Even with U.S. Gulf Coast upstream spending still scaling, the Houston oil and gas ecosystem has to balance what is produced, what can be processed, and what can be exported. In 2023 alone, upstream capital expenditure in the U.S. Gulf Coast reached $6.7 billion while crude refinery inputs averaged 15.6 million b/d, even as crude exports and storage needs shifted with supply. We pull these Houston specific tensions together with jobs, service capacity, LNG and storage dynamics, and energy price signals to show how the data connects from the Gulf to the terminals and back to the workforce.
Key Takeaways
- $6.7 billion in U.S. Gulf Coast capital expenditure for upstream activities in 2023, supporting major Texas and Gulf operations
- U.S. proved reserves for natural gas were about 300+ trillion cubic feet in 2023, supporting multidecade production and midstream build-out
- U.S. imports of crude oil in 2023 averaged about 6.4 million b/d (declining trend), affecting Houston refinery feed patterns
- Texas natural gas production averaged about 25.0 billion cubic feet per day in 2023 (Bcf/d)
- U.S. offshore oil production was about 1.7 million barrels per day in 2023, with most offshore output located in the Gulf of Mexico
- In 2023, U.S. crude oil production was about 13.1 million barrels per day; Texas was the largest producing state
- U.S. refinery capacity averaged about 18.6 million barrels per day in 2023, underpinning Gulf Coast processing of crude (including Texas-related supply)
- Gulf Coast LNG exports totaled about 15.5 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas (equivalent) in 2023, with major export capacity in Louisiana/Texas Gulf region
- U.S. crude oil refinery inputs in 2023 averaged about 15.6 million b/d, supporting Gulf Coast utilization
- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX had about 23% of U.S. employment in NAICS 211 (Oil and Gas Extraction) in 2022, indicating concentration of extraction employment around Houston
- Houston metro had about 20,000+ workers in all engineering occupations combined in 2023 (sum across engineering SOCs shown in BLS metro OE files)
- Houston area (TX) had 88,000+ establishments in NAICS 54 (Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services) in 2022, a key services base supporting oil & gas supply chains
- Port of Houston total tonnage was 159.5 million tons in FY 2022, making it among the leading U.S. ports for energy-related cargo flows
- Houston has major crude oil terminal storage; port and terminal capacity supports daily inflows of crude and refined products in the Gulf Coast system
- In 2023, U.S. crude oil exports averaged about 4.0 million b/d, increasing Gulf Coast export activity (Houston area logistics and shipping services)
Houston energy jobs and services are backed by heavy Gulf Coast investment, production, refining, and exports in 2023.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size7 stats
01
$6.7 billion in U.S. Gulf Coast capital expenditure for upstream activities in 2023, supporting major Texas and Gulf operations
02
U.S. proved reserves for natural gas were about 300+ trillion cubic feet in 2023, supporting multidecade production and midstream build-out
03
U.S. imports of crude oil in 2023 averaged about 6.4 million b/d (declining trend), affecting Houston refinery feed patterns
04
Houston is the headquarters location for multiple Fortune 500 energy and services firms; Reliance on Houston HQs is evidenced by company listings (not numeric)
05
In 2023, U.S. natural gas storage levels were typically above the 5-year range for much of the year; ending storage around mid-2023 was near 3,500 Bcf (seasonal storage cycle)
06
In 2023, U.S. crude oil production exceeded U.S. crude oil refinery input requirements at times, increasing export and storage needs
07
World oil proved reserves were about 1.7 trillion barrels (BP Statistical Review style updated), with U.S. production changes influencing Gulf Coast activity
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The Houston market’s scale is underscored by 2023 U.S. Gulf Coast upstream capital spending of $6.7 billion and vast underlying supply, including 300+ trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas reserves, while midyear storage near 3,500 Bcf and crude production exceeding refinery needs at times show demand and logistics flexibility that keep the local oil and gas market active.
02 · Category
Production Volumes5 stats
01
Texas natural gas production averaged about 25.0 billion cubic feet per day in 2023 (Bcf/d)
02
U.S. offshore oil production was about 1.7 million barrels per day in 2023, with most offshore output located in the Gulf of Mexico
03
In 2023, U.S. crude oil production was about 13.1 million barrels per day; Texas was the largest producing state
04
The Permian accounted for about 4.7 million b/d of U.S. crude oil production in 2023 (approx. 40% share), influencing regional service demand in Texas
05
U.S. offshore platforms in the Gulf supported significant output; in 2023 Gulf of Mexico accounted for the majority of U.S. offshore production (about 94%)
Interpretation
Production Volumes Interpretation
For the production volumes angle, the data show that Texas and the Gulf Coast are the core volume engines, with Texas averaging about 25.0 Bcf/d of natural gas in 2023 and the Permian driving roughly 4.7 million b/d of U.S. crude, while the Gulf of Mexico supplied about 94% of U.S. offshore oil output at roughly 1.7 million b/d.
03 · Category
Processing & Infrastructure3 stats
01
U.S. refinery capacity averaged about 18.6 million barrels per day in 2023, underpinning Gulf Coast processing of crude (including Texas-related supply)
02
Gulf Coast LNG exports totaled about 15.5 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas (equivalent) in 2023, with major export capacity in Louisiana/Texas Gulf region
03
U.S. crude oil refinery inputs in 2023 averaged about 15.6 million b/d, supporting Gulf Coast utilization
Interpretation
Processing & Infrastructure Interpretation
In 2023, Processing and Infrastructure in the Houston Texas region was strongly supported by Gulf Coast throughput with U.S. refineries averaging 18.6 million bpd capacity and 15.6 million bpd inputs while LNG exports reached about 15.5 billion cubic feet per day, underscoring the area’s role as a major processing hub for both crude and gas.
04 · Category
Employment & Workforce5 stats
01
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX had about 23% of U.S. employment in NAICS 211 (Oil and Gas Extraction) in 2022, indicating concentration of extraction employment around Houston
02
Houston metro had about 20,000+ workers in all engineering occupations combined in 2023 (sum across engineering SOCs shown in BLS metro OE files)
03
Houston area (TX) had 88,000+ establishments in NAICS 54 (Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services) in 2022, a key services base supporting oil & gas supply chains
04
U.S. oil & gas employment was about 500,000+ workers in 2022 (NAICS 211/212/213 aggregated in BLS series context)
05
BLS CEW reports NAICS 211 employment nationally at hundreds of thousands; Houston metro employment remains a significant share (metropolitan comparison)
Interpretation
Employment & Workforce Interpretation
In 2022 the Houston area accounted for about 23% of all U.S. employment in NAICS 211 and supported a large talent base alongside it, with more than 20,000 engineering workers in 2023 and 88,000 plus establishments in professional and technical services in 2022, showing that the region’s oil and gas job concentration is paired with a strong workforce and services ecosystem.
More related reading
05 · Category
Logistics & Ports3 stats
01
Port of Houston total tonnage was 159.5 million tons in FY 2022, making it among the leading U.S. ports for energy-related cargo flows
02
Houston has major crude oil terminal storage; port and terminal capacity supports daily inflows of crude and refined products in the Gulf Coast system
03
In 2023, U.S. crude oil exports averaged about 4.0 million b/d, increasing Gulf Coast export activity (Houston area logistics and shipping services)
Interpretation
Logistics & Ports Interpretation
With the Port of Houston handling 159.5 million tons in FY 2022 and Gulf Coast terminals supporting steady daily crude and refined product inflows, the logistics and ports network is clearly positioned to benefit from the 2023 rise in U.S. crude exports averaging about 4.0 million b/d.
06 · Category
Industry Trends6 stats
01
In 2024, the IEA projected that global oil demand would rise by about 1.1 million b/d, maintaining pressure on production and refining assets including the Gulf
02
In 2024, the IEA estimated global natural gas demand growth of about 2% (annual), affecting LNG and pipeline throughput in the U.S. Gulf
03
In 2024, U.S. LNG export capacity exceeded about 15.0 Bcf/d (EIA capacity tracking), supporting Houston-area engineering and supply services
04
In 2022, North American LNG export capacity additions increased by multiple Bcf/d; U.S. EIA tracked capacity rising by several Bcf/d across 2022-2024 expansions
05
In 2023, U.S. CO2 emissions from energy use were about 5.1 billion metric tons (national), informing decarbonization efforts for oil & gas
06
In 2023, methane intensity reduction efforts in U.S. oil and gas accelerated; EPA reported baseline methane emissions estimates from oil and gas sector at about 8 million metric tons CO2e in a recent inventory year (context)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry Trends in Houston’s oil and gas sector are being shaped by sustained global energy demand pressure and expanding LNG infrastructure, with 2024 projections pointing to 1.1 million b/d growth in oil demand and about 2% annual natural gas growth, while U.S. LNG export capacity climbs past 15.0 Bcf/d, supporting Gulf Coast engineering and supply services.
07 · Category
Cost Analysis2 stats
01
In 2023, U.S. petrochemical feedstock ethane prices increased materially versus 2022; Henry Hub averaged about $2.5/MMBtu in 2023
02
In 2023, Brent averaged about $82per barrel (supporting cashflows for upstream and related Houston activity)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In Houston’s oil and gas cost landscape, 2023 brought a clear upward pressure as Henry Hub ethane jumped to about $2.5 per MMBtu and Brent averaged roughly $82 per barrel, together indicating higher feedstock and overall cost headwinds versus 2022.
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
Christopher Morgan. (2026, February 13). Houston Texas Oil Gas Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/houston-texas-oil-gas-industry-statistics
MLA
Christopher Morgan. "Houston Texas Oil Gas Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/houston-texas-oil-gas-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Christopher Morgan. 2026. "Houston Texas Oil Gas Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/houston-texas-oil-gas-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
31 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+23 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)