Dr. Pankaj Kumar

Scientist , Shallow Seismics

Dr. Pankaj Kumar

pankajk@ngri.res.in; pankajbhu29@gmail.com

Academic Identity
        

Specialization

Tectonics, Geodynamics, Plume-ridge interaction, Gravity, Magnetic, Seismic

Research Area

Presently, I am working on CO2 sequestration in different geological formations such as coal seam, shale gas, basalt etc. My research work is focused on the subsurface imaging using seismic and well log datasets and further, finding a suitable site, reservoir characterization and carbon sequstration in different geological formations. I am also involved in exploring the unconventional energy sources like Coal Bed Methane (CBM) and Shale gas on the Indian subcontinent. 

I also have a keen interest to understand the mantle plume's role in the evolution of the continental margins of India. My earlier work is mostly related to the research associated with the plume-ridge interaction, tectonics, geodynamics, and large igneous province, and to understand the crustal architecture and tectonic & geodynamic evolution of the continental margin of India. I have worked on the offshore extension of flood basalt (equivalent to Deccan Trap) in the Arabian Sea and estimated the total area of Deccan trap in the onshore as well as offshore. 

 

Ongoing Research Projects

SSP-900-28 (Co-Principal Investigator): Gravity and Magnetic studies to map the suitable geological environment for carbon storage at CBM (E) Block, Durgapur, West Bengal. May 2024 - June 2025.

HCP-48 (Member): A systematic assessment of the CO2 storage potential of the Indian coalfields and initiation of the first pilot injection project in coalfields. March 2023 – March 2026.

GAP-875-28 (Member): PERBAS project entitled as “Permanent Sequestration of gigatons of CO2 in continental margin basalt deposits”. April 2023 - March 2026

GAP-914-28 (Member): MI 2.0 project entitled as “Quantification of detection threshold and sensitivity of seismic techniques for monitoring of CO2 storage sites in India”. Dec 2024 - Dec 2027

Honors & Awards

Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) (AIR-47) and qualified for National Eligibility Test (NET) by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) (2012)

Publications

7. Sriram, G., Dewangan P., Yatheesh, V.,......, Kumar, P.,.......... (2023). Gas migration signatures over the volcanic cratered seamount, off the Nicobar Islands in the Andaman Sea. Geo-Marine Letters. 43 (3), 16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-023-00757-y .

6. Kumar, P., Singha, P., Ghosal, D., Jacob, J., and Gupta, S. (2023). Lithospheric architecture beneath the Amsterdam-St. Paul plateau, Southern Indian Ocean using the integrated gravity, magnetic and seismological study. Tectonophysics. 229989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2023.229989 .

5. Kumar, P., and Chaubey, A.K. (2022). Reunion plume associated flood basalt volcanism on the northwestern continental margin of India and related tectonics. Journal of Asian Earth Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2022.105352 .

4. Mishra, A., Chaubey, A.K., Kumar, S., Kumar, P.V., Kumar, P., Dubey, K.M. (2020) Does the Laxmi Ridge continue towards the Laccadive Ridge? New insights from an integrated geophysical study. Journal of Asian Earth Science. 20, 104491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2020.104491 .

3. Jacob, J., Vinay Kumar, P., Dubey, K.M., Mishra, A., Kumar, P., Kumar S., Mahale, V.P. and Chaubey, A.K. (2020). Identifying tectonic elements in mid-Thane creek of Mumbai, India: An integrated geophysical approach. Journal of Earth System Science. 129 (1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-020-01464-3 .

2. Kumar, P., Mishra, A., Vinay Kumar, P., Kumar S., Dubey, K.M., Singh D., Chaubey, A.K. (2019). Integrated geophysical appraisal of crustal structure and tectonic evolution of the Angria Bank, western continental margin of India. Marine Geophysical Research. 40, 433-449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-019-09383-9 .

1. Kumar, P., and Chaubey, A.K. (2019). Extension of flood basalt on the northwestern continental margin of India. Journal of Earth System Science. 128(4), 81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-019-1089-6 .

Books

Research Scholars

Educational Qualification

PhD; M.Sc. (Tech) Geophysics; B.Sc. (Hons.) Maths.

Proffessional Experience

  • Nov 2022 - Present: Scientist, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, India
  • Nov 2021 - Oct 2022: Senior Project Associate, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India
  • Sep 2020 - Oct 2021: Project Scientist, Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, India.
  • Feb 2020 - Aug 2020: Senior Project Associate, Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, India.
  • March 2018 - March 2019: Project Assistant-III, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India.
  • Jan 2013 - Jan 2018: Research scholar, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India.
  • July 2012 - Jan 2013: Project Assistant, Centre for Earth Science, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India.

Proffessional Affiliations

Assistant Professor, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)