Map - Argentina Vega Pl?yade

OREANDA-NEWS. Total has started up production at the offshore Vega Pleyade gas and condensate field in the Tierra del Fuego region of Argentina. Operated by Total, the project will have a production capacity of 10 million cubic meters of gas per day (70,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d)).

"Vega Pleyade is Total's second start up this year and will contribute to our production growth in 2016 and for the years to come,” commented Arnaud Breuillac, President Exploration & Production. “The project consists of the development of one of the largest offshore gas fields in Argentina and is the world's southern-most gas development. It will allow us to maintain the level of our operated production in Tierra del Fuego at around 18 million cubic meters per day (130,000 boe/d) and to contribute to the long-term delivery of gas to Argentina."

The Vega Pleyade development consists of a wellhead platform in 50 meters water depth, tied back via a 77 kilometer offshore pipeline to the Total-operated Rio Cullen and Cañadon Alfa onshore treatment facilities, and was completed in just two and a half years.

Vega Pleyade is located in the Cuenca Marina Austral 1 (CMA-1) concession operated by Total with a 37.5% interest, alongside its partners Wintershall Energia (37.5%) and Pan American Energy (25%).

About Total Exploration & Production in Argentina

Total is a long-standing partner of Argentina. The Group has been present in the country for nearly 40 years and operates around 30% of the domestic gas production. In 2015, the Group's share of production in Argentina was 72,000 boe/d.

On the CMA-1 concession in Tierra del Fuego, Total operates the onshore Ara and Cañadon Alfa fields and the offshore Hidra, Kaus, Argo, Carina and Aries fields.

In the onshore Neuquén basin, the Group holds equity interests in eleven blocks spanning more than 1,500 square kilometers, of which six are operated, including the Aguada Pichana and San Roque producing fields. In addition to its conventional resources, this acreage covers the promising Vaca Muerta shale play, where the Group recently launched two pilot production projects.