Vaca Muerta, mainly in Neuquén province, is Argentina’s largest shale area. A 2013 legislative reform opened about 30,000 square kilometres for fracking, and activity expanded after 2015. A January report by NCS Multistage said 2026 began with an exceptionally high number of fracturing operations and could set a record if that rate continues. By the end of 2025 the region produced more than 570,000 barrels of shale oil and 64 million cubic metres of shale gas each day.
Local observers and researchers link the expansion to increasing seismicity. The Induced Seismicity Observatory recorded 442 tremors on its website since the end of 2018; Javier Grosso said the updated total exceeded 600. In 2025 the observatory logged 102 tremors in Añelo. Grosso and colleagues reported vertical displacements since 2017 and noted a 4.9 magnitude quake in March 2019. Many residents say quakes fell during the COVID-19 shutdown and returned as operations restarted.
Seismic monitoring and official responses are contested. The Argentine Institute of Petroleum and Gas did not answer requests and told BBC News a basin-wide "baseline" is needed to identify tremor origins. Grosso said Vaca Muerta already has many seismographs: nine at the National Institute for Seismic Prevention and 21–25 at private firms. Fracking wells can produce up to three times the output of conventional wells, according to Luciano Fucello, but he warned the activity needs constant reinvestment. Authorities also warn of contaminated solid waste and possible harm to the Negro River basin. Some Brazilian states ban fracking, six bills to ban it were rejected in Colombia, and Mexico’s president appears willing to promote it.
Difficult words
- fracking — Method to extract oil or gas from rock.
- seismicity — Frequency and strength of earthquakes in an area.
- tremor — Small or moderate shaking of the ground.tremors
- seismograph — Instrument that records movements of the ground.seismographs
- baseline — Initial measurements used for future comparison.
- reinvestment — Money put back into a business or activity.
- contaminated — Made unsafe by harmful substances or pollution.
- shale — Soft sedimentary rock that can hold oil.
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Discussion questions
- What concerns would you have if fracking started near your town? Explain two reasons.
- Should the government require more seismic monitoring before allowing more fracking? Why or why not?
- How could energy companies reduce environmental harm while producing oil and gas? Give one or two ideas.
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