Records
Argentina's well records with official Energy Secretariat data: the longest lateral, the well with the most frac stages, the top producers and the top cumulative producers, nationwide and in each basin. Plus the records announced by operators.
Longest lateral
| # | Record | Well | Area and operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5,114 m | YPF.Nq.SOil-476(h) fractured in 08/2025 | Loma Campana YPF · Neuquén |
| 2 | 4,965 m | YPF.Nq.LLL-1861(h) fractured in 05/2025 | Loma Campana YPF · Neuquén |
| 3 | 4,823 m | YPF.Nq.SOil-475(h) fractured in 08/2025 | Loma Campana YPF · Neuquén |
| 4 | 4,737 m | YPF.Nq.LLL-1999(h) fractured in 05/2026 | Loma Campana YPF · Neuquén |
| 5 | 4,698 m | YPF.Nq.LLL-1862(h) fractured in 05/2025 | Loma Campana YPF · Neuquén |
Outside the Neuquén Basin: Austral: 1,126 m (CGC.SCA.CI-66(h), Campo Indio Este - El Cerrito)
Most frac stages in a well
| # | Record | Well | Area and operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 105 stages | VIS.Nq.BPO-2364(h) 11/2025 · 2,906 m lateral | Bajada del Palo Oeste Vista Energy · Neuquén |
| 2 | 101 stages | XOM.Nq.BdC-13(h) 01/2021 · 3,063 m lateral | Bajo del Choique - La Invernada Exxonmobil Exploration Argentina S.R.L. · Neuquén |
| 3 | 99 stages | YPF.Nq.LLL-1861(h) 05/2025 · 4,965 m lateral | Loma Campana YPF · Neuquén |
| 4 | 98 stages | YPF.Nq.LLL-1826(h) 01/2026 · 4,346 m lateral | Loma Campana YPF · Neuquén |
| 5 | 98 stages | YPF.Nq.LLL-1999(h) 05/2026 · 4,737 m lateral | Loma Campana YPF · Neuquén |
Outside the Neuquén Basin: Austral: 18 stages (CGC.SCA.ECO-52(h), Campo Indio Este - El Cerrito) · Golfo San Jorge: 14 stages (TPT.Ch.PQ-1006, Puesto Quiroga)
Most sand pumped in a well
| # | Record | Well | Area and operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24,000 t | XOM.Nq.PdY-1003(h) 54 stages · 09/2018 | Pampa de las Yeguas I Exxonmobil Exploration Argentina S.R.L. · Neuquén |
| 2 | 22,643 t | VIS.Nq.BPO-2393(h) 93 stages · 12/2020 | Bajada del Palo Oeste Vista Energy · Neuquén |
| 3 | 21,804 t | VIS.Nq.BPO-2391(h) 90 stages · 12/2020 | Bajada del Palo Oeste Vista Energy · Neuquén |
| 4 | 21,724 t | VIS.Nq.BPO-2392(h) 92 stages · 12/2020 | Bajada del Palo Oeste Vista Energy · Neuquén |
| 5 | 21,378 t | VIS.Nq.BPO-2394(h) 88 stages · 12/2020 | Bajada del Palo Oeste Vista Energy · Neuquén |
Outside the Neuquén Basin: Austral: 2,073 t (CGC.SCA.Ma.x-1(h), Campo Indio Este - El Cerrito) · Golfo San Jorge: 808 t (TPT.Ch.S-2791(d), El Tordillo)
Most water used in a well's frac
| # | Record | Well | Area and operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 159,320 m³ | YPF.Nq.LLL-1861(h) 99 stages · 05/2025 | Loma Campana YPF · Neuquén |
| 2 | 153,958 m³ | PAE.Nq.APO-107(h) 94 stages · 07/2021 | Aguada Pichana Oeste Pan American Energy · Neuquén |
| 3 | 151,733 m³ | VIS.Nq.BPO-2393(h) 93 stages · 12/2020 | Bajada del Palo Oeste Vista Energy · Neuquén |
| 4 | 145,625 m³ | VIS.Nq.BPO-2392(h) 92 stages · 12/2020 | Bajada del Palo Oeste Vista Energy · Neuquén |
| 5 | 144,894 m³ | VIS.Nq.BPO-2391(h) 90 stages · 12/2020 | Bajada del Palo Oeste Vista Energy · Neuquén |
Outside the Neuquén Basin: Austral: 19,874 m³ (CGC.SCA.Ma.x-1(h), Campo Indio Este - El Cerrito) · Golfo San Jorge: 9,649 m³ ( TPT.Ch.S-2767(d), El Tordillo)
Best oil well in its first 12 months
| # | Record | Well | Area and operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,145,346 bbl | VIS.Nq.BPO-2801(h) since Feb 2024 | Bajada del Palo Oeste Vista Energy · Neuquén |
| 2 | 787,081 bbl | XOM.Nq.BdC-10(h) since Sep 2021 | Bajo del Choique - La Invernada Pluspetrol Cuenca Neuquina · Neuquén |
| 3 | 751,688 bbl | VIS.Nq.BPE-2202(h) since Apr 2023 | Bajada del Palo Este Vista Energy · Neuquén |
| 4 | 706,296 bbl | XOM.Nq.BdC-30(h) since Apr 2025 | Bajo del Choique - La Invernada Pluspetrol Cuenca Neuquina · Neuquén |
| 5 | 595,490 bbl | XOM.Nq.BdC-45(h) since Oct 2022 | Bajo del Choique - La Invernada Pluspetrol Cuenca Neuquina · Neuquén |
Outside the Neuquén Basin: Austral: 12,927 bbl (CGC.SCA.CI-56(h), Campo Indio Este - El Cerrito) · Golfo San Jorge: 73,840 bbl (CGC.SC.CS-4009(d), Cañadon Seco) · Northwest: 15,464 bbl (PPSA.St.DP-2001, Puesto Guardian)
Best gas well in its first 12 months
| # | Record | Well | Area and operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 241.2 MMm³ | TPT.Nq.FP-1317(h) since Aug 2021 | Fortin de Piedra Tecpetrol · Neuquén |
| 2 | 222.4 MMm³ | PAM.Nq.SCh-1026(h) since Jun 2025 | Sierra Chata Pampa Energía · Neuquén |
| 3 | 221.7 MMm³ | PAM.Nq.SCh-1025(h) since Jun 2025 | Sierra Chata Pampa Energía · Neuquén |
| 4 | 205.1 MMm³ | PAM.Nq.SCh-1027(h) since Jun 2025 | Sierra Chata Pampa Energía · Neuquén |
| 5 | 203.9 MMm³ | TPT.Nq.FP-1291(h) since May 2021 | Fortin de Piedra Tecpetrol · Neuquén |
Outside the Neuquén Basin: Austral: 62.1 MMm³ (CGC.SCA.CI-1025, Campo Indio Este - El Cerrito) · Golfo San Jorge: 45.1 MMm³ (CGC.SC.CS-4002, Cañadon Seco) · Northwest: 0.6 MMm³ (PPSA.St.DP-2003, Puesto Guardian)
Highest oil production from a well in a month
| # | Record | Well | Area and operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5,495 bbl/d | VIS.Nq.BPO-2801(h) since Feb 2024 | Bajada del Palo Oeste Vista Energy · Neuquén |
| 2 | 3,412 bbl/d | XOM.Nq.BdC-10(h) since Sep 2021 | Bajo del Choique - La Invernada Pluspetrol Cuenca Neuquina · Neuquén |
| 3 | 3,361 bbl/d | TAU.Nq.Lesc-12(h) since Dec 2024 | La Escalonada Vaca Muerta Inversiones · Neuquén |
| 4 | 3,294 bbl/d | VIS.Nq.BPE-2202(h) since Apr 2023 | Bajada del Palo Este Vista Energy · Neuquén |
| 5 | 3,013 bbl/d | PET.RN.CoS.x-3(h)v since Oct 2025 | Confluencia Norte Phoenix Global Resources · Neuquén |
Outside the Neuquén Basin: Austral: 112 bbl/d (CGC.SCA.CI-56(h), Campo Indio Este - El Cerrito) · Golfo San Jorge: 296 bbl/d (CGC.SC.CS-4009(d), Cañadon Seco) · Northwest: 80 bbl/d (PPSA.St.DP-2003, Puesto Guardian)
Highest gas production from a well in a month
| # | Record | Well | Area and operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,317 thousand m³/d | YPF.Nq.RDMS-553(h) since Feb 2026 | Rincon del Mangrullo YPF · Neuquén |
| 2 | 957 thousand m³/d | TPT.Nq.FP-1317(h) since Aug 2021 | Fortin de Piedra Tecpetrol · Neuquén |
| 3 | 955 thousand m³/d | TPT.Nq.FP-1196(h) since Jan 2022 | Fortin de Piedra Tecpetrol · Neuquén |
| 4 | 924 thousand m³/d | TPT.Nq.FP-1256(h) since Feb 2021 | Fortin de Piedra Tecpetrol · Neuquén |
| 5 | 902 thousand m³/d | PAM.Nq.SCh-1012(h) since Feb 2024 | Sierra Chata Pampa Energía · Neuquén |
Outside the Neuquén Basin: Austral: 284 thousand m³/d (CGC.SCA.CI-48(h), Campo Indio Este - El Cerrito) · Golfo San Jorge: 152 thousand m³/d (CGC.SC.CS-4002, Cañadon Seco) · Northwest: 2 thousand m³/d (PPSA.St.DP-2003, Puesto Guardian)
Well with the most cumulative oil
| # | Record | Well | Area and operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,198,210 bbl | VIS.Nq.BPO-2801(h) since Feb 2024 | Bajada del Palo Oeste Vista Energy · Neuquén |
| 2 | 1,549,284 bbl | YPF.Nq.LLL-1577(h) since Jun 2019 | Loma Campana YPF · Neuquén |
| 3 | 1,501,799 bbl | XOM.Nq.BdC-10(h) since Sep 2021 | Bajo del Choique - La Invernada Pluspetrol Cuenca Neuquina · Neuquén |
| 4 | 1,454,343 bbl | YPF.Nq.SOil-391(h) since Aug 2019 | Loma Campana YPF · Neuquén |
| 5 | 1,390,497 bbl | YPF.Nq.SOil-373(h) since Oct 2018 | Loma Campana YPF · Neuquén |
Outside the Neuquén Basin: Austral: 40,280 bbl (CGC.SCA.CI-74(d), Campo Indio Este - El Cerrito) · Golfo San Jorge: 184,622 bbl (CGC.SC.CS-4001, Cañadon Seco) · Northwest: 56,970 bbl (PPSA.St.DP-2003, Puesto Guardian)
Well with the most cumulative gas
| # | Record | Well | Area and operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 753 MMm³ | PBE.Nq.M-1047 since Dec 2017 | El Mangrullo Pampa Energía · Neuquén |
| 2 | 689 MMm³ | PBE.Nq.M-1064 since Apr 2018 | El Mangrullo Pampa Energía · Neuquén |
| 3 | 666 MMm³ | PBE.Nq.M-1025 since Jun 2011 | El Mangrullo Pampa Energía · Neuquén |
| 4 | 657 MMm³ | PBE.Nq.M-1026 since Jun 2010 | El Mangrullo Pampa Energía · Neuquén |
| 5 | 642 MMm³ | TPT.Nq.FP-1241(h) since Mar 2019 | Fortin de Piedra Tecpetrol · Neuquén |
Outside the Neuquén Basin: Austral: 168 MMm³ (CGC.SCA.CI-53(h), Campo Indio Este - El Cerrito) · Golfo San Jorge: 133 MMm³ (CGC.SC.CS-4002, Cañadon Seco) · Northwest: 1 MMm³ (PPSA.St.DP-2003, Puesto Guardian)
Records announced by operators public sources
- Anticlinal Grande - Cerro Dragon: If approved, it would be the country's first conventional oil production project to enter the RIGI. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2026-10)
- Cañadón León - Meseta Espinosa: Quintana completed its first crude export: about 189,000 barrels from the block, presented as the first shipment of Santa Cruz crude to the United States. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2026-10)
- Sierra Chata: The area hit a record of 7.4 MMm3/d of gas, 95% more than a year earlier, thanks to the start-up of 4 shale wells. (forbesargentina.com, 2026-08)
- Bajo del Choique - La Invernada: Drilling record: 4,054 m in a single run, in a well of 6,898 m MD with a 3,440 m lateral; productive section completed in 5.9 days. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2026-08)
- Bandurria Sur: YPF completed 203 continuous hours of fracturing at Bandurria Sur with a 100% remote and autonomous setup, an operational record. (parlamentario.com, 2026-07)
- Manantiales Behr: With Manantiales Behr, PECOM surpassed one million barrels per month and entered the top 5 oil operators in the country. (iprofesional.com, 2026-07)
- Bandurria Sur: Bandurria Sur reached 64,200 bbl/d in May 2026, among the highest-producing blocks in Vaca Muerta. (iprofesional.com, 2026-06)
- Rincon del Mangrullo: Well RDM 553(h) reached 1.3 MMm3/d of gas, the most productive in the basin's dry gas window according to YPF. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2026-06)
- La Amarga Chica: La Amarga Chica produced 89,864 bbl/d in April 2026, practically tied with Loma Campana as the largest oil block. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2026-05)
- Confluencia Sur: Well PET.RN.CoS.x-3(h) exceeded 3,100 bbl/d and was presented as a super well of Río Negro's Vaca Muerta. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2026-02)
- Loma Campana: In December 2025 it exceeded 100,000 bbl/d: it is the country's first unconventional block to reach that level. (eleconomista.com.ar, 2026-01)
- Confluencia Norte: Confluencia Norte exceeded 7,000 bbl/d, making Phoenix the top oil producer in Río Negro. (econojournal.com.ar, 2025-11)
- Loma Campana: Well LLL-1681 reached 8,206 m total with a 4,947 m lateral, the longest in the basin drilled in a single run. (iprofesional.com, 2025-10)
- La Escalonada: Well LEsc-12(h) at La Escalonada averaged more than 3,600 bbl/d, among the most productive in the Neuquén Basin. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2025-08)
- Rincon de Aranda: The first four-well pad at Rincón de Aranda produced an initial 7,200 bbl/d, above Pampa's projections. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2025-07)
- Fortin de Piedra: Tecpetrol surpassed 1,000 cumulative km drilled at Fortín de Piedra and cut drilling time per well from 40 to 21 days. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2025-06)
- Loma Campana: YPF drilled the longest lateral in Vaca Muerta, at 5,114 m, in a well of 8,376 m total. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2025-05)
- Fortin de Piedra: Tecpetrol reached a 3,582 m lateral drilled with a downhole motor; its previous limit was about 2,600 m. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2025-05)
- Cerro Dragon: PAE confirmed unconventional gas in the D-129 formation: first pilot well with a 1,500 m lateral and 25 frac stages. (buenosairesherald.com, 2025-04)
- La Angostura Sur I: Speed record: 1,747 m drilled in 24 hours at La Angostura Sur. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2025-02)
- Confluencia Norte: Río Negro's first shale project: a three-well pad with ~3,000 m laterals and 135 frac stages entered production. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2024-11)
- Cuenca Marina Austral 1: Total Austral reported that Fénix was completed in record time, with a carbon footprint below 10 kg CO2e per boe. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2024-09)
- La Angostura Sur II: At La Angostura Sur, YPF drilled 1,543 m of lateral in 24 hours, a new drilling speed record in Vaca Muerta. (econojournal.com.ar, 2024-07)
- La Angostura Sur I: YPF drilled 1,543 m of lateral in 24 hours, in a well of 5,542 m completed in 16 days, the speed record at the time. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2024-07)
- Bajada del Palo Este: Well BPE-2301h, with a 2,818 m lateral and 48 frac stages, accumulated 74,900 boe in 60 days with a peak of 1,547 boe/d. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2023-04)
- El Mangrullo: Pampa reached a record of 11.2 MMm3/d of gas in June 2022; El Mangrullo contributed about 72% of production. (rionegro.com.ar, 2022-08)
- Bajada del Palo Oeste: Vista drilled well BPO-2483H at Bajada del Palo Oeste in 12 days, an efficiency mark for the company. (rionegro.com.ar, 2022-07)
- La Yesera: Capex drilled a 4,850 m well at La Yesera, one of the deepest in the basin, in Precuyo reservoirs. (rionegro.gov.ar, 2022-04)
- Bandurria Sur: YPF connected a well at Bandurria Sur with a 3,890 m lateral, then the longest horizontal in Vaca Muerta. (mase.lmneuquen.com, 2021-02)
Energy Secretariat data as of August 2026 (production) and July 2026 (fracs). Production records are from unconventional wells (shale and tight), which is where the Secretariat publishes the well-by-well series. Fracs with impossible per-stage values (more than 700 t of sand or 4,000 m³ of water) are discarded, as they are data-entry errors. Drilling speed is not calculated: the start and end drilling dates in the registry are not reliable for that.
Fuentes
Updated as of October 9, 2026. Anything to correct or add? Write to us.