The North American company ExxonMobil will build a pipeline in the north of Vaca Muerta, which will allow transport up to 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day to the backbone of the Oldelval company. The jobs will require a investment of 75 million dollars and will make it possible to promote the development of this second pole of development of the shale formation.
The news was announced by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Neuquén, from where it was reported that, as part of the 2023 Investment Plan approved by the provincial government, the construction of the Bajo del Choique Northeast oil pipeline.
This line will allow the daily transport of up to 60,000 barrels of oil along 43 kilometers, with a diameter of 12 inches. The pipeline will have a connection between the crude oil treatment plant in the Bajo del Choique – La Invernada area and the Oldelval unloading and loading terminal, that he owns in the vicinity of Rincón de los Sauces.
From the oil company are currently in the award process for the engineering basic and subsequent tendering of the work and the acquisition of the necessary pipes. According to the Neuquén government, It is estimated that the start of the laying will be carried out during the first quarter of 2024and it is expected to come into operation at the end of the same year.
ExxonMobil has its main development in the Bajo del Choique – La Invernada block, where it operates in a 10% alliance with the Neuquén state-owned Gas y Petróleo del Neuquén (GyP).
“There is no limit to the potential of Vaca Muerta”
In this block, the new Bajo del Choique Nordeste oil pipeline will allow the continued development of hydrocarbon activity in the province, strengthening transportation capacity and contributing to economic growth.
“There is no limit to the development potential of Vaca Muerta,” said the Governor of Neuquén, Omar Gutiérrez, and remarked that “In recent years we have managed to triple Vaca Muerta’s oil and gas production and have reached a record in historical production of Neuquen”.
The Neuquén president pointed out that “Vaca Muerta is an example for the country” and considered that “if we had not developed it, in 2022 we would have lost 20.3 billion dollars to buy energy abroad”.