XOM Exxon Mobil Corp

By Sarah Kent

PARIS--Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) Chief Executive Rex Tillerson on Tuesday called on European governments to open up access for companies to use hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas resources.

The head of the world's largest oil company said that the large number of wells already drilled using hydraulic fracturing techniques in the U.S. and Canada have proven that the technology can be used safely to extract large volumes of gas.

Speaking at the World Energy Conference in Paris, Mr. Tillerson said that demand for natural gas is expected to grow substantially over the coming decades, and allowing energy companies to use hydraulic fracturing to drill would bring benefits to both Europe and global markets.

Write to Sarah Kent at sarah.kent@wsj.com

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