OPTIMIZATION

FICO Optimization Software to Evolve Plant Processing at Shell

“isFICO’s optimization software

clearly next-generation and
their expertise and proactive
engagement have gone a
long way in making this
project successful.
”
–Rishi Amrit, Process Control Engineer at Shell

• Better algorithms allow the plants to

handle problems they weren’t able to FICO Optimization Software to Evolve Plant
handle with the previous version of
the platform. Processing at Shell
• A customized user interface gives
business users the control and Client:
flexibility to explore trade-offs Shell
and make real-time decisions for Challenge:
plant operation. Create a next-generation advanced process control platform that provides
• High-performance solvers, along plant-wide control of all operations, minimizing cost and maximizing benefits
with more complex models in for each plant.
production, have increased the Solution:
accuracy of these decisions. FICO® Xpress Optimization Suite
• Advanced process control calculates Results:
the best actions for every situation Shell is able to solve more complex problems with more reliability and greater
by balancing constraints and control, benefiting their processing plant operations.
economic objectives.

Implementing Next-Generation Optimization for Plant

Processing
Shell has been applying advanced process control technology to plants around
the world since the 1970s. The Shell Multivariable Optimization Control (SMOC)
application was used to design, implement and maintain advanced control
strategies to improve plant stability and maximize plant profitability for oil and
chemical processing. “The top priority is to operate the plant safely,” says Rishi

© 2016 Fair Isaac Corporation. All rights reserved. 1


Amrit, Process Control Engineer at
Shell. “With advanced process control
technology, we can determine the best
values at which to run our flows and
temperatures in order to operate the
plant safely and in accordance with
environmental regulations.”
A Legacy System for
Advanced Process Control
A dedicated team of process control
engineers has maintained this legacy
system in-house over the past 50 years.
They have iterated on the software several
times to improve performance over
time. According to Amrit, “Optimization
technology has improved dramatically over
the past decade and now we wanted to
take a leap into a next-generation solution.”
What Was Needed
Shell has nearly 600 advanced process
control applications around the globe, with
some applications operated by Shell and
others by joint ventures. Each processing
plant has its own set of advanced
process control applications running
plant operations. There was a need for
a solution that would provide plant-wide
control, which would help maximize the
economic operating benefits of each plant.
The technology was required to suitably
plan for asset utilization and maintenance
requirements while improving plant
stability and profitability. In addition, it
had to plan for operational efficiency and
characteristics of machines and processes
while accounting for uncertainties in
demand and availability.
Leveraging FICO
Optimization
FICO® Xpress Optimization Suite is
currently used to drive performance in
accordance with this complex set of
FOR MORE INFORMATION NORTH AMERICA
www.fico.com +1 888 342 6336
www.fico.com/blogs info@fico.com
FICO and FICO® Xpress Optimization Suite are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and in other countries. Other product and company names herein may be
trademarks of their respective owners. © 2016 Fair Isaac Corporation. All rights reserved.
4254CS_EN 06/16 PDF
FICO Optimization Software to Evolve Plant Processing at Shell
requirements. Xpress offers powerful and
versatile solvers that help model complex
processes with greater accuracy and
provides a wide array of sophisticated,
robust optimization algorithms for solving
large-scale control problems.
Shell and FICO worked in collaboration
to build the next-generation optimization
solution, called Platform for Advanced
Control and Estimation (PACE). Shell
engineers built the algorithms and
developed the intermediate optimization
problems. These problems are fed into
Xpress and the solvers do the heavy lifting.
Through a test-and-learn process, the team
tested the optimizer and the FICO team
learned from the examples of the site tests
to improve and develop the models further.
“We had chemical engineers working with
optimization modelers,” says Amrit. “Steady
collaboration and interaction between the
FICO and Shell technical teams is pretty
unique. The interaction has led to a much
more refined version of the platform.”
PACE is able to run calculations in real time
and provide the optimal recommended
actions for every situation, balancing
constraints and objectives. After the
system calculates the best actions, the
onsite team is able to interact with a
visual tool that gives them the control and
flexibility to explore trade-offs and make
the ultimate decisions for the plant.
Already Seeing a Difference
Shell released the first application of
PACE in August of 2015 and is already
experiencing a number of improvements:
• Solving more complex problems
– Operating a refining or chemical
processing plant is a complex
undertaking. There are many units
involved that are interconnected and
affect each other. The relationship
between interacting variables,
LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
+55 11 5189 8267
LAC_info@fico.com
OPTIMIZATION
constraints and economic objectives
leads to millions of decision possibilities.
Xpress leverages powerful solvers that
can solve complex problems. They use
improved control algorithms to tackle
problems they weren’t able to handle
with the previous version of the platform.
• Greater control – The new platform has
a customized user interface, allowing
users at each plant greater control. They
are able to review a dashboard to see
and respond to external disturbances,
meet service-level agreements within
the desired time frame, identify limiting
factors and spare capacity, and optimize
the use of raw materials while balancing
the trade-offs with potential outcomes.
• More reliability – Xpress provides reliable
high-performance solvers, which are based
on more than 30 years of continuous
innovation. This, along with complex
models in production, has increased the
likelihood of making good decisions.
The combination of FICO’s powerful
software, domain expertise, extensive
implementation experience and transparent
methodology has helped shape Shell’s next-
generation processing platform. FICO offers
a complete range of services and software
for all users, making optimization accessible
for everyone, everywhere.
To learn more about
how FICO Optimization
can help you improve
your business decisions,
go to www.fico.com/
optimization.
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA ASIA PACIFIC
+44 (0) 207 940 8718 +65 6422 7700
emeainfo@fico.com infoasia@fico.com