ExxonMobil’s XTO Energy Announces Progress on Methane Emissions Reduction Program
- Methane emissions reduced by 9 percent since 2016
- Two-thirds of high-bleed pneumatics phased out to date through voluntary program
- Contributes to ExxonMobil’s measures to reduce emissions by 15 percent by 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. – ExxonMobil subsidiary XTO Energy today said it has reduced methane
emissions from its operations by 9 percent since 2016, demonstrating significant progress in its
methane emissions reduction program and other initiatives.
Of that amount, a reduction of close to 4 percent, or more than 7,200 metric tons of methane, was
achieved through XTO’s voluntary program and other operational improvements, XTO President Sara
Ortwein said at the World Gas Conference in Washington, D.C. Across ExxonMobil operations, the
reduction equates to a 2 percent reduction.
Through its continued efforts, XTO will contribute to ExxonMobil’s measures to reduce methane
emissions across its worldwide operations by 15 percent by 2020.
In 2017, XTO implemented a methane management program to mitigate emissions associated with its
operations. The program includes a commitment to phase out high-bleed pneumatic devices over
three years, extensive personnel training, research and facility design improvements for new
operations.
“Over the past nine months, we’ve gained significant insight from the data collected through our
methane management program,” said Ortwein. “We are building on what we have learned to make
continued progress in reducing emissions and identifying areas for further improvement.”
To date, XTO has phased out approximately two-thirds of existing high-bleed pneumatic devices
across its U.S. operations. Low-emission design technologies are also being deployed in new
developments, such as in the Permian Basin in west Texas and New Mexico. These technologies
include improved tank emission control design and installing instrument air packages, which use
compressed air instead of natural gas to actuate pneumatic controllers, at new tank batteries and
compressor stations.
Through the company’s expanded leak-detection-and-repair program, progress has been made in
verifying data and identifying components with high potential for leakage, and this data will be used to
continue to prioritize equipment for replacement or implementation in new designs.
In April, XTO began a pilot program at its James Ranch facility in New Mexico to evaluate new
technologies in its efforts to reduce emissions. The facility incorporates low-emission technologies and
will serve as a model for future development.
