Published: 05/16/2025
Published: 05/16/2025
RK, can you share your career journey and the key milestones that have shaped your professional growth?
RK: I started my career with ONGC in India as a Petroleum Engineer back in 2001. I spent five years there, primarily working in oil and gas fields. In 2007, I joined SLB, which gave me a broad range of experiences in technological solutions, production domains, customer service, and commercial operations across the Middle East. I transitioned through various roles, including operational management and AI across India. This hands-on experience in core oil and gas operations gave me a deep understanding of the industry’s technical challenges. This foundation has been crucial in driving digital innovation and solving customer problems by integrating domain knowledge with digital solutions. Today, I have the privilege of leading one of SLB’s youngest INNOVATION FACRORIES, here in Delhi.
Q: That’s an impressive journey. Could you tell us more about the INNOVATION FACTORI Delhi?
A: At INNOVATION FACTORI Delhi, we operate at the intersection of domain expertise and digital transformation, especially within the energy sector. India is known for its frugal engineering mindset, often referred to as "Jugaad" in Hindi. This approach drives innovation through efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. For instance, India’s Moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, was executed with a budget of around USD 75 million, less than the USD 100 million budgets of some Hollywood movies. Another example is India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), an AI-powered fintech revolution handling over 15 billion transactions per month, surpassing global platforms. These examples showcase India’s ability to achieve world-class innovation at a fraction of global costs. At the INNOVATION FACTORI, we leverage this approach to address complex challenges in oil and gas through AI, automation, and digital solutions that are practical, scalable, and cost-effective. We are developing an AI-powered lift optimization solution that brings together data from wellhead sensors, test results, and field knowledge into one smart system. It acts like a digital assistant, continuously checking performance and suggesting timely, practical actions to keep artificial lift systems running efficiently and sustainably.
Q: What are the biggest challenges you’ve encountered in driving digital transformation, particularly in India?
One of the biggest challenges in driving digital transformation in India is getting people, processes, and technology to move forward together. There is a natural hesitation to change long-standing ways of working, especially when digital tools feel unfamiliar or complex. In a recent project, I experienced that trust in AI was a real concern. Customer teams were understandably cautious about relying on machine-generated insights without full clarity on how they work. On top of that, inconsistent data practices across departments can make it harder for AI solutions to deliver real impact.
Q: How have you successfully tackled these challenges?
A: Recently, we collaborated in a digital optimization project by involving the customer right from the beginning—not just during validation, but in shaping the problem, prioritizing use cases, and defining success metrics together. By collaborating early on, we were able to align the solution with their operational needs and address concerns from the start.
We conducted joint data discovery sessions with their IT, data, and field teams to ensure the AI model reflected both the technical infrastructure and on-the-ground realities. This early engagement helped us build trust, avoid change management issues, and foster a strong sense of ownership across all stakeholders. Their continuous input throughout design and testing helped tailor the solution to be practical, intuitive, and easy to adopt in day-to-day workflows.
Q: Looking ahead, what technologies or innovations do you see shaping the energy industry in the next decade?
A: The energy industry is at a transformative moment, driven by decarbonization and the need for more efficiency. AI and advanced analytics will play a significant role in predictive maintenance, subsurface modeling, and real-time optimization, enhancing efficiency and reducing downtime. Digital twins, which create virtual replicas of physical assets, will enable real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, reducing operational risks and costs. Autonomous operations and robotics will also become more prevalent, addressing the shortage of skilled labor and improving safety and operational efficiency. Edge computing will allow real-time data processing at remote energy sites, enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency. At the INNOVATION FACTORI Delhi, we are at the forefront of applying AI, automation, and digital solutions to accelerate this transformation. The next decade will be defined by how well we integrate these innovations into scalable, real-world applications that drive efficiency, sustainability, and profitability in the energy domain.
Q: Do you work outside of the energy domain at all?
A: Currently, our primary focus is on the energy industry. However, some of our solutions, such as autonomous operations or edge computing, have the potential to be applied outside of the energy sector. As of now, we remain dedicated to addressing the unique challenges within the energy domain.
Q: What do you see as the main challenges in the energy transition?
A: There are several hurdles to the energy transition. One of the most significant challenges is the lack of regulatory and policy certainty. Governments worldwide are setting ambitious net-zero targets, but there is still a lack of consistent, long-term clarity and stable regulations, which are crucial for energy companies to plan long-term investments. Another challenge is the readiness and scalability of new technologies and innovations such as CCS, hydrogen, and energy storage. These technologies are promising but still evolving. Additionally, the existing infrastructure and energy grids are designed for fossil fuels, and massive investments are required to modernize them for new energy sources. Economic viability and investment challenges also remain, as the energy transition requires trillions in capital investment. Companies need to evaluate each project for profitability and risk, which can slow down the scaling of low-carbon solutions. Finally, public and industrial adoption resistance is a challenge. Despite the push for green technologies, there is still resistance due to high initial costs, slow adoption rates, and skepticism towards emerging energy solutions.
Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the energy industry?
A: The energy industry is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation enabled by technology, and this offers numerous rewarding career opportunities. My advice to newcomers is to build a strong technical foundation, whether in engineering, computer science, or data science. Understanding industry fundamentals such as subsurface and surface operations is crucial. Developing digital and AI skills is also essential, as these technologies will drive the industry’s future. Adopting a problem-solving mindset is important, as the energy industry is complex and requires innovative solutions that bridge the gap between technology and real-world applications. I also recommend gaining field experience through internships, research projects, or collaboration with industry professionals. This hands-on experience will provide valuable insights into operational challenges and help in developing practical solutions.
Q: OK, that’s the end of our interview, what’s your final word?
A: I would like to emphasize that at SLB, we believe the future of the energy industry will be tech-savvy, data-driven, and adaptable. We have implemented programs like the Domain Data Scientist career path to bridge the gap between domain knowledge and data science. This approach ensures that our professionals have the necessary field experience and technical expertise to solve real-world problems. For those joining the energy industry, there are already systems in place to support their growth and development. My message to industry peers, partners, and anyone looking to step into this space is simple: stay open to change, keep learning, and work together. The energy industry is evolving fast, and it’s going to take all of us to shape what comes next. We’re excited to be part of that journey—and we hope others will join us.
