Frequently Asked Questions

A Diagnostic SCAN is a focused 1–2 week assessment, offered at nominal, concessional fees, that lets us quickly understand your asset, understand about troubleshooting, reliability, operations issues and rank the margin opportunities our experts SCAN and Bench Mark from their global experience, and propose the right next steps in a structured Action Plan. It is a collaborative way to experience how we work before committing to a larger scope of study, essentially we work together.

It usually runs from a first conversation, to a Diagnostic SCAN, encompassing troubleshooting, reliability, operations issues and rank the margin opportunities in a structured Gap-to-Potential report, to a co-created, tailor-made proposal, and then a signed mandate. Every step is agreed with you before the next begins.

Our engagements are advised and internally reviewed by senior global leadership and advisory board and assignments are carried out by global resource pool led by Lead Principal expert and supported by principal consultants who have vast experience in the subject matter. Overall we leverage on the operating, global consulting and design experience from our project leaders who have operated and run multiple assets as owners as well as advised business and managed them. You get tier-one depth, delivered with a lean team and boutique cost. We provide best in class expertise at a very competitive cost and are bottoms up in our approach.

Yes. We operate as an Owner's Consultant and do not represent any single licensor, equipment vendor or engineering contractor. Our recommendations are unbiased and based on what is technically and commercially right for your asset.

Every engagement is led by a Lead Principal or Principal Consultant with direct, senior-level industry experience, supported by Principal, Senior Consultants and Consultants for detailed analysis. The organisation structure is set to leverage on the best expertise available at that point in time. We also collaborate with our partners to get specific help on a very detailed subject if necessary. See our Core Team & Hierarchy.

Refining and aromatics based petrochemicals, Cracker and polyolefins and derivative petrochemicals, upstream exploration and production in co-creating innovative digital solutions, gas processing, LNG, GTL and gasification, chemicals and fertilizers, hydrogen production and air separation units. See Industries for the full list.

We work Globally while we cater to markets in India, the Middle East, South-East Asia, Asia-Pacific and Africa, supported by regional representatives. The markets in Europe and the Americas are also served through collaboration partners who act as our front end representatives and we deliver to specific assignment based expertise, called for.

No. Our Engagements range from a short, medium or longer durations, short can be Diagnostic SCAN or Design Consulting or Owner's Consulting acting to validate the proof of a concept or idea or approach, medium can be a Technical Services Agreement (TSA) for six months to one year duration but fixed contract of varied consulting services window available through this, providing answers to your queries, specific reliability, operations or technical support or expert opinion or to understand the best or recommended practices, so we also provide focussed solutions to your current issues, while through the longer duration engagements are multi-month margin improvement program or master planning or project feasibility development studies or digital transformation initiatives.

Yes — from basic IT–OT integration through MPC-APC convergence and to a full real-time digital twin. See Digital Transformation for how we structure these engagements.

We treat all client data, plant information and study findings as confidential and are very well equipped and highly experienced and trained to deal with Confidential & Sensitive Information (CSI) and anti-competitive behaviours, glad to work under a mutually agreed non-disclosure agreement before any data is shared. Moreover, we donot have any conflict of interests while we are consulting, as we are not technology or software licensor or equipment vendor or catalyst supplier.Customer specific data and information is stored in a central cloud server with multi layered security and those who work on those assignments only have restricted access with controls in place on need to know basis. All emails are restricted to circulation within petronova domain id and cannot be ported or forwarded to other domain id etc.

Fees are agreed per scope, typically as a fixed fee for defined studies, Terms of Reference (TOR) and an agreed time-based arrangement for on-call support. The Diagnostic SCAN is offered at a nominal, concessional fee basis and the proposal that follows is tailored to your priorities.

For benefit-linked work such as Margin Improvement, we agree on a jointly signed base case up front and use a base case model reference and calculate the step out cases to evaluate the benefits, we rank and prioritize and sequence the ideas in an integrated cumulative manner such that all ideas and improvements are cumulatively staircased thus resulting in evaluation of integrated margin improvements which are analysed on delta basis.

Yes. We are glad to register with your vendor system, apply for empanelment and respond to tenders. A Diagnostic SCAN can often be arranged within your discretionary approval limits. Similarly, there are some other low cost consultancy services like Owners Advisory services on Design or Technical or Technology or Operations etc. which can be directly awarded to PETRONOVA CONSULTING on nomination basis. If you pre-qualify us based on our collective leadership and experience from the past, that we draw from our long spanning careers and diverse background derived from our Leadership Advisory Board and Global Resource Pool which is Best in Class, we are more than happy to competitively bid on your tenders.

Yes. We act as your independent technical voice and are used to working with your other advisors. Our collaboration partners can also bring in tools, resources and specialist capability when you need them. We work as Owner's Advisory & Consultants and hence we are open to working with Owner's team or directly with your existing licensors or EPC Design Engineering companies as mandated and required.

Both. We can stay with you through implementation and follow-on support or alternatively on query based technical services support under a TSA, so recommendations turn into delivered results. We can make implementation work with our presence with our integrated concepts and action plan such that the power of idea is not diluted due to management of change related issues.

Once there is agreed clarity on scope with Terms of Reference (TOR) and a non-disclosure agreement in place, we can get started with the work, so our time to mobilisation of team is very fast, agile and competitive, a Diagnostic SCAN can typically be mobilised within a few weeks, depending on location and team availability.

Use our client registration form, the Request for Proposal form or contact us directly with a brief description of your challenge, and we will recommend the right first step.A proposal for Terms of Reference (TOR) should be agreed to before we can get started.

We work with companies providing unified modeling tool platform to enable Digital Transformation, IT companies with IT/OT Convergence, ttols and resourcing companies who want to collaborate with PETRONOVA for leveraging collaborative strengths, specific OEM's like desalter vendor'sor licensors, Furnace improvement specialist, corrosion and fouling management & engineering consulting companies and EPC companies active in the Front End Design & Engineering, technology licensors and tools providers, specialist equipment vendors, IT and digital integrators, and regional business representatives who share our focus on refining, petrochemicals, energy and other process based industries.

We sign an MoU framing broader agreement that frames the relationship as mutual rather than one-sided. Collaboration and Partnership is based on foundation principles of mutual respect and equal partners basis with both parties deriving synergies out of the partnership. PETRONOVA CONSULTING believes in "We Play to Win" and "Together WE Win" and there is always a room for "Consolidation by Collaboration than Competition" For each opportunity, roles, deliverables and commercial terms are then agreed case by case.

Partners gain access to senior leadership, Board-level relationships, global resource pool, credible, competitive and affordable solutions with proven track record and experience, penetration to vast new markets and scope for collaboration with joint pitches, while we together flex our pooled and leveraged resourcing, tooling and capability and shared expertise. The model is designed to be reciprocal and mutual benefit with equal opportunities and partnership.

No. Our collaboration and partner network is confidential, and partner identities are not disclosed publicly without the partner's consent and agreement. The same may be disclosed to prospective customers and clients as may be deemeed necessary.

Exclusivity is not assumed and given. Where a specific opportunity calls for it, we agree to the terms openly with the partner based on geographical or regional cooperation or client specific requirements.

Terms are agreed per engagement under the MoU and reflect each party's role, efforts and risks involved in delivery and respective roles and contributions. We aim to keep arrangements simple and transparent.

Yes. We work with regional representatives who open doors and support client relationships in their home geographies. Please contact us with your region, network and relevant experience.

Yes. Principal, Senior and Associate Consultants can be loaned from MoU partners on an assignment basis, extending our capacity without adding fixed payroll.

Yes, for process simulation, planning and unified platforms to enable digital tooling necessary for digital transformation. We keep our Owner's Consultant independence by recommending the tool or technology that fits your asset, and we tell you where a partner relationship exists.

Every collaboration starts under a mutually agreed non-disclosure agreement. Each party retains its own intellectual property, and joint deliverables are covered by the MoU or engagement terms. The methodology and specific improvements or patents or inventions and discoveries as part of the exercise of our work and development would remain with us and we will have full claims or rights over our trademarks and IP development.

Complete the collaborator registration form or write to us through the Contact page with a short profile of your organisation and the capabilities you would bring. We will respond with the next steps.

We welcome experienced professionals from operating and consulting companies having strong experience with Design, Process Technology, Consulting, Operations, Commissioning & Pre-Commissioning & Safety studies, troubleshooting, reliability, process engineering, Business Planning and Scheduling, strong tools and simulation background or front end project development, engineering contractors, licensors and consultancies or execution. As a guide, Associate Consultant is 10+ years, Senior Consultants typically have 15+ years of experience, Principal Consultants have 25+ years and Lead Principal Consultants have 30+ years experience and proven track record of delivery.

Please share your interest and complete the online form and application, add on all the skills from the drop down menu that suits your profile and track record and share your contact details and detailed CV profile through the consultant registration form (see also Careers) or contact us, with your CV, areas of expertise and availability. Our team will review it and reply back and have a clarification session.

Consultants in our Global Resource Pool are engaged on an assignment basis, so there is no fixed-payroll commitment on either side.There is no exclusive rights and agreements and general agreements are non-binding in nature, however once we have an assignment the role, tasks, deliverables, responsibilities and accountabilities become binding in nature but remains specific to the duration of the assignment under question. Force majeur issues and other emergencies are dealt separately.

Process design and configuration, margin improvement and business planning & scheduling, front-end project development, design review, plant troubleshooting and operations, safety and reliability, digital transformation, pre-commissioning and commissioning, operations analysis & technical services, Business Development and Client Relationship management, etc.

Yes. Direct operating and project-leadership experience is central to our model, and many of our consultants are former senior leaders of consulting, operating companies and engineering organisations.

We review your profile, discuss your experience in a conversation with our team, and match you to assignments where your expertise best fits. Referee checks may be requested or exercised where necessary.

Lead Principal, Principal, Senior Consultant and Associate Consultant. Placement reflects depth of experience and the ability to lead or contribute to a given engagement. See Core Team & Hierarchy.

Terms are agreed per assignment, reflecting scope, roles and responsibility, extent of involvement, nature of expertise and duration and customer feedback. Details are shared once a suitable assignment has been identified and allocated based on geographical region.

Our consultants are spread across several continents, and many assignments combine remote analysis with on-site work only necessary when pre-agreed with customers. Location requirements depend on the client and the nature of specific expertise and engagement and duration of engagement. We can accomodate mobility issues and maximise on remote calls and engagements and if absolutely necessary also arrange to make suitable deputations with prior discussions and engagements.

Yes. Registration does not require exclusivity. We ask you to disclose any conflicts of interest before accepting an assignment.The general agreement is non-binding in nature and non exclusive while once an assignment is agreed and confirmed mutually it becomes binding for all commitments based on agreed role, responsibility, deliverables, client engagements for the duration of the assignment.

All consultants sign a non-disclosure agreement before accessing client information and are bound by the client's confidentiality requirements.We treat all client data, plant information and study findings as confidential and are very well equipped and highly experienced and trained to deal with Confidential & Sensitive Information (CSI) and anti-competitive behaviours, glad to work under a mutually agreed non-disclosure agreement before any data is shared. Moreover, we donot have any conflict of interests while we are consulting, as we are not technology or software licensor or equipment vendor or catalyst supplier.Customer specific data and information is stored in a central cloud server with multi layered security and those who work on those assignments only have restricted access with controls in place on need to know basis. All emails are restricted to circulation within petronova domain id and cannot be ported or forwarded to other domain id etc.

Only with your explicit consent. You decide whether and how your name and background are shown.

It is our set of sixteen representative services, drawn from a broader catalogue of 81 individually defined services across nine focus areas. Together they cover planning, margin, design, operations, safety, digital and project assurance. See A2Z of Services.

No. They are indicative ranges based on a typical large complex integrated refinery of ~210 kbpsd size and actual duration and value of benefits depend on the asset, scope and data available. We shall indicate likely benefits and study duration in your tailored proposal.

Yes. Many clients start with a Diagnostic SCAN and then combine services, such as Margin Improvement with Business Planning and an LP model update, crude flex and reliability improvement etc. so one relationship can grow across several mandates.

You receive a Troubleshooting, Reliability, Operations and Margin improvement Assessment (TROM) or Margin, Reliability, Operations Excellence (MORE) output with ranked view of the key risks, root cause effect, ranked priorities and opportunities identifying Gap to Potential (G2P) and a co-created proposal. You can then choose one of our services to address , combine several, or stop there at no further commitment. Digital Readiness Assessment is optional, can be delivered as part of Diagnostic SCAN but the duration and cost of the same can vary based on what all you opt for within Diagnostic SCAN.

Residue upgradation, cracker-complex, debottlenecking and integration or new-facility studies, including decarbonisation and net-zero options. Typical duration: 4–6 months. Benefits: payback typically 2–6 years, IRR of 12–15% and a gross refining margin gain of US$0.5–2 per barrel.

A structured programme to find and capture integrated margin across the whole complex. Typical duration: 4–6 months for the study and providing roadmap without implementation. Benefits: US$ 0.20–0.80 per barrel, US$15–60 million a year for a mid size 210 kbpsd refinery, payback of 6 months to 2 years, 20–80 cents per barrel improvement — the first 20 cents typically needing no capex, the next 20 cents needing low capex with payback under 1 year, the next 20 cents needing low to moderate capex with payback of 1–2 years, and the last 20–30 cents needing moderate to higher capex with simple payback of 1–3 years. Payback is very attractive overall and this program is very beneficial for customers due to its relative ease of implementation strategy.

An independent, quantified comparison of licensor options for large conversion, residue-upgradation or complex units. Typical duration: 4–8 weeks. Benefits: best-fit technology on yield, flexibility, energy and readiness, with capex and opex typically 5–10% lower and reduced technology risk.

A review of basic design packages and design-basis documents, applying competitive scoping, sparing philosophy and material specifications. Typical duration: 6–12 weeks. Benefits: capex typically 5–10% lower, with a similar reduction in opex.

Studies and design packages that unlock capacity at lowest cost, with competitive scoping to find low-cost options first. Typical duration: 2–4 months. Benefits: capex typically 10–15% lower, with a similar opex reduction.

A holistic review of unit revamps and integration to keep scope below the cost-inflection point. Typical duration: 2–4 weeks. Benefits: lower capex and complexity, with improved payback.

Utilities and energy-pinch studies, with a view to cutting both cost and emissions. Typical duration: 6–12 weeks. Benefits: payback typically 2–6 years, US$7.5–22.5 million a year and 10–30 cents per barrel, alongside lower GHG emissions.

A structured approach to accounting for unaccounted losses and bringing losses down to top-quartile benchmarks. Typical duration: 4–8 weeks. Benefits: US$4–9 million a year, 5–10 cents per barrel and payback typically under a year.

Improvement of the LP model and planning process so that margins are maximised and plans are reliable. Typical duration: 6–10 weeks. Benefits: US$15–30 million a year, 20–40 cents per barrel and payback typically under a year, mostly with no capex.

On-site problem solving for furnace, corrosion, fouling, hot-spot, reactor-excursion and catalyst-life issues. Typical duration: 4–10 weeks. Benefits: US$4–15 million a year, 5–20 cents per barrel and payback typically under a year.

HAZID, HAZOP, PSSR and SIL studies, and independent P&ID and safety audits. Typical duration: 2–6 weeks depending on units. Benefits: avoids loss to people, assets, production and integrity — safety always pays.

From automation of various processes and KPI tracking to listing G2P or comparing the unit operations to Bench Marked data, or IT–OT integration (Levels 1–2) to full real-time refinery optimisation with MPC-APC convergence (Level 3), delivered with technology partners. We provide domain expertise and we get the best in class unified digital platform tool as enabler along with kinetic models and then we integrate the IT-OT convergence with our IT partner to deliver the Refinery Wide Digital Transformation Digital Twin (RWDT2) Typical duration: 6–18 months, phased manner. Benefits: US$15–60 million a year, 20–80 cents per barrel and payback typically 0.5–2 years.

Competitively scoped front-end development for sizeable projects, from roughly US$150 million to US$5 to US$ 12 Billion or more. Typical duration: 6 to 12 months, depending on size and complexity of the project and the FEL phase of the project. Benefits: capex typically 5–10% lower with a similar opex reduction, better risk management and realised opportunity value.

An independent review that tests whether a project is ready to move to the next stage gate — identify the right project and stop the wrong one. As part of VAR, we stress test the project premises, evaluate the Economics and scenario, decisions taken on concept, technology, capex, opex, risks and opportunities, cost estimation and schedule, market supply demand forecasts, deal with various sensitivities and scenario based evaluation for robustness check for confirmation of Feasibility. Typical duration: 4–6 weeks. Benefits: critical evaluation of economics, strategy, capex, technology, risks and schedule before capital is committed.

Assessment of plant reliability and integrity, with a prioritised improvement plan. Typical duration: 4–10 weeks. Benefits: payback typically under a year, US$4–15 million a year, and a 5–20% reliability gain from avoided production loss and lower maintenance cost.

Query based, On-call technical support for troubleshooting, unit monitoring and operations under changing feedstocks and conditions. Typical duration: a 12-month agreement, which can be renewed year on year. Benefits: improved reliability and availability of plant, with technology and operational support for troubleshooting plant operations with recommended or best practices documentation under the circumstances, typical each smaller issue may lead to support of 0–5 hours and other issues and investigations may require 5–40 hours of focussed analysis and assessment resulting into solutions that helps reliability and operations of the plant.