SOUVENIR COMMITTEE - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

Training Programme on “PALYNOLOGY IN FOSSIL FUEL EXPLORATION”
[ September 10-17, 2012 ]
DR. BALESHWAR KUMAR, B.E., Ph.D.
Chief Scientist and Head ,
Geochemical Exploration of Petroleum & Gas
Adviser/Consultant, Carbon Management (Former)
National Geophysical Research Institute , Hyderabad 500007
E-mail: baleshk@yahoo.com
Dr. Baleshwar Kumar obtained his B.E. degree in instrumentation with specialization in Industrial
Instrumentation from University of Pune in 1969 and Ph.D in Geochemistry from Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore in 1986. He has over 40 years of Research and Development Experience at National
Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad and Bharathidasan University in Energy Security and
Sustainability; Geochemical Exploration of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Unconventional Oil &
Gas;Isotope Geology/ Geochemistry and its applications to Geohydrology, Geothermal Research,
Hydrocarbon Exploration, Early Evolution of Life, Carbon Budget Changes, Event Stratigraphy and
Palaeo-environmental Studies etc.
He has obtained comprehensive training in Isotope Geology ( 977-1978) at Federal Institute of
Geosciences and Natural Resources, Hannover, Germany. Dr. Kumar has published more than 40
research papers in National and International journals and coordinated projects sponsored by International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria; Department of Science and Technology (DST); Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC); Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB); Directorate General of
Hydrocarbons (DGH); Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC); Jubilant Oil and Gas Pvt. Ltd. etc.
Dr. Kumar has established National Facility for Surface Geochemical and Microibial Prospecting of
Hydrocarbons at NGRI with a grant of ~ Rs. 70 Million from OIDB, comprising of Stable Isotope Mass
Spectrometers, Gas Chromatographs, GC- MS and Total Organic Analyzer etc. He led integrated
geochemical surveys in frontier onland and offshore basins and NELP blocks of India covering an area of
0.6x10 6 Sq. Km. He also coordinated project on Geological CO2 Sequestration in basalt formations of
Western India: A Pilot Study (sponsored by DST; Ministry of Power; National Thermal Power
Corporation and Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA).
He has convened & organized three International Symposium at NGRI (Carbon Capture and Storage and
Hydrocarbon Exploration) and is a renowned scientist of National and International repute. Dr. Kumar has
delivered invited talks at various National/International forums; G8 countries meetings at Norway on
CCS; AAPG meetings in USA; Colorado School of Mines, Colorado, USA; University of Utah, Salt
Lake, USA and AAAPG meeting in China etc.
Dr. Kumar is fellow/member of several National/ International Associations. He has worked as visiting
consultant for the project RES-OIL funded by Oil Industry Development Board with Bharathidasan
University, Tiruchirapalli. He is an International expert on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and has
drafted a concept paper on CCS for UNEP. He is the Member/ Fellow of several National and
International Scientific Societies and has represented India at several International forums including G8
countries meeting.
Dr. Kumar has recently (June, 2011; April 2012) delivered invited talks on ‘India Initiatives towards
Shale gas Exploration and Development’ and ‘Shale Oil & Gas: India’s Perspective’ at International
Conferences in Beijing & Wuxi, China. He has also coordinated the technical organization of
International Conference on ‘Unconventional Sources of Fossil Fuel and Carbon Management’ held at
Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Feb. 2011.The conference
was organized in association with Colorado School of Mines, Golden,USA.
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow
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