Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas information program: outer continental shelf oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico and their onshore impacts. A summary report, September 1980
The Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) is an important oil- and gas- producing region with a long history. Its volume of production is greater than that of any other offshore region in the world. Most of the known hydrocarbon deposits in the area are situated off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, where geologic structures associated with salt tectonism are responsible for oil and gas entrapment. Cumulative production from these fields to January 1, 1979, has yielded 3.76 billion barrels of oil and condensate and 39 trillion cubic feet of gas. Remaining recoverable reserves are 2.76 billion barrels of oil and 37.2 trillion cubic feet of gas, distributed among 385 known fields. Undiscovered recoverable resource estimates for the Gulf of Mexico are 6.5 billion barrels of oil and 71.9 trillion cubic feet of gas. Exploration and development activity in the Gulf is continuing, with 109 offshore mobile drilling units currently active. Production platforms, which presently number 2432, generally produce sweet, light crude oil and gas. Gulf of Mexico OCS production platforms are linked to shore by an extensive network of pipelines that transport daily production of 750,000 barrels of oil and 13.1 billion cubic feet of gas to nearby coastal locations. To offset the decline in Gulf OCS production, offshore operators are engaging in techniques to enhance recovery. Transportation of oil and gas is a concern in areas of offshore production. For reasons of safety and economics, pipelines are the preferred transportation mode. However, small quantities of OCS oil are moved by tanker and barge. One deepwater port designed to accommodate supertankers is also under construction in the Gulf. Onshore and offshore oil and gas production along the Gulf Coast has resulted in the growth of an impressive industrial complex. The economic base of the Gulf Coast States is closely tied to the global oil and gas industry.
- Research Organization:
- Rogers, Golden and Halpern, Inc., Philadelphia, PA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6104774
- Report Number(s):
- USGS-OFR-80-864; ON: DE82900804
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Gulf of Mexico summary report 3. A revision of Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico and their onshore impacts: Gulf of Mexico summary report 2, August 1981
Revision of Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas activities in the Pacific (Southern California) and their onshore impacts: Pacific summary report 2. Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Information Program
Related Subjects
03 NATURAL GAS
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
CONTINENTAL SHELF
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
GULF OF MEXICO
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
LEASES
ECONOMIC IMPACT
EXPLORATION
LOUISIANA
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
OIL WELLS
PRODUCTIVITY
ROYALTIES
TEXAS
TRANSPORT
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
INCOME
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
SEAS
SOUTHWEST REGION
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WELLS
020700* - Petroleum- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
030600 - Natural Gas- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
294002 - Energy Planning & Policy- Petroleum
294003 - Energy Planning & Policy- Natural Gas