Tecpetrol: the next leap in production
Ricardo Markous, CEO of Tecpetrol, reviewed the current status of Fortín de Piedra, Argentina's largest unconventional gas field, which reaches winter peaks of 24 million cubic meters per day. Sustaining that level requires investing between US$300 million and US$350 million a year in wells alone. "It's a factory, a continuous activity," he said.
The next step is Los Toldos II Este, which recently received RIGI approval. The project calls for a total investment of US$6.4 billion and two modules of 35,000 barrels per day: the first will start production in early March 2027 and the second in mid-2027. By 2030–2032, Tecpetrol is expected to reach around 130,000 barrels of oil per day in Argentina. "It's a huge leap for us," Markous said. To support that growth, the company works with nearly 800 SMEs at Los Toldos II Este. "Extraordinary investments are coming to Argentina," he summarized.
Tenaris: innovation to boost productivity
Andrea Previtali, President of Tenaris for the Southern Cone, recalled that the company was born in Campana 70 years ago and launched its oil and gas services division six years ago. Tenaris has invested more than US$240 million in services in Argentina in recent years and added a third frac fleet equipped with Dynamic Gas Blending technology, which uses compressed natural gas to reduce diesel consumption.
"Today we carried out an operation in which, using gas from the same pad, we replaced 80% of the diesel used by our frac fleet," she said, describing it as "a milestone for Argentina." The company has also added a third coiled tubing unit and, in early 2027, will begin offering a turnkey service to build the conductor section, the first section of the well. By applying the continuous improvement know-how from its pipe production lines, its crews already exceed 22 pumping hours per day. "Argentina is a place where we like to innovate with Tenaris," she said.
Techint E&C: the infrastructure for a new scale
Alejo Calcagno, President South Region of Techint E&C, reviewed the company's projects in the basin. Techint E&C completed its section of the 30-inch, 437-kilometer oil pipeline connecting Allen with Punta Colorada, which will carry Vaca Muerta production to the Atlantic coast. It is also advancing the Duplicar Norte project for Oldelval and Los Toldos II Este for Tecpetrol, a shale oil processing plant with a capacity of 70,000 barrels.
"This is an extraordinary moment," he said. According to Calcagno, the change of scale is such that "we still have to grasp what is coming in the next five or ten years." He proposed combining local talent with the company's engineering offices in Mexico, Ecuador, Spain and India, and incorporating artificial intelligence and modularization. He also had a message for SMEs: "You have to embrace this moment. Think ten years ahead."
In total, 17 Techint Group representatives gave presentations over the four days.
