The oil production decline that the Covid-19 pandemic brought to Argentina’s Vaca Muerta formation now seems like a distant memory. The reserve’s oil output has not only rebounded to pre-pandemic levels but also reached a record high of 124,000 barrels per day (bpd) in December 2020, a Rystad Energy report reveals. The ascent can continue towards the 145,000–150,000 bpd range by the end of 2021 if current activity levels continue. Vaca Muerta, meaning dead cow in Spanish, is holding shale gas and tight oil economically recoverable resources of global significance. The previous oil production record before December was set in March 2020, when output reached 123,000 bpd. Contrary to oil production, Vaca Muerta’s gas output kept declining through the fourth quarter due to lower seasonal consumption. Gross gas production fell below 900 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) in December for the first time since October 2018. “While well […]