**Shell Embarks on Waterflood Initiative at Vito Field in the Gulf of Mexico**
In a strategic move to enhance production capacity and maximize the potential of its Vito asset, Shell Offshore Inc., a subsidiary of Shell plc, has made a final investment decision (FID) on a waterflood project. This initiative aims to inject water into the reservoir formation to displace additional oil and re-pressurize the field, thereby increasing recoverable resource volume.
### The Vito Field: A Deepwater Gem
Located in the Mississippi Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico, the Vito field spans four Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) blocks. First discovered in July 2009, it is situated approximately 4,000 feet underwater and about 75 miles south of Venice, Louisiana. The field is operated by Shell with a 63.11% interest, while Equinor holds the remaining 36.89%.
### Revolutionizing the Oil Extraction Process
The waterflood project is set to commence in 2027 and is expected to significantly boost the field’s production. This method of secondary oil recovery involves injecting water into the reservoir to physically sweep the displaced oil towards adjacent production wells. The three pre-drilled water injection wells will play a crucial role in re-pressurizing the reservoir, ensuring optimal production rates and maximizing recoverable resources.
### A Sustainable Approach
In line with Shell’s commitment to sustainability, the Vito host has been designed with environmental considerations in mind. The original design for the Vito host was simplified and re-scoped in 2015, resulting in an approximately 80% reduction in CO2 emissions over the lifetime of the platform. This redesign also brought about a cost reduction of over 70% from the original host design concept.
### Achieving First Oil and Setting New Benchmarks
The journey to first oil at the Vito field began with the Final Investment Decision reached by Shell and its partner Equinor in April