There was a time when the sandy expanse of Barmer was known mostly for severe water shortages and extreme isolation, but circumstances have transformed dramatically over the years. Today, this very same desert terrain has emerged as a powerhouse of domestic petroleum extraction. The most remarkable aspect of this industrial feat is that from crude production to the refining stages, more than 130 young women are actively driving operations as skilled engineers.
Operating across key oil fields
These female professionals are stationed across several major oil operations including Mangla, Bhagyam, Rageshwari, Saraswati, Vijaya, Kameshwari, Vandana, Durga, Aishwarya, and Shaheed Tukaram oil fields. Working in diverse domains such as petrochemicals, mud engineering, electrical systems, plant maintenance, mechanical operations, production, and drilling, these women are not only handling critical technical tasks but are also working shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts.
Navigating underground challenges
Working within Cairn Ranebennur South gas block in Rajasthan, young drilling engineer Mayank Kumar forms part of the broader workforce striving to connect subterranean energy reservoirs with national development. During extraction activities, his team routinely encounters shifting geological formations and complex technical hurdles, yet their overarching mission remains clear: boosting domestic output to strengthen India energy self-reliance.
Driving automation and modern systems
Similarly, at the Rageshwari oil field in Barmer, young engineer Pranjit Kalita represents a newer generation transforming the sector through technology and automation. Positioned within the instrumentation division, he oversees field instrumentation, process automation, and control systems. He notes that the primary appeal of working in the energy sector is knowing that engineering efforts directly impact national progress and energy security.
Vast technical workforce
Across Vedanta Oil and Gas operations, more than 650 engineers are deployed across specialized branches such as drilling, production, subsurface, mechanical, instrumentation, digital initiatives, projects, and health safety environment departments. Stretching from desert oil installations in Rajasthan to coastal energy assets nationwide, these specialists leverage modern innovations to elevate output volumes, optimize operational efficiency, and uphold rigorous safety standards.
Youth and female leadership
A defining characteristic of this engineering division is its youthful demographic, with over 60 percent of professionals aged 35 years or younger. Concurrently, the rising participation of women in core technical roles signifies a profound shift within the energy landscape. Engineers like Surbhi Purohit, petrochemical engineer Richa Sinha, and Suruchi Sharma stand among the cohort of more than 130 women proving their mettle by extracting fuel from harsh desert environments.
