Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. on Friday disclosed plans to expand drilling in the top U.S. shale basin after posting their biggest quarterly profits in years. Latecomers to the west Texas shale fields, both last year slashed shale production and cut drilling as oil demand tanked. They could soon add two rigs each and rev up output, executives said on earnings calls. Exxon (XOM.N) last quarter produced about 500,000 barrels of oil and gas a day (bpd) from the Permian basin using 9 drilling rigs. “We may see a couple more rigs come on here,” said Chief Executive Darren Woods, based on its latest well results. The company’s third quarter Permian output rose about 30% above the prior period, he said. Chevron (CVX.N) plans to add two drilling rigs and two crews to complete new wells in the Permian this quarter, Chief Financial […]