Apr-2021

Driving change across the downstream industry

Asian Downstream Insights Exclusive Interview with Andy Saunders-Tack, Director, Asia-Pacific and Mel Larson, Strategic Consulting Manager at Becht

Andy Saunders-Tack and Mel Larson
Becht

Article Summary

The coup in Myanmar may be pivotal for the energy markets. The building of a pipeline through Myanmar allows both crude and product to shortcut the shipping lanes of the Malacca Straits. Add to this the growing tensions in the South China Sea and one can see an “argument” of protectionism arising that pinches off the entire South East Asian region from the wider Asian continent. The impact to Singapore in the next decade will be potentially significant.

What are Asian regional governments, and operators, willing to do to ensure they are not tied to a single source? Andy Saunders-Tack, Director, Asia-Pacific and Mel Larson, Strategic Consulting Manager at Becht, share their insights on what operational resilience means in the next normal, and navigating global success in an era of deglobalisation.

What are the main drivers influencing change across the future of the downstream industry?
Global warming or climate change that “demands” action in lowering greenhouse gas emissions is a primary driver. This is leading to an energy transition that has been magnified by the lockdown resulting from COVID-19 in the short term.

There is, and will continue to be, a global demand shift, as well as supplier shift in meeting future demand. The challenge is time and concepts to achieve a “net zero” which does not necessarily mean stopping CO2 emissions as bio fuels will emit CO2 but at a different rate and growth profile.

Lower demand for transportation fuel will change the way refiners operate.

What will be the key priority for operators to ensure survival and commercial success in the post-pandemic era?
Planning that can yield both quick wins across all areas — eg, feedstocks, operations and maintenance, while analysing the forward market to make focused capital investment to match the shift into renewables or bio sourced energy. There must be the recognition that overall, energy demand is increasing. Thus, it is a change in source of energy that is driving change in RPI (refining and petrochemicals integration), which is vital for commercial success. All those standalone (non-integrated) refineries will be hit the hardest and will need investment for RPI or change in processing options to produce alternative fuel.

What is the biggest challenge for traditional refineries making the shift to petrochemicals?
The biggest challenge is cost and attracting capital investments. Petrochemical development requires long term demand with critical mass of fuels refining nearby to manage the balance of demand. The concept of crude to chemicals has a nice conceptual tone but it is expensive with current technology to crack the molecules to the petrochemical precursors.

The climate change discussion is also shifting emphasis to recycling and not first-generation production. Creating a robust business strategy shall require the inclusion of recycling with first generation production that has the flexibility to respond to a changing landscape as technologies evolve and demand profiles shift.

Where do you see long-term opportunities in the oil & gas sector?
Oil and gas is here to stay in the medium term — opportunities are multiple but all centre on approaches to optimise feedstock and products whilst decarbonising the value chain. The long-term play is more in the petrochemical front that will be impacted by innovation for recycling efforts.

How would you define operational resilience, and why is it a critical focus for the downstream sector?
The issue is first to understand oil is not being shut off tomorrow. The demand will be here through 2050. The focus in downstream is first on energy efficiency providing a product with the “lowest” economical carbon footprint possible. Operational resilience will include innovation and thinking “away” from historical patterns and taking more risk to meet the forward demands. Strategic business planning will need to consider emissions as a “cost” such as carbon tax or GHG (greenhouse gas) tax. These will drive changes in hardware to meet the forward demand.

It is the ability to be able to pull on multiple levers that address strategic business planning and operational excellence. Shifts must include the ability to attract capital. Governments must be careful not to tip the scales in favor of one energy system or other. The extent to which systems are exposed to free markets will allow for innovation that ensures the “best” outcomes are possible.

The ability to be flexible in operating in various modes safely, taking into account various constraints is important. Looking to other system usages like co-generation, recycling, or other applications will be part of the solution.

How can new technologies and new software help measure and improve resilience and maximise operational efficiency?
New software will probably not help as much as people want to believe. Digital twins, real time optimisation and AI may offer some good benefits in the short term. New technologies only change the molecular management efficiency from start to finish. Those “new” technologies that are perhaps less carbon intense are most interesting. Innovations that address carbon or GHG capture could be revolutionary.

How have/can operators use(d) innovation to improve reliability and safety?
Better use of data for predictive purposes will be key here. On-stream non-intrusive inspection combined with improved predictive methodologies and holistic monitoring to support flexible operation will drive operational excellence. AI will be important but we caution against over-reliance on this. Developers are not operators and don’t always fully understand the nuances of the real world they are programming into. A combination of SMEs/operators, AI and mathematicians will be a game changer in the way we operate our assets.

With oil & gas and industrial revenues declining due to the pandemic, how can downstream business leaders build resilience on a finite budget?
First the revenue losses are not purely from the pandemic. As demand fell, OPEC flooded the market, hammering crude prices further, and creating a massive glut. On the first round everyone thought it would be a short period — 6 months — followed by a rebound, so they kept pumping. Then storage filled and the situation worsened dramatically. So be careful to note that crude glut contributed massively to price shifts.

Downstream leaders should engage qualified “outsiders” to assist in gap assessment of the plant. They should be bold and willing to allow a “critical” eye to examine all aspects of the system: organisation, operations, marketing, energy etc. No stone should remain unturned to find those areas of opportunity to capture value. They should seek the quick wins but not lose sight of the longer term picture and start planning now.

No revenue is gained if the plant is not running, so reviewing and improving plant reliability and integrity is critical. When the economy becomes more favourable, the plant can then use its maximised reliably to improve margins. It is also important to look forward to the “next” generation so that knowledge transfer and value is maintained and sustained.