New Delhi: Rajesh Kumar Srivastava has taken charge as new Director (Exploration) at state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). Srivastava joined ONGC in 1984 as Geologist at KG-PG Basin, Rajahmundry. He has more than 34 years of experience in up-stream hydrocarbon exploration from well site operations (on-land & offshore), development geology, seismic data interpretation to monitoring and planning of exploration and development activities in various basins including deepwater exploration on east coast of India.

With specialisation in reservoir characterization and geo-statistical modelling, he has made significant contributions towards field development by generating geological models for a number of oil and gas fields of India and abroad — significant ones being fields in Assam & Assam Arakan Basin, Neelam, Mumbai High North, El-Nar field of Sudan. He is a recipient of several meritorious certificates and awards, including Geologist of the year award from Chairman, ONGC in 2002.

As an acknowledgement of his contributions towards field development and hydrocarbon exploration, he was awarded the 'National Mineral Award' by the government in 2007. He has to his credit more than 15 technical publications in journals of national and international repute besides being a member of a host of scientific bodies.