Wintershall commences first pilot well in Bandurria Norte block in Argentina

BASF subsidiary Wintershall has commenced the first of three planned horizontal pilot wells in the 107km² Bandurria Norte block, located in the western Argentinean province of Neuquén.

Through the wells, the company is targeting the shale of the Vaca Muerta formation found at a depth of between 2,700m and 3,000m.

According to estimates from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the formation Vaca Muerta has recoverable resources amounting to 16.2 billion barrels of oil and 8.7 trillion cubic metres of gas.

This development comes after a similar project with four horizontal wells was taken up by the company in the nearby Aguada Federal block in 2015.

The initial significant results of both projects are expected in 2018.

Wintershall-CEO Mario Mehren said: “Now, however, we are investigating in the blocks Aguada Federal and Bandurria Norte the potential of unconventional reservoirs as an operator.

Wintershall Energía managing director Gustavo Albrecht said: "In particular, the Argentinian shale formations are very promising. Wintershall has many years of local experience and technical expertise to help shape the country's energy future in a responsible manner.”

Acting as a non-operator, Wintershall has, to date, focused mainly on recovering hydrocarbons from conventional reservoirs in Argentina.

The company has been producing oil and gas from both conventional and tight gas reservoirs for more than 20 years in the province of Neuquén.

With an interest in 15 oil and gas fields, Wintershall Energía has an annual production of 26 million barrels of oil equivalent.

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Image: Argentina’s Bandurria Norte Field. Photo: courtesy of Wintershall Holding GmbH.