Statoil has been awarded the Bajo del Toro Este exploration licence as operator in the Neuquén basin (illustration: Statoil)

As part of the Argentina’s Gas y Petróleo del Neuquén’s (GyP) 5th bidding round, Statoil has been awarded the Bajo del Toro Este exploration licence as operator in the Neuquén basin.

Statoil will operate the licence with a 90% working interest, with Gas y Petróleo del Neuquén (GyP) retaining a 10% interest.

“With the Bajo del Toro Este licence award we are building our light oil position in a world-class unconventional resource play, the Vaca Muerta Formation,” says Statoil’s executive vice president for Exploration, Tim Dodson.

The Bajo del Toro Este licence borders the Bajo del Toro licence to the west. Statoil and Argentina’s energy company YPF entered a (preliminary) agreement to jointly explore the Vaca Muerta Formation in the Bajo del Toro block in August 2017.

“With increased ownership interests, and Statoil now becoming an operator, we are positioned to test the extent of the play and optimise with respect to materiality. We will also leverage our US onshore experience” says Dodson.

The opportunities have an excellent fit with Statoil’s sharpened strategy, and is in line with the company’s exploration strategy of delivering profitable, high-quality resources.

The Bajo del Toro Este exploration licence permit covers an area of area of more than 133 km². The licence is located in the Neuquén Basin in the western part of Argentina. Statoil has committed to one exploration well within the four-year exploration period, which starts in 2018.

Tags: Statoil