Noida: HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL) has secured Indian patents for two crude oil pipeline technologies that, according to the company, are the first globally to enable the simultaneous transport of crude oil and naphtha through the same pipeline. In a statement issued Thursday, HMEL said the patented pipeline pigs are designed to allow two distinct hydrocarbons to flow together without mixing — an innovation that improves efficiency, lowers operating costs, and maximises the use of existing pipeline infrastructure.
“These are the first patented designs of their kind globally, setting a new benchmark in reliability and performance for crude oil logistics,” the company said.
A third patent was granted for a new apparatus that generates green oxy-hydrogen gas. HMEL said this technology is intended to improve refinery process efficiency while aligning with its broader strategy of transitioning to clean and sustainable operations.
To mark the achievement, HMEL Managing Director and CEO Prabh Das awarded the company’s internal ‘Inventor Award’ to the employee-innovators behind the technologies. “Securing these patents is a testament to the ingenuity, passion, and technical excellence of the HMEL team,” Das said. “We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability in the energy sector.”
HMEL noted that research and development is central to its sustainability goals. The company has filed 44 patents to date, with nine granted and an implementation rate exceeding 90 percent — a leading benchmark in India’s oil and gas sector.
HMEL is a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Mittal Energy Investment Pte Ltd, Singapore, with each partner holding a 49 percent stake. The company operates the 11.3 MMTPA Guru Gobind Singh Refinery in Bathinda, Punjab, and a 1,017-km crude oil pipeline from Gujarat.
