Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Special reports
  3. 07 Oct 16
  4. Software that automates bi-directional LNG facilities

Software that automates bi-directional LNG facilities

Published by , Senior Editor
LNG Industry,

A continuing slump in commodity prices paired with a glut in supply means that more US-based LNG companies are restructuring to support LNG exports. In February 2016, the departure of the Asia Vision LNG carrier from the Sabine Pass terminal marked a milestone for the US energy industry. It represented the first step for the US in becoming one of the leading global suppliers of LNG.

Cheniere Energy is currently developing onshore liquefaction terminals and related natural gas pipelines along the US Gulf Coast, including the US$20 billion Sabine Pass and US$15 billion Corpus Christi liquefaction facilities. The company also owns and operates the 94-mile interconnecting Creole Trail Pipeline, with additional plans to construct and operate a 23-mile Corpus Christi Pipeline. When the Asia Vision departed Sabine Pass earlier this year, Cheniere became the first company to export domestically produced LNG from the lower 48 states.

To support continuous development and growth, Cheniere was interested in finding a way to automate workflows and streamline manual processes for LNG and commercial services operations.

Automating commercial operations

In the past, spreadsheets were the primary tool for building and maintaining ship schedules and for communicating these between LNG sellers and buyers. By the time those spreadsheets are constructed and sent out, the data has become out of date.

Cheniere began looking for a transaction management application for vessel scheduling, customer interaction, and inventory management. The company also required a measurement accounting tool for natural gas, as well as a solution to manage pipeline business transactions with shippers. To support its expanding LNG and terminal services, Cheniere implemented an integrated solution that includes the following commercial software applications:

  • LNG cargo and inventory management.
  • Pipeline transaction management.
  • Gas measurement.
  • Field measurement.
  • Query and reporting.

As a result, the company was able to modernise and automate its entire LNG cargo management process. Benefits include improvements in generating customer reports and in maintaining compliance with industry measurement standards, such as American Petroleum Institute (API), Gas Processors Association (GPA) and American Gas Association (AGA), as well as financial reporting standards. Furthermore, by replacing old, spreadsheet-based processes, the company is now...


This article was originally published in the October issue of LNG Industry. To read the full article, sign in or register to become a member for free.


Written by Niki Thomas, Quorum Business Solutions, USA.

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/special-reports/07102016/software-that-automates-bi-directional-lng-facilities/

You might also like

 
 

Embed article link: (copy the HTML code below):