Supply Network for Deepwater Oil and Gas Development in the Gulf of Mexico

This report presents an empirical analysis of the demand for port services generated by the deepwater oil and gas industry during its phenomenal growth during the last decade. During this period, the deepwater oil production registered a nine-fold increase while the gas production increased sixteen fold. In addition, technological developments in seismic data acquisition, large deepwater field discoveries, and the innovative production systems have completely transformed the industry and the logistical support network. Although the logistical support system is a vital component of the industry, empirical studies analyzing the supply network adjustments from the perspective of port services are currently not available. Therefore, the demand analysis in this report will fill that void and is expected to be useful for port planning and investment decisions.