Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Natural Gas Country Notes

Information published by the Secretaría de Energía with respect to Argentina's oil and gas reserves situation at end-2005 shows proved reserves of natural gas as 439 bcm, a 19% decrease from the end-2004 level of 542 bcm. The same source states that 'probable reserves', not yet proven but considered to be eventually recoverable, now stand at 249 bcm.

Gas extraction takes place in five sedimentary basins. The greatest production corresponds to the Neuquina Basin which provides 57% of the total, followed by the Austral Basin with 20%, the Northwest Basin with 14% and the Golfo San Jorge with 9%; the contribution of the Cuyana Basin is minimal. About 2.5% of current gross production is re-injected. Marketed production (after relatively small amounts are deducted through flaring and shrinkage) is the highest in South America.

For many years, gas supplies have been augmented by imports from Bolivia, but this flow ceased in October 1999, as the focus of Bolivia's gas exports shifted to Brazil. In a further re-orientation of the South American gas supply structure, Argentina has become a significant exporter in its own right, with a number of pipelines supplying Chile and others to Uruguay and Brazil.

Consumption of indigenous and imported gas in 2004 was divided between the power generation market (33%), industrial fuel/feedstock (23%), residential/commercial uses (23%) and gas industry own use/loss (14%); about 7% was consumed as CNG in road transport.