ExxonMobil adopts automated drilling in Permian Basin

ExxonMobil is implementing automated drilling technology in the Permian Basin to increase efficiency and improve worker safety. The company currently operates more than 30 drilling rigs in the region, including two automated rigs equipped with robotic machinery. Exxon aims to transition half of its drilling fleet to automated rigs by 2028, a move intended to remove personnel from the rig floor—the site of frequent accidents—and allow workers to focus on operational planning.

This technological shift is part of a broader strategy to boost Permian production by nearly 40%, targeting 2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030. This goal contrasts with competitor Chevron, which plans to maintain steady production at approximately 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day. The push for automation comes as drillers seek new ways to manage the rapid decline rates of shale wells in the United States' largest oilfield.