Introduction

DGH firmly believes that R & D is an essential and integral component of E & P activities. To give a concrete shape to this belief, DGH has initiated cooperation with international and national agencies for undertaking projects in various disciplines related to Exploration and Petroleum.


National Cooperation

At the national level, DGH has embarked on the following :

1. Upgrade and modify the earth science curriculum to cater to the increasing needs and demands of the E & P industry. In this connection, a draft model curriculum has been framed and the same has been discussed extensively with the faculty and alumni of various reputed universities in India.
2. Three brainstorming sessions were held on 2nd March 2005, 7th January 2006 and 17th October 2008 The Hon’ble Minister P&NG chaired all the brainstorming sessions 5 National Working Committees have been formed.
3. Various projects at National level have been initiated through various Institutions.

International Cooperation

At the International level, DGH has signed MOU with :

1. Alberta Research Council of Canada
2. Energy Resource & Development Unit of Department of Trade & Industries of UK
3. Norwegian Petroleum Directorate of Norway
4. Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development of China
5. University of Aberdeen of UK
6. Imperial College of London UK
7. Department of Industry & Resources of Australia
8. Japan Oil, Gas & Metals National Corporation of Japan
9. The Korea Institute of geology, mining and materials Republic of Korea
10. United States Geological Survey
11. United States Department of Energy

ARC Canada

MOU with Alberta Research Council Canada signed on 26th August 2005 on the following:

1. Estimation of Hydrocarbon Resources of Indian Sedimentary Basins
2. National Data Repository
3. Study of Upthrust belts of India

Work order for all the three projects was placed with ARC. ARC has requested some changes to be incorporated in the work order which was not accepted by DGH. The changes were basically indicating outsourcing of the work to an outside agency to which DGH had reservations. The MOU now automatically stands terminated.

ERDU, DTI UK

MOU with Energy Resources & Development Unit of Department of Trade and Industry, UK signed on 8th September 2005 on the following:

1. Study of Frontier Basins.
2. Evaluation of Development Plan involving New Technologies.

DTI expressed its inability to spare resources to take up these studies. It was therefore proposed that DTI may outsource the activity pertaining to point no 1 above or facilitate an agreement between DGH & British Geological survey to take up this project. The possibility of signing a separate agreement with the British Geological Society is being explored for the Study of Frontier Basins. The MOU between DGH and BGS has been drafted and is to be approved by MOP&NG / MEA. As regards activity at point no 2 a seminar was conducted at DTI to understand the latest techniques and technology involved in Developing a field and to evaluate the development plan. Two officers from DGH attended the seminar.

NPD Norway

MOU was signed between DGH & NPD on the 21st of September 2012.

As a part of this MoU:

1. NPD shall facilitate co-operation with relevant petroleum training institution in Norway as well as with relevant Upstream Hydrocarbon Industries within Norway.
2. DGH shall facilitate co-operation with any relevant petroleum training institution in India, as well as with relevant Upstream Hydrocarbon Industries within India.

Forms of cooperation:

1. Meetings to discuss relevant issues and exchange experience.
2. Exchange and training for managerial, administrative, scientific and technical personnel.
3. Exchange of scientific and technological available information and data.
4. Organization of economic missions, seminars and working groups.
5. Transfer of equipment, know-how and technology, on commercial basis.
6. Provision of relevant technological consultancy and services.
7. Joint research or projects on subjects of mutual interest.
8. Implementation of projects in third countries.
9. Other forms as may be agreed upon by the parties.

RIPED China

MOU with Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development China signed on January 12, 2006 on the following:

1. Strategy for Exploration of sediments covered by volcanic rocks.
2. Improvement in recovery factor in Indian fields by IOR/EOR.

MOU terminated due to no response from RIPED

University of Aberdeen of UK

Umbrella MOU signed by MOP&NG through DGH with the University of Aberdeen UK on 7th April 2006 on the following:-

R&D Project	Institute/Agency
Chemostratigraphy	University of Aberdeen
Geomicrobiology & Micropaleotology studies for identifying chemosynthetic communities.	University of Aberdeen
High pressure / High temperature & Ultra deepwater drilling.	University of Aberdeen

It was decided that E&P companied would take up the R&D projects directly with the UK Institutes.

Imperial College of London UK

Umbrella MOU signed by MOP&NG through DGH with the Imperial College London on 7th April 2006 on the following:-

R&D Project	Institute/Agency
Controlled source electromagnetic, Electromagnetic & magneto-telluric techniques for determining resistivity of subsurface formations.	Imperial College London
Microseismic monitoring instrumentation in oil field & passively monitor induced microseismic events.	Imperial College London
Visualisation techniques to help reduce risk and confidently drill wellswith extreme precision & more profitable reservoir management.	Imperial College London
Thin bed & tight reservoir evaluation	Imperial College London

It was decided that E&P companied would take up the R&D projects directly with the UK Institutes.

Department of Industry & Resources of Australia

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Directorate General of Hydrocarbons(DGH) of India and Department of Industry and Resources(DOIR) of Western Australia.

Stedman Illias, Deputy DG, DOIR and V.K. Sibal, DG, DGH, a technical arm of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry in the upstream sector, signed the MoU.

The MoU aims at enhancing cooperation and understanding on oil and gas related issues and exchange information and pass on good practices in the development of policy on oil and gas exploration, production and field abandonment, exchange of expertise etc. It also identifies broad areas of cooperation. These include reservoir depletion specific to the oil and gas sector, enhanced oil recovery, coal bed methane gas, education and training, joint research and development and any other areas that are mutually agreed upon by both parties.

The two sides will seek to approve a programme of cooperation each year or such other jointly decided time period. The MoU is valid for a period of five years and may be further extended with mutual consent.

Japan Oil, Gas & Metals National Corporation of Japan

MOU with Japan Oil, Gas & Metals National Corporation of Japan was signed on February 16, 2007 – Progressing satisfactorily.

The Korea Institute of geology, mining and materials Republic of Korea

MOU with The Korea Institute of geology, mining and materials Republic of Korea was signed on November 25, 2005 – lacked response. Stands automatically terminated.

United States Geological Survey

MOU with United States Geological Survey of US was signed on December 16, 2008 – Progressing satisfactorily.

United States Department of Energy

United States Geological Survey MOU with United States Department of Energy of US was signed on April 04, 2008 and is Progressing satisfactorily.