On 16 February, production started on the Vito platform in the US Gulf of Mexico (GoM).

Operated by Shell Offshore Inc., a subsidiary of Shell plc, the deep-water Vito platform will produce an estimated 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day at peak. Equinor has a 36.89% interest in the field.

“Vito is a first-class asset in a key producing region for Equinor,” says Chris Golden, US country manager. “The US Gulf of Mexico delivers some of Equinor’s highest-value barrels, helping us meet society’s critical energy needs while maintaining our focus on reducing emissions towards becoming a net-zero energy company by 2050.”

Vito employs a simplified and cost-efficient host design that was rescoped in 2015, resulting in an ~80% reduction in lifetime CO2 emissions and more than 70% reduction in costs versus the original concept. Estimated recoverable resources are approximately 290 million barrels of oil equivalent.

Equinor is committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. An optimised oil and gas portfolio is part of Equinor’s strategy to provide Always safe, High value, and Low carbon energy.

Vito key facts

• Originally discovered in 2009.
• Platform located 75 miles (120 kilometers) south of Venice, Louisiana, in the US Gulf of Mexico’s Mississippi Canyon area.
• Shell Offshore Inc., a subsidiary of Shell plc, is the operator (63.11%) with Equinor (36.89%) as partner.
• Semi-submersible platform with an estimated peak production of 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
• Water depth of approximately 4,000 feet (1,220 meters), with eight subsea wells to a depth of 31,000 feet (9,500 meters).

KeyFacts Energy: Equinor Brazil country profile