New Vaca Muerta bid round
New Vaca Muerta bid round
02 June 2026
Upcoming bid round to test the extent of E&Ps' appetite for shale beyond the US
Argentina's Vaca Muerta is one of only two proven unconventional plays to emerge from the global shale exploration wave of the last decade. With a dozen operators active and production approaching 600,000 barrels per day (bpd), the basin's track record is well established.
In early May, Neuquén province announced the "1/2026" bid round, offering 15 exploration blocks through provincial company Gas y Petróleo del Neuquén. With bids due on 19 August 2026, the window for technical evaluation is short.
Rystad Energy's latest whitepaper draws on our proporietary shale data to examine all 15 blocks on offer, covering:
How Vaca Muerta well productivity compares to the Permian, Bakken and Eagle Ford
A cluster-by-cluster breakdown of all 15 blocks, covering geology, thermal maturity and proximity to existing development
Oil and gas takeaway infrastructure around each block and how midstream capex requirements vary by location
The GyP bid valuation methodology, scoring formula and work unit equivalency