The A-302 tower team is key for the energy industry. This was achieved through collaboration between the state-owned Impulsa Mendoza and the private Aconcagua Energía, which invested $3.5 million.
Aconcagua Energía, one of the top three crude oil producers in Mendoza, presented the A-302 tower equipment, an example of Public-Private Partnerships, as it involves a tower owned by Impulsa Mendoza refurbished by Aconcagua Energía.
During a presentation attended by the Minister of Energy and Environment, Jimena Latorre; the Director of Hydrocarbons, Estanislao Schilardi; the Undersecretary of Energy and Mining, Manuel Sánchez Bandini; the Manager of Sustainable Impulsa Mendoza, Emilio Guiñazú, and the provisional President of the Senate, Martín Kerchner, details of the commissioning of the A-302 were provided, which creates 70 permanent jobs.
The machine will begin operating this year in the Cuyana Basin. It has the capacity for drilling conventional and unconventional wells, deep-directed drilling, and is capable of geonavigating horizontal branches in unconventional crude oil targets. With the so-called “WalkingSystemlo,” it can drill multiple wells at the same location without needing to be dismantled, moving on its own axes, providing greater operational efficiency and minimizing environmental impact.
“This is very important because it’s equipment being recovered and put into operation. It’s the second one the company will operate in the province of Mendoza. Aconcagua has been investing in conventional oil production, and this generates great opportunities for workers, service companies, and local SMEs,” says Minister Latorre.
“The company also invests in services for its own operations and for the operations and explorations of other operators that come to expand that productive frontier. It’s very important that the recovery of this equipment takes place in the province because it generates genuine labor and employment,” emphasized the minister.
The equipment was recovered by Sustainable Impulsa Mendoza, responsible for carrying out the entire process of inventory, refurbishment, and bidding process for the PRC potassium mine, which was activated after 10 years of abandonment. The mine already has 70 drilled wells, so some drilling equipment from the former Vale was standing idle and deteriorating due to lack of maintenance.
This is how the Government of Mendoza, through Impulsa, decided to use these assets to increase investments in the province. After a tender, won by Aconcagua, complex refurbishment tasks began.
The preparation and conditioning tasks of the equipment required the hiring of more than 30 specialized service companies from Mendoza. Today it begins its operations prioritizing labor, SMEs, and regional services.
More investments for the province
“We are very pleased with the results we have had in 2023, and this year we will continue to bet on the energy development of the country,” said the group’s President & CEO, Diego Trabucco.
Trabucco stated that the A-302 will allow Aconcagua Energía and other interested operators to increase activity and thus contribute to the lack of drillers needed by the industry in Mendoza.
At the event held at the Sheraton hotel, the group’s president introduced Mariana Schoua, CEO of Aconcagua Energía Generación (AEGSA), and stated that she will be in charge of “continuing with the construction of the two solar parks in Mendoza” and more renewable energy projects.
“We have an approved program of about 40 million dollars in investments for Mendoza, and in the future, we will continue to invest at that level, so in four years, total investments will reach around 250 million dollars,” he affirmed.
Additionally, Aconcagua Energía signed an agreement with the National University of Cuyo to promote the development of activities and programs benefiting students and young people through internships, practices, academic activities, and general knowledge about the energy industry.
