(+91)891-2856063

E-mail: nilanjanpaul.pe@iipe.ac.in

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8P6NGLUAAAAJ&hl=en

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nilanjan-Pal

• PE 30007 - Advanced Drilling Technology (3C)
• PE 20007 - Elements of Reservoir Engineering (4C)
• PE 30008 - Pipeline Engineering (3C)
• PE 40002 - Production Engineering Lab (2C)
• PE 40004 - Reservoir Simulation Lab (2C)
• BS 20005 - Innovations Lab (2C)

• Ph.D., Petroleum Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, 2015-20

• M. Tech., Petroleum Engineering, Indian School of Mines Dhanbad, 2013-15 (OGPA 9.50/10)

• B. Tech., Mechanical Engineering, West Bengal University of Technology, 2008-12 (DGPA 9.08/10)

• Assistant Professor, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530003, INDIA: Jan 2022 – Present

• Post-Doctoral Fellow, ANPERC, Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology, Thuwal, SAUDI ARABIA: Mar 2021 – Jan 2022

S1. Society of Petroleum Engineers [4124308]: 2015-Present
S2. European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers – [M2019-6150]: 2019-Present
S3. Evidence-Based Research Network [2020]: 2020-Present

As First Author / Corresponding (*) Author:

1. Nilanjan Pal*, Yara Alzahid, Abdulkareem M. AlSofi, Muhammad Ali, Nurudeen Yekeen, Hussein Hoteit. An Experimental Workflow to assess the applicability of Microemulsions for Conformance Improvement in Oil-Bearing Reservoir. Heliyon 9 (2023) e17667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17667
2. Nilanjan Pal*, Yara Alzahid, Abdulkareem M. AlSofi, Muhammad Ali, Xuan Zhang, Hussein Hoteit. Experimental Evaluation of Surfactant-Stabilized Microemulsions for application in Reservoir Conformance Improvement Technology. Journal of Molecular Liquids 380 (2023) 121687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2023.121687
3. Nilanjan Pal*, Yara Alzahid, Abdulkareem M. AlSofi, Muhammad Ali, Hussein Hoteit. A Review on Microemulsions for Conformance Improvement Technology: Fundamentals, Design Considerations and Perspectives. Energy & Fuels 37 (2023) 858-875. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c03148
4. Nilanjan Pal*, Xuan Zhang, Muhammad Ali, Ajay Mandal, Hussein Hoteit. Carbon dioxide thickening: A review of technological aspects, advances and challenges for oilfield application. Fuel 315 (2022) 122947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122947
5. Nilanjan Pal*, Hussein Hoteit, Ajay Mandal. Structural aspects, mechanisms and emerging prospects of Gemini surfactant-based alternative Enhanced Oil Recovery technology: A review. Journal of Molecular Liquids 339 (2021) 116811. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2021.116811
6. Nilanjan Pal, Ajay Mandal. Compositional Simulation Model and History-Matching Analysis of Surfactant-Polymer-Nanoparticle (SPN) Nanoemulsion assisted Enhanced Oil Recovery. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers 122 (2021) 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtice.2021.04.022
7. Nilanjan Pal, Ajay Mandal. Numerical Simulation of Enhanced Oil Recovery studies for aqueous Gemini Surfactant‐Polymer‐Nanoparticle systems. AIChE Journal 66 (2020) e17020. https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.17020
8. Nilanjan Pal, Ajay Mandal. Enhanced Oil Recovery Performance of Gemini Surfactant-stabilized Nanoemulsions functionalized with partially hydrolyzed polymer/silica nanoparticles. Chemical Engineering Science 226 (2020) 115887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2020.115887
9. Nilanjan Pal, Ajay Mandal. Oil recovery mechanisms of Pickering nanoemulsions stabilized by surfactant-polymer-nanoparticle assemblies: A versatile surface energies’ approach. Fuel 276 (2020) 118138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.118138
10. Nilanjan Pal, Amit Verma, Keka Ojha, Ajay Mandal. Nanoparticle-modified gemini surfactant foams as efficient displacing fluids for enhanced oil recovery. Journal of Molecular Liquids 310 (2020) 113193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2020.113193
11. Nilanjan Pal, Narendra Kumar, Rohit Kumar Saw, Ajay Mandal. Gemini surfactant/polymer/silica stabilized oil-in-water nanoemulsions: Design and physicochemical characterization for enhanced oil recovery. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 183 (2019) 106464. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2019.106464
12. Nilanjan Pal, Mudit Vajpayee, Ajay Mandal. Cationic/Nonionic Mixed Surfactants as Enhanced Oil Recovery Fluids: Influence of Mixed Micellization and Polymer Association on Interfacial, Rheological, and Rock-Wetting Characteristics. Energy & Fuels 33 (2019) 6048-6059. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b00671
13. Nilanjan Pal, Narendra Kumar, Ajay Mandal. Stabilization of Dispersed Oil Droplets in Nanoemulsions by Synergistic Effects of Gemini Surfactant, PHPA Polymer and Silica Nanoparticle. Langmuir 35 (2019) 2655-2667. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b03364
14. Nilanjan Pal, Krishanu Samanta, Ajay Mandal. A novel family of non-ionic gemini surfactants derived from sunflower oil: Synthesis, characterization and physicochemical evaluation. Journal of Molecular Liquids 275 (2019) 638–653. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2018.11.111
15. Nilanjan Pal, Sudhir Kumar, Achinta Bera, Ajay Mandal. Phase behaviour and characterization of microemulsion stabilized by a novel synthesized surfactant: Implications for enhanced oil recovery. Fuel 235 (2019) 995–1009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.08.100
16. Nilanjan Pal, Neha Saxena, K.V.D. Laxmi, Ajay Mandal. Interfacial behaviour, wettability alteration and emulsification characteristics of a novel surfactant: Implications for enhanced oil recovery. Chemical Engineering Science 187 (2018) 200–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2018.04.062
17. Nilanjan Pal, Narendra Kumar, Amit Verma, Keka Ojha, Ajay Mandal. Performance Evaluation of Novel Sunflower Oil-Based Gemini Surfactant(s) with Different Spacer Lengths: Application in Enhanced Oil Recovery. Energy & Fuels 32 (2018) 11344−11361. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.8b02744
18. Nilanjan Pal, Neha Saxena, Ajay Mandal. Characterization of alkali-surfactant-polymer slugs using synthesized gemini surfactant for potential application in enhanced oil recovery. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 168 (2018) 283-300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2018.05.026
19. Nilanjan Pal, Neha Saxena, Ajay Mandal. Studies on the physicochemical properties of synthesized tailor-made gemini surfactants for application in enhanced oil recovery. Journal of Molecular Liquids 258 (2018) 211–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2018.03.037
20. Nilanjan Pal, Neha Saxena, Ajay Mandal. Equilibrium and dynamic adsorption of gemini surfactants with different spacer lengths at oil/aqueous interfaces. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 533 (2017) 20–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2017.08.020
21. Nilanjan Pal, Neha Saxena, Ajay Mandal. Synthesis, characterization, and physicochemical properties of a series of quaternary gemini surfactants with different spacer lengths. Colloid and Polymer Science 295 (2017) 2261-2277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-017-4199-1
22. Nilanjan Pal, Neha Saxena, Ajay Mandal. Phase Behavior, Solubilization, and Phase Transition of a Microemulsion System Stabilized by a Novel Surfactant Synthesized from Castor Oil. Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data 62 (2017) 1278-1291. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jced.6b00806
23. Nilanjan Pal, Keshak Babu, Ajay Mandal. Surface tension, dynamic light scattering and rheological studies of a new polymeric surfactant for application in enhanced oil recovery. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 146 (2016) 591-600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2016.07.023

As Co-Author:

24. Muhammad Ali, Mujahid Ali, Mirhasan Hosseini, Nilanjan Pal, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer, Hussein Hoteit. Effects of Various Solvents on Adsorption of Organics for Porous and Nonporous Quartz/CO2: Implications for CO2 Geo-Storage. Energy & Fuels 36 (2022) 11089-11099. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b00671.
25. Ahmed Al-Yaseri, Nurudeen Yekeen, Muhammad Ali, Nilanjan Pal, Amit Verma, Hesham Abdulelah, Hussein Hoteit, Mohammad Sarmadivaleh. Effect of organic acids on CO2-rock and water-rock interfacial tension: Implications for CO2 geo-storage. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 214 (2022) 110480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.108579.
26. Muhammad Ali, Nilesh Kumar Jha, Nilanjan Pal, Alireza Keshavarz, Hussein Hoteit. Mohammad Sarmadivaleh. Recent advances in carbon dioxide geological storage, experimental procedures, influencing parameters, and future outlook. Earth-Science Reviews 225 (2022) 103895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103895.
27. Muhammad Ali, Nurudeen Yekeen, Nilanjan Pal, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer, Hussein Hoteit. Influence of Organic Molecules on Wetting Characteristics of Mica/H2/Brine Systems: Implications for Hydrogen Structural Trapping Capacities. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 608 (2022) 1739-1749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2022.110480.
28. Muhammad Ali, Nurudeen Yekeen, Nilanjan Pal, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer, Hussein Hoteit. Influence of pressure, temperature and organic surface concentration on hydrogen wettability of caprock; implications for hydrogen geo-storage. Energy Reports 7 (2021) 5988-5996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2021.09.016.
29. Narendra Kumar, Nilanjan Pal, Ajay Mandal. Nanoemulsion flooding for enhanced oil recovery: Theoretical concepts, numerical simulation and history match. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 202 (2021) 108579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.108579.
30. Vinod Kumar, Nilanjan Pal, Anil Kumar Jangir, Dhana Lakshmi Manyala, Dharmesh Varade, Ajay Mandal, Ketan Kuperkar. Dynamic interfacial properties and tuning aqueous foamability stabilized by cationic surfactants in terms of their structural hydrophobicity, free drainage and bubble extent. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 588 (2020) 124362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2019.124362.
31. Parth R. Bhut, Nilanjan Pal, Ajay Mandal. Characterization of Hydrophobically Modified Polyacrylamide in Mixed Polymer-Gemini Surfactant Systems for Enhanced Oil Recovery Application. ACS Omega 4 (2019) 20164-20177. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b02279.
32. Neha Saxena, Nilanjan Pal, Keka Ojha, Swapan Dey, Ajay Mandal. Synthesis, characterization, physical and thermodynamic properties of a novel anionic surfactant derived from Sapindus laurifolius. RSC Advances 8 (2018) 24485-24499. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8RA03888K.
33. Prathibha Pillai, Nilanjan Pal, Ajay Mandal. Synthesis, Characterization, Surface Properties and Micellization Behaviour of Imidazolium-based Ionic Liquids. Journal of Surfactants and Detergents 20 (2017) 1321–1335. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11743-017-2021-1.
34. Neha Saxena, Nilanjan Pal, Swapan Dey, Ajay Mandal. Characterizations of surfactant synthesized from palm oil and its application in enhanced oil recovery. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers 81 (2017) 343–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtice.2017.09.014.
35. Keshak Babu, Nilanjan Pal, V.K. Saxena, Ajay Mandal. Synthesis and characterization of a new polymeric surfactant for chemical enhanced oil recovery. Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering 33 (2016) 711-719. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-015-0186-8.
36. Keshak Babu, Nilanjan Pal, Achinta Bera, V.K. Saxena, Ajay Mandal. Studies on interfacial tension and contact angle of synthesized surfactant and polymeric from castor oil for enhanced oil recovery. Applied Surface Science 353 (2015) 1126-1136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2015.06.196.

1. Priyanshu Kumar Singh, Nilanjan Pal. Oil production forecast using Fuzzy Time Series and Artificial Neural Network techniques. 84th EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition Workshop Programme, Vienna, Austria. ID: 688, 5-8 Jun 2023, pp 1-5. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.202310688
2. Nilanjan Pal, Narendra Kumar, Ajay Mandal. Synergistic Oil Displacement Effects of Dimeric Surfactant-Polymer-Silica Stabilized Nanoemulsions over Conventional EOR Fluids. 82nd EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition Workshop Programme, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ID: Th_E104_08, 8-11 Dec 2020, pp 1-5. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.202011781.
3. Narendra Kumar, Nilanjan Pal, Ajay Mandal. Polymeric Surfactant Stabilized Nanoemulsion Characterization for Enhanced Oil Recovery. 82nd EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition Workshop Programme, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ID: We_E104_08, 8-11 Dec 2020, pp 1-5. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.202011222.
4. Nilanjan Pal, Ajay Mandal. Functional Characterization of a Novel Class of Gemini (Dimeric) Surfactants Synthesized from Sunflower Oil. 8th International Congress on Sustainability Science & Engineering (ICOSSE’19), DoubleTree by Hilton, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ID: 558907, 1-3 Jul 2019. https://www.aiche.org/ifs/conferences/international-congress-on-sustainability-science-engineering-i...
5. Nilanjan Pal, Ajay Mandal. Interfacial properties of cationic Gemini surfactant for application in Enhanced oil recovery. Oral Presentation at International Conference on Challenges and Prospects of Petroleum Production and Processing Industries (PEDJP 2017), Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, India. ID: PEDJP-030, 12-14 Jan 2017.

1. Nilanjan Pal, Ajay Mandal. Process for the preparation of novel sunflower oil-derived gemini surfactants of non-ionic nature and compositions thereof for enhanced oil recovery application. India Patent Grant No. 433978. Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, INDIA. Appl. No. 201831026697, Filed on 17th Jul 2018.

1. Nilanjan Pal, Amit Verma. Applications of Surfactants as Fracturing Fluids: Chemical Design, Practice, and Future Prospects in Oilfield Stimulation Operations. In: Solling T., Shahzad Kamal M., Shakil Hussain S.M. (eds) Surfactants in Upstream E&P. Petroleum Engineering. Springer, Cham (2021) pp 331-355. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70026-3_12.

G1. Principal Investigator. “Polymer-Assisted Smart Water Recovery for Enhanced Oil Recovery and Water Control”. Funding Agency: Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (Institute Research Grant). Grant no. IIPE/DORD/IRG/22, dated 19.05.2023. Budget Head: INR 28,00,000. Effective from May 2023 – May 2026.
G2. Co-Principal Investigator. “SBIF-XRD Analytical Lab”. At: Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy, Visakhapatnam, INDIA. Funding Agency: State Bank of India (SBI) Foundation. Grant no. SBI(F)/2022-23/13/Institute (Ref. no. SBI(F)/2022-23/381) dated 21.03.2023. Budget Head: INR 3,94,00,000. Effective from Mar 2023 – Mar 2026.

A1. Winner: 3rd Rank at the SPE Annual Quiz - Bangalore Section, 2020
A2. Inder Mohan Thapar Research Award, 2017
A3. Certificate of Merit: ISM Gold Medal – M. Tech in Petroleum Engineering, 2014-15
A4. L.J. Johnson Gold Medal, 2014-15
A5. Certificate of Honor: B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering, 2012
A6. Certificate of Merit – 9th National Science Olympiad, 2007

ET1. EAGE Annual - PACE Grant: ID 578, 2020. 82nd EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition Workshop Programme, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Dated: 8-11 Dec 2020.

ET2. SERB-International Travel Support: ITS/2019/001307 Grant, 2019. 3rd International Conference on Applied Surface Science (ICASS), Pisa Palazzo dei Congressi, Pisa, Italy. Dated: 17-20 Jun 2019.

ET3. IIT (ISM) Ph.D. Scholars’ Research Travel Grant, 2019. 8th International Congress on Sustainability Science & Engineering (ICOSSE’19), DoubleTree by Hilton, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dated: 1-3 Jul 2019.

• EAA - Cultural Events, IIPE, Apr 2022 - Present
• EAA - Technical Events & Innovation Lab, Mar IIPE, 2022 - Present
• Committee for CSR Initiatives, IIPE, May 2022 - Present
• Warden – IIPE Hostel, July 2022 - Present
• Student Grievance Redressal Committee, IIPE, May 2023 – May 2025
• Department Purchase Committee, PE & ES, IIPE, Nov 2022 - Present

1. NAGUR VALI SHAIK, IIPE Visakhapatnam (Ongoing).
2. GORU LAKSHMI PAPA RAO, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad (Ongoing).
3. MOUSUMI DAS, IIPE Visakhapatnam (Ongoing).

1. ‘Recent Advances in Petroleum Engineering’. Held at the Department of Petroleum Engineering and Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy, Visakhapatnam, India, 15-29 Jun 2023.
2. ‘Nanotechnology in the Oil Industry’: Held at the Centre for Advanced Studies, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, India, 21 Apr 2022.

Total Article Reviews (133): 5 (2018); 3 (2019); 14 (2020); 60 (2021); 40 (2022); 11 (2023)

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Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering (32); Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology (11); ACS Omega (10); Langmuir (9); Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (7); Petroleum Science & Technology (7); Journal of Surfactants & Detergents (6); Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects (5); SN Applied Sciences (4); Energy & Fuels (4); Colloid & Polymer Science (3); Chemical Engineering Science (3); International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control (3); Journal of Oleo Science (3); Petroleum Research (2); Earth Science Reviews (2); Chemosphere (2); Arabian Journal of Geosciences (2); RSC Advances (2); New Journal of Chemistry (2); AIChE Journal (2); Petroleum Science (2); ACS Food Science & Technology (1); Energy Science & Engineering (1); International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology (1); IEEE Transactions on Computational Social Systems (1); Nanotech (1); Frontiers in Earth Science (1); Applied Rheology (1); Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering (1)