News of shale oil

YPF chief readies war chest for shale push as Milei bolsters oil

19-02-2026 16:59 YPF SA is setting aside funds to keep spending in the fast-growing Vaca Muerta basin, says Horacio Marín.

ENERGY & GAS

Milei spurns Techint billionaire Rocca as Indian firm wins pipeline bid

27-01-2026 14:14 Flagship pipeline project championed by Milei administration chooses foreign supplier over a local giant run by one of Argentina's richest men.

Analysing Argentina

Venezuela: Is Milei on the right or the wrong side of history?

10-01-2026 06:51 A Venezuelan comeback, especially if it entails large investments in rebuilding infrastructure, would be a direct regional competitor for Vaca Muerta, a development that has improved its production efficiency but still needs to streamline costs.

by Marcelo J. García

ENERGY & GAS

YPF seeking US$12.5-billion financing from JP Morgan for LNG project

18-12-2025 00:55 State energy company negotiating the entry of a new partner to replace Shell with a target of 18 million tons LNG projection. Next year, investment will jump to US$6 billion despite lower crude oil prices.

by Eugenia Muzio

OIL & GAS

YPF and partners secure Chile export route for Vaca Muerta shale oil

05-12-2025 17:51 YPF, Shell, Equinor and Vista to export shale oil to Chile through 2033; Deal foresees up to 70,000 bpd initially and could generate US$12 billion in export revenue, companies say.

ENERGY & GAS

Continental buys Pluspetrol shale field, says Luis Caputo

18-11-2025 08:54 Harold Hamm’s Continental Resources Inc is entering Argentina’s burgeoning shale patch, announces Economy Minister Luis Caputo.

ANALYSIS

Vaca Muerta overtakes agriculture – and it will finance Argentina’s future

20-09-2025 06:21 The political weight of the oil industry is surging. With a record energy export surplus and rising, the Vaca Muerta formation is shaping up to be the country’s main source of foreign currency. Businessmen, governors and lawmakers all agree that shale deposits will be a major factor in economic stability, with investments and projects transforming the map.

by Carlos Burgueño

OIL AND GAS

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.

ENERGY & GAS

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

ENERGY & GAS

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.

ENERGY & GAS

PAE confirms shale gas reserves in Chubut Province

15-04-2025 16:51 Pan American Energy to invest US$250 million in project to exploit shale gas findings in Cerro Dragon field, says Chubut Governor Ignacio Torres.

ENERGY & GAS

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.

BOND SALE

Neuquén Province ponders bond sale after investor meets

24-02-2025 16:42 The Patagonian province known for its prolific shale oil industry considers an international bond sale after private deliberations with funds including Blackrock and Neuberger Berman in New York and London.

Argentina Shale FLNG

Argentina LNG export project gathers backing from shale drillers

04-12-2024 13:18 Argentina has a plan to export liquefied natural gas, with drillers in shale patches now signed to supply fuel. This would be a US$3-billion liquefaction project.

ENERGY & GAS

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.

ENERGY & GAS

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.

ENERGY & GAS

YPF moves to sell units as it ramps up divestments in shale push

09-08-2024 15:48 State-run oil company, YPF SA, is moving to sell several business units and stakes as its divestment plan kicks in.

ENERGY & GAS

Vista reaps more from crude sales as Argentina frees oil markets

12-07-2024 16:11 Shale driller Vista Energy charged export prices for more than 40% of crude that it sold to domestic refiners in the second quarter.

ENERGY & GAS

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.