Topic: Vaca Muerta operational progress, drilling efficiency, and 2026–2027 production ramp-up
Key points:
Since October 16, completed six workovers in two campaigns (second campaign shorter than first); three horizontal wells drilled at Loma Jarillosa Este in 14.7 days (vs. prior operator's two wells benchmarked as drastically slower).
Frac set to move in June; expects >200 frac stages across five wells over 30–45 days; initial water production ~2,000–3,000 bbls, then 6,000–8,000 bbls water plus oil by September; peak Vaca Muerta output of 5,000–6,000 bbl/d targeted.
2027 plan: two pads with ten wells drilled and completed via factory-mode drilling (contract signing imminent, rig already in-country); central processing facility on stream by end-2027; production ramp from 6,000 bbl/d by end-2026 to 20,000 bbl/d by 2028.
RIGI consideration under strategy; water disposal well and observatory well being drilled; environmental permits submitted with successful public hearing 10 days ago.
Mgmt stance: Bullish – progress "as planned or even better than planned" across all five swing lanes, with drilling time reduction, OpEx optimization, and incident-free operations.