YPF And Schlumberger Ink Bandurria Sur JV Deal

(Schlumberger, 12.Apr.2017) — Schlumberger President of Operations, Patrick Schorn, and YPF Chairman, Miguel Ángel GutiĂ©rrez, signed an agreement to start a shale oil pilot project in Bandurria Sur Block in Vaca Muerta, NeuquĂ©n. The agreement, signed in YPFÂŽs offices in Buenos Aires involves a USD 390 million phased investment by […]

Tecpetrol to Invest $2.3 Bln in Vaca Muerta

(Reuters, Eliana Raszewski, 23.Mar.2017) — Argentina’s Tecpetrol, part of the Techint Group, said on Thursday it would invest $2.3 billion in the Vaca Muerta shale fields through 2019, the largest announcement in the formation in years. Tecpetrol said in a statement the investment was made possibly due to measures from […]

Moody’s Changes Outlook on Argentine Cos

(Moody’s Investors Service, 7.Mar.2017) – Moody’s Investors Service revised to positive from stable the outlook for several companies operating in Argentina, while all ratings were affirmed. The companies’ outlook change follows the revision of the Argentine government’s B3 rating outlook to positive from stable on March 6, 2017. ISSUERS AND […]

EcoStim Secures $17 Million in New Funding

(Eco-Stim Energy Solutions, Inc., 6.Mar.2017) – Eco-Stim Energy Solutions, Inc. announced that an affiliate of Fir Tree Partners (FTP) entered into a transaction with an affiliate of Albright Capital Management LLC (ACM) pursuant to which FTP has purchased from ACM $22 million aggregate principal amount of the company’s outstanding 14% […]

Andes EnergĂ­a, YPF to Develop Vaca Muerta

(Energy Analytics Institute (EAI), Clifford Fingers III, 16.Feb.2017) – Andes EnergĂ­a and YPF plan joint investments to boost hydrocarbon production in the Vaca Muerta in Argentina. “We have projects to drill hundreds of wells,” reported the daily ClarĂ­n, citing Andes General Manager Alejandro Jotayan. “The great potential is in shale […]

Moody’s Assigns Rating to Pampa EnergĂ­a

(Moody’s Investors Service, 6.Jan.2017) – Moody’s Investors Service assigned a B3 Corporate Family Rating (CFR) to Pampa EnergĂ­a S.A. At the same time, Moody’s assigned a B3 rating to the company’s proposed long term senior unsecured notes. Proceeds from the notes will be used to refinance debt and for capital […]

Eco-Stim Energy Secures $2 Mln Loan

(Eco-Stim Energy Solutions, Inc., 1.Dec.2016) – Eco-Stim Energy Solutions, Inc. finalized a $2 million secured loan from existing shareholders. The loan will have a one-year term with the proceeds used to prepay a $1 million note scheduled to mature on December 15, 2016, related to previous equipment purchases, as well […]

Next Hot Spot for Shale Drilling? Argentina

(CNN Money, 28.Jul.2016) – Argentina has exceptional hydrocarbon reserves, but politics has greatly affected its development. The economy in Argentina is best described as a “pendulum”, going from loose economic policies in the ’80s to Washington-consensus liberalisation in the ’90s and back again under the Kirchner regime. Since the current […]

ExxonMobil to Invest $10 Billion In Vaca Muerta

(Energy Analytics Institute, Jared Yamin, 3.Jun.2016) – U.S.-based ExxonMobil plans to invest $10 billion over the next 20 years in the Vaca Muerta area in Argentina. The announcement was made by ExxonMobil President Rex Tillerson during a visit the Vaca Muerta area in NeuquĂ©n with Argentine President Mauricio Macri, reported […]

Argentina Launches RenovAr Plan

(Energy Analytics Institute, Jared Yamin, 31.May.2016) – The Argentine government launched its so-called National Renewable Energies Plan or RenovAr. The plan contemplates installing nearly 1,000 megawatts of energy from various wind, solar and other projects. The plan could attract project investments on the order of $2 billion in the first […]

Chile Started Gas Exports to Argentina

(Energy Analytics Institute, 18.May.2016) — Chile shipped its first molecules of natural gas to Argentina on 17 May 2016, owing to an agreement between both governments and the French-Belgian company Engie. The first shipment left from Mejillones, Chile’s energy ministry announced 18 May 2016 in an official statement. Chile expects […]

Approval of Sale of Petrobras Argentina

(Petrobras, 13.May.2016) – Petrobras announced that its Board of Directors approved the sale of its entire 67.19 percent interest in Petrobras Argentina (PESA), owned by Petrobras Participaciones S.L. (PPSL), to Pampa EnergĂ­a. The transaction base price is $892 million, equivalent to the value of $1,327 million for 100 percent of […]

Moody’s Upgrades Argentine Corporate Issuers

(Moody’s, 21.Apr.2016) – Moody’s Investors Service upgraded ratings of several companies with operations in Argentina, with the outlook changed to stable from positive. The rating actions on the companies’ global scale ratings follow Moody’s upgrade on April 15, 2016 of Argentina’s government bond rating to B3 from Caa1, with the […]

Moody’s Withdraws Pan America Rating

(Moody’s Investor Service, 9.Sep.2015) – Moody’s Latin America Agente de CalificaciĂłn de Riesgo has withdrawn the Aa1.ar National Local Currency rating for the Senior Unsecured Bank Credit Facility of Pan American Energy LLC, Argentine Branch (PAE) for business reasons. However, the B2 Global Scale Rating remains unchanged. Pan American Energy […]

Elevated Corporate Risks in Argentina

(Moody’s Investor Service, 16.Jul.2015) – Economic stagnation, a difficult political environment and heightened volatility in financial markets with the approach of presidential elections will be elevating pressures on non-financial companies in Argentina through mid-2016, says Moody’s Investors Service. Most of the 20 companies that Moody’s rates in Argentina, however, will […]

Moody’s Confirms Petrobras Argentina Notes

(Moody’s, 28.Apr.2015) – Moody’s Latin America Agente de CalificaciĂłn de Riesgo confirmed the Ba2/Aaa.ar global scale rating and national scale rating on Petrobras Argentina S.A.’s (Petrobras Argentina) $300 million in guaranteed Series S notes (CUSIP 71646JAB5). The rating action reflects Moody’s Investors Service’s rating action on 27.Apr.2015 of confirming Petrobras’ […]

Petrobras Reports Sale of Assets in Argentina

(Petrobras, 31.Mar.2015) – The Board of Directors of Petrobras Argentina (PESA) approved the sale of all of its assets in the Austral Basin (province of Santa Cruz) to Compañia General de Combustibles S.A. (CGC) for $101 million. PESA assets involved in the deal include 26 onshore exploration and production concessions, […]

Apco Completes $470 Mln Merger

(Apco Oil and Gas International Inc., 29.Jan.2015) – Apco Oil and Gas International Inc. completed its merger with Pluspetrol Black River Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pluspetrol Resources Corporation, in an all-cash transaction with an equity value of approximately $427 million. In connection with the transaction, Apco will be delisted […]