Exploration

Many of today's exploration targets lie miles below the sea bed in extreme and inhospitable waters. Exploration in areas such as these would not have been technically or economically viable a decade ago. We typically start by acquiring seismic data to provide an image of the sub-surface.

ExxonMobil proprietary technology in seismic acquisition and processing enables us to execute even the most difficult and challenging seismic projects.

As the inventors of 3-D seismic imaging, our researchers have continued to develop new ways of reducing the cost and increasing the quality of sub-surface imaging.

We have also developed advanced interpretation tools that enable us to understand how the source rock matured, what hydrocarbons formed, how oil and gas migrated from source to reservoir and what compositional changes may have occurred over time. These techniques greatly enhance our ability to predict the distribution and quality of oil and gas in a reservoir - a critical factor in evaluating the viability of a prospect.

Once a prospect is developed we assess the risks and commercial viability. If deemed acceptable we test the prospect by drilling a well.

From our offices in Leatherhead, Surrey, we are actively working exploration projects in the UK, Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Romania, Poland, Turkey, Libya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Russia and the Caspian area, as well as searching for new opportunities throughout Europe, Russia and North and East Africa. As a result we have over 25 different nationalities involved in the search for conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources with both offshore and onshore ExxonMobil operated activities. Activities range from studies, through acquiring and processing seismic data to drilling wells. We have strong links to our large, well-funded research organisation in Houston, Texas and collaborate globally with our colleagues to ensure the best technologies and expertise is being used.