Vista Seeks RIGI Approval for $5.8 Billion Bandurria Norte Development
Vista Energy SAB de CV has submitted its Bandurria Norte shale oil development to Argentina's Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI), seeking approval for a $5.8 billion project that aims to produce 50,000 boe/d at peak.
The project spans 26,500 acres in Vaca Muerta's oil window and currently has no producing wells. Vista plans to drill and complete 332 horizontal wells and build dedicated infrastructure, including an oil treatment plant, a gas compression plant, gathering systems, pipelines, and associated infrastructure.
Bandurria Norte is the largest oil project submitted under RIGI and follows approval of Pampa Energía SA's $4.521 billion Rincón de Aranda development, which established the first framework for qualifying incremental shale oil production under the regime.
The project requires full greenfield development, increasing upfront capital requirements and execution risk. However, Vista said RIGI incentives are material to developing its undeveloped acreage because incremental production from new areas can qualify separately from existing output if volumes remain physically and operationally traceable.