Dear Members,
It is with great pride, I assume the role of Chief Patron of the Society of Petroleum Geophysicists (SPG) India. As Chairman of ONGC and a long-standing advocate of geoscientific excellence, I consider it an honour to be associated with an institution that has played a defining role in shaping India's upstream exploration landscape over the past three decades.

SPG has consistently provided a vibrant platform for advancing geoscientific knowledge, enabling meaningful dialogue, and fostering data and technology exchange. It has catalyzed collaboration between academia, industry, and research bodies-an ecosystem that is indispensable as we navigate the complex and rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Today, the global energy sector stands at an inflection point. India’s energy demand is expected to double by 2040, with oil and gas continuing to play a central role-accounting for over 50% of the country’s energy mix in the foreseeable future. At the same time, there is a strong push towards sustainability, digitalization, and innovation. The rise of AI, ML, cloud computing, and data analytics is no longer aspirational-it is transformational. These technologies are enabling smarter exploration, reducing decision-making cycles by up to 40%, and enhancing reservoir precision in ways we could only imagine a decade ago.

At ONGC, we are undergoing a digital revolution. From real-time subsurface imaging to intelligent reservoir modelling and predictive maintenance, we are embedding digital thinking into every facet of our exploration strategy. In this context, the theme of SPG 2025 “Rock to Cloud: Geo-Exploration Empowering Energy Evolution”perfectly mirrors this journey. It underscores how geoscience, rooted in rock-solid fundamentals, is evolving into a data-rich, digitally empowered discipline that is central to ensuring energy security and enabling the energy transition.

We must recognize that exploration continues to be the bedrock of this evolution. Whether unlocking new frontiers or enhancing recovery from mature assets, exploration is not being replaced, it is being redefined. As we embark on this transformative phase, let us also imbibe the ethos “We must unite our data, systems and people under a shared digital vision.”

And as we do so, it is worth reflecting on Amara’s Law “We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run”. This serves as a timely reminder that digital transformation is not a sprint but a strategic marathon-its full impact unfolds over time, requiring consistency, vision, and collective will.

SPG 2025 promises to be a landmark event—bringing together domain experts, young professionals, and global leaders to deliberate on pressing challenges and frontier innovations. I encourage each one of you to actively participate, share insights, and contribute to shaping the future of our industry.

I offer my best wishes to the Executive Committee of SPG India for the successful conduct of this prestigious conference and for their unwavering commitment to technical excellence, knowledge dissemination, and professional growth.

Shri Arun Kumar Singh

Chairman & CEO, ONGC

Chief Patron, SPG-India