Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Engineering is multidisciplinary in nature and is the engineering science focussed on achieving optimal integrated exploration and production of oil and gas upstream of petroleum refineries. Petroleum Engineers may evaluate potential oil and gas reservoirs, oversee drilling and completion activities, select and implement improved recovery schemes, and design surface collection and treatment facilities. Petroleum Engineers fall within the following three main sub-disciplines: Reservoirs, Drilling and Production.
A general area of practice of Petroleum Engineering has been established on the National Professional Engineers Register to distinguish professional engineers competent in the practice of Petroleum Engineering.
Accredited or recognised Petroleum Engineering degree courses are established in Australia and overseas; however, many applicants seeking registration as Petroleum Engineers will have accredited academic qualifications[1] and professional experience in other engineering fields at some stage.
A Competency Panel established in cooperation with the Society of Petroleum Engineers has set and will maintain the eligibility criteria and assessment methodology for registration and has produced a Guideline for Petroleum Engineering. In developing this Guideline, the Competency Panel used competency matrices provided by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and agreed by Engineers Australia.
Assessment of applications for registration is by an Assessment Panel, established by the Competency Panel, made up of experienced current practitioners.
Administration of this registration scheme is by the Associate Director Registration, Engineers Australia.
[1] Applicants must establish that they have competencies equivalent to an accredited engineering qualification – see www.engineersaustralia.org.au/stage-1
