Shuffling posts in ONGC's exploration division

Ajay Kumar Dwivedi's elevation as ONGC director exploration on March 16 has left in its wake a series of executive director level transfers.

Dwivedi, a geophysicist who headed the western offshore basin since August 2013, has been replaced by Gyanesh Chandra Katiyar, earlier chief of ONGC's Vadodara-headquartered western onshore basin. "Yes I have been transferred as western offshore basin manager," confirmed Katiyar, when contacted.

"I moved to Mumbai on April 16." Katiyar, 57, a geoscientist and IIT Roorkee graduate, worked at the Ahmedabad-based Institute of Reservoir Studies (IRS) from 2009 to 2012.

He is familiar with Mumbai from his time in the offshore basin division before coming to Vadodara as 'onshore basin manager designate' in June 2013. He took formal charge on January 1, 2014, replacing SK Das.

Katiyar is replaced at the western onshore basin by AV Sathe, head of ONGC's Kolkata MBA Basin, who reaches Vadodara on May 6. In the interim the western onshore basin is looked after by Vishwanath Banerjee, head of ONGC's Vadodara-based Dr.

BR Ambedkar Regional Geoscience Laboratories (RGL) which provides analytical research and development backup to the basin with petrophysical, geochemical and other studies. Sathe, 59, tells PETROWATCH from his Kolkata office that it is too early to say anything about his plans.

"My priority will be to explore all ONGC's assets in Gujarat," he said.