The Cantarell Complex of five oil fields lies beneath the Bay of Campeche . In 2003 it was the second most productive oil field in the world , then supplying about two thirds of Mexico 's crude oil output , but it went into a steep decline soon thereafter . On June 3 , 1979 , '' Ixtoc I '' , an exploratory oil well located in the bay , suffered a blowout that caused a catastrophic explosion , resulting in what has been ranked as the third largest unintentional oil spill in history
suffered a blowout
Ixtoc I oil spill
Bay of Campeche