Italian energy major Eni has signed an agreement to acquire a 32% stake in three unconventional gas blocks in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale formation, strengthening its position in the country’s flagship LNG export ambitions.
The sale and purchase agreement covers the Meseta Buena Esperanza, Aguada Villanueva, and Las Tacanas blocks
The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals. Once completed, ownership of the assets will be split between YPF (36%), Eni (32%), and XRG (32%). The upstream assets will supply gas to the Argentina LNG project, an integrated upstream and midstream development designed to monetize Vaca Muerta’s vast shale gas resources.
The project is expected to support 12 million metric tons per year (mtpa) of LNG export capacity through two floating LNG (FLNG) units, each capable of producing 6 mtpa. Eni said the investment aligns with its strategy of building integrated gas value chains that combine upstream production with LNG exports and marketing. The company has increasingly focused on FLNG developments globally as demand for flexible LNG supply continues to grow. “Our entry into Vaca Muerta… strengthens Eni’s ability to develop world-scale gas resources and convert them into competitive LNG for international markets,” said Guido Brusco, Eni’s Chief Operating Officer for Global Natural Resources.