The oil and gas industry has a vast and complex supply chain. The different activities that take place regarding the extraction and production of oil, as well as the distribution, handling, manufacturing of fuel, storage or transportation and the use of natural gas, are carried out in between a vast network of players. Within this industry, there are two ways in which you might participate: Firstly, you may engage in one of the many activities that make up the whole supply chain (for example, drilling for oil is just one part); secondly, you may play a role in managing one or more aspects of the supply chain (such as handling inventory). There are lots of supply chain challenges in the energy business, such as fluctuating oil prices, fluctuating political conditions etc.
Each stage in the oil and gas chain is linked to the next. This means that there are several chain relationships that need to be analyzed and understood properly. They can include transportation, sales, material management, technology, refining, and other processes. In addition, there are also supply chain management systems and tools that are used.
Supply chain management in the oil and gas sector needs to be managed properly to ensure that the resources are utilized efficiently. This in turn helps to lower the operating costs and the profitability of the oil and gas sector.
As per studies, the demand for oil and gas is increasing exponentially in the future. This has given rise to an increased level of competition among oil and gas providers leading to a price hike in the market. According to estimates, the global demand for oil and gas is expected to touch the whopping 4 trillion dollars by the year 2040. This has resulted in a drastic rise in the cost of oil as well. To maintain the market share of the oil and gas sector, the oil and gas companies are focusing more on productivity and on exploration as well as on refining their projects.
Supply chain management in the oil and gas sector needs to be followed in a strict manner from the planning stage to the execution stage. Companies should have a dedicated staff, which should work as consultants for the entire supply chain management in the oil and gas sector. These consultants should liaise with the managers and executives of the refineries and the working engineers. These consultants are meant to understand the entire functioning of the refineries and pipelines, suggest and implement new technology for increasing efficiency and develop new strategies to increase the production capacity. This way, the company can easily satisfy its customers and increase its market share.