Dr. Prathibha Pillai

Dr. Prathibha Pillai

Assistant Professor

Profile Summary

Dr. Prathibha Pillai completed her B Tech in Petroleum Engineering from Dibrugarh University, followed by her M Tech and PhD in Petroleum Engineering from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, focusing her research on Enhanced Oil Recovery. Dr. Pillai possesses extensive experience in research and has a demonstrated background in Reservoir Engineering, Production Engineering, Drilling Engineering, and Reservoir Simulation. Her scholarly contributions include numerous research papers, conference papers, and book chapters. She has also been featured in the international edition of the reputed Journal "Drilling and Exploration World" (DEW) January 2023 edition as one of the "Inspirational Women in Energy, Oil, and Gas Engineering."

Work Experience

Dr. Pillai previously worked as an Assistant Professor in the Petroleum Engineering Department at Presidency University in Bangalore. She also served as a Project Associate at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad on the OIBD Project.

Research Interests

Dr. Pillai's research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including Enhanced Oil Recovery, Reservoir Simulation and Modeling, Gas hydrates, Nanotechnology (Nanoparticles and Nano emulsions), Drilling Fluids, Low salinity Waterflooding, Flow Assurance, Carbon sequestration and storage, and Hydrogen storage.

Teaching Philosophy

As an educator, Dr. Pillai is committed to creating an environment that fosters curiosity, exploration, and critical thinking. Her goal is to inspire and motivate students to become lifelong learners and compassionate individuals, equipped with skills and knowledge to make a positive difference in the world. She incorporates innovative teaching approaches that encourage active student participation and application of concepts to real-life problem-solving. Project-based learning plays a significant role in her teaching methodology, providing students with hands-on experience to realize abstract concepts based on fundamental knowledge. Additionally, these initiatives promote a healthy paradigm of group work and collaboration, fostering analytical thinking and mutual learning.

Courses Taught

Dr. Pillai teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Petroleum Engineering, including Drilling Engineering, Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Drilling and Production Operations, Offshore Operations, Oil Field Asset Management, and Programming for Petroleum Engineers. These courses aim to equip aspiring engineers with the latest technology and knowledge in the petroleum industry.

Awards and Grants

Dr. Pillai received the ACS Energy & Fuels "Top 25 most cited article of 2019" award by Clarivate Analytics in July 2021.

Scholarly Activities

Dr. Pillai has an impressive collection of peer-reviewed international journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters to her credit. She has successfully assisted B Tech and M Tech students in various topics related to the Petroleum Industry, enhancing the efficiency of crude oil recovery. Their projects cover areas such as reservoir simulation, drilling fluids, crude oil refining, and the optimization and application of various forms of EOR chemical systems (such as natural bio-based surfactants, nanoparticles, and microemulsions). Dr. Pillai's research papers span diverse topics, including Enhanced Oil Recovery, Ionic Liquids, Nano emulsions, Nanoparticles, Low salinity Waterflooding, Gas Hydrates, Fracturing Fluids, and more.