CCUS Projects

Iberville Parish

Overview

ExxonMobil is considering a potential carbon sequestration project in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, which would safely and permanently store CO2 more than a mile underground. From start to finish, the process of identifying locations, studying the geology, collecting and analyzing data, and eventually reviewing all the information with regulators can take about two years or more. Only if we and regulators determine the areas can safely and effectively store CO2 will be proceed. For more information on this process, click here.

Spoonbill Project Details

The XXX project involves securing subsurface storage capacity, installing monitoring systems, and connecting to existing CO₂ pipeline infrastructure. Key elements include:

  • The project covers tens of thousands of acres of privately owned land in which every involved landowner is compensated.
  • Based on early assessment of subsurface data, it is anticipated that three to six injection wells will be installed along with monitoring systems including water monitoring wells and in-zone monitoring wells.
  • CO2 will be stored approximately 0.5–1.5 miles below the surface.
  • Expected storage capacity ranges in the tens of millions of metric tons, subject to confirmation through ongoing research.
  • New pipelines will link each storage site to the broader CO₂ transportation network. Routes will be published once well locations and pipeline routes are finalized.
Spoonbill CCS Project Pipeline Route

Spoonbill CCS Project Graphical Representation



Project Status

  • ExxonMobil drilled a stratigraphic research well in XXX 2025 after receiving a permit on XXX 2025.
  • Teams are analyzing drilling and injection test data to optimize well placement and plume configurations.
  • Reservoir modeling is underway to support development planning.
  • Engagement with regulatory authorities and public hearings are part of the permitting process.
  • Data collected during the research phase will inform future development decisions and be shared with regulators.
  • It is anticipated that Class VI permit submission will occur mid-2026.

Why Iberville Parish?

There are a number of factors that make Iberville Parish a prime location for CO2 storage. Iberville Parish has the right kind of underground rock formations to safely and effectively store CO2 permanently. At the same time, areas of the parish have not had the history of excessive oil and natural gas exploration that has left a number of unattended wells. In addition, landowners in the area have provided ExxonMobil the right to store CO2 under their property in exchange for fair compensation.

Our current research work in the parish – and LDCE’s evaluation of the resulting information – are designed to confirm CO2 storage will be safe. Only after we and regulators make this determination, will we proceed.

Benefits to Iberville Parish

Developing carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects and building new connections to our existing CO₂ pipeline network represent a new phase of ExxonMobil’s investment in Louisiana, especially in Iberville Parish. Based on current plans, the projects will likely result in:

  • Hundreds of millions of dollars invested to construct and operate the Spoonbill storage facilities and related pipelines, with a significant amount invested in Iberville Parish
  • Millions of dollars in local taxes paid per year to help fund education, road construction and other local government activities
  • Hundreds of million dollars paid in compensation to local landowners for storage rights and pipeline rights-of-way
  • More than 150 temporary construction jobs created
  • Additional indirect economic activities spurred by the direct investment in the storage facilities
  • Previously abandoned wells in the storage area will be plugged, providing safety and environmental benefits
  • Community contributions as ExxonMobil sustains its efforts to be a good neighbor in the communities where we operate
Taxes icon

New Tax Revenue

Pipelines and CCS facilities are anticipated to contribute significant property taxes to the parish to fund schools, roads, and first responders.

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$10’s Millions for the Parish

Louisiana Economic Development estimates an average CO2 storage site, built with a $150 - $300 million investment, will generate nearly $10’s of millions in local revenues.

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>$100 Million for Landowners

Pore space storage rights and pipeline rights-of-way payments provide significant revenue to parish landowners.

Iberville Parish residents will also benefit from investments in CCS facilities in other areas of the state, as the state’s leadership in CCS draws greater economic activity. According to a 2025 estimate by the office of Louisiana Economic Development, $75 billion worth of investments have already been announced by manufacturers seeking to build new facilities near CCS infrastructure.

Storage Safety

Hear From ExxonMobil Employees on CO₂ Underground video

CO2 storage sites are designed, constructed and operated in a way that protects people and the environment, especially sources of underground drinking water (USDW).

  • Geography: Operators conduct extensive research to prove the storage layer is geologically sound and covered by multiple layers of cap rock that are hundreds of feet thick, stretch well beyond the storage area, and are impermeable so CO2 cannot pass through them. These thick, natural formations have securely held oil and natural gas for millions of years and can just as safely store captured CO2 emissions.
  • Well design: Wells are built to encase the CO2 with three layers of corrosion-resistant steel and two layers of fortified cement. They also have shutdown valves at the top and a specially designed plug at the bottom to prevent any fluids from traveling back up.
  • Operational planning: Operators conduct detailed research to determine safe injection rates and pressures that set plans in motion to maintain them.
  • Monitoring and testing: The movement of the CO2, reservoir pressure and condition of the wells are tracked by state-of-the art technologies.
  • Emergency response planning and training: Although operators work to maintain safe operations, they plan and train how to respond to the unlikely event of an emergency, quickly and effectively.

Pipeline Safety

Hear From ExxonMobil Employees on CCUS Pipeline Safety video
“Statistics on the transportation of CO₂ in its supercritical form has been safer relative to other hazardous liquids/gases; releases have been rare, and releases have rarely impacted people or the environment.” Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

CO2 pipelines have been operating safely for more than 50 years in the U.S.– and for more than 15 years in Louisiana.

  • Pipelines transporting CO2 in a near-liquid state are covered by hundreds of federal safety requirements.
  • ~ 5,200 miles of CO2 pipelines safely transport ~68 million tons of CO2 per year in the U.S.
  • Publicly available government pipeline safety data show CO2 pipeline incidents are rare and declining.
  • From 2001 to 2024, PHMSA recorded an average of less than five reportable incidents per year, no fatalities and one injury – a contractor hurt during an excavation of a CO2 pipeline.
  • CO2 pipelines have a lower incident rate than other hazardous pipelines. From 2001 to 2024, the average CO2 pipeline incident rate was approximately 0.001 incidents per pipeline mile.
  • Across the entire industry there were three incidents in 2022, four in 2023, and one in 2024. All with no injuries.
  • CO2 releases typically result in relatively minor, on-site impacts. On average, CO2 incidents result in damages valued 10 times less than the cost of incidents caused by other hazardous liquids pipelines.

Emergency Response

Although we continuously work to mitigate risks and prevent incidents, ExxonMobil develops emergency response plans and trains both our own personnel and first responders on how to quickly and effectively respond to emergencies.

We worked with the National Association of State Fire Marshals to help develop enhanced emergency response guidelines for pipeline emergencies that are now standard practice across industry and serve as the basis of our briefings and training courses. To maintain awareness, we brief elected officials about the operations of our storage facilities and pipelines and participate in Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) meetings to update emergency officials and reinforce their understanding of incident response. In addition to these briefings, we conduct simulated drills with first responders to practice emergency response tactics.

Beyond hosting drills at our facilities, ExxonMobil developed the industry’s first, hands-on CO2 pipeline emergency response training at Texas A&M’s world-renown TEEX Brayton Fire Training Field where firefighters can practice response techniques using industrial props that simulate releases. The coursework includes information on the characteristics of CO2, lessons learned from previous incidents and the latest guidance on how to manage releases. In 2025, ExxonMobil helped develop similar training facilities and courses at the Mississippi Fire Academy and Louisiana’s Fire and Emergency Training Academy.

Making this training accessible to even more first responders, in 2024, ExxonMobil developed a mobile training trailer that contains pipeline props and other materials we use to provide realistic training to fire departments that service our facilities.

Hear From Louisiana Firefighters at TEEX training

CO2 emergency response training

Community Relations

For more than 115 years, ExxonMobil has been a proud contributor to Louisiana’s dynamic economy and vibrant communities. As we enter a new phase of investment in Louisiana – developing carbon capture and storage projects and connecting them to our existing CO2 pipeline network – we remain committed to being a responsible operator and good neighbor.

From the start of each project through decades of operation, we work to build meaningful relationships, maintain open communication and contribute to the wellbeing of the communities in which we operate.

Local Updates

ExxonMobil-attends-Louisiana-Gas-Associations-2025-Pipeline-Safety-Conference

ExxonMobil attends Louisiana Gas Association's 2025 Pipeline Safety Conference

08/21/2025

The Louisiana Gas Association’s (LGA) 2025 Pipeline Safety Conference recently took place in New Orleans, bringing together industry professionals, providing regulatory updates and more.

ExxonMobil-Pipeline-Company-receives-API-Distinguished-Pipeline-Safety-Award-for-third-consecutive-year

ExxonMobil Pipeline Company receives API Distinguished Pipeline Safety Award for third consecutive year

04/29/2025

ExxonMobil Pipeline Company is honored and humbled to share that we have been recognized with the API Distinguished Pipeline Safety Award for the third consecutive year.

Gaitway-Therapeutic-Horsemanship-presented-with-community-investment

Gaitway Therapeutic Horsemanship presented with community investment

02/28/2025

Recently, ExxonMobil Pipeline Company representatives awarded the Gaitway Therapeutic Horsemanship with a community investment.

See All Updates

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