Argentina launches Vaca Muerta gas pipeline compression work tender

Argentine state energy company Energía Argentina has put out to tender another contract associated with the compression element of the first phase of the Vaca Muerta gas pipeline project.

Officials are seeking bids for compression station engineering, equipment/materials provision and construction work, a notice published in the official gazette said. 

Last month Energía Argentina put out to tender a contract for the compressors, which would be installed at the planned Tratayén and Salliqueló compression stations.

The objective is bringing forward to 2023 a planned increase of 10Mm3/d (million cubic meters per day) in transport capacity, via compression, originally penciled in for early 2024. 

Without compression, the 583km first phase – between Neuquén and Buenos Aires provinces – would have 10Mm3/d transport capacity.

Officials aim to bring the first phase online by around June next year and also commission the compression stations in 2023, resulting in a total of 20Mm3/d of additional Neuquén basin dispatch capacity, which currently stands at around 75Mm3/d.

In the second phase of the megaproject, capacity would grow a further 20Mm3/d, boosting Neuquén basin gas dispatch capacity to 115Mm3/d.

In related news, pipes for two ancillary projects – the 80km Mercedes-Cardales link and a 29km loop along the Neuba II duct – have started to be dispatched from Buenos Aires, the federal energy department said. Engineers will use 7,444 pipes of 30 and 36 inches in diameter, ducts originally earmarked for trunk pipeline projects that have since stalled. 

Click here for more information on the tender