U.S. intervention in Venezuela
Merey 16: Technical profile, history, market and challenges of Venezuela’s heavy crude
Merey 16 is Venezuela’s benchmark crude, a heavy and sour oil that accounts for most exports by state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA). Why it matters and what it changes for other benchmark crudes.
A complete guide to Iranian oil
Iranian oil: technology, industry, processes, reserves, history and geopolitical challenges
Refining and processing
Merey 16: Inside the blending formula that has become a symbol of Venezuela
Long-Term Strategic Export Projects
BHP, Lundin Mining meet with Milei: Why Vicuña is emerging as one of Argentina’s most strategic long-term mining projects
Competitive advantages
EU-Mercosur deal: Key impacts on Vaca Muerta, LNG and mining
World’s largest mining company
Copper: Glencore and Rio Tinto resume talks on a merger that could reshape global mining
Technical training
The Vaca Muerta Institute adds TotalEnergies as a new partner
Vaca Muerta Shale Play
Insights, data, and analysis from Latin America’s world-class game changer
Geopolitical tension and investment stakes
Citgo in the spotlight: the landmark U.S. refiner owned by PDVSA and set to be run by Elliott-backed Amber Energy
It has heavy crude refining capacity of about 749,000 barrels per day across three complexes. Its future will depend on political stability in Venezuela. Amber Energy is awaiting the completion of the sale. Three scenarios lie ahead.
New record in the Neuquén Basin
Vaca Muerta closed 2025 with more than 23,000 fracturing stages, a 34% productivity jump
Opinion
Venezuela and the U.S. on the global energy chessboard
Contrary to narratives that forecast the end of the hydrocarbons era in the medium term, market realities show that crude oil not only remains relevant, but that its importance continues to be strategic to the energy security of major powers.
Deeper shale synergies
Vaca Muerta: PAE and Continental Resources partner to accelerate area development
Energy and mining investments
RIGI map: Approved projects and those still pending for 2026
Raises its global program to $750 million
Oldelval expands funding capacity and prepares debt issuance to finance Vaca Muerta expansion
The arrival of the “king of fracking”
Continental Resources gains Neuquén approval to enter Vaca Muerta following Pluspetrol acquisition
Ramped-up operations
Vaca Muerta 2025: model triples production in just four years
Plan Andes and the road ahead
Shale24 Special: How the 2026 operator map looks after YPF exits mature fields
Electrification, efficiency and digitalization
ABB plant in Tucumán earns global “Mission to Zero” certification with ambitious sustainability measures
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Management by Enargas and the Energy Secretariat
Naturgy, Argentina’s second-largest gas distributor, nears extension of its concessions through 2047
Final decisions for several distributor groups, including Naturgy, could be announced in the coming weeks, amid tariff normalization, the five-year tariff review (Revisión Tarifaria Quinquenal, RTQ), and a Vaca Muerta gas surplus driving investment and network expansion.
Qualitative leap
Fracturing record in 2025: the “star” blocks of Vaca Muerta
The Neuquén basin is on track to consolidate an unprecedented year-on-year growth trajectory in the region. La Amarga Chica (YPF) and Bajada del Palo Oeste (Vista) are now the assets with the most solid learning curves and the greatest resilience to drops in international prices.
Past, Present and Future
Marcelo Mindlin, a podcast and his beginnings with Pampa Energía, 20 years after its founding
In the first episode of a special Pampa Energía podcast series marking the company’s 20th anniversary, Marcelo Mindlin looks back on his personal story, the origins of the project and the decisions that shaped one of Argentina’s leading energy companies.
International roadmap
Javier Milei confirmed for Davos 2026: with a focus on reforms, Vaca Muerta, and LNG exports
In his previous address, Milei emphasized economic freedom and tax reforms as tools to fight poverty, casting the state as a problematic actor. This time, the Argentine president will focus on deregulation of the energy sector and Argentina’s role as an LNG supplier from the Vaca Muerta shale.
November exports
Energy trade balance: Oil exports jump 25% this year, supporting nearly $8 billion surplus
The collapse in purchases of foreign gas, down 97.4%, saved the country $571 million, while the sharp increase in crude export volumes offset the decline in international prices.
Vaca Muerta Oil Sur Pipeline
VMOS completes surface installation as Techint-SACDE seek specialized workers for complementary pipelines
SACDE has stepped up its search for specialized workers, particularly for complementary pipelines. The company is seeking pipefitters, drivers and heavy-equipment operators, including hydrocranes, motor graders, front loaders and backhoes, as well as welders.
Featured
YPF, Vista Energy and Pluspetrol are leading the way.
Projections for Vaca Muerta: 28,040 fracturing stages in 2026 as an indicator of sustained growth
Featured
Movement on the conventional energy board
Santa Cruz seeks oil revival: six firms bid for areas vacated by YPF
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