LNG plant configurations (Kit) vary dramatically depending on feedstock composition, upstream feed pressure, processing requirements and downstream product requirements. No LNG plant is the same. Therefore, look-a-like plant comparisons are insufficient and misleading. So, how do you know where your performance gaps exist?
Solomon’s Worldwide Liquefied Natural Gas Plant Performance Analysis (LNG Study) uses normalized comparisons to accurately identify and quantify improvement opportunities relative to best performers and selected peer groups. Study results provide operators actionable insight that helps drive sustainable operations and improve availability, reliability, maintenance, and turnarounds.
The LNG Study analyzes and compares operations by asset type with key performance indicators (KPIs) against peers. This detail enables a deeper analysis to identify and provide a path forward to eliminate the root cause of poor performance. Assessments are made at the site: compressor/turbine, process unit, and significantly, the train level.
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Understanding & Improving LNG Performance
Maximize your LNG Facilities Availability, Efficiency, and Competitiveness
Companies that participate in Solomon’s LNG Study typically realize: 10-20% annual operating expense (OpEx) savings.
Leverage a vetted, proprietary performance database of: >50 % of the LNG world capacity represented and actively engaged.
- How competitive are my operations?
- Given my plant configuration, how efficient are my processing trains?
- How does my asset utilization, reliability, and maintenance costs compare to the top performers?
- What is the value of closing my performance gaps?
- How do I judge the performance of joint-venture partner operators?
Our experts understand that evaluating LNG performance at the train level is crucial for shareholders to understand the efficiency and profitability of their investments. Therefore, the LNG Study, unlike other similar industry services, analyzes performance at the LNG train level. An LNG train-level performance analysis helps stakeholders and shareholders ensure capital is effectively utilized and helps them better identify areas to improve operations, reduce expenses, enhance competitiveness, mitigates risks, and make informed . Further, this detailed analysis provides stakeholders with transparency to foster trust; thereby, safeguarding the interests of all involved parties in the LNG venture.
Solomon has found that finding the right balance between KPIs delivers the best results to achieve sustainable operational performance. Data shows that are not in the top quartile for all indicators (Figure 1). Instead, maintaining a steady and strategic balance across Asset Availability, Maintenance Cost Efficiency, Non-Maintenance Personnel Efficiency, and Maintenance Personnel Efficiency ensures a sustainable and top-quartile profitability performance.
Figure 1. Solomon Experience from Pacesetters
We find the reports to be comprehensive, well-written, and most importantly, consistently objective. The resulting analysis is of high quality and integrity. Without the analysis we would find it difficult to objectively measure. MAJOR OIL COMPANY
Insights have been very helpful and will be put to good use in our planning process. Solomon identified efficiency improvements (maintenance, personnel, other fixed costs) up to 50M USD/yr and potentially another 10–20M USD/yr in margin from energy reduction and mass balance improvement. MAJOR OIL COMPANY
The study helped us get good comparative data and to understand industry performance standards. INDEPENDENT
Why Participate?
Determine competitive position relative to industry top performers.
Achieve sustainable operational performance.
Utilize customized peer groups and normalized methodology to accurately assess and compare performance.
Pinpoint opportunities to improve reliability, maintenance, turnarounds, and availability.
Formulate optimization plans to eliminate root causes of poor performance.
Establish performance targets and measure progress.
Study Deliverables
Insight on performance versus the industry leaders and performance peer groups.
OpEx performance analysis results report.
Data on companies’ and peer groups’ performance site-wide, and on an individual train and compressor/driver level.
Identified and quantified opportunities supporting development of improvement plans.
Comparative plant rankings to peer groups, industry leaders, and averages.
Executive on-site results presentation.
Study Focus Areas
To achieve sustainable operations, the LNG Study helps you find the right balance amongst the following critical KPIs:
Availability and Utilization
Operating Costs
Turnaround (T/A) and Non-T/A Maintenance
Energy and Carbon Emissions
Personnel
Safety
Material Balance
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Learn How You Can Participate
Join other industry peers that leverage the LNG Study to achieve sustainable operational excellence and enable success. Our experienced advisors help guide clients through all the steps needed to accelerate improvement. They leverage proven strategies to maximize study insights and employ rigorous processes to ensure the data is accurate and consistent with methodology. After the analyses are complete, our experts join you on-site for a detailed study results presentation to operations leadership and stakeholders. Additionally, upon request, extra training on the use of study data to drive improvement and competitive gap closure assistance is available.
A Foundation for Effective Comparative Performance Analysis and Decision Support
We prioritize the integrity and confidentiality of participant-submitted data and rigorously review that data before benchmarking begins. Then, we employ our normalization process and benchmarking methodology to provide valuable and trusted peer group comparisons that deliver meaningful KPIs. Finally, our staff of senior consultants apply their deep industry experience to develop practical insight and recommendations to enable your success.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
A: The LNG Study uses Solomon’s proprietary Comparative Performance Analysis™ (CPA™) benchmarking and normalization methodology to analyze and compare operations at the site, train, compressor/turbine, and process unit level to accurately identify and quantify improvement opportunities relative to best performers and selected peer groups. This comparison enables a deeper analysis by asset type and helps to better identify and eliminate the root cause of poor performance. Study results provide operators actionable insight that helps drive sustainable operations and improve availability, reliability, maintenance, and turnarounds.
A: In 1981, Solomon invented its unique proprietary CPA Benchmarking methodology to evaluate the comparative performance of the refining industry by considering the differences in size and complexity. In 2016, Solomon launched its LNG Study, an adapted version of the Natural Gas Processing & Fractionation Study, to meet the specific needs of the LNG Liquification operations.
A: Solomon’s historical LNG Study database represents over 65% of the LNG world production capacity and over 50% of that world production capacity is actively engaged.
A: In the LNG Study, all comparisons are made and analyzed at the site, train, compressor driver, and process unit level. Some of the available performance peer groups in the LNG Study are global, KPI performance, regional, LNG technology, compressor driver, cross industry KPIs and refining peer groups (by request), and age of facility (for companies operating both Upstream & LNG-plant facilities).
FEATURED INSIGHT
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