ExxonMobil Unit Announces First Gas Production at Arthur Field in Sout

    Business Editors/Energy Editors

    IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2005--Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) announced today that its subsidiary, Mobil North Sea Limited (MNSL), has produced first gas from the Arthur Field in the United Kingdom southern North Sea.
    The Arthur Field, in Block 53/02, is located about 30 miles east of Bacton, Norfolk, in approximately 140 feet of water. It was discovered in October 2003. The field is a subsea development tied back to the existing ExxonMobil-operated Thames platform by a new 20-mile, 12-inch pipeline and umbilical. The produced gas is exported via the existing pipeline to the Bacton terminal. The project is expected to produce at gross rates of up to 110 million cubic feet per day with an ultimate recovery estimated at 130 billion cubic feet (gross).
    Robert Olsen, chairman, ExxonMobil International Limited, said, "We are delighted to have been able to bring the field into production in just over a year using subsea technology and optimising existing infrastructure to capture reserves faster and at lower unit development costs."
    The field may ultimately comprise up to three development wells connected to the Arthur manifold via 8-inch pipelines and umbilicals. The Arthur 2 well is to be spudded in the near future and a potential third well may be drilled later in 2005.
    MNSL is the operator of the field with 70 percent interest. Co-venturer EOG Resources United Kingdom Limited, a subsidiary of EOG Resources, Inc., holds the remaining 30 percent.
    ExxonMobil is one of the largest producers of oil and gas in the UK, with interests in some 90 fields. In the northern North Sea, ExxonMobil operates the Beryl area complex and the SAGE gas system and terminal at St. Fergus. In the southern North Sea, in addition to its operatorship of the Arthur field and Thames complex, ExxonMobil also operates the Camelot, Lancelot, Guinevere, Excalibur, Galahad and Malory fields.

    CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Estimates, expectations, and business plans in this release are forward-looking statements. Actual future results, including resource recoveries, production rates, and project plans and schedules, could differ materially due to changes in market conditions affecting the oil and gas industry or long-term oil and gas price levels; political or regulatory developments; reservoir performance; timely completion of development projects; technical or operating factors; and other factors discussed under the heading "Factors Affecting Future Results" included in Item 1 of ExxonMobil's most recent Form 10-K and posted on our website (www.exxonmobil.com). References to quantities of oil and gas include amounts that are not yet classified as proved reserves but that we believe will be produced in the future.

--30--MJR/da*

CONTACT: ExxonMobil U.K. contact David Eglinton, 44 1372 22 2261 or ExxonMobil U.S. contact Susan Reeves, 713-656-4376

KEYWORD: TEXAS UNITED KINGDOM INTERNATIONAL ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OIL/GAS ENERGY Finance SOURCE: Exxon Mobil Corporation

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