According to Bing / Copilot
The first offshore oil discovery in the **Gulf of Mexico** occurred in the late 19th century. Here are some key milestones:1. **Summerland Offshore Field**: - In **1896**, enterprising businessmen pursued California's prolific **Summerland oilfield** all the way to the beach. - **Henry L. Williams** and his associates built a pier **300 feet out into the Pacific** and mounted a standard cable-tool rig on it. - This offshore well, drilled from a pier, produced oil and led to the realization that the Summerland oilfield extended offshore. - The Summerland offshore field produced for **25 years**, fueling California's economy¹.2. **Caddo Lake Wells**: - In **1911**, the **Gulf Refining Company** abandoned the use of piers and drilled the **Ferry Lake No. 1** on **Caddo Lake, Louisiana**. - This well was completed over water without a pier connection to shore, making it one of America's first true offshore drilling efforts. - The Ferry Lake No. 1 produced **450 barrels of oil per day** and marked a significant milestone in offshore drilling¹.3. **Kermac Rig No. 16**: - In **1947**, a **Kerr-McGee drilling platform**, the **Kermac Rig No. 16**, became the first offshore rig in the Gulf of Mexico that was **out of sight of land**. - By the end of **1949**, the Gulf's offshore industry had discovered **11 oil and natural gas fields**³.4. **Technological Advancements**: - Over the years, technology allowed drilling and production farther from shore and into deeper waters. - In **1955**, a platform was installed in **100 feet of water** for the first time, followed by **200 feet** in **1962**, and **1,000 feet** in **1979**. - By **2009**, more than **70%** of Gulf of Mexico oil production came from wells drilled in depths greater than **1,000 feet**².Today, the Gulf of Mexico remains a major source of oil and natural gas production in the United States, with notable fields and platforms contributing to its significance². ️Source: Conversation with Copilot, 6/7/2024(1) Offshore Drilling History - American Oil & Gas Historical Society. https://aoghs.org/offshore-history/offshore-oil-history/.(2) Offshore Oil & Gas History - American Oil & Gas Historical Society. https://aoghs.org/offshore-oil-history/.(3) Offshore oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico (United States). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshore_oil_and_gas_in_the_Gulf_of_Mexico_%28United_States%29.(4) Beacon Offshore Makes FID for Winterfell Discovery in Gulf of Mexico. https://www.oedigital.com/news/510775-beacon-offshore-makes-fid-for-winterfell-discovery-in-gulf-of-mexico.(5) Kosmos Energy Announces Oil Discovery in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/kosmos-energy-announces-oil-discovery-in-the-u.s.-gulf-of-mexico-2023-10-11.
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