Houston’s oil, gas, and petrochemical sector shapes jobs, investment, and energy flows along the Gulf Coast. Explore how upstream production, refining, pipelines, and Ship Channel exports connect major firms to local employment, tax revenue, and the region’s wider economic role. Key figures—from wages and company scale to refinery capacity and port volumes—show both the opportunity and the concentrated risk along Houston’s industrial corridors.
Key Takeaways
- Chevron Phillips Chemical's Houston plants produce 4 million tons of ethylene yearly
- Shell's Houston HQ oversees $30 billion annual revenue from Gulf operations
- Occidental Petroleum, Houston-based, produced 1.2 million boe/d in 2023
- The oil and gas industry contributed $125 billion to Houston's GDP in 2022
- Energy exports from Houston ports reached $100 billion in value in 2023
- Houston's petrochemical exports totaled $45 billion in 2022
- Houston's oil and gas workforce totaled 285,000 direct jobs in 2023
- The sector supported 1.2 million indirect and induced jobs in the Houston metro area as of 2022
- Average annual wage in Houston's oil and gas extraction industry was $145,000 in 2022
- Houston hosts 4,700 miles of pipelines carrying 20 million barrels per day
- The Houston Ship Channel has 150+ petrochemical facilities along 52 miles
- There are 29 refineries in the Houston area with 2.3 million bpd capacity in 2023
- In 2022, Houston-area refineries processed approximately 1.2 million barrels per day of crude oil, accounting for about 25% of U.S. refining capacity
- Texas, with Houston as its hub, produced 5.3 billion barrels of crude oil in 2023, representing 42% of total U.S. production
- The Houston Ship Channel handled over 280 million tons of petroleum products in 2022, making it the busiest petrochemical waterway globally
Houston’s oil and gas sector powers global energy, employing hundreds of thousands and delivering massive production and exports.
Related reading
01 · Category
Companies And Market26 stats
01
Chevron Phillips Chemical's Houston plants produce 4 million tons of ethylene yearly
02
Shell's Houston HQ oversees $30 billion annual revenue from Gulf operations
03
Occidental Petroleum, Houston-based, produced 1.2 million boe/d in 2023
04
ConocoPhillips' Houston campus manages 1.8 million boe/d globally
05
BP Americas HQ in Houston generates $25 billion U.S. revenue yearly
06
Halliburton's Houston facilities service 40% of global drilling rigs
07
Schlumberger (SLB) Houston R&D center develops tech for 50% market share in wireline
08
Baker Hughes, Houston HQ, supplies equipment to 70 countries from local plants
09
Cheniere Energy's Corpus Christi LNG near Houston shipped 10 MTPA in 2023
10
Marathon Petroleum's Galveston Bay refinery processes 631,000 bpd
11
Phillips 66's Sweeny refinery near Houston outputs 270,000 bpd
12
Valero's Houston refinery runs at 360,000 bpd capacity utilization 95%
13
Dow Chemical's Freeport complex produces 6 million tons polymers yearly
14
Weatherford International's Houston HQ services $4 billion revenue ops
15
NOV's Houston manufacturing plants supply 30% global drilling equipment
16
EOG Resources drilled 400 Houston-managed wells in Permian 2023
17
Apache Corp (APA) Houston ops produce 400,000 boe/d Alpine High
18
Houston's energy IPOs raised $3 billion in 2023
19
1,000 startups in Houston's energy corridor as of 2023
20
LyondellBasell Houston plants have 20 million tons capacity
21
Core Laboratories Houston labs test 1 million samples yearly
22
Forum Energy Technologies Houston fabs for subsea gear, $1B revenue
23
Matador Resources Houston ops drill 200 Eagle Ford wells 2023
24
Golar LNG Houston engineering for FLNG conversions
25
Houston energy M&A deals totaled $50 billion in 2023
26
150 publicly traded energy firms listed with Houston ties 2023
Interpretation
Companies And Market Interpretation
From the Companies And Market perspective, Houston is a strategic energy hub where major operators and service firms translate scale into market clout, including Chevron Phillips producing 4 million tons of ethylene annually and Shell generating $30 billion in yearly Gulf-driven revenue.
02 · Category
Economic Impact28 stats
01
The oil and gas industry contributed $125 billion to Houston's GDP in 2022
02
Energy exports from Houston ports reached $100 billion in value in 2023
03
Houston's petrochemical exports totaled $45 billion in 2022
04
The sector generated $20 billion in state and local taxes for Texas in 2023, with Houston as epicenter
05
Houston's energy firms invested $50 billion in capital expenditures in 2023
06
LNG exports added $15 billion to Houston's economy in 2023
07
The industry supports 40% of Houston's property tax base, equating to $8 billion annually
08
Houston's refining sector contributed $30 billion to regional GDP in 2022
09
Energy R&D spending in Houston reached $5 billion in 2023
10
Venture capital in Houston clean energy startups hit $2 billion in 2023
11
Houston's energy GDP share is 25%, or $150 billion in 2023 estimates
12
Port of Houston energy cargo value was $120 billion in FY2023
13
Refining taxes paid by Houston firms: $10 billion to local governments 2022
14
Houston LNG projects to add $25 billion economic impact by 2028
15
Energy firms sponsored $1 billion in Houston philanthropy in 2023
16
Houston's rig services market valued at $15 billion in 2023
17
Petrochemical trade surplus for Houston region: $30 billion in 2022
18
Capital raised by Houston E&P firms: $18 billion via equity/debt 2023
19
Houston storage facilities hold 15% of U.S. strategic petroleum reserve equivalent
20
Energy retail sales in Houston: $12 billion from sector spending 2022
21
Houston energy patents filed: 1,200 in 2023
22
Tourism boost from energy events: $500 million annually
23
Houston's energy supply chain spends $40 billion locally yearly
24
Federal energy grants to Houston: $1.5 billion in 2023
25
Bank lending to Houston oil firms: $200 billion outstanding 2023
26
Insurance premiums for Houston energy assets: $3 billion/year
27
Houston energy construction projects value: $20 billion active 2023
28
Export financing via EXIM for Houston LNG: $10 billion 2023
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
In economic impact terms, Houston’s oil and gas industry kept strengthening the city’s regional engine in 2022 and 2023, driving $125 billion in GDP in 2022 and adding major export and tax effects such as $100 billion in port energy exports in 2023 and $20 billion in state and local taxes in 2023.
03 · Category
Employment And Labor28 stats
01
Houston's oil and gas workforce totaled 285,000 direct jobs in 2023
02
The sector supported 1.2 million indirect and induced jobs in the Houston metro area as of 2022
03
Average annual wage in Houston's oil and gas extraction industry was $145,000in 2022
04
Over 2,500 oil and gas companies are headquartered in Houston, employing 500,000 regionally in 2023
05
Houston's energy sector saw 15,000 new jobs added in 2023 despite market volatility
06
45% of Houston's oil and gas workers hold engineering degrees, per 2022 surveys
07
The industry trained 10,000 apprentices in Houston in 2023 through programs like Energy Workforce & Technology Council
08
Women comprise 22% of Houston's oil and gas professional workforce in 2023, up from 18% in 2019
09
Houston's rig count averaged 320 active rigs in 2023, supporting 50,000 field jobs
10
65,000 veterans are employed in Houston's energy sector as of 2022
11
Houston energy firms employed 120,000 engineers and geoscientists in 2023
12
Labor turnover in Houston oilfield services was 25% in 2022
13
30,000 STEM graduates enter Houston energy workforce annually
14
Hispanic workers make up 40% of Houston's oil and gas labor force in 2023
15
Houston's energy training centers graduated 8,000 welders in 2023
16
Remote work adoption in Houston upstream offices reached 35% post-2022
17
Oil and gas supported 600,000 jobs in Greater Houston MSA in 2023
18
Average rig worker salary in Houston was $85,000in 2023
19
Energy sector venture jobs created 5,000 positions in Houston startups 2023
20
Houston's energy sector unemployment rate was 3.2% in 2023
21
25% growth in Houston data scientists for energy analytics 2022-2023
22
Offshore Gulf jobs from Houston firms: 20,000 workers
23
Energy Workforce Ombudsman reported 50,000 skilled labor shortage in Houston 2023
24
UH Energy's workforce program placed 4,000 interns in 2023
25
Union membership in Houston oil construction: 15% of 100,000 workers
26
Cyber skills training for 2,000 Houston energy pros in 2023
27
Midstream jobs: 80,000 in Houston pipeline ops 2023
28
Executive roles: 5,000 C-suite positions in Houston energy 2023
Interpretation
Employment And Labor Interpretation
In 2023 Houston’s oil and gas industry employed 285,000 direct workers and added 15,000 new energy jobs despite volatility, while also generating 1.2 million indirect and induced jobs in the metro area and paying an average $145,000 annually in extraction in 2022.
More related reading
04 · Category
Infrastructure28 stats
01
Houston hosts 4,700 miles of pipelines carrying 20 million barrels per day
02
The Houston Ship Channel has 150+ petrochemical facilities along 52 miles
03
There are 29 refineries in the Houston area with 2.3 million bpd capacity in 2023
04
Houston's LNG infrastructure includes 5 major terminals with 70 MTPA capacity
05
1,200 miles of intracoastal waterway support Houston's oil transport
06
Houston has 40 gas processing plants handling 14 Bcf/d
07
The city features 10 major export terminals shipping 2 million bpd of products
08
Over 500 storage tanks with 100 million barrel capacity dot Houston refineries
09
ExxonMobil's Baytown complex, world's largest refinery, processes 630,000 bpd
10
Houston Ship Channel dredging deepened to 52 feet, handling Panamax vessels
11
15 FPSO units operated from Houston for Gulf of Mexico in 2023
12
Houston has 200+ compressor stations for 5 Bcf/d gas transport
13
Enterprise Products Partners' Houston NGL fractionator processes 1 million bpd
14
50 marine terminals along Houston waterfront for oil products
15
Houston's rail network moves 100,000 carloads of energy commodities yearly
16
Kinder Morgan's Houston terminals store 60 million barrels
17
Magellan Midstream's East Houston refinery pipeline system spans 450 miles
18
Total's Port Arthur refinery expansion added 250,000 bpd capacity in 2023
19
Houston hosts 40% of U.S. oil service centers for rig maintenance
20
Houston's offshore platforms: 1,800 structures serviced locally
21
300 miles of subsea pipelines from Houston Gulf fields
22
Houston's truck fleet for oil transport: 15,000 rigs daily
23
Barbours Cut Terminal handles 1 million TEUs energy cargo yearly
24
Houston data centers for energy trading: 10 facilities, 500 MW power
25
Plains All American's Houston hub pipes 4 million bpd
26
Flint Hills Resources Corpus Christi refinery linked to Houston grid, 300k bpd
27
Houston's hydrogen pipeline network spans 50 miles for refineries
28
20 floating storage units moored in Houston waters 2023
Interpretation
Infrastructure Interpretation
Houston’s infrastructure is built for scale and throughput, with 4,700 miles of pipelines moving 20 million barrels per day alongside 40 gas processing plants handling 14 Bcf per day.
05 · Category
Production And Output29 stats
01
In 2022, Houston-area refineries processed approximately 1.2 million barrels per day of crude oil, accounting for about 25% of U.S. refining capacity
02
Texas, with Houston as its hub, produced 5.3 billion barrels of crude oil in 2023, representing 42% of total U.S. production
03
The Houston Ship Channel handled over 280 million tons of petroleum products in 2022, making it the busiest petrochemical waterway globally
04
In 2023, Houston's upstream oil and gas sector extracted 1.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas
05
Permian Basin output routed through Houston facilities reached 6.2 million barrels per day in Q4 2023
06
Houston's LNG export terminals, including Freeport LNG, exported 12.5 million tonnes in 2023
07
In 2022, Houston refineries produced 180 million barrels of gasoline annually
08
The Eagle Ford Shale, managed from Houston, yielded 300,000 barrels per day of oil in 2023
09
Houston's petrochemical plants produced 15 million metric tons of ethylene in 2022
10
In 2023, Houston-area gas processing plants processed 12 billion cubic feet per day
11
Houston refineries operated at 92% utilization rate in 2023
12
Houston's NGL production hit 450,000 bpd in 2023
13
The Haynesville Shale gas play, coordinated from Houston, produced 14 Bcf/d in 2023
14
Houston petrochemical output grew 5% to 55 million tons in 2023
15
Freeport LNG Phase 3 added 5 MTPA capacity online in 2023
16
Houston's diesel production from refineries was 120 million barrels in 2022
17
Upstream investment in Houston firms totaled $40 billion in 2023
18
Houston's oil and gas sector emitted 150 million metric tons CO2 in 2022
19
Texas Railroad Commission approved 25,000 Houston-area permits in 2023
20
Houston's crude oil imports averaged 1.5 million bpd in 2023
21
Local distillate fuel production reached 140 million barrels in 2022
22
Houston gas wells produced 2.1 Tcf in 2023
23
Ethane cracking capacity in Houston stands at 8 million tons/year
24
Golden Pass LNG under construction will add 18 MTPA by 2025
25
Jet fuel output from Houston refineries: 50 million barrels annually
26
Houston firms hold 10 billion barrels of proved reserves
27
Drilling permits issued: 12,000 in Houston district 2023
28
Houston's frac sand supply market: 50 million tons/year demand
29
Residual fuel oil production: 30 million barrels from Houston 2022
Interpretation
Production And Output Interpretation
Under the Production And Output lens, Houston is powering U.S. energy supply at scale, from processing about 1.2 million barrels per day of crude oil in 2022 and producing 5.3 billion barrels in 2023 to moving 280 million tons of petroleum products through the Houston Ship Channel and exporting 12.5 million tonnes of LNG in 2023.
report visual · Key figures
Houston Oil & Gas Industry Snapshot
Key Houston energy metrics highlight the scale of production, infrastructure, and economic impact over recent years.
$125 billion
The oil and gas industry contributed $125 billion to Houston's GDP in 2022
$200 billion
Bank lending to Houston oil firms: $200 billion outstanding 2023
150
Houston's oil and gas sector emitted 150 million metric tons CO2 in 2022
$50 billion
Houston energy M&A deals totaled $50 billion in 2023
$100 billion
Energy exports from Houston ports reached $100 billion in value in 2023
$3 billion
Houston's energy IPOs raised $3 billion in 2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Julian Richter. (2026, February 13). Houston Oil Gas Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/houston-oil-gas-industry-statistics
MLA
Julian Richter. "Houston Oil Gas Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/houston-oil-gas-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Julian Richter. 2026. "Houston Oil Gas Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/houston-oil-gas-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
95 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level