A Geologist’s Diary

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

A 'Geologist's Diary' is an autobiography of a Geologist who stepped in this profession by accident. The book narrates the various incidents, during his 32 years career in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. and the life after his superannuation. He worked in various fields of Geologya mineral prospector, petroleum explorer, field geological mapper, Remote Sensing Geologist in petroleum exploration and as one of the first Magnetostratigraphers in India.

I feel privileged to write a preface to 'A Geologist's Diary' authored by Shri Ram Prakash Agarwal, a reputed geologist and a literary genius. I have known Mr. R.P. Agarwal for over 4 decades as a distinguished and high caliber Petroleum Geologist. He enjoys a unique distinction of being the greatest wildcatter (drilling of the first well in a sedimentary basin or a virgin prospect) of ONGC, the company he worked for more than three decades. This wildcatter's tag is not only valid to Indian basins, he was also the one chosen for ONGC,s first overseas' wild cat venture "Songo-Songo Island"in Tanzania; it turned out a disaster is another matter. Mr. Agarwal made significant contributions in the field of petroleum geoscience as is evident by numerous publications running in to more than thirty. The surprise element about Mr. Agarwal which I did not know until recently, was his acumen and expertise as a story teller par excellence.

'A Geologist's Diary', contrary to the general expectation is not about the details of day to day routine of planning, preparations and execution of field geological surveys, interpretation projects, prospect identification, evaluation, feasibility study, risk analysis and E&P decision making. It is actually the story of a young student born in village Toda, Tehsil Neem ka Thana, district Sikar, richly endowed with famous copper deposits of Khetri Copper belt in Rajasthan. Mr. Ram Prakash grew up in lower middle class Agarwal family, a community where siblings are destined/ obliged to carry on the family business. Higher education was considered as wastage of time and money. It was considered prudent and wise to entrust the boy with the family business, sometimes working on a relatives business as apprenticeship, as quickly as, to enable the boy to face the future challenges. The quintessential element is its temporal context of early years of Independent India. Young Ram Prakash participated routinely in 'Prabhat Pheris', scout & guide and similar programs in his school days. He also participated in quit India movement by raising slogans as young child. These activities had profound impact on impressionable mind of young teenager Ram Prakash with a new value system which represented a paradigm shift that championed freedom, independent thinking, choice of profession. During vacation of schools, Ram Prakash for example was literally, cajoled to attend to the canteen business of his brother-in-law for supplementing ever plummeting family income. Parents words are to be solemnly obeyed, therefore, he grudgingly yielded and went to work in the canteen.

Geology is a science dealing with all the materials that make up the earth, the forces. that act upon the earth, as well as the biology of ancestral inhabitants based on fossil records. It plays a vital role behind the success of many other different disciplines, such as climatology, civil engineering, and evolutionary biology.

Geologists study earth processes such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, and volcanic eruptions. When geologists investigate earth materials, they not only investigate metals and minerals, but also look for oil, natural gas, water, and methods to extract these. As we call it "Present is the key to past", the idea of studying the earth and the processes that formed it are still shaping the landscape today.

The Book depicts a geologist journey from field to the most lucrative business of oil and gas. It covers all the fields of core geology and their integration for resolving the nature's hidden resources. Though many say that the days of the oil and gas industry are over. However, the quest of energy will always encourage humans to look for new energy sources. Field geology would still be a tool for any energy soldier - keeping busy in search of metals driving the electric mobility or in establishing geological suitability of mega projects for energy.

I hope that the book will be a motivator to the youngsters to choose the field and help the country in resolving the energy crisis.