Where is Raman Spectroscopy Delivering the Most Value for Real-Time Chemical Analysis in Oil and Gas?

Raman spectroscopy is increasingly being adopted across the oil and gas value chain as a powerful tool for real-time chemical analysis and process monitoring.^1–4 From upstream exploration and production to midstream transportation and downstream refining, Raman systems can provide rapid, non-destructive measurements of molecular composition without the need for extensive sample preparation. The technique enables continuous monitoring of critical process parameters, helping operators optimize production efficiency, improve product quality, and enhance process safety.

In the below video clip, Janam Pandya, Product Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific, discusses where along the oil and gas value chain is real-time chemical analysis most underserved, and where is Raman spectroscopy making the strongest case.

Pandya is a scientist and spectroscopy specialist with more than a decade of academic and industry experience. Since joining Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2022, he has focused on advancing Raman spectroscopy applications for real-time process measurements, working with customers across biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, polymer, food, and clean-energy industries to implement the Thermo Scientific™ MarqMetrix™ All-In-One Process Raman Analyzer as a Process Analytical Technology (PAT) solution.¹ Throughout his career, Pandya has held roles at several large organizations including Abbott, Nestlé, and Ocean Spray Cranberries, where he worked on several projects that involved applying analytical technologies to solve complex industrial challenges.¹

Pandya’s work has explored the diverse industrial applications of process Raman spectroscopy, emphasizing its role in enhancing safety, efficiency, and real-time monitoring.^2–4 He has writtenarticles that explore the diverse industrial applications of process Raman spectroscopy, emphasizing its role in enhancing safety, efficiency, and real-time monitoring. In one of his articles, Pandyaoutlines the strict certification standards that are required to operate these analyzers safely in hazardous environments prone to explosions.⁴ Another piece compares traditional and modular multiplex architectures, arguing that independent, networked analyzers offer greater reliability and eliminate single points of failure.³ Pandya also illustrated the technology’s utility in lithium-ion battery production, where it monitors everything from material synthesis to recycling.² Across these sectors, Raman spectroscopy is presented as a non-destructive tool capable of delivering immediate chemical insights without disrupting production.

This clip is the first of a five-part interview series with Pandya. In the next video, Pandya will explain what field-deployable instrumentation looks like in harsh, high-variability environments with lean workforces.

References

1. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Janam Pandya. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Available at: https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/contributor/pandya-janam/ (accessed 2026-06-03).
2. Pandya, J. Optimizing Li-ion Battery Manufacturing with Process Raman Spectroscopy. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Available at: https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/materials/optimizing-li-ion-battery-manufacturing-with-process-raman-spectroscopy/ (accessed 2026-06-03).
3. Pandya, J. Modular Multiplex Raman vs. Traditional Multiplexing: A Smarter Approach to Process Monitoring. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Available at: https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/materials/modular-multiplex-raman-vs-traditional-multiplexing-a-smarter-approach-to-process-monitoring/ (accessed 2026-06-03).
4. Pandya, J. How to Safely Use a Process Raman Analyzer in a Hazardous Location. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Available at: https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/mining/how-to-safely-use-a-process-raman-analyzer-in-a-hazardous-location/ (accessed 2026-06-03).