Rishan is a Principal Piping Engineer at Penspen, based in Abu Dhabi. He’s also the Technical Discipline Authority for the piping engineering section of Penspen’s Engineering Body of Knowledge, an internal knowledge platform designed to share technical resources across the company, and he won the Q1 2025 EBOK Award for his contributions. In this Our People feature, Rishan tells us how a natural curiosity has sparked a 15-year (and counting) career in piping engineering, and what drew him back to Penspen after a period working elsewhere. For any travel enthusiasts, he also shares his top recommendation for an unforgettable 2000km journey throughout India.
“I’ve always been passionate about engineering, even from young age. I was naturally curious about how things work. I’d watch TV programs and observe household machines, trying to figure out how exactly they were working. Over time, this curiosity turned into a real passion, and I chose to study mechanical engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University in the southwest of India, graduating with a bachelor’s degree.
My uncle, Mr Marzooque, works at Penspen and introduced me to the specialist field of pipeline engineering. I believe this was a real turning point in my career. I found it fascinating so decided to take a dedicated course in piping engineering after graduation to further deepen my knowledge and enable me to specialise in that area. In 2010, I joined Penspen as a Graduate Engineer, where I really started shaping my career.
Starting out
When I joined Penspen, I was working with a group of highly skilled senior piping engineers, which was incredible for my own growth. They took me under their wing, mentoring me and honing my technical skills – a key foundation for any piping engineer. Looking back, this period was also crucial for me in building my confidence, something vital for a young graduate engineer starting out in the industry. That’s inspired me to make sure that I offer that same mentorship and guidance to our Emirati graduates and junior engineers now.
Still, it’s fast-paced work that can be high pressure at times, so it wasn’t always smooth sailing. But that’s where the importance of having a great team around you comes in – they gave me the courage and confidence to take on new challenges that pushed me. Particularly early on in your career, that sense of challenge is so important. Not just in developing your knowledge, but also in keeping you passionate about what you’re doing. Now, 15 years since I first joined Penspen, I still look forward to pushing myself to grow my knowledge more – I don’t think that natural curiosity will ever fade away.
Coming full circle
After my first nine years at Penspen, I took the decision to move elsewhere to broaden my experience by working with engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies. I do think this period gave me valuable insight into procurement and construction activities, which naturally complements what we do in piping engineering by giving a wider perspective on the whole project process.
But in the end, I decided to return to Penspen. There’s a real collaborative culture here under a strong technical leadership – that’s not an easy combination to find. The way we work means we can make the most of an incredible depth of technical knowledge across our teams. The projects we take on can be complex, which is something I relish. It keeps the role exciting. Returning to Penspen, I was able to bring a fresh perspective to my new role leading the piping team.
Facing the future
The oil and gas industry is going through a significant transformation and will be for the foreseeable future – that’s undeniable. Changing technologies, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), and a heightened focus on energy transition are all challenges that are shaping – and transforming – the energy landscape as we know it.
One area that particularly interests me is how we can integrate AI software in the oil and gas industry, specifically in piping engineering. I had the opportunity to attend a workshop on using AI software capable of reading and interpreting documents like piping and instrumentation diagrams, piping general arrangement drawings, specifications, and 3D models. Then, it can take the necessary engineering outputs required.
What struck me the most was that AI software can even read hand markups on the drawings. It can scan the drawings and make sure that the design is in line with specifications. It’s impressive and the opportunities presented by these technologies are enormous, supplementing our own technical skills. But of course, it’s a massive responsibility to get that integration right.
Engineering excellence
Every new thing I learn is an achievement. When I look back over the last 15 years, I started out as a Graduate Piping Engineer and today I serve as the Technical Discipline Authority for the piping department in that same company – a journey of real growth and something I consider one of the proudest milestones in my professional life.
One highlight that I’m particularly proud of is having worked as lead engineer on a project for a national oil company in the United Arab Emirates. I joined the project in the as-built stage, and it was behind schedule. I implemented key quality procedures, monitored progress daily, and worked with the project team to resolve any issues, making sure we could close the project successfully and deliver on our commitments to the highest standards for our clients.
Another thing I’m especially proud of is having won the EBOK Quarterly Award for Q1 2025 for my contributions to the piping engineering section.
Penspen’s Engineering Body of Knowledge, or EBOK, is an internal knowledge base containing hundreds of documents, blueprints, templates, go-bys, training materials and datasheets which is constantly being added to by colleagues across our regions. It’s vital to helping us share technical knowledge across our teams and streamline projects. It helps us to ensure consistency, accuracy, and efficiency in our approach no matter where we work.
Beyond the blueprints
To me, family is the most important thing in life. So outside of work, the most special time I spend is my quality time with my wife and two children. I’m also a big cricket fan – both watching and playing. I’ve been playing for years, and for me, it’s more than just a sport. It’s a chance to connect with friends and meet new people.
I love to travel, particularly exploring new places on a motorbike. My favourite motorbike trip is the Ladakh tour, which covers an 1800km stretch from Srinagar to Manali in the north of India. That length of journey on a bike is no mean feat, but it’s an unforgettable experience – especially when you take the time to stop off and appreciate the authentic cuisine and culture along the way.
In a way, that mirrors the path my career has taken so far. It’s been a long road with several twists and turns, and so much to enjoy. It’s important to think about where you’re heading, but you should never lose sight of what you can take from where you are now, and all the things you can learn along the way. That’s the best advice I can give to any young engineers – learn from every challenge you face on your journey, and from the people you face it with.”
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