The new plants employ YPF’s 2.0 design standard, an operational framework developed to maximize efficiency, reliability and scalability across unconventional developments. Production from satellite facilities, where primary gas-liquid separation occurs, flows to the central treatment complex for conditioning before dispatch through purpose-built pipeline systems. AESA led construction as main contractor, mobilizing over 20 local and national firms throughout the execution phase. Peak activity generated employment for approximately 1,300 workers combining direct hires, subcontractors and YPF personnel.
YPF president and CEO Horacio Marín stated the crude processed at the facility will reach global markets through the VMOS pipeline project, positioned to establish Vaca Muerta and Argentina as significant participants in international energy trade. The VMOS system connects the Allen area in Río Negro province to the Punta Colorada export terminal on the Atlantic coast, with commissioning scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026 and initial export operations targeted for early 2027. The pipeline will commence with 180,000 barrels per day capacity, with expansion to 550,000 barrels per day projected during 2027.
La Angostura Sur production jumped from 2,000 barrels per day in October 2024 to above 35,000 barrels one year later, establishing the block among the Neuquén basin’s five highest-producing areas. The LLL Oil development encompasses five contiguous blocks—La Angostura Sur I and II, Suroeste, Norte and Barreal Grande—targeting a production plateau of approximately 240,000 barrels per day from 2032, with all crude designated for export through VMOS infrastructure. The facility activation consolidates YPF’s export-oriented strategy and provides essential processing capacity ahead of the VMOS pipeline’s anticipated startup.
This article was curated and published as part of our South American energy market coverage.
