The Louisiana Gulf Coast region consists of the 38 southern parishes and 21 outer continental shelf areas extending to a water depth of 6,500 ft (2,000 m).

There were 2,078 wells drilled in the district during 1976, an increase of 6% from 1975. The success rate for onshore wildcats was only 5%, and offshore wildcats were successful 24% of the time.

Only 9 rank wildcat wells onshore registered discoveries, a 50% decrease from the 19 discoveries of 1975. Offshore, 28 wildcats scored successes. The success rate for all wells of an exploratory nature both onshore and offshore was 22%.

Geophysical activity onshore increased 54%, and the offshore total decreased between 12 and 32%.

Leasing activity offshore declined sharply, as only 2 relatively minor sales were held during 1976. This was the second year of sharply reduced leasing. Onshore leasing increased substantially during 1976, leasing from private owners was up 64%, and state land leased increased 23%.