Planning and Sequencing Product Distribution in a Real-World Pipeline Network: An MILP Decomposition Approach

Abstract

In the oil industry, any improvement in the planning and execution of the associated operations (e.g., production, storage, distribution) can generate considerable profits. To achieve this, the related activities need to be optimized. Within these activities, planning and scheduling occur at the different levels of the oil supply chain, from the strategic to the operational levels looking from global networks to sets of individual resources. This work looks into the planning, namely the assignment/ sequencing of activities that occur in a multiproduct, multipipeline system. The aim is to contribute to the definition of generic models that can help the decision-making process characterized by a high level of complexity. An approach formed by two mixed integer linear programming (MILP) formulations that act in sequence is proposed. The first generic MILP planning model calculates volumes for attending the necessary requirements on inventory management of the producer and consumer areas. As a result, this model defines the products and the total volumes to be transported in order to attain storage goals, while respecting operational constraints, demands of consumers, and pipeline capacity. Then, the planning model results are used by an MILP assignment and sequencing model, which splits the total volume into operational batches and determines the sequence of pumping for the batches during the available horizon. The developed approach is applied to a real-world pipeline network that includes 30 bidirectional multiproduct pipelines associated with 14 node areas: four refineries, two harbors, six depots/parks of pumps and valves, and two final clients.

Process Supply Chains Management – Where are We? Where to Go Next?

“…Huang and Karimi (2006) Dondo et al (2011) studied the distribution problem considering vehicle routing and X-docking centers. Boschetto et al (2012) considered the planning and scheduling of a set of complex distribution networks and have shown the difficulty involved when planning and scheduling levels are to be integrated. The advantage of such integration was also demonstrated.…”

Modeling downstream petroleum supply chain: The importance of multi-mode transportation to strategic planning

“…on pipeline systems. Magatão et al (2012) developed a two-level MILP for planning and sequencing pumping activities in a pipeline network. The authors proposed the solution in a sequential fashion that applied to a real-world pipeline network with 30 multi product pipelines associated with 14 node areas.…”

Planning of a multiproduct pipeline integrating blending and distribution

“…Rejowski and Pinto (2004) presented a discrete MILP problem composed by a refinery, pipeline and depots considering intermittent pumping time and logical constraints, adding a set of integer cuts and special interface constraint that resulted in better solutions. Magatão et al (2012) developed a hierarchical decomposition to solve a planning and assignment\sequencing pipeline network model composed by refineries, harbors, depots and clients applied to a real scenario. Magatão et al (2012) developed a hierarchical decomposition to solve a planning and assignment\sequencing pipeline network model composed by refineries, harbors, depots and clients applied to a real scenario.…”