Going deep

As wells closer to shore have

dried up, deep-water drilling —
which takes place in depths
below 1,000 ft. (305 m) — has
increasingly contributed to the
amount of oil and gas extracted
from the Gulf of Mexico.
Deep-water Other
Gulf of Mexico oil production
In millions of barrels
600 2009 569 million

500

400

300

200

100

1985 1990 ’95 2000 ’05

Natural gas production

In trillions of cubic feet 2009
5
2.4 trillion

1985 1990 ’95 2000 ’05

© 2010 MCT
Source: U.S. Minerals Management Service
Graphic: Chicago Tribune