Q&A with Shri Niladri Kumar Mitra
Authors: Mitra Shri Niladri Kumar , Donnelly John 
Published: February 2015

Q&A

The overall theme for the 2008 SPE Indian Oil and Gas Technical Conference and Exhibition is "The Changing Landscape: Emerging Opportunities in the Indian E&P Industry." Can you explain the basic thinking and aims behind this theme choice?

The theme acknowledges India's growth in the oil exploration and production industry. There have been six rounds of successful bidding completed and the discovery of major gas fields on the east coast in Indian deep water. With only about 8 billion tonnes of oil equivalent being discovered out of a resource base of more than 30 billion tonnes of oil equivalent, ample opportunities exist for exploration by major oil companies in India.

India has a GDP growth rate of more than 9% and an industrial-production growth rate of 11%, and the primary energy requirement is likely to grow at a rate of more than 7%. At present, India is the fifth-largest energy consumer in the world and accounts for 4% of world energy consumption. But per capita consumption of energy in India is almost a third of the global average, which means that figure is likely to go up substantially with economic growth.

For sustained development, there is a need for continued supply sources, and the share of hydrocarbon resource base is expected to increase in the next 25 years. So there is tremendous opportunity for all players across the hydrocarbon value chain in the country.

As chairperson of the conference's technical committee, can you offer a few likely highlights of the event? In particular, can you discuss the opening plenary session and your hopes for what key issues you and the participants will discuss?

The conference program is set to attract industry leaders, professionals, and decision makers from all around the world with participation of major multinationals and national oil and gas companies and government officials. The first plenary session is on the theme of the conference and shall set the tone of the conference and include discussion of both technical and regulatory issues facing the global E&P industry. We expect participation from oilfield operators, service providers, government officials, and academicians to share their thoughts and vision on emerging opportunities within India's E&P sector.

What are other contemporary issues that will be discussed at the conference?

The second plenary session will be on exploration and development of deepwater fields in which the pioneering efforts of ONGC and Reliance Industries shall be showcased and the experience of major players operating in such water depths shall be shared. The major players in India's deep water include Petrobras, Shell, StatoilHydro, Chevron, and BP.

The Indian deepwater sector (which covers 1.34 million km2) constitutes about one-third of the total basin area of the country, with potential resources of 10 billion tonnes.

There are 13 technical sessions planned over 2 1/2 days covering the complete gamut of the E&P sector, including reservoir management; brownfield development; deep water; improved and enhanced oil recovery; nonconventional resources; and a panel discussion on health, safety, and the environment.