Well, Well, Well: Delivering results in New Mexico

We’ve drilled and completed 1,000 horizontal wells in the New Mexico Delaware Basin since 2017.
We’ve enhanced efficiency and resource recovery in the Permian through technology.
The Pioneer merger expanded our contiguous acreage in the Permian, boosting technology deployment opportunities.

Article

3 min read

• Dec. 13, 2024

Since 2017, we’ve drilled and completed 1,000 horizontal wells in the New Mexico Delaware Basin. This milestone is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team, which consistently delivers reliable energy safely and efficiently. Here's how we did it:

Our people:

Delivering 1,000 wells takes thousands of professionals working together for years, while not compromising our commitment to safety and responsible operations. From excellence in engineering to excellence in administration, keeping our workforce aligned and projects on-track takes team members from all backgrounds and skillsets. Our people are the reason we’re leading in the Permian.

"This achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team.”

Scott Buechler
Delaware Basin Production Manager

Leveraging Technology and Scale:

We leveraged ExxonMobil’s capabilities, advanced technology and contiguous acreage to successfully complete 4-mile laterals in Poker Lake. These longer laterals require fewer facilities and smaller surface footprints. We also used low-emission central vessel batteries and our first fully electrified compressor stations in the drilling operations, helping us to progress toward our plan to reach net-zero emissions in our Delaware operated assets by 2030.

How it works:

A horizontal well is a drilling technique where the well is drilled and deviated horizontally to extend through the reservoir below the surface.

By drilling horizontally, we can access resources that wouldn’t be as easily accessible with a traditional vertical well. Likewise, our surface footprint is significantly reduced. We also can stay in contact with a resource reservoir for a longer distance, increasing efficiencies and resource recovery.

Other technologies:

Cube drilling is an innovative technique that involves drilling multiple wells in a single section of land simultaneously. This approach aims to maximize efficiency and resource recovery by reducing the time and cost associated with moving rigs and equipment between locations.

Why the Permian Basin:

Our contiguous acreage in the Permian creates opportunities to deliver operating and capital efficiency and increase production. This includes deploying cube developments and long laterals, among other technologies.

In fact, our recent acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources more than doubled our Permian footprint and created an industry-leading U.S. unconventional portfolio.

Learn more about our Upstream operations.