Exxon Mobil moves to automate more Permian Basin rigs, aiming for up to 15 by 2028

Exxon Mobil is looking to raise crude output from the Permian Basin by increasing the number of drilling rigs it operates with automation. Two of the company’s rigs in the basin are already described as fully automated, and Exxon wants to extend that approach to as many as 15 rigs by 2028, according to reporting carried by Yahoo Finance.

The plan reflects a broader push in U.S. shale production to reduce labor intensity and improve operating consistency through digital controls and remote monitoring. In practical terms, “fully automated” rigs generally rely on software and sensing to manage key drilling functions with less hands-on time on site, shifting work toward oversight and exception handling.

Exxon has not, in the cited report, laid out which specific automation tools it is using or how the company defines the threshold between partial automation and “fully automated.” The reporting also does not break out how automation is expected to translate into output per rig, or whether the target of 15 rigs would include wholly new rigs or upgrades to existing ones.

The company’s automation effort is aimed at the production characteristics that matter most in the Permian, where operators manage complex geology, long well laterals, and intensive drilling schedules. Automating more of the drilling process can, in theory, help operators tighten timing, reduce downtime linked to manual processes, and standardize certain aspects of operations.

No detailed financial disclosures were included in the short, market-news style coverage. Exxon did not specify in the cited post what level of capital spending is expected for automation, how quickly the remaining rigs could be converted, or what milestones would be used to measure success.

For investors tracking XOM, automation targets are often treated as operational indicators rather than near-term financial catalysts, because the benefits typically show up over time in utilization, drilling pace, and reliability. Still, an expansion from two automated rigs to a potential 15 by 2028 suggests management sees enough value to justify scaling technology across a large, capital-heavy region.

The Permian remains one of the most competitive basins in the U.S. energy patch, with output constrained less by geology than by execution. Automation is one lever companies use to improve execution under tight scheduling constraints, especially when companies are trying to balance drilling activity with workforce, maintenance, and supply chain realities.

What remains unclear is whether Exxon plans to automate every rig class in the basin or only certain pad setups and well designs, and whether the company’s roadmap depends on vendor partnerships or custom systems. The reporting also does not quantify projected cost reductions, drilling speed improvements, or expected impacts on well productivity.

Exxon’s next updates to watch are any expanded disclosure around the automation roadmap, including which rigs are being targeted for conversion, any reported operational KPIs tied to automated drilling, and whether the company ties the 2028 target to specific production or efficiency outcomes.