Concerns about large-scale hydraulic fracturing in Vaca Muerta centre on seismic risk, heavy resource use and environmental contamination. A 2013 reform allowed fracking across roughly 30,000 square kilometres of the formation, and activity has grown since 2015. A January NCS Multistage report said 2026 began with an exceptionally high number of fracturing operations and could set a record if that pace continues. At the end of 2025 the region produced more than 570,000 barrels of shale oil and 64 million cubic metres of shale gas per day.
Researchers and residents link the expansion to increased tremors. The Induced Seismicity Observatory listed 442 events on its website since activity intensified after 2018, and Javier Grosso said the updated count exceeded 600. In 2025 the observatory recorded 102 tremors in Añelo. Grosso and colleagues have reported vertical displacements since 2017 and point to a 4.9 magnitude quake in March 2019. Many observers note that earthquakes largely stopped during the COVID-19 industrial pause and returned when operations resumed.
Seismic monitoring and official interpretation are disputed. The Argentine Institute of Petroleum and Gas told BBC News a basin-wide baseline is needed to determine tremor origins, while Grosso says Vaca Muerta already has substantial equipment: nine seismographs at the National Institute for Seismic Prevention and 21–25 at private companies. Local experts also highlight high resource demands: shale wells may need far more water than conventional wells and large quantities of sand. Environmental authorities warn of contaminated solid waste and possible impacts on the Negro River basin. Regional policy varies: some Brazilian states do not allow fracking, six bills to ban it failed in Colombia, and Mexico’s president appears willing to promote it.
- Water and materials: a conventional well may need 6,500 cubic metres of water versus up to 60,000 cubic metres for a shale well.
- Sand use: five million tonnes were used in Vaca Muerta last year; Fucello predicted six million this year.
Difficult words
- induced seismicity — earthquakes that are caused by human activity
- seismic — related to earthquakes or earth vibrations
- contamination — presence of harmful substances in environment
- baseline — initial set of data used for comparison
- displacement — movement of ground or an object from positiondisplacements
- tremor — a small or moderate shaking of the groundtremors
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Discussion questions
- Which of the risks mentioned in the article seems most important to you, and why?
- How should local or national authorities balance increased oil and gas production with environmental and community concerns?
- What monitoring, data or policies would you recommend to address residents' worries about tremors and contamination?
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