Vertical Vaca Muerta shale gas-condensate discovery tested

Americas Petrogas Inc., Calgary, has reported an operated, vertical gas-condensate discovery in the Vaca Muerta shale on the Los Toldos I block in Argentina’s Neuquen basin.

The Aguada Los Loros well ALL.x-1 well on the 98,300-acre block, drilled in 2012, intersected 1,844 ft of Vaca Muerta shale plus other secondary targets.

Hydraulically stimulated with four stages in the Vaca Muerta shale formation in early 2013, its initial production from the Vaca Muerta at 8,432-9,609 ft after clean-up has increased from 1.3 MMcfd to 3.2 MMcfd of gas with 9 to 18 b/d of 54-58° condensate on 4-6 mm chokes. The well is within 1 km of a gas pipeline.

Wellhead pressure declined normally during flow testing. This, in addition to core and other studies, will help the broad evaluation of the future productivity and the potential of the well and the reservoir. The well is shut-in for pressure build-up.

Interests in the Los Toldos blocks are Americas Petrogas 45%, ExxonMobil Corp. 45%, and Gas y Petroleo del Neuquen 10%.