Reaching for the sky

Methane monitoring takes on new heights.

Many will know that ExxonMobil’s ambition is to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions in our operated assets by 2050. What you may not know is we’re being even more aggressive in the Permian Basin, where we are working to reach industry-leading net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions from our operated, unconventional assets by the end of this decade.

But the Permian is a huge area, and methane emissions can be difficult to detect from the ground. So, we’ve come up with a unique solution using a balloon.

Now this is no ordinary balloon. When inflated, it’s about 42 feet high and 70 feet wide – nearly the size of a basketball court. It hovers at approximately 60,000 feet above ground, and it carries advanced imaging technology and data processing platforms that can detect methane emissions over a vast area.

This revolutionizing technology is expected to provide continuous, near real-time detection of methane emissions for the first time. It’s expected to be one of the Permian’s most robust, scalable, continuous methane monitoring programs.

Learn more about our commitment to reducing methane emissions and all of the detection technology we’re deploying.