Solomon continues to improve our liquid terminal studies – the Worldwide Liquid Terminal Performance Analysis (Liquid Terminal Study) and the Worldwide Petroleum Terminal Productivity Performance Analysis (PTPA Study) – and our Worldwide Liquid Pipeline Performance Analysis (Liquid Pipeline Study), to further provide valuable insights for participants in the upcoming 2025 study year. In previous study cycles, Solomon expanded its sustainability metrics in these studies to assist facilities in achieving their energy goals. This study cycle, Solomon has made efforts to further enhance results presentations, delivery, insights and peer group gap analyses.
EXPANDED GAP ANALYSIS
The 2025 Liquid Pipeline Study & Liquid Terminal Study have expanded their gap analysis to provide participants with deeper insights into their comparative performance.
- BEST IN INDUSTRY PEER GROUP – Quantified gap analysis versus Solomon’s standard regional Best in Industry high-performing peers selected on OpEx, personnel cost, personnel work hours vs price, and energy performance.
- WORLD’S BEST PERFORMING GROUP – As a client option, Solomon will analyze the gap of pipeline/terminal performance against the more rigorous World’s Best performing pipelines/terminals group selected on superior performance in OpEx, utilization, personnel performance, energy efficiency, and reliability.
ADDED EFFICIENCY METRICS
Energy Efficiency Index™ (EII®) was introduced to the Liquid Pipeline Study & Liquid Terminal Study in 2020. To further enhance efficiency insights provided to clients, Solomon developed efficiency metrics for maintenance cost, personnel work hours, and non-energy cost.
Efficiency metrics added to the 2025 Liquid Pipeline Study & Liquid Terminal Study include:
- Maintenance Cost Efficiency Index (MEI)
- Maintenance Personnel Cost Efficiency Index (mPEI)
- Non-Maintenance Personnel Cost Efficiency Index (nmPEI)
- Personnel Efficiency Index (PEI)
These metrics compare the terminal’s actual consumption of a given resource versus a resource standard that considers economy of scale. For each terminal facility, smaller facilities receive proportionately more of the calculated standard resource (e.g., energy, work hours, maintenance costs, etc.) per unit of capacity than larger facilities, to eliminate the economy of scale.
Efficiency metrics are derived with the same methodology utilized in Solomon’s Worldwide Fuels Refinery Performance Analysis (Fuels Study). Pipeline and terminal efficiency metrics can be combined and incorporated with Solomon’s fuels and chemicals studies’ metrics into Enterprise Portfolio Calculations for clients participating across many Solomon studies.
RESULTS PRESENTATION IMPROVEMENTS
The Liquid Pipeline Study & Liquid Terminal Study results presentation went through the first phase of a transformation during the 2023 study, enabling participants to receive greater insight into improvement opportunities. This transformation will continue with the future Liquid Pipeline Study & Liquid Terminal Study, with high-impact analyses being added to the study presentation, bringing even more actionable insight to the surface.
DELIVERY IMPROVEMENTS, DATA COLLECTION & IMPROVED EFFICIENCIES
Investments are being made in data analytics of the Liquid Pipeline Study & Liquid Terminal Study to improve the input data collection/input and review process and data-to-insights workflow. Automation platforms for the study continue to be upgraded to increase efficiency and effectiveness. Input forms will now align with the Fuels Study and other Solomon study formats, giving comparison to historical input data for clients that previously participated in the Liquid Pipeline Study & Liquid Terminal Study. Further, the new study cycle sees enhanced data check applications to provide the first round of data review within the input form structure, simplifying and compressing data review processes.
Solomon continues to focus on substantially reducing participant effort in collecting study data as we transition our products from spreadsheets to online digital formats. This transition provides internal efficiencies and cost savings within companies focused on continuous improvement. The Liquid Pipeline Study & Liquid Terminal Study will now leverage Solomon Connect, our secure data sharing and collaboration portal, ensures efficient data review experience, and improved communication during each step of the process.
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