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For paleoenvironmental analyses of Gulf of Mexico exploration, studies of the distribution of living benthic foraminifera (Poag, 1981; Pflum and Frerichs, 1976, Phleger and Parker, 1951) provide an excellent database. Using these studies and others, paleontologists constructed models for interpreting past Gulf of Mexico environments using fossil benthic foraminifera (Breard, Callender and Nault, 1993: Culver, 1988, Tipsworth et al., 1966). Wells drilled in Pleistocene and Pliocene age sediments encounter fossils of many extant species of benthic foraminifera and consequently paleoenvironmental interpretations are made with reasonable confidence. However, as wells are drilled deeper into older sediments, the percentage of extinct species encountered rises rapidly. In the older sediments paleoenvironments are more speculative, but can be inferred.

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Commonly in Gulf Coast paleontology, ancient marine environments are related to interpreted water depths (paleobathymetry). This is an oversimplification because benthic foraminifera often respond to water conditions (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, etc.) rather than to depth. However, there are over 40,000 wells drilled in the Gulf. By combining data from existing wells, it is possible to reconstruct the profile of the continental shelf and slope at various points in geologic time. Such paleogeographic maps, combined with seismic profiles and other geologic data sets, are the tools used in the search for hydrocarbons. It is paleontology that uniquely explains the element of geologic time and depositional environment to petroleum geology.
  —Brian J. O'Neill

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