ExxonMobil’s use of artificial intelligence and advanced computing tools is accelerating seismic interpretation in Guyana, allowing faster evaluation of offshore acreage and changing how potential oil discoveries are assessed.
According to Vice President of Exploration John Ardill, speaking to Reuters on May 5, AI and new technology are allowing seismic data from Guyana to be interpreted in days rather than months.
“We’re using what was called deep learning, classification and so reinforced learning. … We can turn those tools around in just a few days, and then the interpreter can get a prioritized list of anomalies to go effectively validate,” Ardill told reporters on the sidelines of the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston.
The advancement is focused on the Stabroek Block, where ExxonMobil operates one of the world’s most active offshore oil developments. The company is applying AI-driven systems and high-performance computing to interpret seismic datasets.
Seismic technology allows Exxon to identify subsurface structures more quickly and with greater precision. This type of imaging relies on sound waves sent into the seabed that reflect off rock formations, producing datasets that map potential hydrocarbon traps.
In 2025, ExxonMobil expanded its investment in computing infrastructure to support this transition. The introduction of its “Discovery 6” supercomputer has further strengthened this capability. The platform has already helped unlock more than US$1 billion in value from Guyana operations by improving subsurface imaging and reservoir modelling.
Guyana is currently producing more than 900,000 barrels of oil per day (b/d). Output is expected to rise above 1 million b/d once the fifth development, Uaru, comes online later this year.
ExxonMobil has a 45% stake in the Stabroek Block, with co-venturers Hess, owned by Chevron (30%), and CNOOC (25%). The oil major has discovered an estimated 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels there.
