Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)

The Gulf of Mexico is currently a major source of domestic oil and gas production.  Approximately 40 million acres of the 160 million acres available are under lease and they are responsible for over 25% of the oil and 15% of the natural gas domestically produced. 

A Presidential Withdrawal on portions of the central Gulf was lifted in January of 2007, leaving about 66 million acres unavailable for leasing or development due to moratoria, ban, or Presidential Withdrawal.  The areas still unavailable due to congressional moratoria or statutory ban are estimated to contain over 3.6 billion barrels of oil and 21.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.   All estimates are considered very conservative as little or no exploration has occurred in those areas for at least 25 years due to the congressional ban.  Previous estimates in other areas have increased dramatically after leasing and exploration occurs.

Legislation attached to annual funding bills prohibits the MMS from expending any funds related to planning or leasing in specific OCS areas, including parts of the Gulf.  Most of the eastern Gulf of Mexico is under a different statutory ban that is set to remain in effect until 2022. 

Deepwater projects in the western and central Gulf of Mexico account for about 72% of Gulf oil production.  There were 130 producing deepwater projects at the end of 2007, up from 122 at the end of 2006 and more than double the number five years ago.  Deepwater discoveries are generally larger fields and large proved discoveries have been found near the eastern planning area border.   This would suggest that once the eastern area is available for lease and exploration, significantly more than the 200,000 barrels per day forecast in the OCS access case would be achieved in the eastern Gulf alone.

Additional Gulf of Mexico Resources

MMS Gulf of Mexico home page

OCS Production statistics

MMS Offshore Strategic Plan 2007 - 2012

MMS Offshore home page

Offshore Stats and Facts

Issues Associated with Offshore Oil and Gas Development in GoM

2006 Planning areas resources addendum

Deepwater Gulf of Mexico - 2005 Interim Report

Downloadable information files - leases, maps, etc.

Detailed Map of Active Gulf Leases and Infrastructure

Other Gulf Lease info

Planning areas

Lease Sale 207 attracted over $487 million in high bids

Lease sale 206/224 attracted over $3.7 billion in high bids

Lease sale 205 attracted over $2.8 billion in high bids

New 5 year program for OCS

Gulf of Mexico Fast Facts

Deepwater info

Topographical Features Stipulation Maps

Maps and Spatial Data - Gulf

Combined OCS areas home page

About OCS