ExxonMobil has commissioned one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, Discovery 6, to boost efficiency and accelerate data analysis across its global portfolio, including its offshore operations in Guyana.
Developed with Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Nvidia, the system ranks 17th among the world’s most powerful computers. Exxon deems it a major technological leap for its exploration and seismic processing capabilities.
“Seismic processing that used to take months now takes just weeks,” said ExxonMobil Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Darren Woods, during the company’s third-quarter 2025 earnings call on Oct. 31. “It is already having an impact in Guyana, enabling more than a billion dollars in potential value capture from increased resource recovery at our first six FPSOs in the Stabroek Block.”
The Discovery 6 system integrates high-performance computing and artificial intelligence to analyze vast amounts of geological and seismic data. Accelerating processing timelines enables ExxonMobil to make faster, more accurate field development decisions.
Woods said the technology forms part of ExxonMobil’s long-term strategy to stay “in a league of our own,” combining innovation with project execution excellence. “It just speeds that cycle up,” he added.
The company said Discovery 6 is central to its broader effort to enhance exploration performance, improve recovery factors, and reduce costs across its upstream business. ExxonMobil operates Guyana’s Stabroek Block and holds a 45% interest with co-venturers Hess (30%) and CNOOC (25%).
Discovery 6 will offer four times the computational performance of its predecessor, Discovery 5, which ranked 16th on the TOP500 list of the world’s fastest supercomputers in November 2022.
