Log in Sign up
Back to Discover
💻

ExxonMobil

technology Maturity 9-11 climate
This article covers sensitive topics: climate. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

ExxonMobil is a very big company.

An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg
An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg
It finds oil deep in the ground. It also makes things like plastic. Some people say they hurt the Earth.
OilCleanupAfterValdezSpill.jpg
OilCleanupAfterValdezSpill.jpg
This is a big job. Do you know where oil comes from?

46 words

ExxonMobil is a very large company.

An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg
An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg
It finds oil deep in the ground. It also makes things like plastic. The company works in many lands. It works in places like Texas and Guyana. Some people say the company hurts the Earth.
OilCleanupAfterValdezSpill.jpg
OilCleanupAfterValdezSpill.jpg
This happened during a big oil spill in Alaska. The company is also working on new ways to make clean energy.

71 words

ExxonMobil is a very large company. It is based in Spring, Texas. The company was formed in 1999. It came from a merger of Exxon and Mobil. This means the two companies joined together.

An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg
An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg

ExxonMobil works in many ways. One part finds oil and gas deep underground. This is called upstream. Another part makes chemicals. They make things like plastic and rubber. They also have gas stations. You might see their Exxon or Mobil brands.

The company works all over the world. They find oil in places like Guyana and Angola. They also work in the United States. Some people criticize the company. They say it has hurt the environment. One big event was an oil spill in Alaska in 1989.

OilCleanupAfterValdezSpill.jpg
OilCleanupAfterValdezSpill.jpg

ExxonMobil is now working on new ideas. They have a group called Low Carbon Solutions. They study clean energy. This includes things like algae biofuels. They also work on carbon capture and storage. This is a way to catch carbon before it goes into the air.

177 words

ExxonMobil is a very large company that works with energy. It is based in Spring, Texas, near Houston. This company is the largest investor-owned oil company in the whole world. It is also the eighth-largest company in the United States by revenue. The company works in many different areas of the energy industry. They find oil, make chemicals, and sell fuel at gas stations.

An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg
An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg

The company uses a system called vertical integration. This means they handle many steps of the work themselves. One part is called upstream, which finds and extracts oil and gas. This part makes about 70% of the company's money. Another part is called Product Solutions, which makes chemicals. They create things like plastic and synthetic rubber. They also have a division for Low Carbon Solutions. This group studies new ways to make clean energy.

ExxonMobil has a long history that goes back many years. One of its earlier parts, the Vacuum Oil Company, started in 1866. Later, Standard Oil bought that company in 1879. In 1911, a legal rule forced Standard Oil to break apart. One piece became known as Mobil. Another piece became known as Exxon. In 1999, these two companies joined together in a merger. This created the ExxonMobil we know today.

Rex Tillerson shakes hands with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, May 2017.jpg
Rex Tillerson shakes hands with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, May 2017.jpg

This company operates in many different countries and places. In the United States, they work in the Permian Basin and the Gulf of Mexico. They also find oil in Guyana and Angola. They have many refineries, which are places that turn oil into useful products. Their largest refinery is the Beaumont Refinery in Texas. However, they have also faced many serious criticisms. They have been sued for environmental incidents and for how they handled climate change. One famous event was the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in 1989.

OilCleanupAfterValdezSpill.jpg
OilCleanupAfterValdezSpill.jpg

You might see the results of their work every day. You may see an Exxon or Mobil gas station while driving.

An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg
An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg
Many items around you are made from their chemicals. This includes things like plastic packaging or rubber. You might even see their Mobil 1 motor oil at a race. They sponsor many racing teams, including those in NASCAR and Formula One. They are even working on ways to catch carbon before it enters the air. This is called carbon capture and storage.

413 words

ExxonMobil Corporation is a massive American multinational energy company. It is headquartered in Spring, Texas, which is a suburb of Houston. As a major player in the global energy market, it is the largest investor-owned oil company in the world. In the United States, it ranks as the eighth-largest company by revenue. Globally, it is the 13th-largest company by revenue. The company operates across many different sectors of the energy industry. These sectors include finding oil, refining it, and creating chemical products.

An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg
An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg

The company uses a business model called vertical integration. This means they control many different steps of the production process. Their operations are organized into three main categories. The first is Upstream, which involves oil exploration, extraction, and shipping. This division is the largest source of revenue, providing about 70% of the company's total income. In 2021, the company held about 30 billion barrels of oil and oil equivalents. It also held 38.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas.

The second major category is Product Solutions. This division was formed in 2022 by merging the Downstream and Chemical divisions. Downstream involves refining oil and selling products to customers. The company markets fuels under brands like Exxon, Mobil, and Esso. The Chemical side produces many essential materials. These include plastics, synthetic rubber, and various chemical products. ExxonMobil is actually the world's largest producer of butyl rubber. They also produce specialized items like lubricants and packaging films.

An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg
An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg

The third category is Low Carbon Solutions. This division was officially formed during a corporate restructuring in 2022. It focuses on researching and developing cleaner energy technologies. Some of their research includes algae biofuels and biodiesel made from agricultural waste. They are also working on carbon capture and storage, which is known as CCS. This technology aims to capture carbon before it enters the atmosphere. The company has announced plans to invest $15 billion in a lower carbon future. They also aim to make their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions carbon neutral by 2050.

ExxonMobil has a complex history involving several famous companies. One part of its lineage, the Vacuum Oil Company, was founded in 1866. Standard Oil acquired Vacuum Oil in 1879. In 1911, a legal mandate forced Standard Oil to break apart into smaller companies. One of these pieces became known as Mobil. Another piece became Jersey Standard, which later changed its name to Exxon in 1972. This change helped unify their various brands, such as Esso and Enco. Finally, Exxon and Mobil merged in 1999 to form the modern ExxonMobil.

Rex Tillerson shakes hands with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, May 2017.jpg
Rex Tillerson shakes hands with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, May 2017.jpg

The company operates in many different regions around the globe. In the United States, they are very active in the Permian Basin and the Gulf of Mexico. They also have significant operations in Canada and Guyana. In 2024, they discovered oil off the coast of Guyana using a drillship. In Africa, they have major operations in countries like Angola and Nigeria. They have also worked in Asia, including locations in Malaysia and Qatar. However, they recently exited the energy sector in Iraq in early 2024. They also pulled out of all operations in Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Despite its massive size, the company has faced significant criticism and legal challenges. Many people and organizations have sued the company over environmental incidents. The most notable was the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. This event is considered one of the world's worst oil spills regarding environmental damage.

OilCleanupAfterValdezSpill.jpg
OilCleanupAfterValdezSpill.jpg
The company has also been criticized for its history of climate change denial. Critics argue the company worked against the scientific consensus regarding fossil fuels and global warming. Additionally, the company has faced accusations regarding human rights and its influence on foreign policy. In the United States, their Baytown facilities were ordered to pay millions of dollars due to federal law violations.
Extinction Rebellion - Dont frack with us (48876504111).jpg
Extinction Rebellion - Dont frack with us (48876504111).jpg

674 words
🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Exxon footprint 2012-08.png
Exxon footprint 2012-08.png
File:Guyana's_offshore_mineral_exploration_blocks,_producing_vessels,_and_proposed_projects_in_the_Stabroek_block_(May_2024)_(53736542101).png
Guyana's_offshore_mineral_exploration_bloc...
File:An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee, Georgia.jpg
An ExxonMobil gas station in Hiawassee,...
File:Extinction Rebellion - Dont frack with us (48876504111).jpg
Extinction Rebellion - Dont frack with us...
File:OilCleanupAfterValdezSpill.jpg
OilCleanupAfterValdezSpill.jpg
File:Rex Tillerson shakes hands with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, May 2017.jpg
Rex Tillerson shakes hands with Deputy...
File:ExxonMobilDowntownHoustonTX.JPG
ExxonMobilDowntownHoustonTX.JPG
Up Next
💻
Chevron Corporation
Technology
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.