Panorama of shale oil production in Vaca Muerta has undergone historic changeAccording to data collected by the Ministry of Energy and the Province of Neuquén as of October 2025, La Amarga Chica, It is a major development operated by YPF in partnership with Vista Energy, dethroning Loma Campana as the country’s most oil-producing region.
Traditionally, Loma Campana (operated by YPF and Chevron) was considered a terminal Star Block for Training and Development Who inaugurated the mass production of shale oil, implemented innovation that paved the way for the entire industry. However, an analysis of the past 12 months shows a clear reversal in leadership, according to an analysis Economics and energy consultant.
This is La Amarga Chica, an area in which YPF and Vista Energy are involved and which has shown a consistent and strong trend of growth over the past 12 months. In October 2024, it produced 72 thousand barrels per day, but after a year, In October 2025, it reached 88 thousand barrels per day, an increase of more than 22%. Which allowed him to stand out as the most productive in the country.
Last April, the oil company founded by Miguel Galluccio completed the purchase of 50% of La Amarga Chica, one of the most productive areas of Vaca Muerta. It paid 1,340 million US dollars To maintain the share owned by the Malaysian Petronas company. In the process, Vista cemented itself as The largest independent oil producer Unconventional from Argentina, behind YPF.
By then the mass The second most important shale oil field is Vaca Muerta With a production of 80,000 barrels per day and infrastructure available to process up to 160,000 barrels per day. With 247 active wells, the future remains promising, as it is estimated that 400 more wells are planned to be drilled.
La Amarga Chica has an area of 46,594 acres The most prolific shale oil window in the Neuquén Formation With a history dating back to the start of operation in 2014 – when YPF was led by current President and CEO Vista – the cluster has demonstrated sustained growth in production and operational efficiency.
New Vaca Muerta Council
importance The first five areas are reflected in their overall impact on the group. According to the report, La Amarga Chica, Loma Campana, Panduria Sur, Bajada del Palo and Angostura Sur account for 59% of the total share of shale oil production in October 2025.
This data highlights Concentration of production in specific blocksThis facilitates the management and development of evacuation and treatment infrastructure.
Consecration of the new block Loma Campana fell to second place. Although the region maintained a very good productivity performance, it witnessed a slight decline during this period. Although its peak was in March 2025, reaching 93 kb/day, It closed in October 2025 at a rate of 87 KB/dayjust below the record set in October 2024.
Bandurria Sur, is a development project managed by YPF with Equinor and Shell as partners The third most important mass in the pelvisalso showed unstable behavior, because after its peak of 70 thousand barrels/day in August, it reached 61 thousand barrels/day in October in the period analyzed.
The fourth most productive block of unconventional Neuquén is Bajada del Palo, operated exclusively by Vista, Which maintained its consolidation, closing the period with 70 thousand barrels per day (including Bajada del Palo Oeste and Este).
Finally, Angostura Sur I, which belongs to YPF, is the block that closes the TOP5 at Vaca Muerta. This area, although smaller in size, is The one with the highest growth raterising from just 3KB/day to 30KB/day, and emerging as a new focus for expansion in just 12 months.