The Gulf of Mexico is taking on increasing significance within BP’s portfolio because of the company’s new focus on "value over volume," said John Minge, president of BP America,

"It's been a long road," he told an audience at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, but BP's Gulf of Mexico operations are "gaining momentum."

The Gulf is one of four areas, along with places like Azerbaijan, the North Sea and Angola where it believes its developments can bring the highest returns for the company.

BP's