Case Study
Inventory and flow simulation model to support operational decisions across an integrated refining and logistics network
A major Brazilian refinery gained a dynamic, single view of inventory and flow across its integrated port-to-refinery logistics network.
Client
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An energy company controlled by an international investment manager, offering more than 31 products.
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Its main asset is a large refinery located in Northeast Brazil, in operation for more than 70 years, with capacity to process more than 300 thousand barrels of crude oil per day, representing 14% of Brazil's total refining capacity.
Challenges
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The company required a dynamic view of the operation to understand inventory behavior and product flows across the integrated network, from the port terminal to the refinery and other logistics assets.
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The model needed to represent the key elements of the operation in a single environment, including vessels, berths, loading and unloading pipelines, port storage, transfer pipelines, inland terminals, and refinery tankage.
Our Approach
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Structured the conceptual design and parameterization of an AnyLogic ® simulation model to replicate the integrated logistics operation supporting the refinery.
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Modeled inventories and flows across the critical assets of the network, including the maritime terminal, berths, pipelines, port storage, inland terminals, and refinery tanks, as well as the relevant operating rules and constraints.
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Analyzed scenario outputs to identify the main operational performance drivers, with a focus on infrastructure availability, inventory behavior, supply regularity, and production stability.
Results
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Delivered a simulation model capable of representing inventories, flows, and constraints across the integrated refining and logistics operation, creating a robust basis for operational scenario analysis.
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Enabled the client to assess the impact of changes in operating rules, parameters, and resource availability on logistics asset utilization and refinery operating regularity.