Method for developing a long-term strategy for allocating a supply of liquefied natural gas
First Claim
1. A method for shipping liquefied natural gas (LNG) comprising:
- developing a long-term strategy for allocating a supply of LNG, wherein the strategy identifies potential options in the LNG market while adhering to limitations of available shipping capacity, wherein identifying the potential options comprises;
modeling an LNG market using one or more optimization models in a computer system, wherein the LNG market includes at least one buyer of LNG, at least one seller of LNG, an LNG terminal, and at least one ship for transporting LNG, wherein the one or more optimization models comprises a stochastic programming model, a stochastic dynamic program, a robust optimization model, a mixed integer linear programming model, a dynamic programming model, an approximate dynamic programming model, a constraint programing model, or a combination thereof, and wherein the one or more optimization models incorporate a network flow model and uses discrete variables to represent fixed penalties, costs and incentives on various options, batch cargo movements, limits on options, and IF-THEN logic on option constraints;
inputting a plurality of inputs into the one or more optimization models, wherein uncertainty in the one or more inputs is represented as one or more of multiple scenarios, probability distribution functions, ranges of values, and a discrete set of values, wherein the uncertainty in the plurality of inputs includes one or more of shipping capacity on particular routes and the number, size, and speed of ships traveling on a particular route, and wherein the plurality of inputs comprise at least one of ship routes between all supply and destination terminals and types or grades of available LNG;
interfacing one or more solution algorithms with the one or more optimization models in the computer system; and
running in the computer system the one or more optimization models using the interfaced one or more solution algorithms to identify potential options in the LNG market, wherein uncertainty is accounted for in the identified potential options, and wherein the identified potential options include limits on potential deals, including one or more of maximum number of parties on one side of a deal, maximum number of parties per deal, maximum number of sets of parties dealing, and disallowed deals;
outputting the identified potential options; and
shipping LNG according to one or more of the identified potential options.
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for developing a long-term strategy for allocating a supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) while adhering to limitations of available shipping capacity An LNG market is modeled using one or more optimization models. The LNG market includes at least one buyer of LNG, at least one seller of LNG, and at least one means of transporting LNG. A plurality of inputs relevant to the LNG market are accepted. The inputs are configured to be input into the optimization models. One or more solution algorithms are interfaced with the optimization models. The optimization models are run using the interfaced solution algorithms to identify potential options in the LNG market. Uncertainty is accounted for in the identified potential options. The identified potential options are outputted.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for shipping liquefied natural gas (LNG) comprising:
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developing a long-term strategy for allocating a supply of LNG, wherein the strategy identifies potential options in the LNG market while adhering to limitations of available shipping capacity, wherein identifying the potential options comprises; modeling an LNG market using one or more optimization models in a computer system, wherein the LNG market includes at least one buyer of LNG, at least one seller of LNG, an LNG terminal, and at least one ship for transporting LNG, wherein the one or more optimization models comprises a stochastic programming model, a stochastic dynamic program, a robust optimization model, a mixed integer linear programming model, a dynamic programming model, an approximate dynamic programming model, a constraint programing model, or a combination thereof, and wherein the one or more optimization models incorporate a network flow model and uses discrete variables to represent fixed penalties, costs and incentives on various options, batch cargo movements, limits on options, and IF-THEN logic on option constraints; inputting a plurality of inputs into the one or more optimization models, wherein uncertainty in the one or more inputs is represented as one or more of multiple scenarios, probability distribution functions, ranges of values, and a discrete set of values, wherein the uncertainty in the plurality of inputs includes one or more of shipping capacity on particular routes and the number, size, and speed of ships traveling on a particular route, and wherein the plurality of inputs comprise at least one of ship routes between all supply and destination terminals and types or grades of available LNG; interfacing one or more solution algorithms with the one or more optimization models in the computer system; and running in the computer system the one or more optimization models using the interfaced one or more solution algorithms to identify potential options in the LNG market, wherein uncertainty is accounted for in the identified potential options, and wherein the identified potential options include limits on potential deals, including one or more of maximum number of parties on one side of a deal, maximum number of parties per deal, maximum number of sets of parties dealing, and disallowed deals; outputting the identified potential options; and shipping LNG according to one or more of the identified potential options. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product having computer executable logic recorded on a tangible, non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising:
code for developing a long-term strategy for allocating a supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by identifying potential options in the LNG market while adhering to limitations of available shipping capacity, wherein the code for identifying the potential options comprises; code for modeling an LNG market using one or more optimization models, wherein the LNG market includes at least one buyer of LNG, at least one seller of LNG, an LNG terminal, and at least one means of transporting LNG comprising one or more ships, wherein the one or more optimization models is one of a stochastic programming model, a stochastic dynamic program, and a robust optimization model, and wherein the one or more optimization models incorporate a network flow model and uses discrete variables to represent fixed penalties, costs and incentives on various options, batch cargo movements, limits on options, and IF-THEN logic on option constraints; code for accepting a plurality of inputs relevant to the LNG market, wherein the plurality of inputs are configured to be input into the one or more optimization models, wherein uncertainty in the one or more inputs is represented as one or more of multiple scenarios, probability distribution functions, ranges of values, and a discrete set of values, and wherein the uncertainty in the plurality of inputs includes one or more of shipping capacity on particular routes and the number, size, and speed of ships traveling on a particular route, and wherein the plurality of inputs comprise at least one of ship routes between all supply and destination terminals and types or grades of available LNG; code for interfacing one or more solution algorithms with the one or more optimization models; code for running the one or more optimization models using the interfaced one or more solution algorithms to identify potential options in the LNG market, wherein uncertainty is accounted for in the identified potential options, and wherein the identified potential options include limits on potential deals, including one or more of maximum number of parties on one side of a deal, maximum number of parties per deal, maximum number of sets of parties dealing, and disallowed deals; and code for outputting the identified potential options.
Specification