The eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico basin can be divided into the North and South Florida provinces on the basis of stratigraphy, and subdivided further on the basis of its major structural features. The southeast-striking ridge formed by the Central Georgia, Ocala, and Bahama uplifts is considered to represent the marginal flexure of this part of the Gulf basin. The Apalachicola embayment of south Georgia and west Florida has a maximum sedimentary fill in excess of 15,000 feet of clastic sediments, and the South Florida embayment, which covers the area of south Florida, the Bahamas, Cuba, and the intervening areas, has a maximum fill of non-clastic sediments approaching 20,000 feet, and the area of the Great Bahama Bank is considered to be underlain by a section in ex ess of 10,000 feet. On the basis of present data, anticlines are probably the most prevalent type of structure of both embayments though faulting is undoubtedly present, and conditions are favorable for the formation of stratigraphic traps. Oil production has been developed on the south Florida segment of the embayment, and additional drilling development is under way. Gravity and core drill are the most widely used methods of prospecting; additional experimental work is necessary to develop proper seismograph technique.

The Sunniland field of Collier County, Florida, has four producing wells that have produced approximately 100,000 barrels of 19°-24.5° gravity oil. One rig is working in the field, and eight wildcat operations are active in Florida.