noodls browser compatibility check

The security settings of your browser are blocking the execution of scripts.

To use noodls, javascript support must be enabled. Please change your browser's security settings to enable javascript.

If you have changed your browser's security settings, you can click here.

related announcements

Finance

Financial Markets

W&T Offshore Inc.

11/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/21/2024 05:22

Supplemental Prospectus - Form 424B5

tm2428253-1_424b5 - none - 4.6094015s

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-282595

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated October 24, 2024)

W&T Offshore, Inc.

Up to $83,001,247 of Common Stock

This prospectus supplement relates to the issuance and sale of up to $83,001,247 of shares of our common stock from time to time through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated ("Stifel") and Roth Capital Partners, LLC ("Roth"), as sales agents. Stifel and Roth are referred to herein individually as an "Agent" and collectively as the "Agents." These sales, if any, will be made pursuant to the terms of the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of March 18, 2022, by and among the Agents and us. See "Plan of Distribution" beginning on page S-12 of this prospectus supplement for more information regarding these arrangements.

We previously filed a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-260248), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on October 14, 2021 and declared effective on October 25, 2021 (the "Prior Registration Statement"). The Prior Registration Statement registered an aggregate of $500,000,000 of an indeterminate number of securities to be offered by us from time to time. Pursuant to a prospectus supplement to the Prior Registration Statement dated October 25, 2021, we registered the issuance and sale of up to $100,000,000 of shares issuable pursuant to the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement, of which $83,001,247 of shares of common stock remain available for issuance and sale pursuant to this prospectus supplement as of November 20, 2024.

Sales of shares of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be made by the Agent designated by us in a placement notice (a "Designated Agent") by any method permitted by law deemed to be an "at the market" offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), including sales made directly on or through the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), the existing trading market for our common stock, or on any other existing trading market for the common stock, or in negotiated transactions. If we sell shares of common stock to a Designated Agent as principal, we will enter into a separate terms agreement with such Designated Agent, and we will describe that agreement in a separate prospectus supplement or pricing supplement. The Designated Agent will not be permitted to purchase common stock for its own account as principal unless expressly authorized by us to do so in a terms agreement. The Designated Agent will act as sales agent on a commercially reasonable efforts basis consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

The Designated Agent will be entitled to a placement fee of up to 3.0% of the gross sales price per share sold. In connection with the sale of our common stock on our behalf, the Designated Agent will be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of the Designated Agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts.

You should carefully read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before you invest in any of our common stock.

Investing in our common stock involves risks. Please see "Risk Factors," beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and page 4 of the accompanying prospectus, for a discussion of certain risks that you should consider in connection with an investment in our common stock.

Our executive offices are located at 5718 Westheimer Road, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77057 and our telephone number is (713) 626-8525. Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "WTI." On November 19, 2024, the last reported sale price of common stock on the NYSE was $1.98 per share.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE DISCLOSURES IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

Stifel

Roth Capital Partners

This prospectus supplement is dated November 20, 2024.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

	ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT					S-1
	CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS					S-3
	PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY					S-6
	THE OFFERING					S-7
	RISK FACTORS					S-8
	USE OF PROCEEDS					S-10
	DIVIDEND POLICY					S-11
	PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION					S-12
	LEGAL MATTERS					S-13
	EXPERTS					S-14
	WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION					S-14
	INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE					S-14

Prospectus

	ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS					1
	WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION					2
	INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE					3
	RISK FACTORS					4
	CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS					5
	THE COMPANY					8
	USE OF PROCEEDS					9
	DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES					10
	DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK					22
	DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES					25
	DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS					27
	SELLING SHAREHOLDER					28
	PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION					29
	LEGAL MATTERS					34
	EXPERTS					34

S-i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC, utilizing a "shelf" registration process. This document contains two parts. The first part consists of this prospectus supplement, which provides you with specific information about this offering. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Under the shelf registration process, we may from time to time offer and sell any combination of securities described in the accompanying prospectus up to a total dollar amount of $500,000,000 of which this offering is a part. Generally, when we refer only to the "prospectus," we are referring to both parts combined. This prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in the accompanying prospectus. To the extent that any statement we make in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in the accompanying prospectus or any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, the statements made in this prospectus supplement will be deemed to modify or supersede those made in the accompanying prospectus and such documents incorporated by reference herein and therein.

You should read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering in their entirety before making an investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents to which we have referred you in the sections of this prospectus supplement entitled "Where You Can Find More Information" and "Documents Incorporated by Reference." You should rely only on the information that we have included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. Neither we, nor the Agents, have authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to give any different information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus.

The Agents are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any such related free writing prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, or any such related free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Except as otherwise set forth in this prospectus supplement, neither we nor the Agents have taken any action to permit a public offering of these securities outside the United States or to permit the possession or distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus outside the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of these securities and the distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus outside the United States.

You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, or any such related free writing prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference herein or therein is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, or any such related free writing prospectus is delivered, or securities are sold, on a later date.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, include statements that are based on various assumptions and estimates that are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described under the heading "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and in the section titled "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the "2023 Form 10-K"), which is incorporated by reference into the prospectus. These and other important factors could cause our future results to be materially different from the results expected as a result of, or implied by, these assumptions and estimates. The information in this prospectus supplement is not

S-1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

complete. You should read the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, completely and with the understanding that future results may be materially different and worse from what we expect. See the information included under the heading "Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements".

This prospectus supplement contains or incorporates by reference summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference should be made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been or will be filed or have been or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described in this prospectus supplement under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

None of W&T Offshore, Inc., the Agents, or any of their representatives are making any representation to you regarding the legality of an investment in our common stock by you under applicable laws. You should consult with your own advisors as to legal, tax, business, financial and related aspects of an investment in our common stock.

S-2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are made in light of information currently available to us. If the risks or uncertainties materialize or the assumptions prove incorrect, our results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions.

When used in this prospectus supplement, the words "could," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project," "forecast," "may," "objective," "plan," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation, nor do we intend, to update these forward-looking statements, unless required by law.

The information included in this prospectus supplement includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could materially affect our expected results of operations, liquidity, cash flows and business prospects. Such statements specifically include our expectations as to our future financial position, liquidity, cash flows, results of operations and business strategy, potential acquisition opportunities, other plans and objectives for operations, capital for sustained production levels, expected production and operating costs, reserves, hedging activities, capital expenditures, return of capital, improvement of recovery factors and other guidance. Actual results may differ from anticipated results, sometimes materially, and reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. For any such forward-looking statement that includes a statement of the assumptions or bases underlying such forward-looking statement, we caution that, while we believe such assumptions or bases to be reasonable and make them in good faith, assumed facts or bases almost always vary from actual results, sometimes materially. You should carefully consider the statements under the heading "Risk Factors" herein, in our 2023 Form 10-K and the other documents incorporated by reference herein that describe factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Factors (but not necessarily all the factors) that could cause results to differ include, among others:

•

the regulatory environment, including availability or timing of, and conditions imposed on, obtaining and/or maintaining permits and approvals, including those necessary for drilling and/or development projects;

•

the impact of current, pending and/or future laws and regulations, and of legislative and regulatory changes and other government activities, including those related to permitting, drilling, completion, well stimulation, operation, maintenance or abandonment of wells or facilities, managing energy, water, land, greenhouse gases or other emissions, protection of health, safety and the environment, or transportation, marketing and sale of our products;

•

inflation levels;

•

global economic trends, geopolitical risks and general economic and industry conditions, such as the global supply chain disruptions and the government interventions into the financial markets and economy in response to inflation levels and world health events;

•

volatility of oil, natural gas liquids ("NGLs") and natural gas prices;

•

the global energy future, including the factors and trends that are expected to shape it, such as concerns about climate change and other air quality issues, the transition to a low-emission economy and the expected role of different energy sources;

S-3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

•

supply of and demand for oil, NGLs and natural gas, including due to the actions of foreign producers, importantly including OPEC and other major oil producing companies ("OPEC+") and change in OPEC+'s production levels;

•

disruptions to, capacity constraints in, or other limitations on the pipeline systems that deliver our oil and natural gas and other processing and transportation considerations;

•

inability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or to obtain adequate financing to fund capital expenditures, meet our working capital requirements or fund planned investments;

•

price fluctuations and availability of natural gas and electricity;

•

our ability to use derivative instruments to manage commodity price risk;

•

our ability to meet our planned drilling schedule, including due to our ability to obtain permits on a timely basis or at all, and to successfully drill wells that produce oil and natural gas in commercially viable quantities;

•

uncertainties associated with estimating proved reserves and related future cash flows;

•

our ability to replace our reserves through exploration and development activities;

•

drilling and production results, lower-than-expected production, reserves or resources from development projects or higher-than-expected decline rates;

•

our ability to obtain timely and available drilling and completion equipment and crew availability and access to necessary resources for drilling, completing and operating wells;

•

changes in tax laws;

•

effects of competition;

•

uncertainties and liabilities associated with acquired and divested assets;

•

our ability to make acquisitions and successfully integrate any acquired businesses;

•

asset impairments from commodity price declines;

•

large or multiple customer defaults on contractual obligations, including defaults resulting from actual or potential insolvencies;

•

geographical concentration of our operations;

•

the creditworthiness and performance of our counterparties with respect to our hedges;

•

impact of derivatives legislation affecting our ability to hedge;

•

failure of risk management and ineffectiveness of internal controls;

•

catastrophic events, including tropical storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, pandemics or other world health events;

•

environmental risks and liabilities under U.S. federal, state, tribal and local laws and regulations (including remedial actions);

•

potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation;

•

our ability to recruit and/or retain key members of our senior management and key technical employees;

•

information technology failures or cyberattacks;

•

governmental actions and political conditions, as well as the actions by other third parties that are beyond our control; and

•

other factors discussed elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and under "Risk Factors" in our 2023 Form 10-K.

Reserve engineering is a process of estimating underground accumulations of oil, NGLs and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact way. The accuracy of any reserve estimate depends on the quality

S-4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

of available data, the interpretation of such data and price and cost assumptions made by reserve engineers. In addition, the results of drilling, testing and production activities may justify revisions of estimates that were made previously. If significant, such revisions would change the schedule of any further production and our development program. Accordingly, reserve estimates may differ significantly from the quantities of natural gas, oil and NGLs that are ultimately recovered.

All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this prospectus supplement are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.

S-5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and in the documents we incorporate by reference. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our common stock. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the "Risk Factors" sections beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and page 4 of the accompanying prospectus, the "Risk Factors" section contained in the documents incorporated by reference herein, and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and the other documents incorporated by reference herein, before making an investment decision.

Except as otherwise indicated herein or as the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to "W&T," "the Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to W&T Offshore, Inc. and, where appropriate, our consolidated subsidiaries.

Company Overview

We are an independent oil and natural gas producer, active in the exploration, development and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties in the Gulf of Mexico. As of September 30, 2024, we hold working interests in 53 producing offshore fields in federal and state waters (which include 46 fields in federal waters and seven in state waters). We currently have under lease approximately 673,100 gross acres (515,400 net acres) spanning across the outer continental shelf off the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama, with approximately 5,600 gross acres in Alabama state waters, 514,000 gross acres on the conventional shelf and approximately 153,500 gross acres in the deepwater. A majority of our daily production is derived from wells we operate.

Corporate Information

W&T Offshore, Inc. is a Texas corporation. Our corporate offices are located at 5718 Westheimer Road, Suite 700, Houston, TX 77057. Our phone number is (713) 626-8525. Our website address is www.wtoffshore.com. Our periodic reports and other information filed with or furnished to the SEC are available, free of charge, through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after those reports and other information are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and does not constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

S-6

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE OFFERING

	Issuer			W&T Offshore, Inc.
	Common stock offered hereby			Shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $83,001,247.
	Common stock issued and outstanding prior to this offering			147,357,587 shares as of October 31, 2024.
	Common stock issuable under this offering			The actual number of shares of our common stock issued in this offering, if such shares are sold, will vary depending upon the individual sales price or prices under this offering. Assuming all sales in this offering were made at an offering price of $1.98, which was the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE on November 19, 2024, 41,919,821 shares would be sold in this offering.
	Manner of offering			"At the market offering" that may be made from time to time through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated or Roth Capital Partners, LLC, as either may be a Designated Agent. See "Plan of Distribution" beginning on page S-12 in this prospectus supplement.
	Use of proceeds			We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, acquisitions, capital expenditures and debt service payments.
	Risk factors			See "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and page 4 of the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference therein, for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our common stock.
	NYSE symbol			"WTI"

S-7

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors and all of the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement, including those included in our 2023 Form 10-K, in evaluating an investment in our common stock. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to this Offering and Our Common Stock

We have broad discretion in the use of net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, acquisitions, capital expenditures and debt service payments. See "Use of Proceeds" on page S-10. Although we plan to use the net proceeds from this offering as described, we have not designated the amount of net proceeds from this offering to be used for any particular purpose. We will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds. You will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of this offering. The results and effectiveness of the use of proceeds are uncertain, and we could spend the proceeds in ways that you do not agree with or that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock. Our failure to apply these funds effectively could affect our financial condition. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.

A significant portion of our total outstanding shares may be sold, which could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly and impede our ability to raise future capital, even if our business is doing well.

As of October 31, 2024, we had 147,357,587 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, a substantial portion of which may be sold subject to any applicable volume, manner of sale, and other limitations under federal securities laws with respect to affiliate sales under Rule 144, or may be sold by our founder and chief executive officer under a currently effective registration statement.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the market perception that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock. If the market price of our common stock is low, we may not be able to raise additional equity in amounts sufficient to fund our business plans or we may issue significant additional shares to raise funds, resulting in significant dilution to our shareholders.

You may experience dilution as a result of this offering or future issuances of equity securities, which may adversely affect the per share trading price of our common stock.

This offering may have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share and funds from operations per share after giving effect to the issuance of our common stock and the receipt of the expected net proceeds. The actual amount of dilution from this offering or from any future sales of shares of our common stock will be based on numerous factors, particularly the use of proceeds and any return generated thereby, and cannot be determined at this time. The per share trading price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of our common stock in the market in connection with this offering, or otherwise, or as a result of the perception or expectation that such sales could occur. In addition, we are not prohibited from offering in the future other shares of common stock, preferred stock, convertible or other equity linked securities which could have a similar dilutive effect.

Future sales of a substantial amount of shares of our common stock, or the possibility that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

We may issue up to $83,001,247 of our common stock from time to time in this offering. The issuance from time to time of shares in this offering, as well as our ability to issue such shares in this offering, could have the effect of depressing the market price or increasing the market price volatility of our common stock. In addition, we are not prohibited from offering in the future other shares of common stock, preferred

S-8

TABLE OF CONTENTS

stock, convertible or other equity linked securities which could have a similar effect on market price or volatility of our common stock. See "Plan of Distribution" beginning on page S-12 of this prospectus supplement for more information.

It is not possible to predict the actual number of shares we will sell under the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement or the gross proceeds resulting from those sales.

Subject to certain limitations in the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver placement notices to the Agents at any time throughout the term of the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement. The number of shares that are sold through a Designated Agent after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price of our common stock during the sales period, the limits we set with the Designated Agent in any applicable placement notice, and the demand for our common stock during the sales period. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate during the sales period, it is not possible to predict the number of shares that will be sold or the gross proceeds to be raised in connection with those sales.

The common stock offered hereby will be sold in "at the market offerings," and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.

Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices and therefore may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold in this offering. In addition, there is no minimum or maximum sales price for shares to be sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the shares they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.

S-9

TABLE OF CONTENTS

USE OF PROCEEDS

The amount of proceeds from this offering will depend upon the number of shares of our common stock sold and the market price at which they are sold. There can be no assurance that we will be able to sell any shares under or fully utilize the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement.

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, acquisitions, capital expenditures and debt service payments. Pending these uses, we plan to invest these net proceeds in interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit, or direct or guaranteed obligations of the United States of America.

The expected use of net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based upon our present plans and business conditions, which may change. We cannot predict with certainty all of the particular uses for the proceeds of this offering or the amounts that we will actually spend on the uses set forth above. Accordingly, our management will have significant flexibility in applying the net proceeds of this offering. The timing and amount of our actual expenditures will be based on many factors, including cash flows from operations, changes in our capitalization and the anticipated growth of our business.

S-10

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DIVIDEND POLICY

We pay quarterly dividends to our shareholders at the discretion of the board of directors of the Company (the "Board"). On November 7, 2024, the Board declared a dividend of $0.01 per share of common stock totaling approximately $1,478,225 payable on November 29, 2024, to shareholders of record as of November 21, 2024. Although we currently intend to return capital to shareholders in the form of a quarterly cash dividend, the amount and timing of these returns of capital to shareholders may vary from time to time. The decision whether to return capital to shareholders, as well as the timing and amount of any return of capital to shareholders, is subject to the discretion of the Board, which regularly evaluates our proposed capital returns to shareholders and the requirements, if any, under the Texas Business Organizations Code.

S-11

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We entered into an At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement with the Agents, filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K on March 18, 2022 and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Under the terms of the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement, we may offer and sell up to $83,001,247 of shares of our common stock under this prospectus (the "Offering"), from time to time through the Agents, as our sales agents. Sales of shares of our common stock, if any, may be made by the Designated Agent by any method permitted by law deemed to be an "at the market" offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through the NYSE, the existing trading market for our common stock, or on any other existing trading market for the common stock, and, if expressly authorized by the Company, in negotiated transactions.

Under the terms of the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement, we also may sell shares of common stock to a Designated Agent as principal for its own account at a price agreed upon at the time of the sale. If we sell shares of common stock to a Designated Agent as principal, we will enter into a separate terms agreement with such Designated Agent, and we will describe that agreement in a separate prospectus supplement or pricing supplement. The Designated Agent will not be permitted to purchase common stock for its own account as principal unless expressly authorized by us to do so in a terms agreement. If we and the Designated Agent agree on any method of distribution other than sales of shares of our common stock over the NYSE or another existing trading market in the United States at market prices, we will file a further prospectus supplement providing all information about such offering as required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act.

The Designated Agent will offer our common stock at prevailing market prices subject to the terms and conditions of the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement as agreed upon by us and the Designated Agent. We will designate the number of shares which we desire to sell, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of shares that may be sold in one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made. Subject to the terms and conditions of the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement, the Designated Agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell on our behalf all of the common stock requested to be sold by us. We or the Designated Agent may suspend the offering of the common stock being made through the Designated Agent under the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement upon proper notice to the other party.

Settlement for sales of shares of our common stock will occur on the second trading day or such shorter settlement cycle as may be in effect under Exchange Act Rule 15c6-1 from time to time, following the date on which any sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and the Designated Agent in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. Sales of shares of our common stock as contemplated in this prospectus supplement will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and the Designated Agent may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

We will pay the Designated Agent in cash, upon each sale of our common stock pursuant to the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement, a commission of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from each sale of our common stock. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. Pursuant to the terms of the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement, we have agreed to reimburse the Agents for the filing fees and associated legal expenses of the Agents' legal counsel for filings with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") Corporate Financing Department, as well as the reasonable fees and disbursements of their legal counsel incurred in connection with entering into the transactions contemplated by the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $15,000 per representation date (as described in the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement). We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding commissions payable to the Designated Agents under the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement, will be approximately $425,000. In compliance with the guidelines of FINRA, the maximum discount or commission to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate offering price of the shares offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement.

S-12

TABLE OF CONTENTS

We will report at least quarterly the number of shares of common stock sold through the Agents under the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement, the net proceeds to us and the compensation paid by us to the Agents in connection with the sales of shares of our common stock.

In connection with the sales of shares of our common stock on our behalf, the Designated Agent will be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid to the Designated Agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts.

The offering of our common stock pursuant to the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all our common stock provided for in this prospectus supplement, or (ii) termination of the At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement, as permitted therein.

The Agents and their affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees.

The transfer agent for our common stock to be issued in this offering is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

Our common stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol "WTI."

Indemnification

We have agreed to indemnify the Agents against liabilities under the Securities Act. We have also agreed to contribute to payments the Agents may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.

Electronic Distribution

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be made available in electronic format on websites or through other online services maintained by the Agents, or by an affiliate. Other than this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, the information on the Agents' website and any information contained in any other website maintained by the Agents is not part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the Agents, and should not be relied upon by investors.

Regulation M Restrictions

To the extent required by Regulation M, the Agents will not engage in any market making activities involving shares of our common stock while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Houston, Texas. Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Houston, Texas, is acting as counsel for the Agents in connection with this offering.

S-13

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of W&T Offshore, Inc. and its subsidiaries appearing in W&T Offshore, Inc.'s 2023 Form 10-K, and the effectiveness of W&T Offshore, Inc. and subsidiaries' internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference in the prospectus supplement and elsewhere in the registration statement. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Certain estimates of proved oil and gas reserves for W&T Offshore, Inc. incorporated by reference herein were based in part upon a report prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., independent petroleum consultant. These estimates are included and incorporated herein in reliance on the authority of such firm as an expert in such matters.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3 to register the offer and sale of the securities covered hereby. This prospectus, which forms part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information included in that registration statement. For further information about us and the securities covered by this prospectus, you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits. Certain information is also incorporated by reference in this prospectus as described under "Information Incorporated by Reference."

We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available at the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. We also furnish our shareholders with annual reports containing our financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm and quarterly reports containing our unaudited financial information. We maintain a website at www.wtoffshore.com. You may access our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after this material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on, or that is or becomes accessible through, our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus. The reference to our website or web address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained at that site.

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it. This means that we can disclose information to you by referring you to those documents. The documents that have been incorporated by reference are an important part of the prospectus, and you should review that information in order to understand the nature of any investment by you in our securities. Information that we later provide to the SEC, and which is deemed to be "filed" with the SEC, will automatically update information previously filed with the SEC, and may update or replace information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC. We incorporate by reference the following documents that we have filed with the SEC (other than any portions of these documents that were deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with the SEC rules, including pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, including any financial statements or exhibits related thereto and furnished pursuant to Item 9.01), unless otherwise indicated herein:

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 6, 2024;

•

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on May 10, 2024, for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2024 filed with the SEC on August 7, 2024 and for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024 filed with the SEC on November 8, 2024;

S-14

TABLE OF CONTENTS

•

our Current Reports on Forms 8-K filed on January 2, 2024, January 26, 2024, March 1, 2024, March 18, 2024, March 28, 2024, April 11, 2024, May 1, 2024, May 24, 2024, May 30, 2024, June 17, 2024, July 1, 2024 and September 3, 2024; and

•

the description of our common stock included on our Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on January 24, 2005 (File No. 001-32414), and any subsequent amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description, including Exhibit 4.3 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 5, 2020.

All documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement (excluding, in each case, any information deemed furnished rather than filed), shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus until the termination of each offering under this prospectus.

Upon request, we will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the reports or documents that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If you would like a copy of any of these documents, at no cost, please write or call us at:

Sameer Parasnis
Chief Financial Officer
W&T Offshore, Inc.
5718 Westheimer Road, Suite 700
Houston, TX 77057
(713) 626-8525

Any statement contained in a document which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus is automatically updated and superseded if information contained in the prospectus modifies or replaces this information.

S-15

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROSPECTUS

W&T OFFSHORE, INC.

$500,000,000

Debt Securities
Guarantees of Debt Securities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants

Up to 50,605,082 Shares of Common Stock Offered by the Selling Shareholder

This prospectus relates to the offer and sale of our securities from time to time in one or more offerings and in classes or series and in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will determine at the time of the offering. Debt securities and preferred stock may be convertible into debt securities, preferred stock or common stock. Any debt securities we offer pursuant to this prospectus may be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries, including W & T Energy VI, LLC, W & T Energy VII, LLC, Aquasition III LLC, Aquasition IV LLC, Aquasition V LLC, Falcon Aero Holdings LLC, Falcon Aero Holdco LLC, Green Hell LLC, Seaquester LLC and Seaquestration LLC.

This prospectus also covers the offering for resale, from time to time, in one or more offerings, of up to 50,605,082 shares of common stock owned by the selling shareholder, Tracy W. Krohn (together with certain entities controlled by him that own shares of common stock registered hereby, the "selling shareholder"). Mr. Krohn founded our company and acquired these shares of common stock in a series of recapitalization transactions prior to our initial public offering in 2005, in open market purchases and as compensation for his services as our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Krohn may sell none, some or all of the shares offered by this prospectus. Sales may be at fixed prices, which may be changed, at prices related to the prevailing market prices at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. Such sales may occur in the open market, in negotiated transactions and in a combination of these methods. We will not receive any of the proceeds from any sale of Mr. Krohn's shares covered by this prospectus.

Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities we are offering for general corporate purposes. We will offer the securities in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offerings. The securities may be offered separately or together in any combination or as a separate series. We may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time by filing amendments or supplements as required. You should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or amendment before you invest. You also should read the documents we have referred you to in the "Where You Can Find More Information" section of this prospectus for information about us and our financial statements.

You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before you invest in any of our securities.

Investing in our securities involves risks. Please see "Risk Factors," beginning on page 4 of this prospectus, for a discussion of certain risks that you should consider in connection with an investment in the securities.

We and the selling shareholder may offer the securities directly or through underwriters, agents or dealers, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. The supplements to this prospectus will designate the terms of our plan of distribution. See the discussion under the heading "Plan of Distribution" for more information on the topic.

Our executive offices are located at 5718 Westheimer Road, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77057 and our telephone number is (713) 626-8525. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "WTI." On October 9, 2024, the last reported sale price of common stock on the NYSE was $2.26 per share. We will provide information in the prospectus supplement for the trading market, if any, for any debt securities, guarantees of debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or warrants we may offer.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE DISCLOSURES IN THE PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

This prospectus is dated October 24, 2024.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION		2
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE		3
RISK FACTORS		4
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		5
THE COMPANY		8
USE OF PROCEEDS		9
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES		10
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK		22
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES		25
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS		27
SELLING SHAREHOLDER		28
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		29
LEGAL MATTERS		34
EXPERTS		34

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to which we or the selling shareholder named herein may, from time to time, offer and sell or otherwise dispose of the securities covered by this prospectus. It is important for you to read and consider all information contained in this prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, in making your investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents to which we have referred you under the caption "Where You Can Find More Information" in this prospectus.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses we have prepared. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not, and the selling shareholder is not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where an offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information, even though this prospectus may be delivered or the securities may be sold or otherwise disposed of on a later date.

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Please read "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, and the selling shareholder may sell some or all of his shares of common stock, in one or more offerings. For further information about our business and the securities, you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits. The exhibits to the registration statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents summarized in this prospectus. Because these summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we may offer, you should review the full text of these documents. You can obtain the registration statement from the SEC as indicated under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering and the offered securities. Each time the selling shareholder sells any common stock offered by this prospectus, the selling shareholder is required to provide you with this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement containing specific information about the selling shareholder and the terms of the common stock being offered in the manner required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

Unless the context requires otherwise or unless otherwise noted, all references in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement (i) to "W&T Offshore," "we," "us" or "our" are to W&T Offshore, Inc. and its subsidiaries and (ii) the "selling shareholder" are to Tracy W. Krohn and certain entities controlled by him that own shares of common stock registered hereby that are identified in this prospectus under the caption "Selling Shareholder" or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in accordance therewith, file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available at the website of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. We also furnish our shareholders with annual reports containing our financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm and quarterly reports containing our unaudited financial information. We maintain a website at www.wtoffshore.com. You may access our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after this material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on, or that is or becomes accessible through, our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus. The reference to our website or web address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained at that site.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 6, 2024;

•

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on May 10, 2024 and for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2024 filed with the SEC on August 7, 2024;

•

Sameer Parasnis
Chief Financial Officer
W&T Offshore, Inc.
5718 Westheimer Road, Suite 700

Houston, TX 77057
(713) 626-8525

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors and all of the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, including those included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, in evaluating an investment in our securities. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common stock or debt securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. When we offer and sell any securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement, we may include additional risk factors relevant to such securities in the prospectus supplement.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are made in light of information currently available to us. If the risks or uncertainties materialize or the assumptions prove incorrect, our results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions.

When used in this prospectus, the words "could," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project," "forecast," "may," "objective," "plan," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation, nor do we intend, to update these forward-looking statements, unless required by law.

The information included in this prospectus includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could materially affect our expected results of operations, liquidity, cash flows and business prospects. Such statements specifically include our expectations as to our future financial position, liquidity, cash flows, results of operations and business strategy, potential acquisition opportunities, other plans and objectives for operations, capital for sustained production levels, expected production and operating costs, reserves, hedging activities, capital expenditures, return of capital, improvement of recovery factors and other guidance. Actual results may differ from anticipated results, sometimes materially, and reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. For any such forward-looking statement that includes a statement of the assumptions or bases underlying such forward-looking statement, we caution that, while we believe such assumptions or bases to be reasonable and make them in good faith, assumed facts or bases almost always vary from actual results, sometimes materially. You should carefully consider the statements under the heading "Risk Factors" herein, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the other documents incorporated by reference herein that describe factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Factors (but not necessarily all the factors) that could cause results to differ include, among others:

•

inflation levels;

•

volatility of oil, natural gas liquids ("NGLs") and natural gas prices;

•

TABLE OF CONTENTS

•

disruptions to, capacity constraints in, or other limitations on the pipeline systems that deliver our oil and natural gas and other processing and transportation considerations;

•

inability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or to obtain adequate financing to fund capital expenditures, meet our working capital requirements or fund planned investments;

•

price fluctuations and availability of natural gas and electricity;

•

our ability to use derivative instruments to manage commodity price risk;

•

uncertainties associated with estimating proved reserves and related future cash flows;

•

our ability to replace our reserves through exploration and development activities;

•

drilling and production results, lower-than-expected production, reserves or resources from development projects or higher-than-expected decline rates;

•

our ability to obtain timely and available drilling and completion equipment and crew availability and access to necessary resources for drilling, completing and operating wells;

•

changes in tax laws;

•

effects of competition;

•

uncertainties and liabilities associated with acquired and divested assets;

•

our ability to make acquisitions and successfully integrate any acquired businesses;

•

asset impairments from commodity price declines;

•

large or multiple customer defaults on contractual obligations, including defaults resulting from actual or potential insolvencies;

•

geographical concentration of our operations;

•

the creditworthiness and performance of our counterparties with respect to our hedges;

•

impact of derivatives legislation affecting our ability to hedge;

•

failure of risk management and ineffectiveness of internal controls;

•

catastrophic events, including tropical storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, pandemics or other world health events;

•

environmental risks and liabilities under U.S. federal, state, tribal and local laws and regulations (including remedial actions);

•

potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation;

•

our ability to recruit and/or retain key members of our senior management and key technical employees;

•

information technology failures or cyberattacks;

•

governmental actions and political conditions, as well as the actions by other third parties that are beyond our control; and

•

other factors discussed elsewhere in this prospectus and under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this prospectus are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE COMPANY

We are an independent oil and natural gas producer, active in the exploration, development and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties in the Gulf of Mexico. As of June 30, 2024, we hold working interests in 63 producing offshore fields in federal and state waters (which include 55 fields in federal waters and 8 in state waters). We currently have under lease approximately 678,100 gross acres (520,400 net acres) spanning across the outer continental shelf off the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama, with approximately 5,600 gross acres in Alabama state waters, 519,000 gross acres on the conventional shelf and approximately 153,500 gross acres in the deepwater. A majority of our daily production is derived from wells we operate.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of our securities for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things:

•

reduction or refinancing of debt or other corporate obligations;

•

additions to our working capital;

•

capital expenditures; and

•

potential future acquisitions.

Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of the offering and will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

In the event the selling shareholder sells any shares of common stock by means of this prospectus, we will not receive any proceeds from such sale.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The "Debt Securities" will be either our senior debt securities ("Senior Debt Securities") or our subordinated debt securities ("Subordinated Debt Securities"). The Senior Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued under separate indentures among us, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined below) of such Debt Securities, if any, and a trustee to be determined (the "Trustee"). Senior Debt Securities will be issued under a "Senior Indenture" and Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued under a "Subordinated Indenture." Together, the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture are called "Indentures."

The Debt Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The particular terms of each series that are offered by a prospectus supplement will be described in the prospectus supplement.

Unless the Debt Securities are guaranteed by our subsidiaries as described below, the rights of W&T Offshore, Inc. and our creditors, including holders of the Debt Securities, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the latter's liquidation or reorganization, will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent that we may ourself be a creditor with recognized claims against such subsidiary.

We have summarized selected provisions of the Indentures below. The summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by express reference to the provisions of the Indentures. The form of each Indenture has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you should read the Indentures for provisions that may be important to you. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified in the Indentures.

General

The Indentures provide that Debt Securities in separate series may be issued thereunder from time to time without limitation as to aggregate principal amount. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the Debt Securities of any series. We will determine the terms and conditions of the Debt Securities, including the maturity, principal and interest, but those terms must be consistent with the Indenture. The Debt Securities will be our unsecured obligations.

The Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our Senior Debt (as defined) as described under "- Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities" and in the prospectus supplement applicable to any Subordinated Debt Securities. If the prospectus supplement so indicates, the Debt Securities will be convertible into our common stock.

If specified in the prospectus supplement respecting a particular series of Debt Securities, certain subsidiaries of W&T Offshore, Inc. (each a "Subsidiary Guarantor") will fully and unconditionally guarantee (the "Subsidiary Guarantee") that series as described under "- Subsidiary Guarantee" and in the prospectus supplement. Each Subsidiary Guarantee will be an unsecured obligation of the Subsidiary Guarantor. A Subsidiary Guarantee of Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated to the Senior Debt of the Subsidiary Guarantor on the same basis as the Subordinated Debt Securities are subordinated to our Senior Debt.

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the price or prices at which the Debt Securities to be issued will be offered for sale and will describe the following terms of such Debt Securities:

(1)

the title of the Debt Securities;

(2)

whether the Debt Securities are Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Debt Securities and, if Subordinated Debt Securities, the related subordination terms;

(3)

whether any Subsidiary Guarantor will provide a Subsidiary Guarantee of the Debt Securities;

(4)

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities;

(5)

each date on which the principal and premium, if any, of the Debt Securities will be payable or the method used to determine those dates;

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(6)

the interest rate that the Debt Securities will bear, any date from which interest will accrue, any interest payment dates and regular record dates for interest payments, or the method used to determine any of the foregoing;

(7)

each place where payments on the Debt Securities will be payable;

(8)

any terms upon which the Debt Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option;

(9)

any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to redeem or otherwise repurchase the Debt Securities;

(10)

the portion of the principal amount, if less than all, of the Debt Securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity of the Debt Securities;

(11)

whether the Debt Securities are defeasible;

(12)

any addition to or change in the Events of Default;

(13)

whether the Debt Securities are convertible into our common stock and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which conversion will be effected, including the initial conversion price or conversion rate and any adjustments thereto and the conversion period;

(14)

any provisions for convertibility or exchangeability of the Debt Securities into or for any other securities;

(15)

any addition to or change in the covenants in the Indenture applicable to the Debt Securities; and

(16)

any other terms of the Debt Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture.

Debt Securities, including any Debt Securities that provide for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof ("Original Issue Discount Securities"), may be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. Special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to Debt Securities sold at an original issue discount may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, special United States federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any Debt Securities that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than United States dollars may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

The indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Debt Securities will, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Indenture with respect to each series of Subordinated Debt Securities, be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our Senior Debt, including the Senior Debt Securities, and it may also be senior in right of payment to all of our Subordinated Debt. The prospectus supplement relating to any Subordinated Debt Securities will summarize the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture applicable to that series including:

•

the applicability and effect of such provisions upon any payment or distribution respecting that series following any liquidation, dissolution or other winding-up, or any assignment for the benefit of creditors or other marshalling of assets or any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings;

•

the applicability and effect of such provisions in the event of specified defaults with respect to any Senior Debt, including the circumstances under which and the periods during which we will be prohibited from making payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities; and

•

the definition of Senior Debt applicable to the Subordinated Debt Securities of that series and, if the series is issued on a senior subordinated basis, the definition of Subordinated Debt applicable to that series.

The prospectus supplement will also describe as of a recent date the approximate amount of Senior Debt to which the Subordinated Debt Securities of that series will be subordinated.

The failure to make any payment on any of the Subordinated Debt Securities by reason of the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture described in the prospectus supplement will not be

TABLE OF CONTENTS

construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities arising from any such failure to make payment.

The subordination provisions described above will not be applicable to payments in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities from a defeasance trust established in connection with any legal defeasance or covenant defeasance of the Subordinated Debt Securities as described under "- Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance."

Subsidiary Guarantee

If specified in the prospectus supplement, one or more of the Subsidiary Guarantors will guarantee the Debt Securities of a series. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the following provisions will apply to the Subsidiary Guarantee of the Subsidiary Guarantor.

Subject to the limitations described below and in the prospectus supplement, one or more of the Subsidiary Guarantors will jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guarantee the punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all our payment obligations under the Indentures and the Debt Securities of a series, whether for principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages or otherwise. The Subsidiary Guarantors will also pay all fees, costs, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the applicable Trustee in enforcing any rights under a Subsidiary Guarantee with respect to a Subsidiary Guarantor.

In the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, a Subsidiary Guarantor's Subsidiary Guarantee will be subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Debt of such Subsidiary Guarantor on the same basis as the Subordinated Debt Securities are subordinated to our Senior Debt. No payment will be made by any Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee during any period in which payments by us on the Subordinated Debt Securities are suspended by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture.

Each Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited in amount to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor without rendering such Subsidiary Guarantee voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Each Subsidiary Guarantee will be a continuing guarantee and will:

(1)

remain in full force and effect until either (a) payment in full of all the applicable Debt Securities (or such Debt Securities are otherwise satisfied and discharged in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture) or (b) released as described in the following paragraph;

(2)

be binding upon each Subsidiary Guarantor; and

(3)

inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the applicable Trustee, the Holders and their successors, transferees and assigns.

In the event that (a) a Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary, (b) either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance occurs with respect to the series or (c) all or substantially all of the assets or all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor is sold, including by way of sale, merger, consolidation or otherwise, such Subsidiary Guarantor will be released and discharged of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee without any further action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, and no other person acquiring or owning the assets or Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor will be required to enter into a Subsidiary Guarantee. In addition, the prospectus supplement may specify additional circumstances under which a Subsidiary Guarantor can be released from its Subsidiary Guarantee.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

The Debt Securities of each series will be issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

At the option of the Holder, subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture and the limitations applicable to Global Securities, Debt Securities of each series will be exchangeable for other Debt Securities of the same series of any authorized denomination and of a like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

Subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture and the limitations applicable to Global Securities, Debt Securities may be presented for exchange as provided above or for registration of transfer (duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed) at the office of the Security Registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for such purpose. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in that connection. Such transfer or exchange will be effected upon the Security Registrar or such transfer agent, as the case may be, being satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. The Security Registrar and any other transfer agent initially designated by us for any Debt Securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of each series.

If the Debt Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, we or the registrar will not be required to (1) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Security of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Debt Security that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, (2) register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Security so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any such Debt Security being redeemed in part or (3) register the transfer of or exchange a Debt Security between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.

Global Securities

Some or all of the Debt Securities of any series may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more Global Securities that will have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of the Debt Securities they represent. Each Global Security will be registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, will be deposited with such Depositary or nominee or its custodian and will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer thereof referred to below and any such other matters as may be provided for pursuant to the applicable Indenture.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Indentures or any Debt Security described in this prospectus, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or any nominee of such Depositary unless:

(1)

the Depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or has ceased to be qualified to act as such as required by the applicable Indenture, and in either case we fail to appoint a successor Depositary within 120 days;

(2)

an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities represented by such Global Security has occurred and is continuing and the Trustee has received a written request from the Depositary to issue certificated Debt Securities;

(3)

subject to the rules of the Depositary, we shall have elected to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary; or

(4)

other circumstances exist, in addition to or in lieu of those described above, as may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

All certificated Debt Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof will be registered in such names as the Depositary may direct.

As long as the Depositary, or its nominee, is the registered holder of a Global Security, the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and Holder of such Global Security

TABLE OF CONTENTS

and the Debt Securities that it represents for all purposes under the Debt Securities and the applicable Indenture. Except in the limited circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have such Global Security or any Debt Securities that it represents registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Debt Securities in exchange for those interests and will not be considered to be the owners or Holders of such Global Security or any Debt Securities that is represents for any purpose under the Debt Securities or the applicable Indenture. All payments on a Global Security will be made to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the Holder of the security. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of Debt Securities take physical delivery of such Debt Securities in certificated form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to institutions that have accounts with the Depositary or its nominee ("participants") and to persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. In connection with the issuance of any Global Security, the Depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of Debt Securities represented by the Global Security to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary (with respect to participants' interests) or any such participant (with respect to interests of Persons held by such participants on their behalf). Payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a Global Security may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by the Depositary from time to time. None of us, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustees or the agents of us, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustees will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the Depositary's or any participant's records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a Global Security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a Debt Security on any Interest Payment Date will be made to the Person in whose name such Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal of and any premium and interest on the Debt Securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as we may designate for such purpose from time to time, except that at our option payment of any interest on Debt Securities in certificated form may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears in the Security Register. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate a Paying Agent (which may be the corporate trust office of the Trustee) for payments with respect to Senior Debt Securities of each series, and we will designate a Paying Agent (which may be the corporate trust office of the Trustee) under the Subordinated Indenture in the City of New York for payment with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities of each series. Any other Paying Agents initially designated by us for the Debt Securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agent or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of a particular series.

Subject to applicable abandoned property laws, all money paid by us to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Debt Security which remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the Holder of such Debt Security thereafter may look only to us for payment.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, we may not consolidate with or merge into, or transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to, any Person (a "successor Person"), and may not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into us, unless:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(1)

the successor Person (if not us) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction and assumes by supplemental indenture our obligations on the Debt Securities and under the Indentures;

(2)

immediately before and after giving pro forma effect to the transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing; and

(3)

several other conditions, including any additional conditions with respect to any particular Debt Securities specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, are met.

The successor Person (if not us) will be substituted for us under the applicable Indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to such Indenture, and, except in the case of a lease, we will be relieved from any further obligations under such Indenture and the Debt Securities.

Events of Default

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, each of the following will constitute an Event of Default under the applicable Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of any series:

(1)

failure to pay principal of or any premium on any Debt Security of that series when due, whether or not, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;

(2)

failure to pay any interest on any Debt Securities of that series when due, continued for 30 days, whether or not, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;

(3)

failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any Debt Security of that series, whether or not, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, such deposit is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;

(4)

failure to perform or comply with the provisions described under "- Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets";

(5)

failure to perform any of our other covenants in such Indenture (other than a covenant included in such Indenture solely for the benefit of a series other than that series), continued for 60 days after written notice has been given by the applicable Trustee, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series, as provided in such Indenture;

(6)

any Debt of ourself, any Significant Subsidiary or, if a Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed the series, such Subsidiary Guarantor, is not paid within any applicable grace period after final maturity or is accelerated by its holders because of a default and the total amount of such Debt unpaid or accelerated exceeds $50.0 million;

(7)

any judgment or decree for the payment of money in excess of $50.0 million is entered against us, any Significant Subsidiary or, if a Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed the series, such Subsidiary Guarantor, remains outstanding for a period of 60 consecutive days following entry of such judgment and is not discharged, waived or stayed;

(8)

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting us, any Significant Subsidiary or, if a Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed the series, such Subsidiary Guarantor; and

(9)

if any Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed such series, the Subsidiary Guarantee of any such Subsidiary Guarantor is held by a final non-appealable order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture) or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Person acting on behalf of any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms such Subsidiary Guarantor's obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee (other than by reason of a release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to W&T Offshore, Inc. described in clause (8) above) with respect to the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the applicable Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series by notice as provided in the Indenture may declare the principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series (or, in the case of any Debt Security that is an Original Issue Discount Debt Security, such portion of the principal amount of such Debt Security as may be specified in the terms of such Debt Security) to be due and payable immediately, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. If an Event of Default with respect to W&T Offshore, Inc. described in clause (8) above with respect to the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Debt Securities of that series (or, in the case of any such Original Issue Discount Security, such specified amount) will automatically, and without any action by the applicable Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. After any such acceleration and its consequences, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all Events of Default with respect to that series, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal (or other specified amount), have been cured or waived as provided in the applicable Indenture. For information as to waiver of defaults, see "- Modification and Waiver" below.

No Trustee will be under any obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered (and if requested, provided) to such Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the Trustees, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to such Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that series.

No Holder of a Debt Security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the applicable Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless:

(1)

such Holder has previously given to the Trustee under the applicable Indenture written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of that series;

(2)

the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series have made written request, and such Holder or Holders have offered security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee; and

(3)

the Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding, and has not received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series a direction inconsistent with such request, within 60 days after such notice, request and offer.

However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder of a Debt Security for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on such Debt Security on or after the applicable due date specified in such Debt Security or, if applicable, to convert such Debt Security.

We will be required to furnish to each Trustee annually a statement by certain of our officers, to their knowledge, as to whether or not we are in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the applicable Indenture and, if so, specifying all such known defaults.

Modification and Waiver

We may modify or amend an Indenture without the consent of any holders of the Debt Securities in certain circumstances, including:

(1)

to evidence the succession under the Indenture of another Person to us or any Subsidiary Guarantor and to provide for its assumption of our or such Subsidiary Guarantor's obligations to holders of Debt Securities;

(2)

to make any changes that would add any additional covenants of us or the Subsidiary Guarantors

TABLE OF CONTENTS

for the benefit of the holders of Debt Securities or that do not adversely affect the rights under the Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities in any material respect;

(3)

to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes;

(4)

to secure the Debt Securities;

(5)

to establish the form or terms of any series of Debt Securities;

(6)

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under the Indenture of a successor Trustee;

(7)

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

(8)

to add Subsidiary Guarantors; or

(9)

in the case of any Subordinated Debt Security, to make any change in the subordination provisions that limits or terminates the benefits applicable to any Holder of Senior Debt.

Other modifications and amendments of an Indenture may be made by us, the Subsidiary Guarantors, if applicable, and the applicable Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by such modification or amendment; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security affected thereby:

(1)

change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Debt Security;

(2)

reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or interest on, any Debt Security;

(3)

reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Debt Security payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof;

(4)

change the place or currency of payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any Debt Security;

(5)

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment due on or any conversion right with respect to any Debt Security;

(6)

modify the subordination provisions in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, or modify any conversion provisions, in either case in a manner adverse to the Holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities;

(7)

except as provided in the applicable Indenture, release the Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor;

(8)

reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for modification or amendment of the Indenture;

(9)

reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series necessary for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults;

(10)

modify such provisions with respect to modification, amendment or waiver; or

(11)

following the making of an offer to purchase Debt Securities from any Holder that has been made pursuant to a covenant in such Indenture, modify such covenant in a manner adverse to such Holder.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may waive compliance by us with certain restrictive provisions of the applicable Indenture. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may waive any past default under the applicable Indenture, except a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest and certain

TABLE OF CONTENTS

covenants and provisions of the Indenture which cannot be amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security of such series.

Each of the Indentures provides that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities have given or taken any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under such Indenture as of any date:

(1)

the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of maturity to such date;

(2)

if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Debt Security is not determinable (for example, because it is based on an index), the principal amount of such Debt Security deemed to be Outstanding as of such date will be an amount determined in the manner prescribed for such Debt Security;

(3)

the principal amount of a Debt Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units that will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the United States-dollar equivalent, determined by us as of such date in the manner prescribed for such Debt Security, of the principal amount of such Debt Security (or, in the case of a Debt Security described in clause (1) or (2) above, of the amount described in such clause); and

(4)

certain Debt Securities, including those owned by us, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of our other Affiliates, will not be deemed to be Outstanding.

Except in certain limited circumstances, we will be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series entitled to give or take any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the applicable Indenture, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture. In certain limited circumstances, the Trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by Holders. If a record date is set for any action to be taken by Holders of a particular series, only persons who are Holders of Outstanding Debt Securities of that series on the record date may take such action. To be effective, such action must be taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of such Debt Securities within a specified period following the record date. For any particular record date, this period will be 180 days or such other period as may be specified by us (or the Trustee, if it set the record date), and may be shortened or lengthened (but not beyond 180 days) from time to time.

Satisfaction and Discharge

Each Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding Debt Securities of any series issued thereunder, when:

(1) either:

(a) all outstanding Debt Securities of that series that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed Debt Securities that have been replaced or paid and Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to us) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) all outstanding Debt Securities of that series that have been not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee and in any case we have irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds money in an amount sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay the entire indebtedness of such Debt Securities not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the Stated Maturity or redemption date;

(2) we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by us under the Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of that series; and

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(3) we have delivered an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of that series have been satisfied.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

To the extent indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect, at our option at any time, to have our obligations discharged under provisions relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, which we call "legal defeasance," or relating to defeasance of certain restrictive covenants applied to the Debt Securities of any series, or to any specified part of a series, which we call "covenant defeasance".

Legal Defeasance. The Indentures provide that, upon our exercise of our option (if any) to have the legal defeasance provisions applied to any series of Debt Securities, we and, if applicable, each Subsidiary Guarantor will be discharged from all our obligations, and, if such Debt Securities are Subordinated Debt Securities, the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture relating to subordination will cease to be effective, with respect to such Debt Securities (except for certain obligations to convert, exchange or register the transfer of Debt Securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated Debt Securities, to maintain paying agencies and to hold moneys for payment in trust) upon the deposit in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities of money or U.S. Government Obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants) to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities on the respective Stated Maturities in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and such Debt Securities. Such defeasance or discharge may occur only if, among other things:

(1)

we have delivered to the applicable Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or there has been a change in tax law, in either case to the effect that Holders of such Debt Securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and legal defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and legal defeasance were not to occur;

(2)

no Event of Default or event that with the passing of time or the giving of notice, or both, shall constitute an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with respect to any Event of Default described in clause (8) under "- Events of Default," at any time until 121 days after such deposit;

(3)

such deposit and legal defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument (other than the applicable Indenture) to which we are a party or by which we are bound; and

(4)

in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, at the time of such deposit, no default in the payment of all or a portion of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing, no event of default shall have resulted in the acceleration of any Senior Debt and no other event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting after notice or the lapse of time, or both, the acceleration thereof.

Covenant Defeasance. The Indentures provide that, upon our exercise of our option (if any) to have the covenant defeasance provisions applied to any Debt Securities, we may fail to comply with certain restrictive covenants (but not with respect to conversion, if applicable), including those that may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the occurrence of certain Events of Default, which are described above in clause (5) (with respect to such restrictive covenants) and clauses (6), (7) and (9) under "Events of Default" and any that may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, will not be deemed to either be or result in an Event of Default and, if such Debt Securities are Subordinated Debt Securities, the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture relating to subordination will cease to be effective, in each case with respect to such Debt Securities. In order to exercise such option, we must deposit, in trust for

TABLE OF CONTENTS

the benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities, money or U.S. Government Obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants) to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities on the respective Stated Maturities in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and such Debt Securities. Such covenant defeasance may occur only if we have delivered to the applicable Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of such Debt Securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance were not to occur, and the requirements set forth in clauses (2), (3), (4) and (5) above are satisfied. If we exercise this option with respect to any series of Debt Securities and such Debt Securities were declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and U.S. Government Obligations so deposited in trust would be sufficient to pay amounts due on such Debt Securities at the time of their respective Stated Maturities but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on such Debt Securities upon any acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. In such case, we would remain liable for such payments.

If we exercise either our legal defeasance or covenant defeasance option, any Subsidiary Guarantee will terminate.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Shareholders

No director, officer, employee, incorporator, shareholder, member, partner or trustee of us or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of us or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Debt Securities, the Indentures or any Subsidiary Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Debt Security, each Holder shall be deemed to have waived and released all such liability. The waiver and release shall be a part of the consideration for the issue of the Debt Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

Notices

Notices to Holders of Debt Securities will be given by mail to the addresses of such Holders as they may appear in the Security Register or electronically in the case of Global Securities.

Title

We, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustees and any agent of us, the Subsidiary Guarantors or a Trustee may treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the absolute owner of the Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security may be overdue) for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes.

Governing Law

The Indentures and the Debt Securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

The Trustee

We will enter into the Indentures with a Trustee that is qualified to act under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and with any other Trustees chosen by us and appointed in a supplemental indenture for a particular series of Debt Securities. We may maintain a banking relationship in the ordinary course of business with our Trustee and one or more of its affiliates.

Resignation or Removal of Trustee. If the Trustee has or acquires a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee must either eliminate its conflicting interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and the

TABLE OF CONTENTS

applicable Indenture. Any resignation will require the appointment of a successor Trustee under the applicable Indenture in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Indenture.

The Trustee may resign or be removed by us with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities and a successor Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to any such series. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series may remove the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.

Limitations on Trustee if It Is Our Creditor. Each Indenture will contain certain limitations on the right of the Trustee, in the event that it becomes our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise.

Certificates and Opinions to Be Furnished to Trustee. Each Indenture will provide that, in addition to other certificates or opinions that may be specifically required by other provisions of an Indenture, every application by us for action by the Trustee must be accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent to such action have been complied with by us.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

We or the selling shareholder may offer our common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, and preferred stock, $0.00001 par value per share, under this prospectus. Our authorized capital stock currently consists of 400,000,000 shares of common stock and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock. At September 30, 2024, 147,345,038 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding. The following summary of certain provisions of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by our articles of incorporation and bylaws, which are incorporated in this prospectus by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and by the provisions of applicable law.

Common Stock

Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share with respect to each matter presented to our shareholders on which the holders of common stock are entitled to vote. Except as may be provided in connection with any preferred stock in a certificate of designation filed pursuant to the Texas Business Organizations Code (the "TBOC") or as may otherwise be required by law or our articles of incorporation, our common stock is the only series of capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors and on all other matters presented to our shareholders. The common stock does not have cumulative voting rights. No share of common stock affords any preemptive rights or is convertible, redeemable, assessable or entitled to the benefits of any sinking or repurchase fund.

Subject to the prior rights of holders of preferred stock, if any, holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends as may be lawfully declared from time to time by our board of directors. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of common stock will be entitled to receive such assets as are available for distribution to our shareholders after there shall have been paid or set apart for payment the full amounts necessary to satisfy any preferential or participating rights to which the holders of each outstanding series of preferred stock are entitled by the express terms of the series.

The shares of our common stock presently outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable, and any shares issued by us pursuant to this prospectus will be fully paid and non-assessable when issued. Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "WTI."

Preferred Stock

Our board is empowered, without approval of our shareholders, to cause shares of preferred stock to be issued from time to time in one or more series, with the numbers of shares of each series and the terms of the shares of each series as fixed by our board. Among the specific matters that may be determined by our board are:

•

the designation of each series;

•

the number of shares of each series;

•

the rights in respect of dividends of each series, if any;

•

whether dividends, if any, shall be cumulative or non-cumulative;

•

the terms of voting rights, if any;

•

rights and terms of conversion, if any;

•

the terms of redemption, repurchase obligation or sinking fund, if any;

•

the rights of the shares of each series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of shares of that series;

•

conditions or restrictions on the creation of indebtedness, if any;

•

restrictions on the issuance of additional preferred stock or other capital stock, if any; and

•

restrictions on the payment of dividends on shares ranking junior to the preferred stock.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

No shares of preferred stock are currently outstanding and we have no current plans to issue preferred stock. The issuance of shares of preferred stock, or the issuance of rights to purchase preferred stock, could be used to discourage an unsolicited acquisition proposal. For example, a business combination could be impeded by the issuance of a series of preferred stock containing class voting rights that would enable the holder or holders of such series to block any such transaction. Alternatively, a business combination could be facilitated by the issuance of a series of preferred stock having sufficient voting rights to provide a required percentage vote of our shareholders. In addition, under some circumstances, the issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of common stock. Although prior to issuing any series of preferred stock our board is required to make a determination as to whether the issuance is in the best interests of our shareholders, our board could act in a manner that would discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority, of our shareholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which our shareholders might receive a premium for their stock over prevailing market prices of such stock. Our board does not at present intend to seek shareholder approval prior to any issuance of currently authorized preferred stock, unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements.

Anti-Takeover Provisions under Texas Law, our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

We are a Texas corporation and, are subject to Subchapter M of Chapter 21 of the TBOC regarding affiliated business combinations. In general, this law prevents us from engaging in a business combination with an affiliated shareholder, or any affiliate or associate of an affiliated shareholder, for the three-year period immediately after the date such person became an affiliated shareholder, unless:

•

our board of directors approves the acquisition of shares that causes such person to become an affiliated shareholder before the date such person becomes an affiliated shareholder;

•

our board of directors approves the business combination before the date such person becomes an affiliated shareholder; or

•

holders of at least two-thirds of our outstanding voting shares not beneficially owned by the affiliated shareholder or its affiliates or associates approve the business combination at least six months after the date such person becomes an affiliated shareholder.

Under this law, any person that owns or has owned 20% or more of our voting shares during the three-year period preceding a business combination is an "affiliated shareholder." The law defines "business combination" generally as including:

•

mergers, share exchanges or conversions involving an affiliated shareholder;

•

dispositions of assets involving an affiliated shareholder:

•

having an aggregate value equal to 10% or more of the market value of our assets,

•

having an aggregate value equal to 10% or more of the market value of our outstanding common stock, or

•

representing 10% or more of our earning power or net income;

•

issuances or transfers of securities by us to an affiliated shareholder other than on a pro rata basis;

•

plans or agreements relating to our liquidation or dissolution involving an affiliated shareholder;

•

reclassifications, recapitalizations, distributions or other transactions that would have the effect of increasing an affiliated shareholders' percentage ownership of our outstanding voting stock; and

•

the receipt of tax, guarantee, pledge, loan or other financial benefits by an affiliated shareholder other than proportionally as one of our shareholders.

Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Our articles of incorporation and bylaws provide for indemnification of our directors to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Subchapter C of Chapter 8 of the TBOC provides that a Texas corporation may indemnify its directors and officers against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in

TABLE OF CONTENTS

settlement actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative if, in connection with the matters in issue, they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation and, in connection with any criminal suit or proceeding, if in connection with the matters in issue, they had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and certain officers. These provisions and agreements may have the practical effect in certain cases of eliminating the ability of our shareholders to collect monetary damages from directors and executive officers. We believe that these contractual agreements and the provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and executive officers.

Written Consent of Shareholders

Our articles of incorporation provide that any action required by the TBOC, as presently in effect or hereafter amended, to be taken at any annual or special meeting of our shareholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of our shareholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting for the action so taken, shall be signed by the holder or holders of shares not having less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to take such action at a meeting at which the holders of all shares entitled to vote on the action were present and voted. Special meetings of the shareholders may be called only by holders of not less than 25% of all the shares entitled to vote or by the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Board of Directors.

Advance Notice Procedure for Shareholder Proposals

Our bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for the nomination of candidates for election as directors as well as for shareholder proposals to be considered at annual meetings of shareholders. In general, notice of intent to nominate a director must contain specific information concerning the person to be nominated and must be delivered to and received at our principal executive offices as follows:

•

with respect to an election to be held at the annual meeting of shareholders, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the preceding year's annual meeting of shareholders; and

•

with respect to an election to be held at a special meeting of shareholders for the election of directors, not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure is first made of the date of the special meeting.

Notice of shareholders' intent to raise business at an annual meeting must be delivered to and received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the preceding year's annual meeting of shareholders. These procedures may operate to limit the ability of shareholders to bring business before a shareholders meeting, including with respect to the nomination of directors or considering any transaction that could result in a change of control.

Removal of Director

Our bylaws provide that neither any director nor the board of directors may be removed without cause and that any removal for cause would require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 60% of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote for the election of directors.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

General

We may offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we decide to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, we will issue receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. The prospectus supplement will indicate that fraction. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a depositary agreement between us and a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us (the "Bank Depositary"). Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the depositary agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering.

We have summarized selected provisions of a depositary agreement and the related depositary receipts. The summary is not complete. The forms of the depositary agreement and the depositary receipts relating to any particular issue of depositary shares will be filed with the SEC via a Current Report on Form 8-K prior to our offering of the depositary shares, and you should read such documents for provisions that may be important to you.

Dividends and Other Distributions

If we pay a cash distribution or dividend on a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the Bank Depositary will distribute such dividends to the record holders of such depositary shares. If the distributions are in property other than cash, the Bank Depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares. However, if the Bank Depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution of property, the Bank Depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to the record holders of the depositary shares.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

If we redeem a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the Bank Depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds received by the Bank Depositary in connection with the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will equal the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share of the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as the Bank Depositary may determine.

Voting the Preferred Stock

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock represented by depositary shares are entitled to vote, the Bank Depositary will mail the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to such preferred stock. Each record holder of these depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock) may instruct the Bank Depositary as to how to vote the preferred stock represented by such holder's depositary shares. The Bank Depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will take all action which the Bank Depositary deems necessary in order to enable the Bank Depositary to do so. The Bank Depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred stock.

Amendment and Termination of the Depositary Agreement

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the depositary agreement may be amended by agreement between the Bank Depositary and us. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The depositary agreement may be terminated by the Bank Depositary or us only if (1) all

TABLE OF CONTENTS

outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or (2) there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts.

Charges of Bank Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the Bank Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the depositary agreement to be for their accounts.

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

Upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the Bank Depositary, subject to the terms of the depositary agreement, the owner of the depositary shares may demand delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by those depositary shares. Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the Bank Depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the depositary agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.

Miscellaneous

The Bank Depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the Bank Depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.

Neither the Bank Depositary nor we will be liable if we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations under the depositary agreement. The obligations of the Bank Depositary and us under the depositary agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of our duties thereunder, and neither of us will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. Further, both of us may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

Resignation and Removal of Bank Depositary

The Bank Depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the Bank Depositary. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor Bank Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. Such successor Bank Depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our common stock and preferred stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with debt securities, preferred stock or common stock offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants. The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all provisions of the warrant agreements.

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants for the terms of and information relating to the warrants, including, where applicable:

(1)

the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants and the price at which such number of shares of common stock may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;

(2)

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants commences and the date on which such right expires (the "Expiration Date");

(3)

United States federal income tax consequences applicable to the warrants;

(4)

the amount of the warrants outstanding as of the most recent practicable date; and

(5)

any other terms of the warrants.

Warrants will be offered and exercisable for United States dollars only. Warrants will be issued in registered form only. Each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase such number of shares of common stock or preferred stock at such exercise price as is in each case set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. The exercise price may be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of events described in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the Expiration Date (or such later date to which we may extend such Expiration Date), unexercised warrants will become void. The place or places where, and the manner in which, warrants may be exercised will be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to such warrants.

Prior to the exercise of any warrants, holders of the warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of common stock, including the right to receive payments of any dividends on the common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants, or to exercise any applicable right to vote.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SELLING SHAREHOLDER

This prospectus also covers the offering for resale, from time to time, in one or more offerings, of up to 50,605,082 shares of common stock owned by the selling shareholder, Tracy W. Krohn. Mr. Krohn founded our company and acquired these shares of common stock primarily in a series of recapitalization transactions prior to our initial public offering in 2005, and also by open market purchases and as compensation for his services as our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Krohn has served as our Chief Executive Officer since he founded the Company in 1983 and as Chairman since 2004. He also served as President of the Company until September 2008 and again starting in March 2017. Mr. Krohn has informed the Company that as of the date of this prospectus, he has no present intention to sell any of the shares of common stock registered for resale by means of this prospectus.

The following table sets forth information relating to the selling shareholder as of September 30, 2024, based on information supplied to us by the selling shareholder on or prior to that date. We have not sought to verify such information. Information concerning the selling shareholder may change over time, including by the addition of additional selling shareholders. If necessary, we will supplement this prospectus accordingly. The selling shareholder may hold or acquire at any time common stock in addition to the shares offered by this prospectus and may have acquired additional common stock since the date on which the information reflected herein was provided to us. In addition, the selling shareholder may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of some or all of his common stock since the date on which the information reflected herein was provided to us and may in the future sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of some or all of its common stock in private placement transactions exempt from or not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Selling Shareholder

Shares Owned
Prior to Offering

Shares That
May Be Offered

Shares Owned
After Offering(1)

Tracy W. Krohn(2)

48,328,019

50,605,082(3)

(1)

Assumes the sale of all shares offered by this prospectus by the selling shareholder.

(2)

Includes 46,980,581 shares owned held by the Tracy William Krohn Living Trust, dated May 31, 2012, 623,969 shares held by the Tracy William Krohn 2008 JFF Trust, dated December 3, 2011 and 141,844 shares held by the Tracy William Krohn Exempt AKF Descendant's Trust, dated November 1, 2012. Tracy W. Krohn is the beneficiary and trustee of these trusts and may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to these shares.

(3)

Includes up to 2,277,063 shares issuable to Tracy W. Krohn upon vesting of an equal number of outstanding restricted stock units ("RSUs").

Each time the selling shareholder sells any common stock offered by this prospectus, the selling shareholder is required to provide you with this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement containing specific information about the selling shareholder and the terms of the common stock being offered in the manner required by the Securities Act. Such prospectus supplement will set forth the following information with respect to the selling shareholder:

•

the name of the selling shareholder;

•

the nature of any position, office or any other material relationship that the selling shareholder has had within the last three years with us or any of our affiliates;

•

the number of shares owned by the selling shareholder prior to the offering;

•

the number of shares to be offered for the selling shareholder's account; and

•

the number of and (if one percent or greater) the percentage of shares to be owned by the selling shareholder after the completion of the offering.

Material Relationship with the Selling Shareholder

The description of our relationship with the Selling Shareholder set forth in "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" in our Definitive Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A filed on April 29, 2024, May 1, 2023 and March 24, 2022 is incorporated herein by reference.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell securities offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement from time to time in one or more transactions, including without limitation:

•

through agents;

•

to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers;

•

sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to one or more purchasers, including existing shareholders;

•

in "at the market offerings" offerings or sales "at the market," within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise;

•

on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;

•

in the over-the-counter market;

•

in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market;

•

through the writing of options on the shares or other hedging transactions, whether or not the options or such other derivative securities are listed on an exchange;

•

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

•

block transactions (which may involve crosses) in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

•

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus;

•

a special offering, an exchange distribution or a secondary distribution in accordance with applicable NYSE or other stock exchange rules;

•

privately negotiated transactions;

•

short sales;

•

broker-dealers may agree with the selling shareholder to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

•

a combination of any such methods of sale; and

•

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

We may also sell securities under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, in each case if available, rather than under this prospectus.

We will prepare a prospectus supplement for each offering that will disclose the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from the sale, any underwriting discounts and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents and any delayed delivery arrangements.

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices or prices.

Agents, Underwriters and Dealers

Securities offered by us pursuant to this prospectus may be sold through agents designated by us. If agents are used in an offering, the names of the agents and the terms of the agency will be specified in a

TABLE OF CONTENTS

prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any such agent is acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

If underwriters are used in the sale, the offered securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the underwriters must purchase all the securities of the series offered by a prospectus supplement if any of the securities are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

If dealers are used in an offering, we may sell the securities to the dealers as principals. The dealers then may resell the securities to the public at varying prices which they determine at the time of resale. The names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction will be specified in a prospectus supplement.

Direct Sales

Securities offered by us pursuant to this prospectus may also be sold directly by us. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, with respect to any sale of those securities. We will describe the terms of any such sales in the prospectus supplement.

At-the-Market Offerings

Underwriters or agents could make sales of our common stock that we may offer under this prospectus in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an "at-the-market offering" as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on or through the NYSE, the existing trading market for our common stock, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

To the extent that we make sales through one or more underwriters or agents in at-the-market offerings, we will do so pursuant to the terms of a sales agency financing agreement or other at-the-market offering arrangement with such underwriters or agents. If we engage in at-the-market sales pursuant to any such agreement, we will issue and sell common stock through one or more underwriters or agents, which may act on an agency basis or on a principal basis. During the term of any such agreement, we may sell common stock on a daily basis in exchange transactions or otherwise as we agree with the underwriters or agents. The agreement will provide that any securities sold will be sold at prices related to the then-prevailing market prices for such securities. Therefore, exact figures regarding proceeds that will be raised or commissions to be paid cannot be determined at this time. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we also may agree to sell, and the relevant underwriters or agents may agree to solicit offers to purchase, blocks of our common stock. The terms of each such agreement will be set forth in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. In the event that any underwriter or agent acts as principal, or any broker-dealer acts as underwriter, it may engage in certain transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of common stock. Any such activities will be described in the prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus relating to the transaction.

Delayed Delivery Contracts

We may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain institutional investors to purchase offered securities providing for payment and delivery on a future date specified in the prospectus supplement. Institutional investors to which such offers may be made, when authorized, include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, education and charitable institutions and such other institutions as may be approved by us. The obligations of any such purchasers under such delayed delivery and payment arrangements will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the offered securities will not at the time of delivery be prohibited under applicable law. The underwriters and such agents will not have any responsibility with respect to the validity or performance of such contracts.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

General Information

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the offered securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the offered securities by them may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The securities (other than common stock) offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, when first issued, will have no established trading market. Any underwriters or agents to or through whom such securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters or agents will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot assure you as to the liquidity of the trading market for any such securities.

We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms may be required to make.

Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their businesses.

In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties, through a stock exchange, including block trades or ordinary broker's transactions, or through broker-dealers acting either as principal or agent, or through an underwritten public offering, through privately negotiated transactions or through a combination of any such methods of sale. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out or hedge any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.

In connection with offerings of securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and in compliance with applicable law, underwriters, brokers or dealers may engage in transactions that stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market. Specifically, underwriters, brokers or dealers may over-allot in connection with offerings, creating a short position in the securities for their own accounts. For the purpose of covering a syndicate short position or stabilizing the price of the securities, the underwriters, brokers or dealers may place bids for the securities or effect purchases of the securities in the open market. Finally, the underwriters may impose a penalty whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other brokers or dealers for distribution of the securities in offerings may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

Selling Shareholder

We are registering shares to permit the resale of these shares by certain holders from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling shareholder.

The selling shareholder may sell all or a portion of the shares beneficially owned and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the shares are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling shareholder will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent's commissions. The shares may be sold in one or more transactions at

TABLE OF CONTENTS

fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions that may involve crosses or block transactions:

•

through agents;

•

to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers;

•

sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to one or more purchasers, including existing shareholders;

•

on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;

•

in the over-the-counter market;

•

in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market;

•

through the writing of options on the shares or other hedging transactions, whether or not the options or such other derivative securities are listed on an exchange;

•

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

•

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

•

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus;

•

a special offering, an exchange distribution or a secondary distribution in accordance with applicable NYSE or other stock exchange rules;

•

privately negotiated transactions;

•

short sales;

•

sales pursuant to Rule 144;

•

broker-dealers may agree with the selling shareholder to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

•

through the distributions of the securities held by the selling shareholder to its partners or members;

•

a combination of any such methods of sale; and

•

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

If the selling shareholder effects such transactions by selling shares to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling shareholder or commissions from purchasers of the shares for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with sales of the shares or otherwise, the selling shareholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the shares in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling shareholder may also sell shares short and deliver shares covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The selling shareholder may also loan or pledge shares to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.

The selling shareholder may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares owned by him and, if he defaults in the performance of his secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provisions of the Securities Act, and we will amend, if necessary, the list of selling shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus. The selling shareholder also may transfer and donate the shares in

TABLE OF CONTENTS

other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

The selling shareholder and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed, to any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the shares is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the selling shareholder and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to broker-dealers.

Under the securities laws of some states, the shares may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states, the shares may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

There can be no assurance that the selling shareholder will sell any or all of the shares registered pursuant to the shelf registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.

The selling shareholder and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act ("Regulation M"), which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares by the selling shareholder and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares.

We will pay all expenses of the registration of the shares, including, without limitation, SEC filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or "blue sky" laws; provided, however, that the selling shareholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any.

Once sold under the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Houston, Texas. Legal counsel to any underwriters may pass upon legal matters for such underwriters.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of W&T Offshore, Inc. and subsidiaries appearing in W&T Offshore, Inc.'s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the effectiveness of W&T Offshore, Inc. and subsidiaries' internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Sharing and Personal Tools

Please select the service you want to use: