On 30 November 2017, Neuquen province governor, Omar Gutierrez, presided over the award of two blocks from the Neuquen Province V Ronda (New Horizons Plan) by provincial company Gas y Petroleo del Neuquen. Norwegian operator, Statoil, was awarded the 133 sq km Bajo del Toro Este Block. US Retamco subsidiary, Retama, was granted rights to the 143 sq km Parva Negra Oeste license. The Statoil offer for Bajo del Toro Este was US$ 14.89 million. It is the first presence of Statoil in the Neuquen Basin which also offered a US$ 2 million entry fee. Retama offered US$ 76.25 million for Parva Negra Oeste and a US$ 10 million entry fee. Last week Petrolera Pampa, was awarded the 120 sq km Las Tacanas Norte Block based on the round.
Argentina, Bajo del Toro