Oil and gas are internationally highly valued commodities. This sector enjoys a premium position in world relations and trade as a vast majority of operations rely heavily on these commodities. The demand is ever-increasing with predictions of double growth in the coming decade. In India, the oil and gas sector is one of the eight key industries and has a significant impact on the decisions of all other critical sectors of the economy. The sector is further highly dependent on chemicals that are utilized at all stages of drilling, completion, and production of oil and gas wells.
As current fields degrade, the use of chemistry to keep production going through good stimulation, more efficient secondary recovery processes, and improved oil recovery becomes increasingly crucial. Imperial Oilfield Chemicals, Co-founded by Chirag Patel, is a pioneer in the production of chemicals required by the oil and gas sector. Under the visionary leadership and extensive knowledge of the chemicals of Chirag, the company has grown through the decades to become an industry pioneer. As a terrific leader, he has established a reputation for delivering unmatched quality across its product portfolio.
A Visionary’s Journey
The Oil and Gas industry, particularly the implication of chemicals in this industry is a highly specialized industry that has piqued Chirag’s interest since the beginning, setting him on the path to establish his first venture, Imperial Chem Incorporation in May 1998. Eventually, the firm started diversifying into various sectors, with oil and gas being the first with a specialization in chemicals, under the name Imperial Oilfield Chemicals. Around this time, the company diversified its activities by launching Bhavi Incorporation, and Imperial Flexipack (woven bags), a packaging production company that provided packaging solutions for various industries. Coming from a business family, the seeds of a strong business sense were already implanted in Chirag’s blood. However, his extensive educational background with a B.Sc in Chemistry, DBM and Certificate course in Export – Import
Management from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Vadodara, and MBA in Marketing from the same university helped him develop industrial knowledge as well as strong business acumen. His further completion of a course on Strategies for Winning In International Market from IIM Ahmedabad in 2022 further propelled his industrial expertise. Through these experiences, and the gradual diversification of ventures, not only was he able to build a powerful brand under the Imperial Group, but also able to regain complete control over the family business S.P. Chemicals and merge it within the Imperial Group.
This truly remarkable journey has nevertheless, not been one void of obstacles. Under his leadership, Chirag inspired the company and the workforce to overcome all challenges and emerge stronger. “This industry demands an updated version of you every day. That’s why it has entry barriers as long as you don’t have technical knowledge. If you acquire that knowledge then this industry will embrace you. Through our commitment towards the industry, not only did we gain a reputation as a pioneer, but we also received ‘Outstanding Export Performance by Industries and Mines Department of Gujarat Government’. Furthermore, we were the first company in the Oil & Gas industry from India who got all three accreditation of ISO which are ISO 9001:2015, EMS:14001, and OHSAS 45001. Over the decades, we have developed more than 50+ products to solve problems of the industry across the globe”, shares Chirag Patel.
Roles & Responsibilities
The Oil & Gas industry needs constant focus on current trends and economic affairs to understand and forecast the requirements. Chirag keeps regular touch with industry experts, economists, and associates to get advanced information. This helps him to lead a business successfully. He believes that an entrepreneur or leader must have a clear vision that guides the organization towards its goals. A deep understanding of the business environment, customer needs, and the organization's strengths and weaknesses. This principle has allowed him to develop the company’s vision based on clarity, adaptability, and measurement.
Under his leadership, Chirag inspired the company & the workforce to overcome all challenges & emerge stronger
Under his leadership and vision, the firm seeks to resolve customer issues by offering high-quality, high-performing chemical solutions. Furthermore, through his inclination towards research, he is also able to better ideate product improvements as well as guide the business development team. “As a business leader, inspiring the workforce to perform better requires a combination of effective communication, recognition of individual strengths and needs, and setting high expectations. I feel each employee has their strengths and weaknesses. My leadership philosophy is more inclined towards motivating the team, informing them about our upcoming developments, and the positive aspects of the journey we have completed so far. Additionally, I believe in providing ongoing feedback and support by developing a happy work culture”, further shares Chirag.
While being an inspirational leader to the workforce, Chirag has also maintained a strong network with academicians, industry experts, scholars, and other players, keeping himself current with the industrial trends. He also maintains an agile management style and welcomes new ideas and innovations. He passes on the same wisdom to younger entrepreneurs while also encouraging them to be focused, has a clear vision, be lifetime learners, and chase opportunities as they come.
We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read more...
