Operations

Natural gas

The abundance and versatility of natural gas make it a valuable energy source to meet a variety of needs while also helping the world shift to less carbon-intensive sources of energy.

Favorable attributes drive growth

Natural gas’ abundance, flexibility and comparative environmental benefits drive projected growth more than any other energy source

All of the world’s energy sources will be needed to meet rising demand to 2040, but there will be a marked shift toward cleaner fuels, particularly natural gas. Not only are natural gas resources geographically and geologically diverse, abundant, reliable and versatile in use (power generation; residential, commercial, industrial heating and cooking; and even transportation), but also natural gas emits significantly fewer pollutants than coal power generation, including NOx, SOx, particulates, mercury, and up to 60 percent fewer GHGs.

Oil and natural gas technologies, such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, have unlocked vast unconventional resources. These supplies have dramatically altered the energy landscape over the past decade, particularly in North America. Natural gas usage is projected to continue to expand rapidly. We expect about 40 percent of the projected growth in global energy demand from 2016 to 2040 will be met by natural gas.

climate solutions

Effectively managing methane emissions

Natural gas is a versatile fuel, capable of powering utilities, homes and transportation. It also emits significantly fewer pollutants than coal power generation, including NOx, SOx, particulates, mercury, and up to 60 percent fewer GHGs. As confirmed by the International Energy Agency, methane emissions do not negate the substantial climate change benefits of natural gas versus coal, but mitigating emissions can further enhance those benefits. This is a key component of ExxonMobil’s approach to developing future energy technology. The company continues to implement cost-effective methods to reduce methane and other hydrocarbon emissions in our operations.
Learn more about methane emissions reduction and enabling technologies
RasGas liquified natural gas (LNG) production
ExxonMobil's role

Global exploration, production and sales

Through our global affiliates, our expertise in exploring, developing, marketing, and producing hydrocarbon resources is used to supply natural gas that plays a vital role in the dual challenge of meeting the world’s need for energy while managing the effects on the environment, including the risks of climate change. These affiliates include XTO Energy which is a leading oil and natural gas producer in the United States with expertise in developing tight gas, shale gas and unconventional oil resources. XTO or its affiliates operate in all major U.S. unconventional producing regions.

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Coral South project in Mozambique ships first LNG cargo, helps meet global demand 

IRVING, Texas – ExxonMobil announced the first cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the $8 billion Coral South floating LNG (FLNG) project offshore Mozambique, bringing additional LNG volumes to the global energy market.

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Birds eye view of city lights at night

Liquefied natural gas: Providing more energy with lower emissions

Our focus at ExxonMobil is providing affordable and reliable energy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In the past few months, there have been dramatic changes in the market for LNG, or liquefied natural gas, both in price and regional demand. For those of you who don’t know, LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state which enables us to safely transport it to customers around the world.

Natural gas Perspective

Liquefied Natural Gas: Understanding one of the world's most vital energy resources
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Liquefied Natural Gas: Understanding one of the world's most vital energy resources

Today, natural gas impacts lives at an unprecedented scale, generating clean and reliable electricity. It is poised to become the fastest-growing energy type over the next two decades, and ExxonMobil leads the industry in its production, distribution and application around the world. This affordable and abundant energy source is making up a growing portion of our daily energy use and LNG is an important part of delivering cleaner-burning natural gas where it is needed most.

LNG Article

Reducing natural gas flaring

Reducing natural gas flaring

At a recent meeting of the Texas Railroad Commission, the Texas Methane Flaring Coalition laid out a series of best-practice recommendations for industry and regulators to consider as we all move toward a goal of zero routine flaring in the Permian Basin.

Natural gas Perspective

ExxonMobil, IndianOil and Chart Industries to pioneer virtual pipeline initiative

NEW DELHI, India – ExxonMobil India LNG Limited has signed a Letter of Cooperation with Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Chart Industries, Inc. to establish a system of transportation infrastructure to expand gas access in India. Virtual pipeline systems deliver liquefied natural gas by road, rail and waterways to areas not connected by physical pipelines.

India Article

ExxonMobil begins production on Beaumont high-performance polyethylene line

IRVING, Texas – ExxonMobil said today it started production on a new high-performance polyethylene line at its Beaumont, Texas polyethylene plant. The expansion increases plant production capacity by 65 percent or 650,000 tons per year, bringing site capacity to nearly 1.7 million tons per year.

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ExxonMobil Permian development to provide $64 billion in benefits to New Mexico: Study

IRVING, Texas – ExxonMobil today said a new study estimates the company’s development of Permian Basin resources in New Mexico will generate approximately $64 billion in net economic benefits for the state and local communities over the next 40 years, creating thousands of new jobs and providing increased funding for education, health and human services and infrastructure improvements.

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Rovuma LNG development plan approved by Mozambique government

MAPUTO, Mozambique – Mozambique Rovuma Venture said today that the government of Mozambique had approved its development plan for the Rovuma LNG project, which will produce, liquefy and market natural gas from three reservoirs located in the Area 4 block offshore Mozambique, two of which straddle the boundary with neighboring Area 1.

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ExxonMobil to increase, accelerate Permian output to 1 million barrels per day by 2024

IRVING, Texas – ExxonMobil said today it has revised its Permian Basin growth plans to produce more than 1 million oil-equivalent barrels per day by as early as 2024 – an increase of nearly 80 percent and a significant acceleration of value.

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ExxonMobil makes natural gas discovery offshore Cyprus

IRVING, Texas — ExxonMobil today said it has made a natural gas discovery offshore Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean at the Glaucus-1 well.

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ExxonMobil adds 4.5 billion barrels to reserves

IRVING, Texas – Exxon Mobil Corporation said today it added 4.5 billion oil-equivalent barrels of proved oil and gas reserves in 2018, replacing 313 percent of the year’s production.

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XTO energy

From a company of eight employees working in a cramped Fort Worth office, to a team of 4,700, XTO has come a long way — and we believe this is only the beginning.

Natural gas Topic

ExxonMobil starts new unit to increase ultra-low sulfur fuels production

SPRING, Texas — ExxonMobil said today that a new unit at its integrated Beaumont, Texas facility has started operations, increasing production of ultra-low sulfur fuels by about 45,000 barrels per day. The new unit relies on a proprietary catalyst system developed by ExxonMobil to remove sulfur and meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency specifications while minimizing octane loss.

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LNG cargo carrier

Fueling the future: cleaner-burning liquefied natural gas demand forecasted to triple by 2040

ExxonMobil has operated in the liquefied natural gas marketplace for over 40 years. With our global partners, we continue to drive research and development to make liquefied natural gas available around the world.

LNG Article

Golden Pass Terminal

Plans to expand the Golden Pass terminal could generate up to 45,000 jobs nationwide

A proposed project, the Golden Pass LNG terminal in Sabine Pass, Texas would allow for both import and export of natural gas while generating billions of dollars of economic growth.

LNG Article

Golden Pass LNG Terminal at dusk

A broad portfolio of global liquefied natural gas operations continues to grow

ExxonMobil has led the industry in liquefied natural gas (LNG) integration and technology development. As our ventures in Qatar and Papua New Guinea progress, we can meet growing demands more easily.

LNG Article

ExxonMobil announces 84 percent increase in P'nyang resource, potential expansion in PNG

IRVING, Texas — Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) today announced that the size of the natural gas resource at the P’nyang field in Papua New Guinea has increased to 4.36 trillion cubic feet of gas, an 84 percent increase from a previous assessment completed in 2012. The increase supports a potential significant expansion of operations in the country.

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Commissioning underway for ExxonMobil's ethane cracker in Baytown, Texas

HOUSTON — ExxonMobil announced today that a new 1.5 million ton-per-year ethane cracker at its Baytown, Texas complex is mechanically complete with commissioning progressing well. Project startup is expected during the second quarter of 2018.

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ExxonMobil releases Energy & Carbon Summary and Outlook for Energy

IRVING, Texas--ExxonMobil today released its Energy & Carbon Summary: Positioning for a Lower-Carbon Future and its Outlook for Energy: A View to 2040. The reports highlight ExxonMobil’s analysis of 2 degree Celsius (2°C) scenarios and include sensitivity analyses on electric vehicle penetration and renewables deployment. 

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ExxonMobil encounters hydrocarbons onshore Papua New Guinea

IRVING, Texas — ExxonMobil today announced that it encountered hydrocarbons after drilling the onshore P’nyang South-2 well, located in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea.

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Eight energy companies commit to reduce methane emissions within natural gas industry

BP, Eni, ExxonMobil, Repsol, Shell, Statoil, Total and Wintershall today committed to further reduce methane emissions from the natural gas assets they operate around the world. The energy companies also agreed to encourage others across the natural gas value chain — from production to the final consumer — to do the same.

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ExxonMobil to acquire 25 Percent interest in Mozambique Area 4 from Eni

IRVING, Texas — ExxonMobil and Eni have signed today a sale and purchase agreement to enable ExxonMobil to acquire from Eni a 25 percent indirect interest in the natural gas-rich Area 4 block, offshore Mozambique. 

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ExxonMobil develops efficient new technology to dehydrate natural gas

HOUSTON — ExxonMobil announced today its development of cMISTTM technology, which dehydrates natural gas using a patented absorption system inside pipes and replaces the need for conventional dehydration tower technology. This “in-line” technology could be deployed at both land-based and offshore natural gas production operations.

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ExxonMobil Global Outlook

Energy use and economic development are inseparable. Where there is energy poverty, there is poverty. And where energy availability rises, living standards rise as well.

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