Exxon Mobil Corp will start measuring and certifying emissions from the production of shale natural gas at a facility in New Mexico. The move came amid a growing number of investors calling energy producers to provide buyers with emission data. Other shale producers have also begun offering independently verified emissions data to buyers. Bart Cahir, a senior vice president at Exxon, said the certification would help buyers in achieving their goal to reduce carbon footprints.
Exxon said independent firm MiQ had agreed to certify 200 Mcfd of natural gas produced at Exxon’s Poker Lake facilities in New Mexico. Exxon added that MiQ’s assessments would be available for customers by this year’s fourth quarter. The company added that the certification could be expanded to its shale production areas, including Haynesville and Appalachia.
Exxon’s move came after an activist hedge fund took three seats on the company’s board. This year, Exxon will start disclosing its Scope 3 emission data, which covers the emissions that result when customers use its products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. The company also plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its oil and gas production by 15-20% by 2025 versus 2016 baselines.
