The company acquired the assets of the Norwegian firm, which withdrew from the country, and is now awaiting a decision from the pipeline consortium and Chilean national authorities to add its shale oil volumes.
The company carried out an abrasive jet perforation with coiled tubing in a deep horizontal well in Vaca Muerta, completing six clusters and stabilizing surface pressure at 8,000 psi. The milestone underscores the ongoing trend of reducing non-productive time and improving operational efficiency in the shale.
Associated gas — the gas that inevitably emerges as a byproduct of oil production in the black oil and liquids-rich window of the Neuquén formation — is rich in high-value components. In January, output climbed to 26.7 million cubic meters per day, setting a historic record. The industry is closely monitoring the trend, as it could open the door to a new business opportunity.
Despite falling international prices, Argentina’s energy sector maintained a positive balance and posted a record surplus of $7.815 billion in 2025, driven by unconventional production and lower import dependence.
The province has identified areas of significant thickness and thermal maturity within the “Mendoza tongue” of the formation.
The Chilean state company doubled its profits while advancing a diversification plan, though it is considering the possibility of exporting unconventional oil from Neuquén via the Pacific Ocean through the port of San Vicente.
Argentina accelerated its geopolitical energy and mining agenda this week, signing a U.S. partnership on critical minerals and a complementary deal with Abu Dhabi and Italy’s state energy company. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno defended the Washington agreements at the Munich Security Conference.
These are critical days for Argentina’s economic dynamics. The energy sector is bringing in dollars through financing, while sectors tied to the RIGI are driving domestic activity. New regulations are creating incentives to capitalize on the favorable momentum in emerging markets.
The net contribution of these assets to Vista is significant, adding approximately 21,869 boe/d (based on Q3 2025 production at post-deal stakes) and 54 million boe of additional proven reserves.
The Anglo-Dutch oil company is weighing a sale of its assets in the Neuquén shale formation, valued in the billions of dollars, amid a global reshuffling of its energy portfolio.
YPF and Pluspetrol sealed a cashless asset swap that will allow the state-controlled oil company to consolidate full control of three key areas in Vaca Muerta, while the private firm repositions itself in high-potential blocks through Vaca Muerta Inversiones.
In 2025, Argentina recorded the largest energy trade surplus in its history. In the coming years, that record could be surpassed as projects approved and under review through the Incentive Regime for Large Investments (RIGI) move forward. Some analysts forecast an energy trade balance generating a combined $48 billion by 2030 and $67 billion by 2035.
Argentina’s economy is entering a strategic moment, driven by the rise of its energy and mining sectors, within a global context where major powers are seeking critical resources from allies to strengthen “friendly” supply chains.
After successfully integrating the Loma Jarillosa Este block, which it operates 100%, and Puesto Silva Oeste, the company is preparing an aggressive drilling program and reinforcing its strategy for sustained growth.
With unconventional oil growing at an annual rate of 31% and gas keeping pace in the flagship basin, Argentina is sending a clear signal to international markets: the country has a world-class shale play.
