Extraction Costs in Argentina Are 50% Higher Than in the United States, According to Storni – ZapalaYa | 12/05/26

CAPEX president Adolfo Storni stated that extraction and drilling costs in Vaca Muerta are currently 50% higher than in the United States, a situation that, he warned, limits the attractiveness of the Neuquén shale basin for large-scale international investment. The analysis focused mainly on service and logistics costs, highlighting that fracking sand in Argentina costs between US$200 and US$350 per ton, compared to around US$30 in the United States, in addition to shortages of drilling equipment and rising freight costs, all of which affect competitiveness. Despite this, Storni emphasized that Vaca Muerta’s geological quality is superior to that of the U.S. Permian Basin and that much of its potential remains undeveloped, although he argued that accelerating production growth will require reducing costs and improving the infrastructure and service chain surrounding Argentina’s shale industry. Link to Article