12 Ways the Dearman Operating Platform Transforms Oil & Gas Liquids Infrastructure Companies

The Version 5 Dearman Operating Platform was released last year, developed based on decades of industry experience and deep customer partnerships. Adoption was somewhat slow to start but is now growing at an incredibly rapid rate globally, with new implementations occurring weekly. 

A few reasons are the ease of deployment, unmatched breadth of features, and intuitive user interface. But the biggest reason is: the unified Operating Platform unlocks a meaningful step forward in business efficiency (cost structure). 

This efficiency will make a difference in the storage and pipeline marketplace, allowing companies on our Platform to outperform competitors with lower costs and better, flexible service. In short, there is a paradigm shift in the operating model underway, driven by advanced software.

Here are some real ways Dearman can transform your business.

1. Two-way integrations so that no daily manual entry of data is necessary for any function in your business. Dearman does or will integrate via API or SFTP to any accounting system, ERP or ETRM.

2. Optimized data model. The Dearman data model keeps your administrative, inventory, and transactional data organized while retaining a strong level of flexibility to fit any operation.

3. All movements in one place. Automated and manual truck, rail, marine, and pipeline movements — with any loading/unloading sequence required driven by our powerful, configurable backend. 

4. Central management of all assets from a single application, UNITY, including products, drivers, and certifications (one system of record). This includes a single database for reporting and integrations.

5. Secure, self-service data input and access. Out-of-the-box customer/stakeholder portal, LYNX, for orders, nominations, BOLs, and administrative data (works on mobile). 

6. Hardware agnostic, brownfield-ready. The Terminal Automation System (TAS) works with all field hardware including preset flow controllers, gauging systems, weight scales, and PLCs. 

7. Smart pre-dispatch orders. Ability to pre-dispatch truck orders that check for available inventory and run through configurable approval settings (smart orders).

8. Automated traffic management. Complete support for truck staging lots with a driver app and automated, optimized loading bay assignment.

9. Rail operations. Automated rail spot plan generation and railcar visibility before and inside the terminal — including loading status. Also, the platform supports staged railcar handling which allows railcars to be loaded and then assigned to the proper product owner and relevant BOL information. Railcar loading pre, during, and post checklists, tied to loading.  

10. All liquid types. The platform currently handles refined products (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, lubricants), crude oil, natural gas liquids (propane, butane), LNG, ethanol production and distribution (including dried distillers grain, DDG), chemicals, and asphalt.

11. Contracts and Invoicing module. Input your contracts to Dearman and automatically generate invoices on any cadence required for any pricing/fee structure, using terminal data.

12. ExSTARS reporting for US based terminals. IRS approved automated ExSTARS reporting (with ability to review before direct submission). 

Bonus: Inclement weather mode for your terminal. Our platform also enhances the safety, security, and environmental compliance for your plants, terminals, and gathering sites.

Get in touch today. We will gain an understanding of your current operations and provide honest advice on how to best leverage our platform to maximize your ROI.