ExxonMobil will lay off more than 700 workers in the Houston area, according to a notice it sent to the Texas Workforce Commission posted on Friday.

The largest US oil producer had previously said it would cut its global workforce by about 15%, or around 14,000 jobs, including deep cuts in the US.

The Irving, Texas-based ExxonMobil and other oil companies have been slashing costs due to a collapse in oil demand due to the coronavirus pandemic and ill-timed bets on new projects.

The layoff date is 2 February, according to the notice. The 700 jobs are part of around 1900 US cuts anticipated, which the company has said would come mainly from its Houston-area campus, the headquarters for its US oil and gas businesses.

ExxonMobil last month said it would write down the value of natural gas properties by $17 billion to $20 billion, its biggest ever impairment, and slash project spending next year to its lowest level in 15 years.

It had about 88,300 workers, including 13,300 contractors, at the end of last year.

Parsley Energy announces layoffs

Elsewhere in the oil patch, Permian player Parsley Energy will close its Austin offices and lay off more than 230 employees, according to a filing with the Texas Workforce Commission.

Parsley earlier this year was acquired by Permian peer Pioneer Natural Resources in a $4.5 billion deal.

Parsley did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Finance

ExxonMobil to cut 700 jobs in Houston: report