Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
HERRINGTON MURPHY B
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
VINTAGE PETROLEUM INC [VPI]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Vice President-Acquisitions
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
110 WEST SEVENTH STREET, SUITE 2300
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/11/2005
(Street)

TULSA, OK 74119
4. If Amendment, Date 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
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
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 08/11/2005   M   16,000 A $ 9.6875 46,020 D  
Common Stock 08/11/2005   S   10,900 D $ 38.5 35,120 D  
Common Stock 08/11/2005   S   100 D $ 38.59 35,020 D  
Common Stock 08/11/2005   S   2,700 D $ 38.53 32,320 D  
Common Stock 08/11/2005   S   300 D $ 38.71 32,020 D  
Common Stock               8,652 (1) I By 401(k) Plan

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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 Underlying Securities
(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 of Derivative Security: 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) $ 9.6875 08/11/2005   M     16,000 12/31/1998(3) 03/14/2006 Common Stock 16,000 $ 0 0 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
HERRINGTON MURPHY B
110 WEST SEVENTH STREET
SUITE 2300
TULSA, OK 74119
      Vice President-Acquisitions  

Signatures

 Murphy B. Herrington   08/12/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* 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).
(1) Information is based on a plan statement dated as of August 9, 2005.
(2) This option was previously reported as covering 8,000 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.
(3) This option became exercisable in increments as follows: 2,068 shares beginning December 31, 1998, 10,322 shares beginning March 15, 1999, and 3,610 shares beginning January 1, 2000.

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