Technical training
TotalEnergies has become the first company to sign the accession agreement to partner with YPF at the Vaca Muerta Institute (IVM).
The educational institution is expected to play a key role in training the technicians required for the development of Vaca Muerta — Argentina’s main shale play — and for the broader goal of turning the country into an energy exporter. The agreement was signed by Sergio Mengoni, managing director and country chair of TotalEnergies in Argentina, and Lisandro Deleonardis, president of the Vaca Muerta Institute and YPF’s vice president of public affairs, during a meeting held at YPF’s offices in Buenos Aires.
Horacio Marín, chairman and CEO of YPF, said: “The incorporation of TotalEnergies shows the relevance this project has for the industry. The IVM is key to training thousands of workers, improving safety and making Vaca Muerta even more competitive globally. This is the path to continue consolidating the sector’s development. From the company, we promoted this institute to complement existing training and offer real-world experience in controlled environments. It is a challenge that requires the commitment and joint work of the entire industry.”
Sergio Mengoni, managing director and country chair of TotalEnergies in Argentina, added: “For our company, it is a source of pride to participate in this initiative led by YPF, which benefits the entire industry. Education and continuous improvement are fundamental pillars of TotalEnergies’ DNA, which is why we decided to invest in the Vaca Muerta Institute. TotalEnergies has been present in the country for nearly 50 years and in Neuquén for more than 30, driving economic, social and cultural development and generating a positive impact on the communities and stakeholders we work with.”
Looking ahead to the next five years, projected growth in Vaca Muerta could generate up to 50,000 new jobs, and the IVM is positioned as an industry-driven training option to help meet those specialization needs.
The IVM will offer specialized upstream technical training — unprecedented in the region — based on hands-on practice, with safety and operational excellence as its core principles.
The institute will include a training well located along the Neuquén River, where students will be able to carry out critical operational practices and maneuvers. Its headquarters will be based at the Neuquén Technology Park, where training will be conducted using simulators and laboratories equipped with instructional technology, allowing students to learn using the latest available tools and with the participation of industry specialists.
The project was promoted by Fundación YPF, which carried out a forward-looking study to anticipate upstream occupational and technological demand over the next 10 years.
The educational program will offer highly specialized upstream training focused on eight strategic profiles:
- Drilling operators
- Hydraulic fracturing
- Production
- Electrical maintenance
- Mechanical maintenance
- Instrumentation
- Water and crude treatment plants
- Gas treatment plants
The initial training program for new talent will consist of 304 hours delivered over four months. In addition, the institute will provide continuing education for company personnel requiring skills updates or technological retraining, as well as operational safety training for those without technical experience who need to enter oilfield environments.
The IVM aims to complement the existing academic offering and establish itself as a benchmark entry point to the industry, giving future and current operators and technicians the opportunity to gain practical experience at real facilities within a safe and controlled environment.