IHS QUE$TOR, developed by S&P Global (formerly IHS Markit), is a premier software suite for cost estimation and project modeling in the upstream oil and gas industry. It is utilized by over 500 organizations across 50 countries for concept screening, process optimization, and generating detailed CAPEX (capital expenditure) and OPEX (operational expenditure) cost estimates. The QUE$TOR 2024 application suite comprises three core modules: QUE$TOR Offshore, QUE$TOR Onshore, and QUE$TOR LNG Regasification. Below is an overview of its key features and anticipated enhancements for 2024.
1. Comprehensive Cost Database
Overview: QUE$TOR 2024 maintains a robust database with over 60,000 cost items, covering materials, labor, technologies, and equipment. The database is updated bi-annually to reflect current market conditions and technological advancements.
Applications: Enables accurate modeling of expenditures for oil and gas projects, supporting cost estimators, engineers, financial analysts, and executives in feasibility studies, pre-FEED analysis, and concept selection.
Benefits: Saves hundreds of hours in research and analysis by providing centralized, reliable cost data for global upstream, LNG, and offshore projects.
2. Enhanced Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reporting
Overview: Building on updates introduced in QUE$TOR 2022 Q3, the 2024 version likely refines GHG emissions estimation for both project-level and activity-level analysis.
Key Features:
Estimates venting emissions from production and surface processing, including acid gas removal units, dehydration units, and flash tank losses from storage tanks (e.g., dry oil tanks on topsides, production facilities, terminals, and tankers).
Reports emissions in tonnes of CO2 equivalent and calculates emissions intensity in kilograms of CO2 equivalent per barrel of oil equivalent (kg CO2e/BOE).
Includes a dedicated emissions factors section for improved transparency and compliance with environmental regulations.
Applications: Supports companies in meeting sustainability goals, regulatory requirements, and stakeholder expectations for emissions transparency.
3. Multi-Scenario Analysis and Concept Screening
Overview: QUE$TOR 2024 facilitates concept screening and optimization by allowing users to model multiple development scenarios and compare cost implications.
Key Features:
Supports pre-FEED cost estimation for onshore, offshore, and LNG regasification projects.
Enables development scheduling and lifecycle cost estimation, ensuring projects align with financial and time constraints.
Provides tools for feasibility studies, helping users assess project viability before execution.
Benefits: Reduces risks by enabling data-driven concept selection and prevents costly mistakes through accurate cost forecasting.
4. Module-Specific Capabilities
QUE$TOR Offshore:
Covers offshore field development components, including topsides, jackets, drilling, pipelines, floaters, subsea equipment, and offshore wind farms (e.g., floating substructures, mooring systems, array cables, and onshore operation bases).
Supports cost estimation for complex offshore environments, including deepwater and renewable energy projects.
