News of vaca muerta

Your petrol frizzled

23-01-2021 10:19 If Vaca Muerta is indeed a dead cow, then Argentina will end up importing fuel, a move which will surely cost more dollars than those denied YPF to service its debts.

by Michael Soltys

Bloomberg

YPF to sell flagship office tower to keep shale dream alive

07-01-2021 15:52 YPF SA plans to sell its iconic office tower in Puerto Madero, which could bring in some US$400 million.

SHALE PLAY

Vaca Muerta gets US$5.1-billion lifeline

24-10-2020 08:48 New subsidy programme hopes to lure US$5 billion of investments and a dozen drill rigs, says Energy Secretary Darío Martinez.

Energy

Fernández unveils plan to boost production at Vaca Muerta

17-10-2020 08:05 President Alberto Fernández says Argentina wants energy firms to invest some US$5 billion to boost hydrocarbon production and generate jobs in the country’s prized Vaca Muerta shale deposits.

SINO-ARGENTINE RELATIONS

Argentina’s ties with China deepen under Fernández

22-08-2020 08:27 Peronist leader leads charge to develop ties with Asian giant, which is now Argentina’s largest trading partner. Trip to Shanghai pencilled in for early November, with business, the pandemic and pork topping the agenda.

by Juan Luis González

THE ‘BARRIL CRIOLLO’

What is Argentina's US$45 'barril criollo' and how will affect local producers?

23-05-2020 09:31 Artificially fixed reference price for barril criollo imposed in move to defend jobs and output levels, with an eye keenly trained on Vaca Muerta shale.

Pandemic fall-out

Via decree, government fixes price of ‘barril criollo’ at US$45

19-05-2020 17:45 More than a week after move was trailed heavily, Fernández administration imposes artificially fixed reference price in move to defend jobs and output levels – with an eye trained on Vaca Muerta shale.

Bloomberg

The crazy dream of US$45 oil could become reality in Argentina

07-05-2020 13:12 Brent crude has been practically soaring, touching US$30 in London. But it can’t match the 'criollo' barrel in Argentina, though - US$45 guaranteed, no matter what. That dream price doesn’t actually exist, but it could soon.

Bloomberg

Shale driller Vista Oil & Gas cuts executive salaries amid hopes of rebound

01-05-2020 12:53 Vista Oil & Gas, a model of the independent drillers in Argentina's burgeoning shale fields, has cut compensation for senior management by 40 percent while trying to overcome the oil crisis.

OIL PRICES

Petrol prices to stay up to preserve Vaca Muerta, says CECHA president

25-04-2020 12:02 CECHA President Gabriel Bornoroni says he doesn’t believe petrol prices will fall, despite international slump.

by Mirta Fernandez

VACA MUERTA

Pandemic, plunging oil prices and default – a killer combo for Vaca Muerta

25-04-2020 11:32 Halt in activity and slump in prices is having a negative impact on the potential “gold mine” which is Vaca Muerta shale.

by Patricia Valli

Bloomberg

Oil price war, virus pandemic postpones plans for Vaca Muerta

01-04-2020 16:56 Argentina's ‘Dead Cow’ oil play was set to the next Permian. But now that dream looks all but dead.

DEBT BURDEN

Argentina will need ‘substantial debt relief,’ says IMF chief

21-03-2020 08:23 Fund blunt in its assessment of country’s economic problems, warning that issues are “even more pressing” amid coronavirus crisis.

Debt talks & Covid-19

Pandemic poses perfect storm scenario for Argentine debt

16-03-2020 08:05 The global downturn, and the crisis caused by the coronavirus, could yet strangely benefit Argentina, according to some economists.

Vaca Muerta

YPF slows shale exploration due to price controls

09-03-2020 15:55 State-owned oil company will back off from shale exploration as government price controls reduce potential revenue.

VACA MUERTA

Shell & Equinor partner up to buy Vaca Muerta shale block

31-01-2020 13:44 Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Equinor ASA oil firms jointly buy a 49 percent stake in the Bandurria Sur field. Agreement comes at a critical time for Argentina's nascent shale industry.

ENERGY

New legislation for Vaca Muerta on way, Nielsen confirms

25-01-2020 09:49 YPF chairman floats idea of gas pipeline to Brazil, as he appeals for investment in Argentina’s giant formation at World Economic Forum. Unions, business leaders agree to halt 1,800 lay-offs.

VACA MUERTA

Oil companies and unions agreed on a temporary no layoffs clause

23-01-2020 14:31 The unions representing oil workers and the sector's business chambers agreed to roll back 600 layoffs and 1,200 suspensions in the country's different basins while waiting for production to pick up and activity to resume.

Vaca Muerta

Vaca Muerta: Fracking leaves heavy footprint in Patagonia

13-12-2019 07:00 Enormous non-conventional oil and gas deposit provides 43% of the total oil production and 60% of gas production of Argentina. Yet its effects on local communities have gone largely unheard.

ENERGY

Vaca Muerta waits for Alberto’s calling

16-11-2019 10:00 Vaca Muerta is no longer a dream, but by no means is it the only solution to Argentina’s chronic economic problems.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

CONSTRUCTION

Techint suspends on work on nuclear reactor due to 'late payment'

13-11-2019 16:47 Officials from firm briefs workers that shutdown is a result of late payments from the national government. At least 270 workers placed on suspension by company.

Bloomberg

Argentina’s shale trove risks staying buried, oil chiefs say

12-11-2019 11:21 Drillers in Argentina are scared that interventionist economic policies will foil the world’s next big shale hope.

RELATIONS WITH WASHINGTON

Alberto Fernández planning US trip to visit Trump, oil majors

04-11-2019 15:20 Spokespeople for the Frente de Todos leader confirm president-elect intends to visit the US after his assumption on December 10, for a trip that would include a meeting with Donald Trump and a stop in Houston, Texas.

ENVIRONMENT

Environment drops off radar after four years of contradictions

19-10-2019 08:09 Experts say the Macri administration is trying to have it both ways when it comes to environmental policies. And worryingly, the outlook doesn’t look much better under a potential government led by Alberto Fernández.

by Fermin Koop

BLOOMBERG

Energy companies would likely bear cost of Fernández’s utilities shift

01-10-2019 16:29 Energy companies would likely be made to pay for Alberto Fernández’s move to slow hikes in electricity and natural gas prices.

VACA MUERTA

Government tasks Gendarmerie with protecting Vaca Muerta shale formation

17-09-2019 13:36 Security Ministry orders Argentina's border guards to guarantee security of activity at geological formation located in Neuquén basin.

WHAT NOW?

Back in black

14-09-2019 00:52 It’s obvious that the president’s economic philosophy is as far possible from currency controls and interventionism of financial markets as possible.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

Election 2019

Is this you, Macri?

07-09-2019 01:01 It is imperative to understand the founding principles of Macrinomics, in order to realistically assess its relative merits and failures.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

ELECTION 2019

Argentina’s next leader will get a commodities boost in 2020

27-07-2019 09:16 Tough economic times most likely lie ahead – but surging farm and oil production could offer a helping hand to the next occupant of the Casa Rosada

VACA MUERTA

Gas, petrol production at Vaca Muerta reaches new high

06-07-2019 09:15 Oil and natural gas production hit a record high in May, the government revealed this week, thanks to a rise in “non-conventional” output at Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale formation.

SHALE FORMATION

Vaca Muerta finally produces oil, a century after its discovery

06-07-2019 09:06 Obstacles have long prevented the exploitation of Vaca Muerta, Argentina’s famed shale formation in Neuquén. But now, the dead cow is coming to life.