Top Universities to Study Petroleum Engineering in Australia

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Did you know that petroleum engineers are the highest paid engineers in the discipline due to the high demand for oil and gas all over the world. If you are planning to pursue your career in petroleum engineering, Australia might be one of the best choices for you and here’s why.

Australian universities rank among the top universities for Petroleum Engineering globally as evidently shown in the QS Rankings by Subject 2021. For this reason, Australia is a preferred study destination for petroleum engineering for international students from all around the world.

In this article, we have provided for you everything you need to know about studying petroleum engineering in Australia including the top Australian universities that offer this degree.

What is Petroleum Engineering?

Petroleum engineering is a discipline of engineering which involves activities related to production and extraction of hydrocarbons such as natural gas and crude oil. It is the practical application of physics and mathematics with chemistry and geology combined with principles of economics and engineering to recover petroleum.

What do Petroleum Engineers do?

Petroleum engineers basically help find oil and gas for the country by designing drill equipment and developing methods for the extraction of oil and gas from deposits beneath the surface of the Earth.

Petroleum Engineers often work with geologists. Apart from the production of oil and gas, petroleum engineers also design computer simulations to predict the flow of petroleum on the site and areas, which is why they are referred to as the right hand of oil and gas companies. This is because petroleum engineers are the individuals who help in the extraction of petroleum and make it a good fit for human use.

Petroleum engineers often work in labs doing research. However, they also spend some of their time working on sites when given the notice, or even for months if the site is an offshore oil rig.

Listed below are the typical responsibilities of a petroleum engineer;

Selecting and maintaining equipment
Predicting extraction risks, such as potential earthquakes
Analysing geological data to identify resource potential
Planning and supervising extraction sites
Monitoring and evaluating reservoir performance
Using specialised computer applications and mathematical models to maximise production
Preparing reports and maps

Which Body Accredits Petroleum Engineering in Australia?

Petroleum Engineering programs, much like other engineering programs, are accredited by the Institute of Engineers Australia, and evaluated by the Australian Engineering Accreditation Centre (AEAC). Accreditation ensures the recognition of the degree locally and internationally, in countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the UK and also the US. This is particularly important for graduates because it allows them to gain employment throughout the world.

What is the Average Salary for Petroleum Engineers in Australia?

The average median salary for petroleum engineers in Australia is approximately AU$121,343 per year. The annual salary can however range from as low as AU$66,000 to as high as AU$195,000.

An entry level petroleum engineer is expected to earn AU$78,297 per year on average while those with 5-9 years of experience earn an average total of AU$128,482 annually.

To find more about the average salaries ranges for petroleum engineers in Australia depending on their years of experience, click here.

Career Opportunities for Petroleum Engineering Graduates

Most popular petroleum engineering job profiles include;

Reservoir Engineers – involves estimating how much oil can be extracted from underground deposits to ensure maximum levels of resources are being recovered.
Drilling Engineers – Involves exploring and determining different ways to drill oil or gas wells.
Production Engineers – Involves working closely with drilling engineers to explore different options to increase the production of oil and gas after the drilling process is complete.
Completion Engineers – Involves exploring different ways to finish building wells so that the natural resources will flow up from underground.

Subjects Covered in Petroleum Engineering Degree in Australia

Engineering Mechanics
Programming
Petroleum Geosciences and the Oil Industry
Mathematics
Drilling Engineering
Systems Engineering and Industry Practice
Research Methods and Project Management
Production Engineering
Well Completion and Stimulation
Reservoir Engineering
Well Testing & Pressure Transient Analysis
Decision Making and Risk Analysis
Petroleum Business and Project Economics

General Academic Entry Requirements for Petroleum Engineering in Australia

GCE A Levels	• Aggregate scores of 9 in best 3 subjects, where A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2 and E=1.
Malaysian Matriculation	Point average 2.9
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP)	Min. 29
ATAR	Min. ATAR 85
UEC	Aggregate score of 15

*The requirements may vary among universities, for inquiries on other entry requirements, contact Excel Education.

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English Language Requirements for Petroleum Engineering Degree in Australia

IELTS	Overall 6.5, with no individual bands less than 6.0
TOEFL (Internet Based Test)	Overall 79
TOEFL (Paper Based Test)	570
Pearson Test of English:	Overall score of 58