Carbon capture and storage

CCS development

A look at how carbon capture works

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the process of capturing CO₂ that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere from industrial activity, and injecting it into deep geologic formations for safe, secure and permanent storage. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency agree that CCS is one of the most important low-carbon technologies required to achieve societal climate goals at the lowest cost. CCS is a readily available technology that can reduce emissions at scale from high heat and high power industrial and manufacturing sectors like refining, chemicals, cement and steel sectors, where there are no other near-term solutions to mitigate CO₂ emissions.

Critical technology

The International Energy Agency calls carbon capture and storage one of the critical technologies required to achieve net-zero emissions and the climate goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.

In the field

We have cumulatively captured more CO₂ than any other company – 120 million metric tons – accounting for approximately 40 percent of all the anthropogenic CO₂ that has ever been captured.

The story behind ExxonMobil's CCS work

The people driving ExxonMobil’s net-zero ambition: Erik Oswald

Carbon capture Perspective • Aug. 16, 2022

A small community with a big role: Helping reduce GHG emissions

Carbon capture Perspective • Oct. 12, 2022

Carbon capture: Creating jobs, cutting emissions

Carbon capture Perspective • Dec. 15, 2021

Inside engineering: Carbon storage safety

Carbon capture Perspective • Nov. 18, 2021

What you should know about carbon capture and storage

Carbon capture Perspective • Sept. 14, 2021

Houston carbon capture and storage gains industry support, now needs policy support

Carbon capture Perspective • Sept. 23, 2021

Climate solutions

Our global reach: CCS around the world

Learn more about how we are advancing several carbon capture and storage opportunities around the world to help support our commitment to the Paris Agreement.

Learn more

Policy is key in how industry can scale carbon capture and storage

Carbon capture and storage is one of the few proven technologies with the potential to significantly reduce emissions from certain hard-to-decarbonize sectors, such as manufacturing and heavy industry. However, new policies are needed to spur the investment required to deploy CCS at such a pace and scale. Here are the key and immediate actions required to continue moving forward:

Enhance the CCS Production Tax Credit (45Q) for non-EOR (enhanced oil recovery)
- Initially increase value to ~$100 per metric ton from current $85
- Extend eligibility period to 30 years from current 12 years
- Eliminate deadline for starting construction
Ensure government approval for CO₂ storage
- Specifically allow offshore storage of CO₂ from sources other than coal
- Authorize the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to issue leases, rights of way and pore space
- Clarify that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has authority for permitting CO₂ injection in subsea formations
Provide financial support for CCS infrastructure
- Provide a $10 billion grant to help develop infrastructure in Houston by extending current U.S. Department of Energy programs beyond research, development and demonstration (RD&D)
- Expand the U.S. Department of Energy Title XVII program to include the deployment of existing CCS technologies at scale
- Amend TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) to add CCS projects, or create a program dedicated to CCS