India Urges Geoscientists to Accelerate Oil and Gas Exploration

The Indian government is calling on its geoscientific community to enhance oil and gas exploration efforts to achieve energy self-reliance. During the opening session of the 15th Biennial International Conference and Exposition of the Society of Petroleum Geophysicists (SPG-India) in Jaipur on October 26, 2023, Petroleum Secretary Pankaj Jain emphasized the need for innovative and time-sensitive strategies aligned with the National Deepwater Mission.

Jain urged scientists to combine scientific rigor with commercial insights, stating, “India can no longer afford incremental progress.” He highlighted the urgency for innovation and a sense of national responsibility in exploration activities. “One day, not too far off, we will be looking at a situation where there will be alternative forms of energy, which will increasingly matter more to us in terms of the incremental demand satisfaction, than fossil fuels,” Jain added, stressing the importance of significant discoveries.

Commitment to Innovation in Exploration

The conference, themed “Rock to Cloud: Geo-Exploration Empowering Energy Evolution,” was inaugurated at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC). Industry leaders including Arun Kumar Singh, Chairman and CEO of ONGC, and Ranjit Rath, CMD of Oil India Ltd, attended the event. Singh reaffirmed ONGC’s commitment to advancing India’s deepwater exploration mission, highlighting that technological advancements in seismic imaging, artificial intelligence-driven interpretation, and data analytics will be crucial for future discovery success.

Rath pointed out that India has become a promising destination for exploration, bolstered by reforms such as the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), and recent offshore bidding rounds. He encouraged the geoscientific community to remain “restless in pursuit of exploration” and to deepen efforts in frontier basins, particularly in ultra-deepwater areas.

Collaboration for Accelerated Discoveries

In a welcome address, O.P. Sinha, Director of Exploration at ONGC, emphasized the significance of the “Rock to Cloud” theme as a representation of India’s transition toward data-driven, technology-intensive exploration. He underscored the necessity for collaboration among academia, industry, and government to expedite discoveries and utilize the country’s extensive sedimentary basins.

The SPG 2025 Exposition features cutting-edge technologies and solutions from global leaders in geoscience and energy exploration. This three-day event brings together leading geoscientists, policymakers, researchers, and energy experts from around the world to discuss evolving frontiers in oil and gas exploration, technological innovation, and sustainable energy solutions.

The call for action from India’s leaders signals a pivotal moment for the country’s energy sector, as it seeks to harness its geological potential while embracing a future increasingly influenced by alternative energy sources.