Criteria to Implement a Supervision System in the Petroleum Industry: A Case Study in a Terminal Storage Facility

Abstract

A liquid petroleum storage facility (Terminal), is a platform used to store petroleum products. Terminals plays a strategic role on the oil and gas supply chain. There are three types of terminals: a fully automated terminal, a partially automated terminal and a fully manual terminal. To increase their efficiency and safety in a very competitive market, terminal companies might take the decision to invest in a supervisory control system DCS or SCADA. The advantages of DCS/SCADA systems are: improving the productivity and the proactivity, reducing cost, identifying quickly abnormal operating conditions and finally enhancing the efficiency and the safety. Due to the high cost of this project type, it is deemed vital to take the right decision when comparing the different options. The automation market offers multiple choices and opportunities, and taking the correct decision is a very challenging process. The key criteria for the technical evaluation are: 1) service offered, 2) interface capabilities,3) tender process efficiency and project execution, 4) after sales and product life cycle,5) references and finally 6) additional services. In this paper, the importance of each key criterion is identified and measured, leading to the development of a tool to be used for the assessment of different offers in order to successfully implement a supervision system. It consists of a framework based on a past experience of subject matter expert for a real case related to a successful implementation of a DCS system on a liquid petroleum storage facility. The paper provides as well a valuable feedback for vendors and can be used as a reference when preparing their commercial and technical strategy for future projects.