Maypa X-1 marks first unconventional well in southern Santa Cruz province
Another major success has been achieved for Argentina’s burgeoning energy industry and Stream-Flo once again was front and centre for it.
The latest Argentine achievement, which saw an exploratory well drilled for the first time in Argentina’s Santa Cruz province in the Palermo Aike unconventional formation, is being heralded a resounding success.
“It looks like it’s going to be a very promising area,” said Stream-Flo Argentina Country Manager Eduardo Riccieri. “We were selected by YPF because of our DMLX capabilities first, plus our service excellence.”
Some of that service excellence was proud to display their participation in the project, with Stream-Flo Argentina Field Technician Gian Luca Iglesias recently taking to LinkedIn to celebrate the successful start-up of the promising Maypa X-1 well.
The development of Palermo Aike, announced last year by majority state-owned YPF in partnership with independent energy company Compañía General de Combustibles (CGC), has the potential to turn into a Vaca Muerta-like boon for unconventional production given the similarities the two shale formations share.
With the areas remote Patagonia location not too far away from Antarctica, Stream-Flo Argentina Sales Manager Carolina Canessa says it’s a challenging environment to operate in on account of the difficult weather conditions and access limitations, much like northern Canada faces.
“Basically they (YPF/CGC) came to us because they knew that we have the technology that we developed for Canadian companies and we are used to working in those harsh conditions,” she explained.
CGC representatives visit the Stream-Flo Neuquén facility to learn more about our DMLX technology that is being utilized on the Maypa X-1 exploratory well in Palermo Aike.
Excitement builds
What’s more, a full showcase of our cold-weather accustomed product line was on display for this inaugural Palermo Aike well.
“Master Flo chokes, ESDs on the trees, and HIPPS on the downstream, we have the whole lines of Stream-Flo/Master Flo products on the first exploratory well in southern Argentina,” added Canessa.
As excitement and momentum build around Argentina’s energy industry — Riccieri and Canessa had to contend with extra security at the airport as they relayed the above info due to Argentina President Javier Milei’s visit to Neuquén, which came on the heels of the mega-investment announcement by YPF and Malaysia’s Petronas for a $30 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant that will be constructed in Sierra Grande — our in-country team continues to build upon their sterling reputation as pressure increases.
“It (Maypa X-1) was very important to us because we were in the spotlight,” said Riccieri. “It would be a big challenge if anything were to go wrong in that area, but we exceeded expectations in Palermo Aike as we have in Vaca Muerta.”
With promising results gushing forth from the first exploratory well in Palermo Aike, Riccieri finished by saying “more is to come” for the second most important formation in Argentina.
Gian Luca Iglesias, far right, and two YPF team members pose for a photo on-site of Maypa X-1.