Vaca Muerta: 2 dead in incident in Cultral Co

An incident that occurred this Tuesday August 25 at a Vaca Muerta deposit, near Cutral Co, left two workers dead. One died on site; the second, evacuated urgently by air for medical care, died hours later during the night. The incident occurred at the Rincón del Mangrullo block, operated under a 50/50 joint venture between YPF —in charge of operations— and Pampa Energía.

What is known about the causes

According to information available so far, the incident is believed to have originated from a strong decompression. This is preliminary information: the exact causes of the event remain under investigation, and details about the specific process or equipment involved are not yet known.

The operational response

YPF reported that emergency teams were deployed immediately after the incident and that the operator's contingency protocols were activated. The company stated that the incident was brought under control and that the plant was operational again shortly after.

Follow-up on the case

Beyond the operational restart, the focus is now on the investigation process, which will need to determine both the technical causes of the decompression and the potential need to review safety protocols at the block. This type of incident often leads to:

• An internal investigation by the operator into root causes.

• The possible involvement of occupational health and safety regulatory bodies.

• A review of work protocols in pressure-risk areas at oil and gas facilities.