Drilling is the initial step in oil and gas operations. However, the process of penetrating the earth requires drilling through hard layers of rock, subjecting the equipment to extreme pressure and heat. Even after consistent wear and tear, the best oil and gas equipment is bound to break down over time. Therefore, dependable and robust tools are a prerequisite in this industry.
Various industries use traditional drilling tools in the oil and gas field to cut and shape metal. Although effective, this approach is often limited by design, takes time, and wastes material. New methods like additive manufacturing allow companies to build better tools faster.
What is Additive Manufacturing, and Why Does it Matter?
Additive Manufacturing, also called as 3D printing, is a method that builds tangible objects layer by layer. Unlike traditional methods where a block of bulk material is hollowed out to make a specific item such as cut, milled or turned, additive manufacturing works with a metal or plastic to construct the desired object from preexisting molecules such as plastic or metal.
With the advancement of 3D printers, engineers can create internal features like cooling channels, scoop-shaped sections thinner than the outer profile, and rounded edges for reduced abrasion. Although these modifications may seem trivial, they can achieve maximized results in varying environments.
This technology reduces costs, material consumption, and waste while also improving the green image of the industry in a world with more stringent operational limits.
How It’s Helping the Oil and Gas Industry
What does the application of additive manufacturing look like? In oilfields, it is already helping enhance some of the key tools.
For example, drill bits. The bits created through this method have improved fluid passageways that assist with heat control, stronger coatings, and better cutting edges. Even more, leading to increased runs and reduced tool changes. Fewer tool changes translate to reduced costs and downtime.
Additive manufacturing is also used to create or upgrade parts such as stators, housings, and rotors—the equipment for measuring and guiding the drill during its deep subsurface journey. With cleverer designs and fewer welds or seams, these components are more capable of enduring the loads.
Finally, during the later stages of the drilling process, when it is time to complete the well, tools such as sand screens and flow control valves can be manufactured using additive manufacturing. These components must be tailored to the specific conditions of the wellbore. Because of 3d printing, it is now easier to customize them to alter the exact flow paths and spacing needed.
On-Site Benefits and Real-World Impact
The drilling site is one of the major risks for the oil and gas industry. Factories and warehouses are often several miles from where drilling occurs, usually in remote locations. If equipment breaks or a specific component is missing, replacing it could take a few weeks. This logistical delay could bear substantial costs.
A few of the parts could be manufactured closer to the site or on-site by using mobile printing technology. These mobile units provide greater operational control while eliminating unnecessary delays and downtime.
Greater flexibility is made possible. For instance, high-cost tools that are scaled down can be repaired instead of being replaced. This restoration method minimizes the scrapping and wasting of tools.
What Best Pick Energy is Doing Differently
Best Pick Energy is introducing practical solutions in the industry, such as using additive manufacturing to create better, stronger, and more durable drilling tools for oil and gas. We specialize in solving problems for people working under real conditions instead of word chasers.
They know that even small design changes can positively impact operational productivity. Best Pick Energy explores collaborative efforts with engineers and drilling crews to improve production timelines, resulting in reduced tool failure, faster production cycles, and minimized hold-ups for work delays.
Looking Ahead
Best Pick Energy has always provided robust equipment and intelligent designs for drilling tools in the oil and gas sector. Today, with the advent of additive manufacturing, we have another option for designing the equipment that makes the world function.
That transformative technology, responsible for time and waste reduction, cost savings, and efficient performance under pressure, is changing how drilling gets done. At Best Pick Energy, we are proud to enable our partners to be more effective, quicker, and more streamlined at every step.
