Vaca Muerta Oil Sur project receives key offshore export components

The Vaca Muerta Oil Sur (VMOS) project has reached a major logistical milestone with the arrival of two CALM (Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring) monoboyas at the Port of San Antonio Este in Río Negro. Manufactured in the United Arab Emirates, these structures are central to the offshore terminal to be installed off the coast of Punta Colorada.

This infrastructure will enable the export of crude oil from the Vaca Muerta formation using Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC), the world’s largest tankers, which were previously restricted by depth limitations. The project involves a 437-kilometer pipeline from the Neuquén Basin to the Río Negro coast, alongside 15 kilometers of submarine infrastructure. The system is expected to initially handle 180,000 barrels per day, with plans to reach 550,000 barrels per day by late 2027.

In parallel, the Vaca Muerta region is addressing land-based logistics. To manage the surge in heavy traffic caused by sand demand, provincial authorities are testing 75-ton bitrenes (road trains) on Route 17 to increase load capacity while distributing weight more effectively across more axles to protect road surfaces.

Additionally, Eni, YPF, and XRG are advancing the Argentina LNG project. This development aims to monetize Vaca Muerta gas through two nearshore Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) vessels, with an investment decision expected by year-end and a target production start of 2030.