By the end of 2004, production in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico grew to 922 barrels of oil per day and 3.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, which represents an increase over the past 13 years of 510 percent and 680 percent for oil and gas, respectively. There are about 8,150 active leases on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf, 53 percent of which are in deepwater. This can be compared to 5,600 active leases in 1992, of which only 27 percent were in deepwater.
Source: Minerals Management Service