Company attributes
Other attributes
Access to energy underpins human comfort, mobility, economic prosperity and social progress. It touches nearly every aspect of modern life. Over the course of its long history of more than a century, ExxonMobil has evolved from a regional marketer of kerosene to an advanced energy and chemical innovator, and one of the largest publicly traded companies in the world. An industry leader in almost every aspect of the energy and chemical manufacturing businesses, we operate facilities or market products in most of the world’s countries, explore for oil and natural gas on six continents, and research and develop next-generation technologies to help meet the dual challenge of fueling global economies while addressing the risks of climate change.
The need for energy is universal. That's why ExxonMobil scientists and engineers are pioneering new research and pursuing new technologies to reduce emissions while creating more efficient fuels. We're committed to responsibly meeting the world's energy needs.
For more than 30 years, ExxonMobil engineers and scientists have researched, developed and applied technologies that could play a role in the widespread deployment of carbon capture and storage.
Achieving meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will require a wide range of solutions, and ExxonMobil believes that carbon capture and storage (CCS) has the potential to play an important role.
CCS is the process by which carbon dioxide from power-plant and other industrial activities that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere is captured, compressed and injected into underground geologic formations for safe, secure and permanent storage. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that fossil fuel power plants and large industrial facilities account for as much as 60 percent of global carbon emissions. Thus, the broad-based deployment of cost-effective carbon capture and storage would potentially make a massive impact on the world’s greenhouse gas levels.
The greatest opportunity for future large-scale deployment of CCS may be in the natural gas-fired power generation sector. While CCS technology can be applied to coal-fired power generation, the cost to capture CO2 is about twice that of natural gas power generation. In addition, because coal-fired power generation creates about twice as much CO2 per unit of electricity generated, the geological storage space required to store the CO2 produced from coal-fired generation is double that required for gas-fired generation.
In 2017, ExxonMobil captured 6.6 million metric tons of CO2 for storage – the equivalent of eliminating the annual greenhouse gas emissions of more than 1 million passenger vehicles.
ExxonMobil is leveraging this expertise to conduct proprietary, fundamental research to develop breakthrough carbon capture technologies with an aim to reduce complexity, lower the cost and ultimately encourage wide-spread global deployment of this crucial technology.
ExxonMobil is also developing sub-surface CO2 storage capability by leveraging decades of experience in the exploration, development and production of hydrocarbon resources. This expertise is key to permanently storing CO2 deep underground in a safe and secure fashion.
For example, we are collaborating with leading universities around the world to better characterize subsurface storage capacity and develop improved CO2 monitoring technologies and techniques.
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 greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). As recognized by the International Energy Agency and others, natural gas provides substantial air pollution and GHG benefits compared with coal, and can play a vital role in contributing to a sustainable energy mix. The IEA notes that addressing methane emissions across the value chain can further improve this strong environmental and sustainability profile.
ExxonMobil subsidiary XTO Energy recently expanded its methane emissions reduction initiative and signed onto the Environmental Partnership, a new industry program to reduce emissions from natural gas and oil production.
ExxonMobil has a long track record of understanding and managing its methane emissions from unconventional resources development, including hydraulic fracturing. These efforts include regulatory compliance, voluntary actions, and research conducted with academic institutions, non-governmental organizations and government agencies.
ExxonMobil has a long track record of understanding and managing its methane emissions from unconventional resources development, including hydraulic fracturing. These efforts include regulatory compliance, voluntary actions, and research conducted with academic institutions, non-governmental organizations and government agencies.
Our comprehensive initiative is underscored by a technology research and testing effort, and includes personnel training, equipment phaseout and facility design improvements.
We share our program and practices with others in the industry through various forums (industry trade associations, multistakeholder symposiums, research consortia, etc.), and advocate within trade associations for improved methane measurement and management.
From finding the right opportunity to accepting an offer, here's what to expect when applying at ExxonMobil.
Our site offers two ways to search openings:
- Consider your skills and background. Explore your interests in our career field overviews.
- Search for job openings by location.
- Shape your resume
- Here are a few tips to craft a competitive resume:
- Use the job description to highlight your relevant skills, experience or research.
- Emphasize the outcome(s) of the work or projects you’ve contributed to. What impact did you make?
- Tell us specifics about your work. What was the significance of your research? How many people did you manage on your team? What was the scope of your project?
- Recent graduates and students working towards completing degrees are encouraged to include college / university coursework or projects that establish your qualifications.
- Brief is best. Use your resume or CV to focus on major accomplishments and qualifications.
R&D has been part of ExxonMobil’s DNA since our company began more than 135 years ago. Our innovations have helped provide the energy fundamental to modern life – from the clean, efficient fuels that power today’s transportation to the natural gas that provides light and heat to homes and businesses.
Today, our world faces a dual challenge: meeting growing demand for energy while also reducing environmental impacts, including the risks of climate change. ExxonMobil is committed to doing our part.
Today, we are working to develop the next generation of energy solutions, including: advanced biofuels; carbon capture and storage; natural gas technologies; and new energy efficiency processes. In addition to our robust in-house capabilities, we collaborate with leading research and technology companies, national labs and universities, and others involved in breakthrough energy research. While all forms of energy are needed – including natural gas and renewables such as wind and solar – new technologies will be required to meet the world’s emissions-reduction goals.
ExxonMobil is looking for affordable, scalable solutions that address the three main areas of energy use: transportation, power generation and manufacturing. We are also deploying advanced technologies in these areas where applicable.
Scientists at ExxonMobil are working to transform algae and plant waste into biofuels that could one day be used for transportation. These advanced biofuels offer the possibility of achieving significant greenhouse gas reductions compared to today’s transportation fuels. They could also minimize impacts on land, fresh water and food supplies compared with traditional biofuels like corn or sugar cane. Algae naturally produce oils that can be turned into a renewable, lower-emission fuel. ExxonMobil and Viridos (formerly Synthetic Genomics, Inc.) are working together to identify and enhance algae strains capable of high lipid production while maintaining desirable growth rates.
ExxonMobil is studying the production of biodiesel by fermenting cellulosic sugars in agricultural residues from places like farms and lumber mills.
In 2018, Viridos and ExxonMobil began field testing algae strains at the California Advanced Algal Facility. Our goal: to have the technical capability to produce 10,000 barrels a day of algae biofuels by 2025.
Biofuels used today are largely derived from agricultural crops. Sugar cane and corn are used to make ethanol, while biodiesel is made from vegetable oils like soy. Biofuels made from algae and cellulosic biomass (abundant plant waste such as corn stalks and wheat straw), however, could provide a renewable fuel source that does not compete with supplies of food or fresh water. These advanced biofuels have the potential to be produced on a large scale, and are derived from sources that consume CO2.
From production to combustion, here are seven reasons why we think the answer could be yes. Find out why these renewable energy sources are so promising.
Like all plants, the sources of cellulosic biomass consume CO2 from the atmosphere as they grow. Algae also consume CO2 to grow, using the same process of photosynthesis.
On a life cycle basis, algae and cellulosic biofuels emit about half as many greenhouse gases as petroleum-derived fuel.
Based on current technology, an acre of algae could yield more than 2,000 gallons (7,570 liters) of fuel. Compare that to 650 gallons per acre for palm oil and 50 for soybean oil. We’re working to make algae even more productive in the future.
Algae can be harvested repeatedly throughout the year unlike other feedstocks, such as corn, which are harvested only once a year.
Cellulosic biomass uses waste plant materials, such as crop residue like corn stalks, sawdust and other wood waste.
Algae can be cultivated on land unsuitable for other purposes, with water that can’t be used for food production. Cellulosic biomass can be derived from agricultural waste or woody biomass, which also do not compete with food.
Fuel derived from algae and cellulosic material can be pumped into existing diesel automobiles without making major changes to car engines and infrastructure.
The abundance and versatility of natural gas make it a valuable energy source to meet a wide variety of needs, and help the world shift to less-carbon-intensive energy sources. Natural gas is an ideal fuel for reliable power generation, and supplements intermittent renewable sources such as solar or wind. In the United States, the power sector’s shift from coal to natural gas has played a key role in bringing U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions to 1990s levels despite significant growth in energy demand. Recent advances in production technologies have unlocked vast new supplies of natural gas in North America that previously were uneconomic to produce. ExxonMobil is one of the largest natural gas producers in the United States.
ExxonMobil is committed to reducing emissions of methane from our operations and encouraging others across the natural gas value chain to do the same.
ExxonMobil is a leader in liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology that will drive lower-emission energy solutions and help supply cleaner-burning natural gas to markets around the world.