Argentina plans to become a natural gas exporter using Vaca Muerta

Argentina’s state-owned energy company YPF is planning to use offshore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) technology to export LNG derived from the Vaca Muerta shale play. If the plans go ahead, the South American country can finally turn the tables to become a natural gas exporter rather than a seasonal importer.

Yesterday at a CERAWeek panel by IHS Markit, Executive Vice President of YPF, Marcos Browne, claimed that Vaca Muerta has become the largest shale play outside the United States.

According to the Argentine Energy Secretariat, the play could double the country’s oil and gas production to 1m b/d and 260m cu m/d respectively by 2023. DatamarNews reported Vaca Muerta registered an impressive year-on-year increase in oil and gas production last year and is almost entirely responsible for Neuquen province’s 12.7% increase in oil production. 

Argentina imports LNG – from June through August – using an offshore LNG terminal. However, Vaca Muerta will eventually eliminate those imports and allow exports to commence via pipelines to Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay.

YPF is planning to use the Belgian shipping company Exmar’s floating LNG barge, known as “Tango,” to convert natural gas to liquid so that it can be easily exported. Tango, which is capable of producing 500,000 tons of LNG per year, is stationed offshore, southwest of Buenos Aires in Bahia Blanca. The floating LNG barge has been commissioned for 10-years by YPF.

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