Improvising Integrated Gas Planning Through Network Optimization for End-To-End Value Chain Enhancement
Authors: Kulkarni Sukrut Shridhar , Mohammad Marliana Bt. 
Published: March 2021

This paper describes a suggestion to improvise an integrated gas planning process through network optimization. As a prudent operator it is imperative to formulate long-term gas supply outlook and scenarios to ensure efficient and effective resource management with due considerations of growth strategies while maximizing value for purpose of production-focused conversations, technical assessment of forthcoming developments, commercial arrangement policy and strategic expansions. Also, it necessitates to develop and implement resolution plan arising from supply planning areas i.e. shortfall mitigation, facilities ullage, constraint and complying specifications commitment. It thereby imposes to implement robust network optimization workflow in place to improvise the integrated gas management cycle to manage the current existing gas supply and to also regulate strategy in terms of line-ups, evacuation path of forthcoming fields economically.

Precedingly integrated gas planning exercise was executed via stacking up list of production sources with forecasted demands. The precedent approach was emphasized purely on mathematical and statistical method of capitalizing the production profile and geographical traits of the production sources. Notwithstanding, the approach usually linked with identified challenges and pain points throughout the planning cycle. Challenges and pain points in integrated gas planning were briefly outlined to understand limitations of existing work process as well as the need of improvising the same by embedding network optimization by simulation modeling. It was observed that multiple challenges did occur during planning preparation until post planning implementation.

Workflow for strategic integrated gas planning was established to include step by step process to illustrate the ideal case otherwise known as base case scenario. The work process for constructing a mathematical model for integrated gas planning was demonstrated to reflect the complexity of the process and landscape network. For each process, expectations were clarified to ensure robustness of the analysis.

The limitations in the mathematical/statistical model workflow process was complimented by the enhancing method through network optimization. Network optimization was evaluated by leveraging on the development of holistic integrated modelling for current complex offshore facilities to empower and safeguard the proposed line up of new fields meeting technical allowances such as ullage, pressure balancing & supply/demand requirements, contaminant management in accordance with strategic planning & operations. Novel idea was established to create physical prototype (network model) of offshore supply network with building components such as source (fields), connectors (export pipelines and highways), sinks (multiple terminals), and pressure boosters (pump/compressor) were embedded in model for landscape along with multiple receiving end terminals. Network simulation model was also validated with Plant information PI data to yield representative results prior deployment.

Situational analysis (what-if scenarios) were conducted to evaluate to root cause analysis and troubleshooting at several nodes in the network to cater for harmonic balance. Gap analysis was also executed to identify the necessary alterations to operating philosophy, partial segregation of system to cater for product demand and quality. Simulation network model was also utilized to explore different evacuation routes that could adhere to business rules/standards to optimize the work process and boost up the efficiency of current network.

The above approach of improvising the integrated gas planning through network optimization truly enhance the end to end value chain by constituting result matter in validating the mathematical planning model with technical simulation to ensure robustness in management decision of certain strategies for the planning scenarios. It could also advocate the planning numbers by ensuring the do-ability and steer optimal solution for value maximization by deciphering the impediments and strengthening the analysis.