Keshava Deva Malaviya Institute of Petroleum Exploration (KDMIPE) was setup as a UNDP aided institute in 1962 as Regional Training Institute (RTI). In 1970, it was renamed as Institute of Petroleum Exploration (IPE) and on 19th December, 1981, it was rechristened as Keshava Deva Malaviya Institute of Petroleum Exploration (KDMIPE), in the fond memory of the Father of Indian Petroleum Industry and the first Petroleum Minister of Independent India - Shri Keshava Deva Malaviya. It was the first institute of ONGC which used to process the sample, received from various exploration and production fields and send detailed and analytical reports, when ONGC took up exploration of oil and gas to build up its reserves and meet the energy requirement of the country. As the organization progressed, nine more R&D institutes were constituted to cater various needs of the organization.

KDMIPE is one of the 10 DSIR recognized R&D institutes of ONGC. The main objective for KDMIPE include unravelling the complexities of habitat of petroleum through synergistic geo-scientific research, evaluation of hydrocarbon potential of sedimentary basins, development of exploration models and to firm up & prioritize prospects in various plays, prioritize operation activities through long term perspective & strategic planning and techno economics. Expanding exploration horizon in underexplored / unexplored basins and carving out blocks for OALP bidding have been taken up in mission mode.

KDMIPE is the only institute of ONGC which undertakes almost all the aspects of exploration and related activities. In a single phrase it can be summarized that

“From outcrops to exploratory tests, KDMIPE covers all aspects of Geoscientific and Basin Research”.

Highlights (2021-22):

1. Significant Projects:

Few of the significant projects undertaken by KDMIPE during 2021-22 classified under following heads are given below:

A. Emerging/ Consolidation Plays

• Geodynamic linkage and prospectivity analysis of Paleogene plays in unified Mahanadi-Bengal shelf-slope area
• Play Prospectively Analysis of Chambal Valley area, Vindhyan Basin
• Correlation of  Vindhyan in Son and Chambal Valley by using High-resolution Biostratigraphy, Chemostratigraphy, Palaeoredox reconstruction, Palaeoenvironment and Palaeogeography
• 2D Petroleum System Modeling along selected NSP lines in Suarashtra Onland basin
• Play fairway analysis of  Oligocene-Miocene sequence  of Tapti-Daman Area, Gulf and Cambay Onland area
• Tectono-stratigraphic evaluation of Mesozoic sequences and  prospectivity analysis of identified plays in  Kutch Basin
• Prospectivity evaluation and sedimentation pattern of syn-rift sequence (Palaeocene-Early Eocene) play in Cambay-Tarapur and Ahmedabad-Mehsana blocks Cambay basin using  Sequence Stratigraphy
• Play Fairway Analysis of Neogene Plays in Assam Shelf, Assam Basin
• Integrated Geological model and play analysis of Tirupati Formation,  East Godavari Sub-basin to KG Shallow Offshore
• Source organofacies characterization and chemometric classification of oils to understand hydrocarbon origin and migration pathways for fine tuning Petroleum System(s) in Cauvery Basin.
• NMR and Integrated Formation Analysis of Andimadam Formation, Cauvery Basin through Logs and Core Studies
• Reservoir characterization, Permeability and Porosity prediction in carbonate reservoirs

B. Basin Template

• Paleobathymetric variation through time  and reconstruction of paleogeographic maps of KG Basin
• Geochemical Characterization and thermal maturation of Paleocene Source Rocks in Mature Indian Sedimentary Basins    

C. Field Technique

• Development and evaluation of different organic  polymer gel systems at different temperatures for water shutoff job

D. Identification of probable hydrocarbon

• Micro Gravity API in Ashoknagar Area of Bengal Basin
• API of second Phase of 4D Micro gravity in Santhal field  Area, WON

E. Inter Institute

• Petrophysical & Rock mechanical studies on specifically designed cement molds for designing effective cement slurry
• Geomechanical and Petrophysical studies on cores of Tight Reservoirs of Malleswaram & Mandapeta

F. Mature Plays

• Basin Template for Mumbai offshore Basin
• Atlas of Microfacies and diagenetic characteristics of reservoir rocks of different formations in Western Margin Basins of India

G. New Plays

• Gravity Modelling along selected profiles in Satpura Basin
• Surface Geochemical and Geomicrobial Survey in Sarkaghat area of Himalayan Foothills, Frontier basin
• Integrated G&G and field studies along selected Geological traverses in Spiti-Zanskar Basin
• Surface Geochemical and Geomicrobial Survey in BP-ONHP-2018/1  Block, Bengal Basin
• Utilization of Earth Observation data for hydrocarbon exploration
• Surface Geochemical and Geomicrobial studies on uphole soil samples along NSP lines
• Basin Template: Comprehensive G&G Model of Assam Shelf Basin
• Surface Geochemical and Geomicrobial Survey in Paror-Jogindernagar in Kangra-Mandi PEL area, Himalayan Foothills

H. New Technique Development

• Simulation of thermal maturation and evaluation of petroleum generation kinetics in Barail and Kopili formations of Assam Shelf by hydrous pyrolysis
• Study on origin and source identification of natural gases based on  trace gaseous hydrocarbons (C4-C9) in KG Basin
• Optimization of geochemical extraction method of Uranium and estimation of REEs from subsurface deposits in Padra and Son valley area
• Plate Tectonic Evolution of India

I. Reservoir Management & Development

• Performance Analysis of Geleki Field through Classical Reservoir Engineering Methods

J. Techno-economic Evaluation

• Techno-economic appraisal of prospects & areas

K. Umbrella Projects

• 40Ar-39Ar Dating of volcanics/intrusives from Gulf of Mannar Sub Basin, Cauvery Basin
• Source rock evaluation of samples from new exploratory wells of Indian sedimentary basins
• Vitrinite reflectance studies of samples from exploratory wells of Indian Basins
• Geochemical investigation of new oil finds in Indian sedimentary basins
• Geochemical Characterization of natural gases from exploratory wells of Indian Sedimentary basins
• Hydro-geochemical evaluation of formation/ surface / effluent water samples and major/ trace element analysis of oil/ soil/ sediment/ chemical samples
• Biostratigraphic studies of samples from exploratory wells
• Sedimentological, biostratigraphic and geochemical studies of samples from exploratory wells of Frontier Basins
• Sedimentological studies of samples from exploratory wells
• Log data processing, analysis of wells of Asset/Basin. Estimation of average reservoir parameters and log analysis of exploratory wells for REC. Petrophysical studies on core samples.
• Thermodynamic studies of bottom hole samples

L. Unconventional Plays

• Field and laboratory investigations of coals from CBM Blocks
• Reservoir characterization for shale gas, Kavitam low, South of Tanuku horst, KG Basin, India

2. Technologies upgraded/ inducted:

Nil

3. Papers published for National-International Journal:

4. IPRs

A. Patents Filed: 03

• A system for Optimized Quantitative estimation of Thermal Maturity of Crude Oil
• A method for Assessing Shale Gas Potential of Unconventional reservoirs
• A system and method for quantitative estimation of thermal maturity of crude oil

B. Patents obtained:

Nil

C. Copyrights Filed:

Nil

D. Copyrights registered:

Nil