First, though, he had to dive through a 40-foot vertical patch of murky, water-oil mixture that began 20 feet below the surface.

WSJ: Gulf's Fishing-for-Fun Culture Also Takes Hit

Until recently, oil and gas produced from deep-water fields have been brought to the surface and transported to onshore processing facilities.

FORBES: World's First Subsea Smart Grid Changes Offshore Oil and Gas Game

Geological forces lifted these oil-bearing rocks up toward the surface of the earth, within reach of water and bacteria.

FORBES: The Promise And Pitfalls Of Canada's Oil Sands