OREANDA-NEWS. Argentina's state-controlled YPF has suspended production at two of its largest oil and natural gas fields in the shale-rich southern province of Neuquen because of an indigenous protest.

The company shut in production yesterday at the Loma Campana oil field, the country's largest shale development that YPF operates in a 50:50 partnership with Chevron, and Loma la Lata to "guarantee the safety of the people, the installations and the environment."

Members of the Paynmeil community "physically attacked YPF personnel who were carrying out monitoring and control tasks in the gas compression plant of Loma la Lata," the Neuquen provincial government said.

The group is protesting over land rights.

YPF said it had filed a criminal complaint against the indigenous community, warning of possible risks to the environment.

"Now that the installations are completely abandoned there could be spills and even fires in the plants," YPF warned.

Loma la Lata produced 9.78mn m3/d (345.2mn ft3/d) in the first six months of the year while Loma Campana accounted for 20,656 b/d during the same period.