Argentina Vaca Muerta energy boom

In the first half of 2026 Argentina posted a record energy trade surplus of nearly $7 billion, driven largely by the Vaca Muerta shale basin, which supplied over two‑thirds of national oil and gas output. Crude production reached a historic 903,700 bbl/day, and exports rose more than 50 % year‑on‑year. The upcoming VMOS pipeline, slated for early‑2025 commissioning, is expected to double oil output and trigger construction of processing facilities for wetter gas streams, setting the stage for potential LNG projects. A July‑2026 YPF study projected that by 2031 associated gas will constitute about 41 % of total gas, while dry gas falls to roughly 16 %.

On 25 July 2026 Governor Rolando Figueroa announced that Tecpetrol is testing locally sourced sand from Neuquén Province for hydraulic fracturing in Vaca Muerta, joining YPF and Vista in using the material. The move aims to lower transport costs by avoiding imports from Entre Ríos and Río Negro. In May 2026 Vaca Muerta delivered a record 887,227 bbl/day of oil—a 19 % increase from the previous year—and natural‑gas output rose to 5.4 billion cf/d. The province is evaluating new sand‑transport routes while rejecting river shipments for environmental reasons. Stakeholders including Mega, TGS, YPF, Eni and XRG continue planning infrastructure to support the basin’s expanding output.