Graduated from BIT Sindri and having post graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, I joined ONGC on 3rd September 1980 as Driller (Drilling). I was posted in Directional Drilling section – the most desired technology for Bombay High at that time for developments.

Having received training on rig in association with foreign experts of Eastman Whipstock, I learnt the technology and drilled around 50 development wells, trained ONGC engineers on technology - to make ONGC independent from foreign experts. I was one of the team leaders to introduce horizontal drilling in ONGC by drilling well NR1-H and NS-H in Mumbai High in 1986 in association with M/s Horwell France.

I was transferred to Agartala in 1987; was drilling in-charge of rig 3D M-2 where I drilled 5 high pressure exploratory wells and made several sidetracking in minimum margins to save wells from abandonment.

I was in IDT Dehradun from June 1990 to April 1996 where I worked on R & D projects, delivered lectures to trainees and provided technical back up services to onshore drilling rigs.

From May 1996 to March 2007 I was posted at Mumbai again which was the most enriching part of my career. As GM- In-charge, High Tech wells, I replaced single shot / multi shot surveying technique to Measurement While Drilling (MWD) technique, introduced short radius and medium radius horizontal drilling technique, introduced multilateral drilling for better productivity of wells, introduced whipstock and short radius drilling tools for sick wells revival and introduced Rotary Steerable System (RSS) for enhancing drilling performance and drilling of extended reach wells.

Due to introduction of whipstock, MWD, short radius tools and Rotary Steerable Systems there was technological revolution in Mumbai High and all wells being drilled new or sidetrack were transformed to horizontal wells. ERD wells of 4 km departure were drilled with RSS which was not possible earlier. Drilling time of ERD wells reduced to 50% with use of RSS. Drilling of horizontal wells was made possible in all layers of L III which was earlier restricted to L II only.

All these technology induction arrested the production decline and made a tour around. These technology induction reduced drilling cost and increased profitability. Trend is still continuing and these technologies are still playing important role in recent re-development of Mumbai offshore fields. Subsequently technologies have also been

1

adopted to ONGC onshore fields with similar results. I also coordinated drilling of relief wells B 121 C & B 121 D for extinguishing fire on 2 blowing wells of B121 platform; an example of drilling excellence and team work.

I was moved to Assam in April 2007 as Head Drilling Services. Managed operations of 18 drilling rigs and there also introduced horizontal drilling for better productivity by drilling 6 horizontal wells.

From June 2010 to July 2012 I was Executive Director, heading Deep Water group where I managed operations of rigs DDKG-1, Platinum Explorer, Discover Seven Seas, M G Hume Junior, Sagar Vijay & Sagar Bhushan for deep water drilling. Also hired bundle of all services to run the rigs from service providers.

From august 2012 I was looking after CBM Development Project, Bokaro as project manager and superannuated on 31st January 2015.

I received Manager of the Year award in 1998, NPMP award for excellence in Creativity and Innovation in 2000. I have presented various Technical papers in SPE, Petrotech and other conferences on subject horizontal and multilateral drilling.

2