OFFSHORE ISN’T DEAD

Recent articles in the Houston Chronicle (“While oil and gas is rebounding, offshore jobs remain hard to find” and “Offshore oil industry insists it’ s not dead yet ”) take a narrow view of the state of the offshore energy industry in Texas and the Gulf of Mexico. Interestingly, the Chronicle has recently covered new opportunities and growth in the Gulf region. These exciting a venues are the result of innovation and resiliency that is at the heart of the Texas energy industry. Today, more than 45 percent of U.S. petroleum refining capacity is located along the Gulf Coast, as well as 51 percent of U.S. natural gas processing plant capacity. Additionally, Gulf of Mexico federal offshore oil production accounts for 17 percent of U.S. crude oil production. All of this, coupled with the fact that U.S. crude exports hit record highs in April, showcases the future of our region’s energy industry. Downplaying the importance of offshore exploration ignores the fact that energy demand is expected to increase by 30 percent over the next 20 years as the world’s population doubles. This demand comes from a continued need for fuel specifically and petroleum generally, which is used to make next-generation wireless devices, medicines and countless other products used worldwide. Career opportunities extend far beyond the production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and include supply vessels and vendors, transport services and a multitude of manufacturing facilities that create the products we all use every day. —Todd Staples, president, Texas Oil & Gas Association