Shri H S Cheema

PETROTECH Lifetime Achievement Award Nomination of Shri H S Cheema By GAIL (INDIA) LTD.

GAIL (INDIA) LIMITED 16, BHIKAIJI CAMA PLACE NEW DELHI

Contents Sl.No. Particulars

Page No.

1

Bio-data of the Nominee

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2

Important Positions Held

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3

Contribution Industry

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National / International Recognitions

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5

Papers / Books Published

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6

Any other Specific Achievement

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7

Brief Citation & Recommendation for the Award

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8

Annexure

22

to

the

Oil

&

Gas

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1. Bio – data of the Nominee

Date of Birth

: 2nd May 1931

Qualifications: 1983

: A.M.P. - Advanced Management Programme, B.P.E. F.I.E. - Fellow of the Institute of Engineers, India.

1957

: D.R.T.C. (equivalent to M.E.) Royal Technical College, Glasgow. U.K. with Specialization in Ports and Harbours.

1952

: B.E. (HONS) Poona Engineering College.

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2. Important Positions Held During his entire career Shri H S Cheema has held important positions in India and overseas. His work led to the creation of complex infrastructures in the country especially the areas of construction and development of Ports & Jettys and Oil & Gas facilities. A list of positions and activities during a career spanning over 50 years is given below: • 2004 – 06: Consultant for ONGC Assam Asset for performance enhancement pertaining to drilling and production issues.

• 2005: High Powered Committee Member appointed by ONGC to enquire into BHN Platform/MSV Suraksha fire accident to ascertain the cause, review emergency response and recommend actions for correction and improvements.

• 2001- 02: Member of Expert Committee appointed

by Government of India, Ministry of Petroleum to enquire and examine comprehensive security measures for oil and gas pipeline system and related issues, including emergency response capabilities of ONGC and Oil India for the entire country.

• 1997: Consultant to Enron Group for their offshore supply base at Bhavnagar, Gujarat.

• 1992 – 95: Technical Advisor - Hydrocarbons in Torrent Group of Industries with the consent of the Gujarat Government.

• 1991: Consultant to Asian Development Bank, Manila, for writing a comprehensive report on gas production, planning and recommendations for Gas Policies for India.

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• 1990: Advisor to Government of Gujarat for Gas Planning.

• October 1986-May 1989: Member (Natural Gas) – ONGC. • July 1984-July 1986: Chairman and Managing Director – Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL).

• Sept 1983 – July 1984: Member (Onshore) – ONGC, Dehradun.

• Sept. 1974-Sept. 1983: Group General Manager (Bombay Offshore Project) – ONGC • Aug. 1969-Aug. 1974: Senior Supervising Engineer – Engineers India Limited.

• 1953 – 1969: Works Manager – M/s Hochtief A.G. (West Germany)

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3. Contribution to the Oil & Gas Industry • October 1986-May 1989 – Member (Natural Gas) – ONGC Shri Cheema was responsible for all the oil, LPG and gas productions of all Regions of ONGC which were earlier looked after by Member (Operations). Also responsible for all connected development and construction activities such as the Rs 600 Crores Hazira Complex, Rs 100 Crores C2C3 Complex at Uran and a host of other Oil, Gas, LPG NGL installations and pipelines throughout ONGC’s Operations.

Notable achievement was raising oil production from 27 MMT/year to highest production rate of 34 MMT/year in 1989. Shri Cheema retired in 1989.

• July 1984-July 1986 – Chairman and Managing Director – Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) Till the mid eighties, state-owned Public Sector Undertakings in the Upstream & Downstream Segments under Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) were concentrating on effective sourcing and utilization of the crude Oil resources of the country. During that period, factors such as industrialization and geo-political developments in the Middle-East, led to a growing uncertainty with respect to energy security of the country.

Besides, ONGC had already made important gas discoveries in the western offshore – South Bassein fields which could not be utilized in absence of gas pipeline infrastructure.

The flaring of associated natural gas by the oil producing fields was also causing environmental 25

concerns. Natural gas, which is a homogeneous composition of hydrocarbon gases with various fractions, could have diverse value-added applications in various sectors of the economy. The Government realized the urgency for making concerted efforts to not only optimally utilize all the available energy resources but also to harness the potentially rich reserves of precious Natural Gas available in the country. Thus the Government embarked upon a planned and focused development of this versatile source of energy and the gas sector in the country.

To utilize this multi-component resource fully, GAIL (India) Ltd (formerly known as Gas Authority of India Ltd)was conceived and mandated by the Government of India to transport, treat, fractionate, process, purify and market its various fractions which could lead to its full and proper utilization of Natural Gas and its fractions for the benefit of the National economy. GAIL was promoted as a company that would create adequate facilities for the transportation and distribution of Natural Gas in the country in the core sectors of the economy like power, fertilizer and other industries.

GAIL was incorporated as a Central PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. The setting up of GAIL heralded a new era for clean fuel industrialization through spread of natural gas in the country, under the leadership of Shri H S Cheema. • BeginningHazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur Pipeline Project

(HVJ)

The company was initially given the responsibility of construction, operation & maintenance of the HVJ (earlier known as HBJ) pipeline Project. It was the largest cross-country pipeline project in the world at that time. Shri Cheema came to GAIL, as its founding C&MD, on deputation from ONGC. His task was to put up the HBJ pipeline which was to form the 25

backbone of Natural Gas (NG) infrastructure in Western and Northern India. The HVJ pipeline network with a capacity of 18.2 MMSCMD was laid with the objective of transporting gas to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

Built at a cost of Rs 1700 Crores, this 1800 Km long cross country pipeline laid the foundation for development of market for natural Gas in India. Even today, HVJ continues to be the arterial gas pipeline of the country linking the gas sources of India to crucial

core sector customers in the western, central and northern parts of the country. Various spur lines were also laid along the pipeline to supply gas to specific customers.

GAIL under the leadership of Shri Cheema pioneered laying trunk gas pipeline network in the country through the HVJ to facilitate carrying natural gas to faroff corners of the country leading to mushrooming of industries along the way. The pipeline infrastructure set up under the leadership of Shri Cheema has contributed enormously to the economically and socially critical consuming sectors.

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This pipeline also had the third largest telecommunication system in the country at that time (P&T and Railways being the other largest) dedicated to serve as the carrier for Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system of the HBJ pipe line system.

The Challenge of Initial years - HVJ Pipeline being the first project of its kind in the country, the timelines were stiff. It was estimated in 1984 to cover a distance of 1800 km from Hazira in Gujarat to Jagdishpur in UP. It passed through 4 States of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and UP. It crossed 30 districts, 1200 cities, 29 railway crossings, 53 km through forest areas, 204 canal crossings, seven major to 69 smaller rivers crossing, 350 road crossings, one lakh land holdings and 450 km of rocky and difficult terrain.

This project required half a million tons of pipeline which were imported.

All preliminary work such as survey for the pipeline from Hazira to Jagdishpur were completed.

All permissions and statutory clearances required were obtained. The environment clearance for 1800 km was obtained in a matter of hours by Shri Cheema personally when he met the then secretary. The 25

entire infrastructural facilities with 12 offices, transport, communications etc. were established.

The task at hand was ambitious, the technology required to carry it out was new, HVJ Pipeline was the first project of its kind in the country, the timelines were stiff and the support in terms people’s resources, limited. There were difficulties entailed in getting the project started, which called for co-ordination with diverse agencies, obtaining clearances, Design parameters, documentation, finalizing global bids, setting up of basic infrastructure, long isolated stretches and all this across difficult terrains etc, before embarking on task of actual execution had to be finalized.

The first two years of GAIL’s formation were tumultuous.

People were joining from other organizations with different methods of working and these needed sorting out. Shri Cheema brought together a team of people from diverse backgrounds and very different professional and social credentials.

His focus was primarily to create an appropriate organization for execution of the HVJ for which he 25

established proper infrastructure in order to control both the execution and operations of the pipeline. In this endeavour Sri Cheema led his team from the front.

The negotiation of the HBJ contract included insertion of several clauses to the benefit of GAIL. The company also won its claim for encashment of Bank Guarantee at the Commercial Court in Paris. Such successful negotiations with consortium which had large experiences of similar international contracts could be considered as an achievement of GAIL team headed by Shri Cheema.

The preparation of the HBJ pipeline contract bid documents, the international bidding, its finalization and award of contract and contracts signing was completed on 6th April 1986.

The project award was completed on schedule. The expenditure incurred during this period was approx.

Rs.400 Crores.

GAIL has over time crossed one milestone after another. In 1998-99, the capacity of HVJ Pipeline was expanded to 33.4 MMSCMD under the Gas Rehabilitation and Expansion Project (GREP) by construction of a loop line of over 500 km from Vijaipur to Dadri and increasing compression capacity of existing compressor stations and adding 2 more compressor stations at Vaghodia and Khera. GAIL has progressively grown during the last 25 years, primarily on the strength of its engineering expertise and strong project execution skills created in the company during the tenure of its founder Chairman and Managing Director, Shri H S Cheema.

• Sept. 1983-July 1984 – Member (Onshore) Dehradun

ONGC, 25

He was responsible for all drilling operations, production of oil and gas and technical services in all onshore areas of India.

Moreover he was also responsible for expanding and extending the drilling operations into South Assam, Nagaland, Bengal Basin and Himachal Pradesh.

Lastly, he was responsible for general expansion of drilling and oil production onshore. • Sept. 1974-Sept. 1983 – Group General Manager (Bombay Offshore Project) ONGC Shri Cheema was selected by the Chairman as the first GM Operations to head the Bombay Offshore Project.(Annexed ONGC Press Note -Pg.22) He was responsible for drilling operations and expansion from 1 rig to 15 rigs. Offshore drilling operations were extended to the East Coast of India, to Palk Straits and the Andamans. All drilling targets were achieved or exceeded during this 9 year period.

He was also responsible for building up the entire infrastructure of the Offshore Project, such as supply bases, heli-base, offices, warehouses, housing colonies etc., in both Bombay and Madras.

Notable achievement was the completion of the Oil and Gas Bay Pipelines Project (60 Crores) connecting pipelines from Uran to Trombay Butcher Island in a record time of 18 months.

The task involved laying four lines simultaneously overland through marshes, creeks, hills and a wide arch at 25

Mumbai harbour. This was perhaps a precursor to his next assignment as the first Chairman and Managing Director of Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL).

It was under the leadership of Shri Cheema that the first Oil produced from Bombay High was handed over to the Chairman of HPCL for test purposes in 1976.

Subsequently the first Oil pumped through pipeline to Trombay in 1978 also took place under his aegis.

(Annexed ONGC House Journal –Pg.23) • Aug. 1969-Aug. 1974 – Senior Supervising Engineer – Engineers India Limited.

Shri Cheema worked as a Consulting Engineer in the Ocean Engineering Department.

His notable achievement was planning and design of the Super Tanker Oil Terminal and Dry Dock at Cochin Port.

Also, he was responsible for location of the single buoy mooring terminal Salaya SBM Terminal location Report for IOC for oil tankers at Salaya, Gulf of Kutch.

Shri Cheema underwent special training in design and construction of offshore platforms and spent three months in 1970 training at the largest fabrication yard at Batam near Singapore for this purpose.

• 1953-1969 – Works Manager – M/s Hochtief A.G. (West Germany) 25

Shri Cheema started his career with the largest West German firm of engineers and contractors. He specialized in port construction and marine oil terminals. He worked in Hochtier’s foundation design department in Essen, West Germany, from 1957-58.

He worked on the construction of the world’s largest oil terminal at Wilhelmshaven, West Germany.19541955 – He worked on Tanker Oil Jetty as Officer incharge.

Shri Cheema worked on the construction of Kandla Port Project, Rourkela Steel Plant, Karanja Jetties at Bombay, Tarapur’s Atomic Power Plant Project and Kasara Basin Construction at Mazagon Docks, Bombay.

4. National / International recognitions 25

Shri Cheema’s appointment as the first Chairman & Managing Director of GAIL is an act of recognition by Government of India of his immense capabilities, impressive track record and contribution to the upstream segment of Oil & Gas sector of India.

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• Letter of appreciation from the Govt of Maharashtra.

(Copy annexed Pg24). • Shri Cheema created a national record in pole vaulting in 1954. He was an excellent pole vaulter.

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5. Papers/ Books published A list of important articles includes the following: • 1984 – OIL ASIA June 1984 - ONGC’s accelerated efforts in Onshore areas in 7th Five Year Plan Period.

• 1987 - OIL ASIA December 1987 – Gas Reserves are steadily rising.

• 1989 India.

OIL ASIA 1989 – Future of Natural Gas in

• 1992 – Book published by Asian Development Bank, Manila – Regional Study on increased utilization of Natural Gas resources in India. (Certification from Asian Development Bank annexed Pg.25).

• 1995 – Petrotech – 95 Special edition - Time to formulate a Gas Policy.

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6. Any other Specific achievements Shri H S Cheema’s achievements in the upstream segment of the Oil & Gas sector of India are numerous.

He is the pioneer of the HVJ pipeline which was the first cross-country Natural Gas pipeline of the country.

His other achievements are : The construction of the world’s largest oil terminal at Wilhelmshaven, West Germany.

He worked on the construction of Tanker Oil Jetty at Kandla Port; Rourkela Steel Plant; Karanja Jetties at Bombay; Tarapur’s Atomic Power Plant Project and Kasara Basin construction at Mazagaon Docks Bombay.

The construction of Super Tanker Oil Terminal and dry Dock at Cochin and location of the Single Bouy Mooring Terminal for oil tankers at Salaya, Gulf of Kutch for which he prepared a report for Indian Oil Corporation.

After joining ONGC as the first Group General Manager (Bombay Offshore Project) in 1974 he was responsible for build up of the entire infrastructure which was so vital to success of the Offshore Project. These included supply base, heli base, offices, warehouses, housing colonies in Bombay and Madras.

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Drilling Operations and all Offshore oil and gas discoveries were made during his tenure. Starting with one Rig - “ Sagar Samrat” , the Offshore activities resulted in 15 Rig operations during his time. 280 wells were drilled under his direct supervision in the West and East Coast of India and also Andamans.

As Member (Onshore) he extended and expanded drilling operations in South Assam, Nagaland, Bengal Basin and Himachal Pradesh.

In July 1984 Shri Cheema became the first Chairman and Managing Director of Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL). During his tenure the foundation HBJ Pipeline Project, which at that time the world’s largest pipeline, was laid.

As Member (Natural Gas) in ONGC his notable achievement was raising of oil production from 27 MMT/Year to its highest production rate of 34 MMT/year in 1989.

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7. Brief citation and recommendation for the Awards Born on 2nd May 1931 in Poona, Shri Harwant Singh Cheema obtained B.E. (Hons) in Civil Engineering from Poona Engineering College in 1952 and D.R.T.C. (Equivalent to M.E.) from the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, U.K. in 1957.

He started his career in 1953 with Hochtief A.G. as Works Manager in the largest West German firm of engineers and contractors. His contributions include the constructions of the Kandla Port Oil Jetty, the Karanja Jetties and Wet Dock of Kasara Basin for the Indian Navy. He has worked on the construction site of the world’s largest Oil Terminal in Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

Shri Cheema joined Engineers India Ltd as Senior Supervising Engineer in 1969; his notable achievements included Super Tanker Oil Terminal and dry Dock at Cochin and location of the Single Bouy Mooring Terminal for oil tankers at Salaya, Gulf of Kutch for which he prepared a report for Indian Oil Corporation.

After joining ONGC as the first Group General Manager (Bombay Offshore Project) in 1974 he was responsible for building up the entire infrastructure which was so vital to success of the Offshore Project. These included supply base, heli-base, offices, warehouses, housing colonies in Bombay and Madras. Drilling Operations and all Offshore oil and gas discoveries were made during his tenure.

Starting with one Rig - “ Sagar Samrat” , the Offshore activities resulted in 15 Rig operations during his time. 280 wells were drilled under his direct supervision in the West and East Coast of India and also Andamans.

As Member (Onshore) in 1983, he was responsible for drilling operations, production of oil and gas and technical services in all onshore areas of India. He extended and expanded drilling operations in South Assam, Nagaland, Bengal Basin and Himachal Pradesh.

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In July 1984, Shri Cheema became the first Chairman and Managing Director of Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL). During his tenure the foundation HBJ Pipeline Project, which at that time the world’s largest pipeline, was laid.

Under the leadership of Shri Cheema, the gas infrastructure developed over the years has touched the life of common man in many ways, be it social, economic, or environmental aspects. The development has not only supported various core industrial segments but also helped to further expand and meet the demand deficit in these sectors. In addition the indirect benefits as a result of these infrastructural developments have helped social development in the rural areas by extending basic amenities. The overall contribution to the nation has been truly remarkable.

With Shri Cheema laying the foundation of the company with the HVJ Project, GAIL was thus able to make a significant contribution to the nation’s development. It helped harness new resource of energy called natural gas, which has since gained a lot of popularity. GAIL has now completed 25 glorious yeas of service to the nation.

Between October 1986 to May 1989 he was the Member (Natural Gas) ONGC. Notable achievement during this period was raising of oil production from 27 MMT/Year to its highest production rate of 34 MMT/year in 1989.

Over the years Shri Cheema has authored numerous articles and a book in the realm of Oil & Gas Sector.

After his retirement in 1989 Shi Cheema has been active as member, advisor and consultant to Gujarat Govt, Asian Development Bank and other prestigious bodies.

Considering the pioneering contribution made by Shri H S Cheema towards the development of the Oil and Gas Sector in India, recognition of his achievements will be well deserved.

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Annexure • ONGC Press Note (Ref Pg.12)

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• ONGC House Journal (Ref Pg.13)

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• Letter of appreciation Maharashtra(Ref Pg.16)

from

the

Govt

of

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• Book published by Asian Development Bank, Manila – Regional Study on increased utilization of Natural Gas resources in India. Certification from Asian Development Bank. (Ref Pg.17)

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