**Shell Initiates Waterflood Project at Gulf of Mexico’s Vito Field**
Shell Offshore Inc., a subsidiary of Shell plc, has made a pivotal decision to proceed with a waterflood project at its Vito asset in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. This strategic move marks a significant step toward enhancing oil recovery in the region.
The waterflood project involves injecting water into the reservoir formation to displace additional oil toward adjacent production wells, thereby re-pressurizing the reservoir. This method, known as secondary recovery, is crucial for maximizing the remaining resources at the Vito field.
Scheduled to commence in 2027, this initiative aims to increase recoverable resource volumes by 60 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe). The estimated resources volumes are classified as 2P and 2C according to the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ (SPE) Resource Classification System.
The Vito field, discovered in July 2009, is located in four Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) blocks in the Mississippi Canyon, spanning over 4,000 feet of water. This vast underwater platform is situated approximately 75 miles south of Venice, Louisiana, and 10 miles south of the Shell-operated Mars tension-leg platform.
The original design for the Vito host was simplified and revamped in 2015, resulting in a notable reduction of about 80% in CO2 emissions and a cost reduction exceeding 70% from the original host design concept. This environmental and financial optimization underscores Shell’s commitment to sustainable and efficient operations.
Shell, operating with a 63.11% interest, is partnered with Equinor, which holds the remaining 36.89% stake. Together, they reached the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Vito development project in April 2018 and achieved first oil in February 2023.
Zoë Yujnovich, Shell Integrated Gas and