ExxonMobil unveils greenhouse gas reduction measures

ExxonMobil has announced greenhouse gas reduction measures that are expected to lead to significant improvements in emissions performance by 2020, including a 15% decrease in methane emissions and a 25% reduction in flaring from its operations. The company also revealed its intention to further improve energy efficiency in refining and chemical manufacturing facilities.

ExxonMobil reports that it has already invested some $9bn since 2000, in lower-emission energy solutions such as cogeneration, flare reduction, energy efficiency, biofuels, carbon capture and storage and other technologies. 

The company is undertaking a number of initiatives to significantly reduce methane emissions. XTO Energy’s leak-detection-and-repair efforts and operational improvements at US production and midstream sites have reduced estimated methane emissions across ExxonMobil operations by 2% in the past year. Combined with additional measures outside the US focused on the most significant sources of methane, ExxonMobil expects to achieve a 15% reduction of methane emissions by 2020 compared with 2016.

ExxonMobil is one of eight global energy companies including BP, Eni, Repsol, Shell, Statoil, Total and Wintershall that support guiding principles on methane reduction. The principles focus on continually reducing methane emissions, advancing strong performance across gas value chains, improving accuracy of methane emissions data and advocating sound policies and regulations on methane emissions.

ExxonMobil is also a founding member of the API’s Environmental Partnership, which is focused initially on reducing methane and volatile organic compound emissions.

Meanwhile, efforts associated with oil and gas production and processing are expected to lower natural gas flaring across ExxonMobil operations by about 25% by 2020 compared with 2016. The most significant reductions are expected to occur in operations in West Africa and include use of third-party infrastructure.