Nostalgic memories of my journey with ONGC… Ajaya Kumar Jena, Chief General Manager(Geology)

So the time has come and I will hang off my boots on 31st July 2020. I feel nostalgic remembering my
journey with this great Organization. I will be completing 36 years 3 months and 9 days of service.
Going down my memory lane and recalling the experiences gained and events I travelled across, so
many things have happened. It will be difficult to give a count on all the memories, but it appears at
times as if I have joined the organization only a few days ago pens down Mr. Ajaya Kumar Jena, Chief
General Manager(Geology).

CC Vadodara has set the ball rolling as part of its initiative to capture and document the domain
experience, challenges faced etc of subject matter experts in different areas of ONGC’s operations.

Aptly titled “Lessons in Excellence”, it is the endeavor to bring out more of such series which shall
serve as a ready reckoner and offer insightful knowledge for youngsters who have miles to go in their
professional career.

The entire ONGC family joins in wishing Mr. Jena, the very best in his future endeavours. Click here
for his Resume and Message.

Presenting excerpts of the interaction with Sanjay Kumar Joshi (SKJ), GM- I/c CC Vadodara with Mr.
Ajaya Kumar Jena, Chief General Manager(Geology)

Q: How has been your journey with this great organization?

After completing my M.Sc.(Applied Geology) from IIT Kharagpur, I joined ONGC on 23-04-984 in the
then EBG of KGC&A Project Madras (Now Chennai).Being from Odisha initially I found bit difficult to
adjust with the food habit at Chennai but gradually started liking the place.
Chennai(April’1984- May’1991)

A fresh Post Grduate from IIT Kharagpur, I was totally ignorant of the type of job I will get as a
Geologist. That time from Madras(Chennai) operational jobs were being monitored for onshore and
offshore areas of KG, Cauvery Basins including Andaman Offshore wells. So I was attending shift jobs
for both KG and Cauvery Basin wells. I was quite excited to learn the wellsite geological work from my

With our Exploration Stalwarts at Lavasa( me standing left to A.K.Dwivedi )

seniors. Geoservices Units were available for Formation evaluation during drilling at well-sites. After
a brief stay at Madras, I was posted as Shift Geologist on 14 days on/off pattern at well Kaikalur#01 of
KG Basin. It was a discovery well with HC indications though abandoned. In 1985, I was assigned shift
duty jobs in Narimanam wells of Cauvery Basin. It was quite exciting that Narimanam#1 was the
discovery well. I have attended many discovery wells like Narimanam#2,4,6,10 etc. During this period
I have attended shift duty in wells like Tiruvarur#1, Nagore#1, Arumalai#1,Tattankoil#1 and wells of
Fields like Nannilam, Kovilkalapal etc.
Nazira (May’1991- May’1995)

I moved to ERBC, Nazira and after a brief stint in operations, I was posted in E&D Group looking after
exploration & development activities for Lakwa-Lakhmani and Demulgaon fields. I had proposed many
exploratory locations in Lakwa-Lakhmani and Kuanrgaon Fields. I was also a taskforce member for
Preparation of Dockets of some ERBC fields for bidding. We had gone to Chennai to print the Dockets
as such facilities were not available at Nazira. It was a challenging time for us as nine of our colleagues
were kidnapped and two of them were killed by insurgent groups. We moved inside colony out of fear.
It was a tough time for everybody as two families were sharing B’ type Quarters.

Receiving “ CMD’s Best Paper Award” on 26-01-2013

Ahmedabad (May’1995 - May’2006)

In 1995, I was transferred to the then Ahmedad Project(later Ahmedabad Asset). Initially I worked in
operations and Workover jobs. Then I was posted in E&D Group looking after Area-1 of Subsurface
team of Ahmedabad Asset looking after Kalol, Wadu-Paliyad and Wamaj Fields. My major
achievement was the development project of K-VA paysand which increased the production of Kalol
field by 500tpd. I was also a taskforce member of “Geosteering of India’s first Onland Multilateral well
i.e.Kalol#541” which was a success and this well started producing @ 60tpd in comparision to the
nearby wells which were producing @ 5-6tpd.
Agartala (May’2006 - June’2009)

In 2006, I moved to Agartala and posted in Forward Base. That time apart from wellsite geological
work I was assigned exploratory projects and we were going to Jorhat to prepare proposals for Rokhia,
Kunjaban and Sundalbari fields along with Basin team. One of my proposed location drilled as RO#47
was a discovery which produced about 1,50,000m3/d gas from KP-65B paysand. Our operational
pursuits also resulted in discoveries in Kunjaban, Sundalbari, Khubal &Tulamura fields. I was a
taskforce member for preparation of FR for “Mission 6million” for supplying gas to Palatana Power
Plant for which I had got CMD’s Award.

At AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, USA; April’ 2011

Vadodara (June’2009 - July’2020)

In 2009, I moved to Vadodara and was posted in CEWELL. I got the opportunity to focus on R&D works
for exploration/ exploitation in Indian Basins. Being at CEWELL, I had the unique opportunity to go
through the logs of different Basins of India. I proposed exploratory locations in South Kadi and Kalol
fields. I was also associated with development projects of South Kadi, Kalol and Limbodra Fields
resulting in release of 20 locations. Most of the wells have been drilled with significant production
enhancement and reserve accretion. In South Kadi three wells produced more than 50m3/d each. Our
study identified a missed opportunity in B-173A-3 well which helped in exploration and exploitation
around this area with reserve accretion. Our study helped in accreting significant amount of gas
reserve in Bandra formation of Heera Field(about 5BCM). I participated in almost all EPMBs and some
BEXBs and ADBs for our evaluations and contributions in firming up the locations.
Q: Can you share with us any interesting experience in your professional carrier?.

There are a number of interesting experiences in my more than 36 years of professional career. But
one of situation I can never forget. It was in 2008, and Sundalbari #02 in Tripura Fold Belt was being
drilled. I was looking after the operational aspect. The target depth was 3200m, but lot of drilling
complications started around 2880m and we had to terminate the drilling. The well was logged and
because of bad hole condition at the bottom of well , Density-Neutron logs could not be recorded,
Resisistivity log was not reliable because of the dragging of the tool, for some portion it was a straight
line. Only clue was GR log about the sand presence and HC indications were there during drilling. So
we decided to take maximum number of MDT readings and sampling. Mr P.K.Roy CG(wells) was there
to try MDT samples. He first tried for number pre-tests at different depths but failed due to seat
failures. Luckily at one depth i.e.2811m(I don’t remember the exact depth) we got seat. He told me
“there is no way we have to directly try sampling at this depth”. I had no option and I agreed for it.
Luckily sampling could be done but the tool got stuck. We lost all hope. After about 2 hours the tool
got released and we could collect Gas sample. We were excited and our joy knew no bounds. Casing
was lowered and the object was SDP-36 paysand. Two intervals in this sand were tested and they
produced about 1,00,000m3/d gas combinely. And this was the Discovery well of Sundalbari Field.

Q: You had many assignment in your professional career. Can you tell us which assignment has given
you maximum satisfaction and why? Please elaborate.

I had many challenging assignments in my professional career. But one assignment close to my heart
which has given me maximum satisfaction is the exploration and Exploitation of K-VA paysand of Kalol
Field when I was posted at Ahmedabad Asset. I prepared geological modeling, with fence diagrams,
sand geometry maps and the development locations were proposed in phases from known to
unknown principle. The locations were placed in an inverted 5-spot pattern with 400m spacing of
producers and injectors so that there is no need of in-fill locations in future. I had proposed 38
development locations (Producers+Injectors) in phases. With phase wise drilling of wells there was no
casualty in terms of dry wells. This was one of the best managed reservoir where water injection was
initiated right from the beginning for pressure maintenance. The result was quite encouraging with
increase of production of Kalol Field by 500tpd by 2006 because of K-VApaysand.

Q: Based on your wide experience and exposure, would you like to suggest any improvements, value
additions in your work area/professional career?

I am working in CEWELL focusing on R&D projects of different of Basins of India. As many of our fields
are mature we have to focus on small discoveries. We may get surprises like we got HC in igneous
rocks in Kuth Offshore. We have to focus on play based exploration in a regional scale for bigger
dividends. In Tripura Fold Belt, earlier we were focusing on Anticlinal highs but Synclinal exploration
with stratigraphic traps starting from Sundalbari#04 is a great success. And the recent discoveries in
Sundalbari Field are quite encouraging. Similarly commercial discovery from a Miocene sand in well
Asokenagar#1 of Bengal Basin has opened up a new dimension in our exploration pursuits for the first
time after 50 years. Now we should focus on acquiring high quality seismic data to explore
stratigraphic traps in Bengal Basin taking lead from Asokenagar#1. With my experience in CEWELL, the
log suits to be recorded in wells should be reservoir and area specific. For example mid-Bokabil
paysands of South Assam self are better understood with tri-axial resistivity logs.

Q: Would you like to give any advice to your young colleagues?

I will advice my juniors to strive for the best. You should always remember that “there is no short cut
to success” and “Hard work never goes unpaid”. “Never, never give up and encash the bundle of your
failures as a ladder to the pillar of success”. If you sort out and eliminate all the negative aspects of a
problem, the outcome will be automatically positive. Share your knowledge with your colleagues and
discuss-it will only enrich your knowledge. Never confront Seniors which may hurt their ego even if
you are right. Always remember the proverb “Boss is always right”. I am telling this because I have
suffered in my career for this aspect. Have patience and wait for the right time and opportunity to
convince your boss and your efforts will be definitly appreciated and recognized. This advice is more
prudent when you are working in a multi-disciplinary team when your boss may not be from your
discipline. Develope the habit of voracious reading to update yourself with the present. Then only you
will be noticed among others. Write research papers with small observations which may have a great
impact. The greatness of our Organization is that it gives total freedom and encouragement in
pursuing your assignments. So try to give the best to the organization that takes care of our every
need.

Q: What are your other hobbies? Please elaborate.

I enjoy reading books, Scientific journals and watching Classic Old movies and gardening. I like painting
sketching and Calligraphy. I love writing research papers reflecting my experiences. I have over 25
publications in National and International Symposiums and Scientific Journals of Geology and
Geophysics. I had presented a paper on Synclinal Exploration in Annual Convention of AAPG at
Houston,USA in 2011.

Q: Any person in your professional career who has inspired/influenced you?

I have deep respect for my superiors who have influenced me in shaping my professional career.
During the beginning of my career, I was working under Mr Amitabh Mukherjea DGM(Geol) retd. who
was very supportive. He was like a family member who used to guide us in every aspect of life. I
learned a lot of G&G data interpretation and Exploration Geology particularly Geological modelling
from Shri Satyajit Choudhary GGM(Geol) & Basin Manager A&AA Basin (retd). He used to sit with us
hours together to get a perfect job done. I learned a lot about petrophyscical studies from Shri P.P.Deo
ED-HOI CEWELL(retd). His communication skill was excellent to make you understand integration of
G&G data,Core studies integration for effective petrophyscical evaluation.
 My family

Q: Tell us about your family.

In my family, we are 4 members. My wife Jharashree Jena(Mana),B.Sc,B.Ed,M.Ed is a homemaker. My

daughter Dr Soumya Jena (DOB 26.03.1991) MBBS,M.S.(Opthalmology),DNB,FICO,FAICO did her
MBBS from Govt Medical College, Bhavnagar, M.S.(Opthalmology) from Stanley Medical College,
Chennai, Fellowship in Surgical Vitreo-Retina from Arvind Eye Hospital, Madurai,DNB,FICO,FAICO.
Now She is working at ASD Eye Hospital, Bhubaneshwar. My son Sourav Jena (DOB 01.06.1994) did
his B.Tech(E&C) from BIT Meshra. Now he is working in a Research Project at IIT, Bombay. He will soon
move to Wasington University Seattle, USA for his MS.

Message from Sh A K Jena

I am grateful to this great Organization which has given everything to me. It has taken care of me, my
family and my children’s education be it financial or medical and what not. The greatness of this
Organisation is that it gives total freedom and encouragement in pursuing your assignments. It gives
immense pleasure to carry out my assignments. We should give our best to the organization that
takes care of our every need. I thank my wife, daughter son for giving support from family front to
accomplish my journey with this great Organization. I take this opportunity to thank my Seniors, Peers
and Junior colleagues who were associated with my professional journey in ONGC. We are passing
through a rough patch of challenging time beacuse of the prevailing situation. But every dark night
has a nightfall and there will be a new sunrise on the horizon with new hope and new aspirations. I
wish all ONGCians a bright time ahead.

Good Bye !!!