Transforming LNG Cargo Scheduling and Domestic Gas Management

Challenge 

The North West Shelf Lifting Coordinator Pty Ltd (NWSOLC) faced growing inefficiencies with its outdated, slow, and opaque system for scheduling LNG cargoes and managing domestic gas nominations. The legacy platform, often referred to as a “black box”, offered little transparency and required significant manual intervention.

NWSOLC needed a more agile, automated solution to manage long-term LNG cargo pipeline gas forecasts, pipeline nominations, spot cargoes, cargo swaps, and sudden changes due to extreme weather, while ensuring multiple oil and gas operators could access the system daily. 

Solution 

NWSOLC implemented the EnergySys platform, with the help of platinum partner Elite, to replace the legacy system. The new solution integrates production forecasts and allows NWSOLC to efficiently schedule LNG cargoes and manage domestic gas nominations over long (12-month) and shorter (30 day) periods.

Elite's automation expertise streamlined many previously manual tasks, such as data integration, cargo scheduling, and commercial checks. The platform also enabled real-time adjustments for spot cargoes, cargo swaps, and disruptions caused by weather, while providing transparency for the many operators using the system. 

Outcomes 

With EnergySys, NWSOLC improved scheduling efficiency (from days to hours) and transparency. Operators now access real-time data, allowing for quick decisions on LNG cargo scheduling. Domestic gas nominations are managed alongside LNG cargo scheduling, ensuring seamless operations.

Automation has greatly reduced the administrative burden, enabling the team to focus on optimising schedules and responding to market demands. The system’s open and transparent nature has even allowed the NWSOLC team to look at implementing changes themselves and the whole project has been deemed a huge success.