Petroleum Engineer (ANZSCO 233612)
Updated
What a Petroleum Engineer does
Plans and directs the engineering aspects of locating and extracting petroleum or natural gas from the earth. Registration or licensing may be required.
- Specialisations
- Mud Engineer, Petrophysical Engineer
Key facts
- ANZSCO code
- 233612
- Skill level
- 1Bachelor degree or higher
- Assessing authority
- Engineers Australia
- National shortage
- Shortage
Visa options
Occupation eligibility is one requirement; each visa page links to the rest.
Points-tested
- Subclass 189 Skilled IndependentVia MLTSSLEligible
- Subclass 190 Skilled NominatedVia MLTSSLEligible
- Subclass 491, state or territory nominatedVia MLTSSLEligible
- Subclass 491, family sponsoredVia MLTSSLEligible
Employer-sponsored
Main tasks
- conducting preliminary surveys of mineral, petroleum and natural gas deposits with prospectors, Geologists, Geophysicists, other mineral scientists and other engineers to determine the resources present, the feasibility of extracting the reserves, and the design and development of the extraction process
- preparing operation and project cost estimates and production schedules, and reporting progress, production and costs compared to budget
- determining the most suitable methods of ore extraction taking account of such factors as depth of overburden, and attitude and physical characteristics of deposits and surrounding strata
- preparing plans for tunnels and chambers, location and construction of mine shafts, layout of mine development and the application of appropriate mining techniques, often using computer modelling
- assessing the natural, technical, financial and safety risks associated with the phases of the project development, construction and operations
- determining the safety of processes, order of extraction and safety of mine walls, evaluating the risk of slippage and advising on the prevention of slippage and rock falls
- planning and coordinating the utilisation of labour and equipment consistent with efficiency targets, statutes, safety guidelines and environmental conditions
- planning and conducting research and providing advice on engineering operations for the exploration, location and extraction of petroleum and natural gas
- determining location for drilling
- deciding on types of derrick and equipment including seabed platforms
- devising methods of controlling the flow of oil and gas from wells
Shortage by state
- NationalShortage
- ACTNo shortage
- NSWShortage
- NTShortage
- QLDShortage
- SAShortage
- TASShortage
- VICShortage
- WAShortage
State and territory nomination
For the 190 and 491, each state and territory also has its own occupation list.
Common questions
What does a Petroleum Engineer do?
Plans and directs the engineering aspects of locating and extracting petroleum or natural gas from the earth. Registration or licensing may be required. (ABS ANZSCO description.)
Is Petroleum Engineer on the skilled occupation list?
Yes. Petroleum Engineer (ANZSCO 233612) is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) (lists in force from 14 December 2024). It is listed for the 186, 189, 190, 482, 491 and 494 visas.
What is the ANZSCO code for Petroleum Engineer?
233612. Home Affairs uses ANZSCO codes for skilled visas.
How can a Petroleum Engineer migrate to Australia?
The occupation lists Home Affairs publishes include Petroleum Engineer for the Subclass 186, Subclass 189, Subclass 190, Subclass 482, Subclass 491 and Subclass 494 visas. Being on a list is one requirement among several; each visa's page links to Home Affairs for the rest.
Who assesses Petroleum Engineer for an Australian visa?
Engineers Australia, the skills assessing authority listed for 233612.
Is Petroleum Engineer in demand in Australia?
Jobs and Skills Australia rated it "Shortage" nationally in its 2025 Occupation Shortage List, with ratings for each state and territory shown above.