Oil & Gas – Downstream Experts

Eric A. Spiegel Viren Doshi Ibrahim El-Husseini Nick Pennell Arthur Ramos Per-Ola Karlsson

The downstream sector covers a broad scope, ranging from crude supply, trading and refining through to product distribution, marketing and retail. It includes products such as gasoline, diesel, heating oil, jet fuel, bitumen, lubes, LPG and specialties. More recently, the downstream marketing segment has also included convenience retailing, biofuels and end user demand management. 

Our oil and gas downstream team has deep industry expertise in: refining; supply and trading; and fuels marketing. In addition this team borrows heavily from other relevant industry practices such as retailing, aviation, shipping, other transportation, mining and financial services (for payment processes and credit card strategies).

We regularly develop insightful perspectives on topical issues and trends. For example, in 2005 the downstream sector enjoyed a period of high profit margins, leading some commentators to describe this as the ‘golden age’ of refining. Increased global demand for petroleum products, in particular lighter products for road and air transport, outpaced increases in refining capacity. Unexpected natural disasters, such as hurricanes Katrina and Rita, exacerbated capacity constraints, and served only to bolster refining margins.
 
Going forward, the industry will need to address capacity growth, with the International Energy Agency predicting capacity additions being concentrated in developing countries, such as those in the Middle East, as well as in China and India.

The sector will also face a number of fundamental challenges: world crude oil production is becoming heavier and more sour, requiring additional processing and changes to the refining configuration of many players; and increasingly more stringent environmental legislation is tightening product specifications and obliging refiners either to use better-quality crude oil or to invest in new units to upgrade product streams.

Booz Allen Hamilton’s Capabilities

Drawing on our deep understanding of industry dynamics, extensive cross-sector experience, and broad functional capabilities, Booz Allen delivers comprehensive support to the downstream oil and gas sector. Our global capabilities are equally effective in delivering results that endure in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and Asia. Working side by side with our private and public-sector clients, we support strategy development and execution, operations readiness and effectiveness, technology management, and workforce planning.

Strategy Development and Execution — We help clients build sector-level, regional, and business unit strategies to tackle the full range of strategic and competitive challenges they face. Working with ambition and condition-driven methodologies, our teams help clients inform their strategic debate, envision the future, set clear expectations, and develop and implement an appropriate strategy.

• Sector-level strategies
• Region and business unit strategies
• Growth and business renewal
• Distinctive strategies that breakout and are competitive
• Changing industry position, challenging status quo

Operations Readiness and Effectiveness — We assist clients in achieving maximum effectiveness in day-to-day business operations, tackling maturity onset or new project expansions and technology implementation.

• Operating model review
• Organizational development
• Functional support improvement and excellence (Finance, SOX, HR, Technology, IT)
• Operations effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity

Technology Management — We help clients build competitive strategies for accessing, developing, and deploying new technology.

• Technology strategy and portfolio management
• Due diligence
• Technology transfer and adoption
• Technology profile and competitive position

Workforce Planning — We work alongside clients to tackle tight labor markets, develop new skills, address discipline requirements, and build sustainable workforce strategies.

• Learning and development strategy
• Resourcing, recruitment, and retention
• Workforce and capability planning
• Discipline and skill pool effectiveness

Representative Energy Sector Disciplines and Areas of Expertise

Booz Allen has worked with an array of the world’s leading energy companies in every category of the business: upstream oil and gas; downstream refining, petrochemicals, trading, distribution, and retail; and gas and power, including electricity and gas distribution. Among the firm’s clients are the global super-major oil companies, independents, and NOCs; local and regional utilities in Europe, the United States, and Latin America; petrochemical manufacturers; financial investors; and policy makers.

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