new energy sources and more efficient uses of conventional energy resources. Since launching the collaboration with MIT, the joint research program has made inroads into several areas, including bio-inspired catalysts for the petrochemical industry and computational modeling to better understand the properties of iron and iron-based alloys used in pipelines. The program has also enabled ExxonMobil to expand research efforts to emerging areas like photovoltaic and nuclear power, as well as enhance our understanding of energy options and the interactions between them. In 2015, ExxonMobil entered a five-year partnership with E-ffiliates, a program administered by Princeton University, to pursue transformational innovations in the fields of energy and environment. E-ffiliates has already started working with research groups across the university, including selected graduate students and post-doctoral researchers. The partnership will help accelerate research by creating an umbrella framework that makes it easy for any business unit of Exxon Mobil Corporation to undertake research projects with any department or lab at Princeton. “Meeting the world’s energy needs in a sustainable way is a formidable challenge. Developing economically viable solutions requires the collaborative efforts of industry, gov- ernment and academia. We are delighted that ExxonMobil is joining E-ffiliates, broadening the vibrant collaboration between Princeton and leading industry partners in the energy and environmental sectors.”
Researchers at our Upstream Research Company analyze seismic data that was imaged using full wavefield inversion.
In addition to helping reduce the costs associated with drilling, this technology also helps reduce the environmental impact of energy production and safeguard our employees and contractors by allowing more oil and gas to be produced with fewer wells and by reducing our well pad size. Partnerships with leading universities ExxonMobil is partnering with approximately 80 universities around the world to explore next-generation energy technologies. We recently began collaborations with Princeton University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as part of our commitment to finding meaningful and scalable solutions to meet global energy demand. In October 2014, ExxonMobil became a founding member of the MIT Energy Initiative, a unique collaboration that aims to advance and explore the future of energy by focusing on
Advanced drilling Advances in technologies used for well drilling and completion have enabled the energy industry to reach new sources of oil and natural gas to meet rising demand around the world. Recent innovations in advanced drilling technology, such as ExxonMobil’s proprietary Vybs software, are helping bring about new efficiencies and environmental benefits. Vybs is the latest breakthrough technology used to overcome factors that limit drilling efficiency. In an effort to improve efficiency, Vybs uses sophisticated algorithms to understand and harness the vibrations at the end of a drill string. Vybs uses kinetic energy from the drill string, thus reducing the amount of energy needed from the rig to penetrate the subsurface. Improving drilling efficiency means wells can be drilled faster, which reduces costs and the amount of time spent with a drill rig on location.
Pablo Debenedetti Dean of research, Princeton University
ExxonMobil’s research and development initiatives exxonmobil.com/citizenship
44
Powered by FlippingBook