News of muerta

Vaca Muerta producing three times as much gas as Bolivia

17-09-2025 17:54 Massive shale formation, based mostly in Neuquén, now producing nearly 91 cubic metres of natural gas per day – three times as much as neighbouring Bolivia. Change reflects the loss of reserves to the north and the consolidation of Argentina as a new regional player in market.

by Alan Ares

Report: Argentina set for century-high oil output, record gas production

08-09-2025 17:51 Rosario Board of Trade report highlights Vaca Muerta’s role in driving production and widening of energy trade surplus.

Uruguay to pitch pipeline route for Vaca Muerta’s natural gas

02-09-2025 14:25 Uruguay to pitch a natural gas pipeline through its territory that would link Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale deposit with Brazil.

YPF close to buying Total's Argentina shale assets

06-08-2025 16:29 State oil and gas producer YPF is close to an agreement to acquire shale oil assets from France’s TotalEnergies.

Drilling to slow in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale, YPF CEO says

06-08-2025 16:17 Oil-drilling activity in the Vaca Muerta shale patch is set to weaken in the near term as companies restrain spending.

Patria, Eaton Vance among investors in Argentina pipeline loan

24-07-2025 18:50 Syndicated loan agreement is the largest in Argentine history for an infrastructure project.

JPMorgan, Citi among banks in talks for Argentina pipeline loan

25-04-2025 11:14 Money would fund Vaca Muerta Sur, featuring a pipeline running from Argentina’s shale heartland across northern Patagonia to the Atlantic coast.

Governors seek Vaca Muerta investments at Texas energy summit

23-04-2025 11:12 Leaders from four provinces in Argentina – Río Negro, Neuquén, Mendoza and Córdoba – aim to showcase their competitiveness to the global oil elite in Texas at the Offshore Technology Conference.

by Eugenia Muzio

Vista buys Petronas’ Argentina oil stake in US$1.5-billion deal

16-04-2025 12:25 Deal all but cements exit of Malaysia’s Petronas; It’s also a sign that development of Vaca Muerta will increasingly be spearheaded by homegrown drillers.

Petronas is evaluating exit from Argentina shale oil venture

13-03-2025 23:39 Petronas has begun a process that may result in a sale of its 50 percent stake in La Amarga Chica, a venture with state-run YPF in the oil production heartland of Vaca Muerta.

Argentine oil output is poised to oust Colombia from South America’s top three

09-12-2024 16:26 A shale-drilling frenzy in Argentina has put the country on the verge of leapfrogging regional rival Colombia as a top-three crude producer in South America.

Analysing Argentina’s bid to boost Vaca Muerta natural gas exports

30-11-2024 05:18 A look at the challenges facing President Javier Milei’s government as it attempts to consolidate the natural gas exports from the vast Vaca Muerta formation.

Brazil makes progress on plan to import Argentine natural gas

18-11-2024 16:55 Brazil is moving forward with plans to import natural gas from Vaca Muerta formation in a sign that bilateral business deals can overcome a complicated political relationship.

Oil workers strike after death after Vaca Muerta drilling field

09-10-2024 11:20 Vista Energy reports death of Miguel Fernández, 40, following an accident at Bajada del Palo Oeste field at Vaca Muerta formation; Unionised workers stage protest as they demand “no for more deaths” and call for more investment in safety.

YPF eyes sale of lithium unit as focus narrows on shale ramp-up

31-08-2024 17:12 State-run oil company YPF SA is considering a sale of its lithium unit as part of a sweeping divestment strategy to streamline investments into Vaca Muerta shale patch.

Petrobras eyes Argentina deals to boost energy imports

26-08-2024 14:42 Brazil’s state-controlled oil producer Petrobras is hunting for shale gas deals in Argentina.

Milei in Neuquén to tour Vaca Muerta, meet businessmen

08-08-2024 19:09 President Javier Milei visits Neuquén, heart of energy production, and crosses over to Chile for the first time as head of state – but without holding a bilateral meeting with Gabriel Boric.

Declining gas giant eyes new role piping Argentine gas to Brazil

20-06-2024 15:03 Bolivia is offering its pipelines to transport natural gas from Argentina’s Vaca Muerta field to Brazil.

Oil driller’s 1,400% world-beating rally hinges on Milei reforms

23-05-2024 13:52 Vista Energy boss Miguel Galuccio knows shale. But his plans lie in the hands of President Javier Milei.

ANALYSING ARGENTINA

RIGI and the ‘frack, baby, frack’ consensus

18-05-2024 06:15 Argentina is not alone in the region in debating what to do with its resources or how the market and the government should engage with one another.

by Marcelo J. García

YPF’s US$2.5-billion shale oil pipeline moves ahead after approval

10-05-2024 17:30 YPF SA is moving ahead with plans to build a US$2.5-billion cross-country pipeline that’s key to unlocking exports of crude from the vast Vaca Muerta shale patch.

Oilfield billionaire Paolo Rocca has ‘lot of hope’ for Milei

21-03-2024 11:59 Paolo Rocca, billionaire chief of oil-pipe maker Tenaris SA, said expectations are high that President Javier Milei can turbo-charge development of the country’s shale deposits.

YPF says fire sale to free up US$800 million for shale oil push

07-03-2024 17:51 State-run YPF SA says its sweeping plan to divest ageing oil fields will free up US$800 million to invest in renewed Vaca Muerta shale push formation.

Exxon to weigh US$1 billion sale of Argentina shale assets

24-02-2024 19:15 Exxon Mobil is mulling bids for its Argentine shale assets as the US energy giant looks to unwind its bet.

Argentina shale driller Vista eyes Exxon assets in growth push

21-02-2024 15:58 Shale oil producer Vista Energy eyeing assets put up for sale by Exxon Mobil Corp as it looks to accelerate growth in Vaca Muerta formation.

YPF plans sweeping asset sale to focus on Argentina shale

07-02-2024 11:38 Argentina’s biggest oil company, state-run YPF SA, is planning a sweeping asset sale to sharpen its focus on shale production and boost its share price.

President's plan to free oil market slows in Congress

28-01-2024 10:08 At issue is the government’s ability to stop drillers from exporting cargoes of crude if it’s concerned about shortages at domestic refineries.

Debt, inflation and the peso: Argentina's election worries

17-10-2023 12:27 As Argentines head to the polls on October 22 for a crucial presidential election, candidates have campaigned hard on proposed elixirs for the country's economic ills.

Massa launches ‘Dólar Vaca Muerta,’ seeking US$1.2 billion

28-09-2023 09:09 Economy minister and ruling coalition presidential candidate looks to boost reserves and trim possibilities of exchange rate tensions in lead-up to general elections.