IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2006--Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) announced today that its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Deepwater West, Ltd. (Esso), has drilled an oil discovery in Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 214, approximately 70 miles (113 kilometers) offshore Nigeria.

The Uge-1 discovery well was drilled in 4,144 feet (1,263 meters) of water to a total depth of 16,831 feet (5,130 meters) and encountered more than 300 net feet (100 meters) of oil. The Uge structure is located approximately 90 miles (145 km) south-southeast of the Erha deepwater development. Studies and data analyses are under way to fully evaluate the discovery and development options for Uge.

Esso is the operator of OPL 214 with a 20 percent working interest. Other working-interest owners are Chevron Nigeria Deepwater B Limited at 20 percent, Phillips Deepwater Exploration (Nigeria) Limited (a subsidiary of ConocoPhillips) at 20 percent, Oxy Nigeria Exploration & Production Limited (a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation) at 20 percent, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company at 15 percent, Sasol Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited at 5 percent and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is the concessionaire. Uge-1 represents the first discovery on the license.

ExxonMobil is a leader in the discovery and development of deepwater hydrocarbon resources in West Africa, where it has interests in 17 blocks totaling more than 10 million gross acres. The company has a leading position in nearly all the major exploration and production areas in the world and the industry's strongest portfolio of proprietary geoscience and engineering technology.

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" on our website (www.exxonmobil.com).

CONTACT: ExxonMobil
Bob Davis, 713-656-4376

SOURCE: Exxon Mobil Corporation