14/06/2026 09:19 - Actualidad
Vista aérea de un yacimiento petrolero abandonado en la llanura pampeana argentina, con pozos sellados, equipos de remediación ambiental y técnicos realizando inspecciones. Paisaje árido con cielo despejado y vegetación baja típica de La Pampa. Estilo documental periodístico.
The province of La Pampa—a vast region in central Argentina known for its arid landscapes and agricultural production—has taken an unprecedented step in environmental protection. For the first time, authorities held a public hearing to analyze the Final Environmental Report and Remediation Plan for an oil field reaching the end of its productive life.
The El Medanito oil field, which operated for 35 years, will now undergo a comprehensive environmental cleanup. Provincial authorities presented a detailed inventory of 137 inactive wells that will be intervened according to a priority-based schedule extending through 2030.
The Secretary of Energy and Mining, through Undersecretary Gonzalo Sondón, presented the complete inventory for the first time:
| Type of Intervention | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Permanent abandonment | 78 wells |
| Temporary abandonment | 39 wells |
| Complex permanent abandonments | 8 wells |
| Reactivated/under evaluation | 12 wells |
| TOTAL | 137 wells |
Intervention will be prioritized by criticality level—not by administrative criteria:
| Criticality | Wells | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Criticality A (highest risk) | 46 wells | June 2026 - June 2027 |
| Criticality B (medium risk) | 46 wells | July 2027 - December 2028 |
| Criticality C (lowest risk) | 45 wells | January 2029 - June 2030 |
Prioritization considers: mechanical integrity, proximity to the Colorado River and other water resources, operational history, and overall infrastructure condition.
The Provincial Cabinet of La Pampa firmly rejected statements by legislator Noelia Sosa (FJP, a provincial political party) who had questioned the Final Environmental Report.
Authorities confirmed that groundwater monitoring has detected no presence of hydrocarbons or heavy metals in analyzed samples.
localities supplied
analyses since 2000
hydrocarbons detected
Aguas del Colorado (Colorado River Water Authority) and Coirco (Colorado River Interjurisdictional Committee) confirmed these results, safeguarding water resources linked to the Colorado River—a strategic waterway for the region that spans multiple Argentine provinces.
In the past decade, 28 well abandonments were completed in the area—well exceeding the minimum contractual obligation of only 10 wells.
This achievement was made possible by permanent oversight tasks conducted by the Secretary of Energy and Mining through the Directorate of Operational Control.
Abandonments completed
vs. minimum obligation
Since 2023, the province has operated the Integrated Hydrocarbon Management Information System (SIGIH)—a digital platform that records and tracks every action related to oil activity oversight: inspections, requirements, responses, and compliance verifications.
It is the process by which an oil well is permanently closed, sealing all permeable formations and placing cement plugs to prevent contamination of aquifers and the subsurface. This is essential for protecting groundwater resources.
It is the technical document submitted by the operating company upon completion of activities, detailing the environmental status of the area and remediation tasks performed. It does not imply automatic approval: the province must verify each point independently.
The Province of La Pampa will maintain oversight until full compliance with all intervention, sanitation, and restoration obligations for the El Medanito Area. No well will be released solely by company declaration, but rather based on technical evidence and field verifications conducted by regulatory agencies.
Sources: Agencia Prensa La Pampa | El Diario de La Pampa | La Reforma | Maracó Digital
Alfredo S. Quiroga
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