Story By Mella McEwen | Midland Telegram-Reporter| ExxonMobil has reached the milestone of 1,000 horizontal wells in the New Mexico portion of the Delaware Basin. And it only took the multinational giant seven years.
“This achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team to safely and responsibly deliver 1,000 wells in the Delaware Basin,” said Delaware Basin Production Manager Scott Buechler. “Delivering on this milestone took thousands of people working across multiple years. It is truly incredible to see what such a diverse group of professionals coming together with a common goal can accomplish.”
The company began drilling its horizontal wells in the region in 2017 and credits its contiguous acreage position, which it expanded with the Pioneer Natural Resources acquisition. That additional acreage and improved technology deployment unlocked the ability to drill longer laterals, reducing surface land disturbance.
That includes successfully completing four-mile laterals in Poker Lake, which require fewer facilities and smaller surface footprints. Low-emission central vessel batteries and the first fully electrified compressor stations were used in the drilling operations as ExxonMobil progresses towards its plan to reach net-zero emissions in its operated assets in the Delaware by 2030.
ExxonMobil applied its cube development covering multiple benches, including the Bone Spring and Wolfcamp intervals, as it drilled those wells. Its development plans well beyond the initial 1,000 wells focuson the most efficient resource recovery, which includes looking at benches outside of the Bone Spring and Wolfcamp intervals.
Looking Back at The Bass Family Acquisition From 2017
Exxon Mobil has significantly expanded its presence in the New Mexico side of the Delaware Basin over the past seven years, reflecting a strategic focus on one of the most prolific oil and gas regions in the United States. Their activities in this area have been marked by aggressive drilling and development initiatives, primarily targeting the rich oil and gas reservoirs found in the shale formations of the Permian Basin, which includes the Delaware.
In terms of acquisitions, a notable move was the acquisition of the assets of BOPCO and other subsidiaries of the Bass family of Fort Worth, Texas, in 2017. This $6.6 billion deal significantly bolstered Exxon Mobil’s holdings in the Delaware Basin, adding around 275,000 acres to their portfolio and substantially increasing their production capabilities. The acquisition has been instrumental in strengthening Exxon’s output and operational efficiencies across the region.
Exxon Mobil’s drilling activities have primarily focused on extracting oil and natural gas liquids, leveraging advanced technologies such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to maximize recovery from the basin’s tight shale formations. The company has reported several successes, notably achieving substantial increases in production volumes. Their investment in optimizing well performance and reducing operational costs has also paid dividends, positioning them as one of the leading operators in the region. Their success in the Delaware Basin is a critical component of Exxon Mobil’s broader strategy to grow its production and reserves in North America’s most active energy sectors.
