- The U.S. petroleum industry first drilled successfully in open waters in the Gulf of Mexico in 1938.
- Gulf of Mexico federal offshore oil production accounts for 17% of total U.S. crude oil production
- The Gulf of Mexico has about 20 oil rigs in operation.
- Oil rigs are commonly referred to as “floating cities,” since many different people live on them at any given time. It’s also fun to note that most offshore oil rigs are taller than the world’s biggest skyscrapers.
- In 2016, the United States produced an average of about 8.9 million barrels per day (million b/d) of crude oil
