The Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the U. S. Department of the Interior awarded the contract for the "Deepwater Program: Understanding the Processes that Maintain the Oxygen Levels in the Deep Gulf of Mexico" to the Texas A&M Research Foundation in July 2002. Scientists at Texas A&M University (TAMU) conducted the research. The study area was the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, defined as that part of the Gulf with water depths of 400 m or more. Vertically the study area extended from sea surface to sea floor. Study results will assist MMS in its management of the nation's Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Program, including oil and gas leasing in federal waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico.