SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
ABERNATHY WILLIAM L

(Last) (First) (Middle)
110 WEST SEVENTH STREET, SUITE 2300

(Street)
TULSA OK 74119

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
VINTAGE PETROLEUM INC [ VPI ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
X Director 10% Owner
X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
Executive Vice President
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/06/2006
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 06/21/2005 G V 950 D $0 214,910 D
Common Stock 09/06/2005 G V 1,000 D $0 213,910 D
Common Stock 09/27/2005 G V 2,000 D $0 211,910 D
Common Stock 01/06/2006 M 12,900 A $15.5 224,810 D
Common Stock 01/06/2006 M 20,644 A $9.6875 245,454 D
Common Stock 500 I By Son
Common Stock 14,351(1) I By 401(k) Plan
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)(2) $15.5 01/06/2006 M 12,900 03/07/2000(3) 03/06/2007 Common Stock 12,900 $0 0 D
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)(4) $9.6875 01/06/2006 M 20,644 12/31/1998(5) 03/14/2006 Common Stock 20,644 $0 0 D
Explanation of Responses:
1. Information is based on a plan statement dated as of January 6, 2006.
2. This option was previously reported as covering 6,450 shares at an exercise price of $31.00 per share, but was adjusted to reflect a two-for-one stock split on October 7, 1997.
3. This option to buy 12,900 shares of common stock became exercisable in increments as follows: 6,450 shares beginning March 7, 2000, and 6,450 shares beginning January 1, 2001.
4. This option was previously reported as covering 10,322 shares at an exercise price of $19.375 per share, but was adjusted to reflect a two-for-one stock split on October 7, 1997.
5. This option to buy 20,644 shares of common stock became exercisable in increments as follows: 10,322 shares beginning December 31, 1998, and 10,322 shares beginning March 15, 1999.
Michael F. Meimerstorf, Attorney-in-Fact for William L. Abernathy 01/10/2006
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.