YPF took a firm step to consolidate his presence in Vaca Muerta with the acquisition of the participation of Total Austral in two key blocks of the formation: The staggered and Ash corner. Through an agreement that will be completed after compliance with preceding conditions, the company will control the 100% of the actions of the holding company of 45% of the rights About those assets. The rest remains in the hands of SHELL ARGENTINA (45%) and Gas and oil from the Neuquén (10%).
With this operation, YPF not only adds volume and operational control, but reinforces the strategic profile of its portfolioaligned with long -term growth and expansion objectives in the unconventional sector. The concessions of both blocks are valid until 2051which guarantees an extended and predictable development platform.
The staggered: more raw for the northern hub
Located in one of the most productive areas of Vaca Muerta, The staggered It is a block oriented to high quality crude oil. With this acquisition, YPF enhances its current capacity and ensures a source of sustained growth, which fits synergisticly with the development of the Northern huba strategic cluster where the company is consolidating infrastructure, logistics and installed capacity.
In recent years, the northern hub – which includes areas such as Loma Campana, the bitter girl and southern bandurria – has been one of the most dynamic regions of the company, and this movement allows to expand the radius of action and optimize operational costs. “The staggered is one more piece in the efficiency and scale puzzle that YPF is building in that area,” sources from the energy sector highlight.
Ash corner: Bet on gas
While the staggered provides oil in oil, Ash corner is located in the Wet gas windowan area with strong potential for the development of liquids associated with natural gas. This type of hydrocarbons are key to YPF’s industrialization and export strategy, especially within the framework of the project Argentina LNGwhich seeks to position the country as a supplier of liquefied gas globally.
Wet gas offers attractive margins due to the possibility of separating and marketing fluids such as propane, butane and natural gasoline. But, in addition, it has a growing strategic value in an international context where LNG (liquefied natural gas) is consolidated as an energy transition vector. In this sense, the acquisition gives YPF a fundamental support point to guarantee future supply to the Liquefaction and Export project that plans to develop in Bahía Blanca with Petronas.
An optimized and global portfolio
The total operation is registered in an active YPF policy to reorganize its asset portfolio, with focus on high performance areas and strategic potential. Since the arrival of the new management, the company has intensified its presence in mature blocks and proven production, while leaving marginal or low return areas. This movement goes in line with that logic: consolidate positions in productive areas with direct impact on the generation of box and export projection.
In addition, by acquiring the 45% that were in the hands of Total Austral – one of the subsidiaries of the French French group
The decision also reinforces YPF positioning as World class operator In the unconventional segment. With more than a decade of experience in Vaca Muerta, the company has demonstrated technical capacity, scalability and regional leadership. This acquisition adds to that path: greater control over critical blocks, greater flexibility to plan investments and greater capacity to articulate vertical integration projects such as LNG.
By rn
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