INTEGRATED SERVICES / LNG
Supporting the LNG Industry
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations span a complex value chain that links upstream gas production, midstream processing and transportation, and downstream commercial sales.
Managing data and accountability across this chain is critical for ensuring accurate hydrocarbon accounting (HCA), cargo documentation, and commercial settlement. LNG supply chains involve multiple stages — from production and liquefaction to shipping and sales — each generating large volumes of operational and commercial data that must be reconciled and validated.
Accord have expertise across the full range of hydrocarbon accounting-related business activities. Increasingly our clients see their hydrocarbon accounting system as the single source of truth from production metering through to revenue accounting. Accord deliver projects to LNG customers to:
- Define business requirements and scope system
- Deliver full HCA system implementation from design through to go live
- Supply Allocation Engineering services to manage uncertainties and reconciliation
- Provide long term support of the HCA system
Hydrocarbon Accounting in LNG Operations
Hydrocarbon accounting (HCA) systems provide the financial and operational backbone of oil and gas operations. They consolidate measurement data, apply allocation rules, and generate the official records used for production reporting, partner allocations, and sales settlements.
In LNG operations, the importance of such systems is amplified due to:
- Multiple feed gas sources and offshore production facilities
- Complex process plants, including liquefaction trains, tank farms, and utilities
- Multiple products such as LNG, propane, butane, and condensate
- Detailed forecasting of LNG availability and cargo delivery planning
- Commercial cargo operations involving detailed shipping documentation
- Complex contractual arrangements between LNG Operator and Buyers
One size does not fit all, and the scope of an HCA system across the LNG value chain can vary significantly depending on the operator’s business model, asset ownership structure, and regional regulatory environment.
Planning & Co-ordination
Measurement & Control
Cargo Execution
Planning & Co-ordination
Measurement & Control
Cargo Execution
Sales, Finance & Sustainability
Sales, Finance & Sustainability
Challenges of Hydrocarbon Accounting for LNG
While the fundamental purpose of an HCA system — to measure, track, allocate, and reconcile hydrocarbon volumes and energy throughout the value chain — will always be consistent, the exact implementation boundaries differ between LNG operators and across geographical regions.
For large, integrated LNG operators, the scope of a HCA system can often span across all elements shown above. In these implementations, the system must handle complex processes such as production forecasting, feed gas nominations, energy calculations for lifted cargoes, contract quantity tracking, and reconciliation of volumes across custody transfer points. Integrated systems may also incorporate commercial and logistics processes.
In contrast, operators with more specialised roles may implement HCA systems with a narrower functional scope, focussing on their particular responsibilities.
Geographical factors also heavily influence HCA system scope for LNG. In mature markets, HCA systems must integrate with existing physical infrastructure and operational practices while complying with established regulatory frameworks. In emerging markets, however, the priority is often the implementation of core measurement, reconciliation, and reporting functions, with additional capabilities introduced as market complexity increases.
OUR CLIENTS
Case Studies
"In the LNG industry, organisations need a partner that understands operational realities as well as technical requirements. Accord’s experience and delivery approach helps align complex business workflows with the needs of diverse user communities, supporting the successful delivery of trusted and effective solutions."
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