The Rio Negro Energy Secretary launched in early November 2019 a tender to offer the 68 sq km Puesto Zuniga license, Neuquen Basin. The first exploratory period will last three years with a possible three year extension. A and B envelopes are to be opened on 29 November. Capex previously made a private initiative offer for the block which included reprocessing 150 sq km 3D seismic in the first six months after award and the drilling of a minimum 3,800m TD exploratory well before 24 months. The full plan had a cost of US$ 6.61 million. Capex will have the first refusal right in the pre-award process in the current tender. Officials said they have good expectations for the gas potential of this area. Two previous exploratory wells drilled by Petrobras produced good volumes of gas and condensate, especially the Puesto Zuniga x-1001 in 2002 with an initial production of 10 MMcfg/g of gas and associated condensate from the Late Triassic Precuyano Group. This potential is also associated with the neighboring blocks like the Capex operated Loma Negra and La Yesera blocks where some tight gas prospects are getting results from the Lajas Formation, especially in the Loma de Maria Field, in Loma Negra. These licenses were originally explored by Chevron which divested all its assets in Rio Negro in 2017. The Puesto Zuniga license is also adjacent to the south with the Cerro Manrique Block, where YPF is in its second exploration period. The government expects a US$ 6.5 million investment commitment for that license. The Puesto Zuniga Block was operated by Cristobal Lopez's Oil M&S since 2010. After some investments in the first period of exploration, the company reduced investment in the project until the government renegotiated the contract in 2017 and provincial company EDHIPSA farmed-in. On 19 July 2019 the provincial governor, Alberto Weretilneck, issued a decree cancelling the contract. Oil M&S has filed bankruptcy over tax fraud and other corruption charges and owes the province US$ 770,000 for this contract. 
The Rio Negro Energy Secretary launched in early November 2019 a tender to offer the 68 sq km Puesto Zuniga license, Neuquen Basin. The first exploratory period will last three years with a possible three year extension. A and B envelopes are to be opened on 29 November.