Tecpetrol in Vaca Muerta

Productive development, national industry and large-scale projects

Tecpetrol in Vaca Muerta

Unconventional

What is Vaca Muerta?

Vaca Muerta is Argentina’s main unconventional hydrocarbon formation, covering around 30,000 square kilometers across Neuquén, Río Negro, La Pampa and Mendoza.

Unconventional resources—also known as shale—are oil and gas trapped in dense rock formations that don’t allow them to flow naturally. Extracting them requires advanced techniques such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, along with precise planning and high operational standards.

Since 2017, Tecpetrol has been leading the development of Vaca Muerta from Fortín de Piedra, the project that helped pioneer unconventional gas production in Argentina. Through strategic investments, cutting-edge technology, and a solid focus on innovation and efficiency, the company has helped turn the region’s potential into a productive reality and position Vaca Muerta as one of the region’s key energy developments.

The impact of Vaca Muerta in Argentina

National industry

The development of Vaca Muerta has been made possible by a strong national industrial network with the capacity, technology and experience to operate at scale.
Self-sufficiency

We’ve helped drive a historic increase in Argentina’s gas and oil production, shifting the country from fuel imports to an energy surplus in just a few years.
Competitiveness

By improving efficiency and productivity, we’re building operations that can compete on a global scale.

Shale Gas Operation

Fortín de Piedra

Central Processing FacilityCPF
Multipad layoutFour wells per location
Continuous production365 days a year
Walking rigCutting-edge technology
Early Production FacilityEPF
Fortín de Piedra campCapacity for more than 500 people

Fortín de Piedra: The backbone of Vaca Muerta’s gas production

24.4

million cubic meters per day at peak
+15%

of Argentina’s gas consumption
150+

wells drilled
~1,000

Argentine companies involved
USD 2.3

billion initial investment
+1TCF

(Trillion Cubic Feet) of cumulative gas production

Shale Oil Operation

Los Toldos II Este

Construction progressPlant under construction
SynergyWe work together with Techint Engineering & Construction
Regional developmentHundreds of companies are part of the value chain
Careers in motionProfessionals from across Latin America are part of the project

Los Toldos II Este: Investing in our industrial future

70,000

barrels per day targeted by 2027
USD 2.4

billion+ initial investment
700+

Argentine companies involved
3,000+

workers at peak construction

State-of-the-art technology

Real Time Operation Center

Successful large-scale operations demand advanced technology.

We built Latin America’s first center to monitor and manage drilling and completion in real time across all our wells in the region.

Remote operation