ANZSCO 233612 · MLTSSL, CSOL · Skill level 1

Petroleum Engineer

Plans and directs the engineering aspects of locating and extracting petroleum or natural gas from the earth. Registration or licensing may be required.

ANZSCO 2013, the edition the department applies to the points tested visas (189, 190 and 491).

Specialisations within it

  • Mud Engineer
  • Petrophysical Engineer

Duties

Published for unit group 2336 Mining Engineers

  • 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

This is what the occupation is, not what a skills assessment requires. The assessing body applies its own criteria on top of this, and those criteria are not published here. Check them with the body itself.

Who assesses this occupation

Engineers Australia
The Institution of Engineers Australia
www.engineersaustralia.org.au

Last confirmed against the department's list on 30 July 2026.

Where Petroleum Engineer stands right now

Vizard tracks the live queue for this occupation: how many people are waiting at every points score for the 189, 190, 491, the recent invitation round cutoffs, and how far down the queue your own score puts you. 4 state nomination lists include this occupation.

Updated to 1 July 2026, from the department's own SkillSelect data.

See where you stand

Where this comes from

Definition and duties: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO
Assessing authorities and skilled lists: Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation list

Vizard is not a registered migration agent and nothing here is migration advice. It is published government information, organised. For advice on your own situation, speak to a registered migration agent.