IIT-Kharagpur, SNF Flopam India sign pact for joint research in oil and gas engineering

IIT-Kharagpur has signed an MoU with SNF Flopam India Pvt Ltd to collaborate on research and technology development aimed at strengthening innovation in the oil and gas sector, a spokesperson of the institute said on Wednesday.

SNF Flopam India, the Indian arm of the global SNF Group, is a leading manufacturer of polymer-based solutions used across critical industries including wastewater treatment, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), textiles, paper and oil and gas operations.

According to the institute, the agreement signed on December 1 will allow researchers and engineers from both sides to work jointly on specialised projects in upstream and downstream segments of the petroleum sector. The collaboration is expected to cover areas such as enhanced oil recovery techniques, drilling and reservoir engineering, well-site and refinery wastewater treatment, and development of advanced process chemicals, all of which align with SNF’s polymer-driven technologies.

Chairman and Managing Director of SNF Flopam India, Shital Khot, said the partnership reflects the company’s focus on building strong linkages with premier academic institutions to “accelerate research-driven, practical solutions for real-time field challenges.”

“This collaboration aims to combine IIT-Kharagpur’s research expertise with SNF’s industrial leadership, creating a platform for impactful innovations that address pressing technological and operational challenges in the energy sector,” he said.

IIT-Kharagpur officials added that the partnership will help bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial deployment, particularly in areas that can improve efficiency and sustainability in both exploration and refining operations.