Process engineers play a crucial role in driving innovation and efficiency across industries like petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, and more. In this series, we spotlight the dedicated professionals who solve complex challenges and shape the future of these vital sectors. With over 800 members, The Community of Process Engineers is AIChE's most active discussion group, connecting experts who make a real impact. Interested in being featured? Learn more and join the conversation at aiche.org/CPE.
This month, we introduce Shah Rashesh Rameshchandra, a process engineering subject matter expert in LNG-to-power and independent consultant specializing in offshore, onshore, subsea, and floating oil and gas. He discusses his career path, the challenges he's overcome, and why his work matters.
Tell us a bit about your work as a process engineer.
With over three decades of experience as a Chartered Chemical Engineer, my work has evolved from traditional process engineering to a specialized focus on the LNG-to-power sector and offshore infrastructure. Currently, I operate as a subject matter expert in floating storage regasification units (FSRU) and technical due diligence. I also provide hybrid services to major oil and gas project engineering contractors for offshore; onshore; subsea; floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO), and FSRU project delivery. My role often involves bridging the complex gap between safety and process efficiency.
Process engineering isn’t just about calculations—it’s about stewardship.
Recently, I've been deeply involved in the energy transition. I've moved from reviewing Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for jetty repurposing projects like Project Gazelle to managing engineering scopes for green hydrogen initiatives like the Hornbill Project. Whether I'm modeling natural gas pipeline tie-ins or conducting fuel bunkering studies for diverse fuel types, my goal remains the same: apply rigorous chemical engineering principles to ensure that critical energy infrastructure is safe, adaptable, and ready for a lower-carbon future.
Why did you become a process engineer?
I was drawn to process engineering by the profound challenge of translating fundamental science into large-scale, tangible industrial solutions. This was during the 1990s, when the Indian chemical engineering profession was held in high regard. Even early in my education, I was fascinated by how theoretical thermodynamics, physics, and fluid mechanics could be applied to real-world systems that drive industrial economics. This curiosity naturally evolved into a 33-year career where I've applied rigorous process and chemical engineering principles to complex environments, from traditional onshore plants to dynamic offshore LNG infrastructure.
The discipline appeals to my innate desire for precision, safety, and efficiency. Whether I'm optimizing a recondenser for boil-off gas or ensuring the structural integrity of an offshore platform's topside systems through HAZOP, HAZID, design reviews, or value engineering, every project demands exactness. For me, process engineering isn't just about calculations—it's about stewardship. The ability to take a conceptual design, such as a green hydrogen facility or an FSRU conversion, and navigate the intricate technical due diligence required to make it a reality is deeply satisfying. Ultimately, I became a process engineer to be at the forefront of energy innovation and large-scale plant operations, solving the critical problems that ensure energy security while constantly adapting to new technologies.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role as a process engineer?
One of the most significant challenges is bridging the gap between static onshore design principles and the dynamic realities of offshore environments. In my work with floating storage regasification units, we face unique constraints—such as managing cargo tank pressure and preventing sloshing in membrane containment systems—that simply don't exist in traditional land-based plants. Similarly, in FPSO projects, I must balance interfacing with subsea systems and closing HAZOP actions based on the end client's strict compliance requirements, while also protecting my EPCI client's interests. Their goal is to deliver a fit-for-purpose design at the lowest possible cost.
Furthermore, the industry is navigating a complex transition as automation reshapes how young engineers work. This shift demands close collaboration and dedicated mentoring to instill strong ethical practices and diligent work habits. I'm increasingly focused on energy infrastructure projects that retrofit old assets, like converting crude oil jetties into LNG import terminals. The challenge is integrating emerging technologies with existing safety codes and operational constraints. We're no longer just designing for steady-state efficiency; we're designing for flexibility—systems that can handle different fuel types and fluctuating renewable energy inputs while maintaining the rigorous safety standards that high-pressure gas systems require.
How is your work as a process engineer critical to your particular job assignment or industry?
In the LNG-to-power and offshore sectors, process engineering is the first line of defense against operational failure and safety hazards. As a subject matter expert in oil and gas, FPSO, and FSRU technical due diligence, I validate the integrity of complex process systems before deployment. For instance, when I ensure that an FSRU can safely handle high-pressure cargo tanks or effectively manage boil-off gas through recondensers, I'm not just optimizing efficiency—I'm preventing catastrophic containment failures in marine environments.
As the industry pivots toward decarbonization, my work becomes even more vital in determining the feasibility of new energy frontiers. Whether I'm reviewing front-end engineering design (FEED) for repurposed jetties or leading engineering scopes for hydrocarbon processing projects, I provide the technical assurance that these capital-intensive projects are both safe and viable for my clients. By rigorously analyzing engineering standards and codes and applying them to process system designs, I ensure the infrastructure we build today can reliably support tomorrow's energy demands.
What do you think is most important about what you do as a process engineer?
The most important aspect of my work is ensuring the safety and technical integrity of our process and energy infrastructure. As a Chartered Chemical Engineer, I view every design review and due diligence study not as a procedural checkbox, but as a critical safeguard for human life and the environment. In the offshore, FPSO, LNG, and FSRU sectors, where we manage high-pressure hydrocarbons in dynamic offshore conditions, there's no margin for error. My primary responsibility is to validate that systems are ready for the next design phase and will perform reliably under all foreseeable scenarios.
Beyond safety, I believe my work enables a pragmatic energy transition. By applying rigorous engineering principles to offshore, onshore, and subsea oil and gas projects—including repurposing existing jetties for LNG or conceptualizing green hydrogen facilities—I help bridge the gap between traditional energy sources and a sustainable future. Ultimately, the most important thing I do is provide the technical assurance that allows us to secure energy supplies today while responsibly building the clean energy systems of tomorrow.
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