Integrated optimization of gas supply chain network design problem and Liquefied Natural gas contract selection

Gas supply chain is a complex and huge network which is in need of heavy investments in all of the stages. Liquefying the natural gas is the common way to facilitate the transportation of natural gas. The emergence of suppliers with large gas reserves and disappearance of conventional clauses stimulate the global LNG trade. This paper aims to provide an optimization model for the natural gas supply chain network design while considering the selection of contracts from the perspective of an LNG buyer company. The elaborated model is able to consider the best combination of facilities location and pipelines suppliers and contracts in gas supply chain network design that addresses various aspects, such as contract timings and lengths, demands, price formulations, purchase commitments, delivery terms and gas Technical Specifications. The developed model is solved using GAMS 24.4.6 optimization software and results show the applicability and efficiency of the proposed mathematical model.

کلیدواژه ها:

Natural gas supply chain ، Network design ، LNG contract ، Mixed-integer programming