Offshore Drilling

The Central Gulf of Mexico contains thousands of oil wells and hundreds of offshore drilling platforms.

The oil industry seeks access to new offshore areas, including parts of Southern California and offshore areas near Florida, to increase U.S. energy security and support jobs.

As of 2025, U.S. offshore oil drilling and production activity is concentrated primarily in the Gulf of Mexico.

U.S. federal offshore leasing programs can include lease auctions for tracts in federal waters off multiple U.S. states and regions, such as California's coast, Alaska's Arctic waters, waters near Florida, and the western and central Gulf of Mexico.

Offshore drilling proposals commonly prompt legal challenges and political opposition from state governments and environmental groups.

The United States federal government has prohibited oil drilling in federal waters of the eastern Gulf of Mexico since 1995, citing concerns about oil spills.

The United States federal government has not allowed oil drilling in federal waters of the eastern Gulf of Mexico since 1995 due to concerns about oil spills.

California has existing offshore oil rigs, and there has been no new federal offshore oil leasing in California federal waters since the mid-1980s.

There have been no new federal offshore oil-lease offerings in California's federal waters since the mid-1980s, although oil production continues from existing offshore platforms.

The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill was a catalyst for the modern environmental movement and prompted California to adopt stronger restrictions on offshore oil drilling.