Fossil Fuel Under the Gulf of Mexico: Oil and Gas

The primary fossil fuel beneath the Gulf of Mexico is crude oil, accompanied by vast natural gas reserves. The Gulf's offshore region (especially deepwater > 300 m) hosts some of the world's most prolific petroleum provinces (e.g., Mississippi Canyon, Green Canyon, Keathley Canyon). Reservoirs are typically Miocene–Pliocene turbidite sands trapped by salt structures. Extraction uses floating drillships, semi-submersibles, and tension-leg platforms. The Gulf produces ~15–20% of U.S. crude oil and ~5% of natural gas.