Argentina's shale boom

The country's play is set to witness a quick rise in gas output as drillers look to lock in higher subsidised prices

Gas will lead the pace of production growth from Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale play over the next several years, as state-owned YPF and international majors line up test projects in the gassier areas of the basin. The Vaca Muerta is the most vibrant shale region to take root outside North America, with output rising steadily over the past couple of years as activity has picked up and costs have fallen. To date, that production has been roughly half light oil and half natural gas, with total Vaca Muerta shale output growing 60% in the 20 months from the start of 2016 to 76,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day in August last year. That strong pace of growth should continue over the next few yea