Tenaris has successfully completed its first two hydraulic fracturing operations using pumps equipped with Dynamic Gas Blending (DGB) technology, which improves efficiency by using compressed natural gas (CNG) as a power source and reduces diesel consumption by 80%. The tests were carried out on pads operated by Tecpetrol, Argentina’s main shale gas producer and Tenaris’s sister company, marking a significant step forward for the Neuquén Basin and the country’s oilfield services industry.
The operations were part of a testing program for new equipment that will be incorporated into Tenaris’s third hydraulic fracturing set in Argentina . Scheduled to enter operation in Vaca Muerta during 2026, the new set will expand the company’s hydraulic fracturing capacity in one of the world’s largest shale gas reservoirs and strengthen its service offering in the basin.
“This marks progress in reducing emissions and represents a milestone for the basin,” said Francisco Liberatore, Senior Director of Tenaris Oil & Gas Services. “DGB technology is still in an early stage of implementation, even in mature basins such as the Permian in the US. Achieving more than 80% diesel replacement with compressed natural gas represents a level of efficiency that no other service company has reached so far in Argentina.”
Gas-powered hydraulic fracturing in Argentina. Tenaris
In addition to supporting emissions reduction efforts, the introduction of DGB technology contributes to more efficient hydraulic fracturing operations by reducing reliance on traditional diesel-powered equipment.
Since making the strategic decision in 2020 to enter the hydraulic fracturing segment, Tenaris will have invested approximately $240 million USD in the development and expansion of its oilfield services business in Argentina once the third hydraulic fracturing set becomes operational. Today, the company ranks as the third-largest service provider in the basin, having completed more than 6,000 hydraulic fracturing jobs in Vaca Muerta.
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