Gas and oil exports from Neuquén accumulated US$233.6 million last April, due to the unconventional production boom in Vaca Muerta.
According to data from the provincial Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, oil shipments reached 2.3 million barrels in April, representing 24% of total provincial production. These exports were closed by US$177 millionat an average price of around $74 per barrel.
Meanwhile, gas exports accumulated 186.16 million cubic meters last month, approximately 6.21 million per day, representing 8% of monthly sales of provincial gas. The average price of these shipments was $7.89 a million BTUsreaching a total value of US$56.6 million.
The governor of Neuquén Omar Gutierrez highlighted the importance of exports for Neuquén and Argentina and assured that “the development of Dead cow it has freed the country from enormous pressure on the trade balance”. In this framework, the president compared the production of hydrocarbons with agribusiness. “Imports of a magnitude similar to those of the soybean complex were avoided,” he affirmed, and detailed that in 2022 the value of the exportable balances of gas and oil exceeded the exports of sunflower.
The governor also anticipated that exports will continue to rise in the coming years, with the reactivation of the Trasandino Pipeline to Chile. Gutiérrez reported that the first contract is for 41,000 barrels of oil per day and added that these shipments will generate about US$70 million per month.
In addition, he indicated that the pipeline being built by Oldelval, which links Vaca Muerta with Puerto Rosales, in the town of Bahía Blanca, is advancing at a “very good pace.” “It will allow us to transport new barrels to market starting in the first quarter of next year,” Gutiérrez said.
In parallel and regarding gas, the Neuquén governor stressed that the Néstor Kirchner Gas Pipeline will make it possible to replace some US$2.2 billion of imports in 2023 and US$4 billion in 2024.
Which were the companies that exported the most oil in April?
In April, the exporting companies sent volumes similar to those of March. The ranking continues to be led by Petronas (470.9 thousand barrels), followed by Compañía de Hidrocarburo No Convencional (469.4 thousand barrels), Shell Argentina (461.7 thousand barrels) and Vista (446.2 thousand barrels).
So far in the first four months of the year, Neuquén has shipped 8.89 million barrels, equivalent to 23% of provincial production, generating a total of US$635 million.
In this context, and following the resumption of oil exports through the Otasa pipeline, completed in mid-May and after 17 years inactivean increase in the trade balance is expected, which will be reflected in the coming months.
Which were the companies that exported the most gas in April?
Regarding gas, during the month of April, exports reached 186.16 million cubic meters, approximately 6.21 million per day, representing 8% of monthly sales of provincial gas. The average price of these shipments was US$7.89 per million BTU, reaching a total value of US$56.6 million.
The exporting companies were Tecpetrol (22.8%), Pluspetrol (17.2%), Total (14.9%), Wintershall (13.9%), PAE (13.8%), YPF (12.9% ) and PAMPA (4.5%).
In the first four months of 2023, the companies exported 830.9 million cubic meters, valued at US$246.7 million and represent 9.3% of total sales.
Source: Ambito
