks of shipment delays.

What is 3D Printing?

3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing. It creates a part based on a digital file, applying layer upon layer of a production material until the desired shape and dimensions are achieved. There are many different types of 3D printing technologies; the most common are Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Stereolithography (SLA).

Some of the benefits of 3D printing for the oil and gas industry include:

• Shorter lead times.
• Lower setup costs.
• Ideal for parts with complex surface geometries.
• Rapid prototyping.
• Parts can be made from a wide range of materials.
• 3D printed parts are very durable and can be made to be water-resistant, heat and cold-resistant, chemical-resistant, and UV-resistant.
• Cost-effective for small to medium production runs.
• Lower inventory and shipment costs.
• Parts can be printed on-site, eliminating supply chain-related production and repair delays.

3D Printing for the Oil & Gas Industry in Houston

Houston is the capital of the oil & gas industry in Texas. Numerous industry leaders have their headquarters in Bayou City; the Houston area is also home to several major refineries and processing facilities. If you’re a company in the oil & gas industry interested in exploring the advantages offered by 3D printing, give ProTek Models and 3D Printing a call.

Located just north of Houston in Conroe, TX, Protek is a leader in 3D printing for industrial applications. We have the capabilities to handle just about any 3D print job for any industry. Rapid prototyping is one of our specialties!

3D printing is revolutionizing the way we manufacture products. We’re here to help your oil & gas business realize the full benefits of 3D printing. You can reach ProTek Models and 3D Printing through our website or call us at (832) 968-6636 to get a quote or speak to our team of engineers about your 3D print project.