Competitive Commercial and Technical Advantages of Digitization for On-Demand Additive Manufacturing in Oil and Gas Industry

Abstract

Adapting new technologies in digital transformation within ADNOC is in-line with its 2030 strategy for a smart growth, resulting in maximizing the value of every barrel. 3D printing enables ADNOC to be self-sufficient in sourcing spares locally (especially Business-Continuity). Hence, boosting UAE's economic performance through national investment and leadership. Resilient supply chain management is the main contributor towards the success of future organizations. This enables these empower these organizations in terms of performance, profitability, efficiency, and sustainability that will directly ensures business continuity. While effective supply chain is directly dependent on logistics, inventory control, and materials handling, it is also strongly interlinked with the utilization of new technologies that will enhance the complete supply chain cycle. This paper demonstrates a hands-on achievements in terms of introducing three-dimensional (3D) printing to ADNOC Group Companies, taking into consideration the challenges that this technology is facing to penetrate the conservative oil and gas industry and realizing its potential benefits to the business. Additionally, the importance and the achievements towards constructing Digital Library in ADNOC specifically and oil and gas companies generally was discussed along with feasibility study which was carried out to evaluate the process from the environmental and techno-commercial perspectives. The technical results exhibited advantage in matching plant's requirement in terms of performance and quality that matches or even exceeds the OEM spares. Whereas commercial advantages with around 50% savings in direct purchases and lead-times, and finally 90% reduction in carbon footprint. Furthermore, a forecasted consumption and saving within all ADNOC Group Companies was extrapolated which shows AED2.1billion worth of products will be made in UAE by 2030 once this technology adopted down the line.