Optimized strategic project planning at IVG Caverns
The customer
Storag Etzel GmbH is planning and managing the construction of underground caverns for the storage of oil and gas reserves in Etzel in northern Germany. The construction of a cavern is a complex and time-consuming construction process lasting around 3-4 years. After planning the construction, a drilling site is set up from which several locations can be drilled. By flushing out (brining) the salt stored in the rock with seawater from the North Sea, a cavity is created which can be used to store natural gas and crude oil after completion. Once the cavity has been completed, the completion will be installed in the gas cavern so that the gas can then be filled.
Goals at a glance
Cost reduction thanks to efficient resource planning
Compliance with all technical and legal regulations
Risk management with the help of timely what-if analysis
Consistent data management and centralized reporting
The project in detail
Executive Summary
A modular system was successfully developed for Storag Etzel GmbH for IT-supported scenario project workflow planning and other planning and evaluation options. After the successful conception, the planning was supported by a system development based on the OPTANO platform. Thanks to the modular structure, further planning elements could be successively added and introduced. By involving the planners and management at an early stage, an individually tailored system was created and integrated into the existing IT landscape as a central planning system. The project was implemented on time and on budget by OPTANO experts in close cooperation with the customer, meeting all quality requirements.
The challenge
The planning and control of cavern construction is a complex and challenging task, as it is subject to a large number of input parameters, cross-dependencies and restrictions. Planning prior to the introduction of the OPTANO solution was carried out in a process led by OPTANO experts.
The solution
A modular planning and optimization system based on the OPTANO platform was designed, developed and introduced to optimize the planning situation. The modules were tailored to the individual requirements of the relevant experts and include, among other things
- Planning and optimization system for creating strategic production plans, taking into account technical restrictions, regulatory requirements and multi-project planning (schedule creation/scheduling for cavern production)
- Evaluation and optimization of energy costs in production planning
- Master data management and integration into the existing IT architecture
- Reporting and business intelligence components for preparing data for management
- Planning of surveying and maintenance activities (including budget planning)
The result
The OPTANO solution integrates seamlessly into the existing IT landscape and is the leading system for managing technical data. In addition, various expert tools were connected so that a central connection between all IT systems could be created for the first time.
The most important project successes include
- Cost reduction through efficient resource planning
- Planning stability and independence from individual employees
- Compliance with all technical and legal regulations in the construction planning of caverns
- Realization of a technical and financial control instrument for strategic production planning
- Risk management through timely what-if analyses
- Fulfillment of certification requirements (quality and energy management)
- Realization of consistent data management and a central reporting system