Case Study: Throughput Professionals achieves US $40M savings and 1.5% yield increase with Palisade @RISK

Colombian Refinery Uses @RISK to Optimize Processes, Saving US $40M

Throughput Professionals, a consulting firm led by Global Analysis VP Fernando Montemayor, was engaged by Colombia’s largest refinery (250,000 bpd) to address sub‑optimal settings across more than 5,000 process variables and identify opportunities to improve yield. To tackle this complexity they used Palisade’s @RISK software to analyze historical data and pinpoint the inputs and process conditions that most affected refinery performance.

Palisade’s @RISK enabled the team to narrow variables via SIPOC mapping, regression and ANOVA, then run Monte Carlo simulations to reduce key drivers to about five per unit and identify optimum setups; Statistical Process Control and Management Operating System practices were applied to sustain changes within safety limits. Using Palisade’s solution, the refinery increased topping process yield by 1.5%, delivering approximately US $40M in savings.

Throughput Professionals

Fernando Montemayor

Global Analysis Vice President