This is a video series showing how the team is organizing itself at the Fortín de Piedra field to meet high gas demand during the Southern hemisphere winter. We spoke with Abel Vega, Production Lead Supervisor and the star of our first episode.

Winter means low temperatures, spiking the demand for gas in homes but also in industries throughout Argentina. That’s why, at this time of year, at the Fortín de Piedra operation, we’re focusing on keeping production levels at a maximum to guarantee supply.

“Fortín in Winter: Gas for Argentina” is a three-episode series where we explore all the challenges that arise as we go about our daily business of meeting this commitment. The first chapter tackles the perspective from the production area, and how the team oversees the connections between the different wells and pads, all required to produce gas.

“We want to show how we’re juggling our daily scheduled tasks, and how we organize ourselves to keep up with demand especially now that gas is more crucial than ever. All sectors are pulling together to prioritize gas production,” explains Abel Vega, Production Lead Supervisor.

The second episode takes a deep dive into how the plants ensure proper gas treatment, while the third tells the story from the perspective of the crew living at the camp, and what life is like working at the shale gas field with the highest output levels in the country.

Abel also highlights the need to keep productivity high, noting that with the CPF (Central Processing Facility) and EPF (Early Processing Facility) combined, the operation is producing 24 million m³ of gas each day—supplying over 15% of the gas consumed by users across the country. He adds that, "When the temperature drops, the demand for domestic gas rises, and also, industries tend to use more during the colder weather."

To reach the company’s targets, it’s essential to ensure tasks are coordinated, including smooth communications and team trust. "Right now, we have three supervisors managing the operation, but no one’s confined to one specific area as we’re all everywhere. We’re constantly in rotation, staying on top of what’s being done and what still needs doing on site. That way, if something happens to one of us, someone else can easily step in," Abel explains.

“Our daily routine is really dynamic. The first thing we do each day is establish direct communication with the control room, in charge of centralizing and distributing information. Then we divvy up our tasks and check our priorities, as anything that could lead to leaks or losses is dealt with first," he says.

At one point in the episode, Abel says that “there is no other way to get a site of this type up and running if there isn’t the overall will to do so,” pointing out that having everyone pulling together is non-negotiable. “We put in a huge amount of effort and had tremendous support from experienced specialists to get this system up and running. Whenever something came up, everyone was there to help out. I’ve never seen that level of energy and dedication before,” he adds proudly.

Watch the first episode here.