YPF deploys new high-spec drilling rigs in Vaca Muerta
DLS Archer confirmed the DLS-175 and DLS-176 units are operating under a five-year deal.
Super High Spec drilling rigs are now operating fully for YPF in Vaca Muerta, according to service contractor DLS Archer on September 30, 2026. The company integrated the DLS-175 and DLS-176 units into the local fleet in record time.
The deployment stems from a strategic agreement signed at the start of the year between YPF and US-based Patterson-UTI. Sourced from Houston, the units mark the operational start of a five-year contract between both companies.
The contract also includes a third high-tech unit named DLS-177, which is scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2027. In addition, the agreement covers managed pressure drilling services. The new rigs incorporate international automation and operational safety standards to meet growing demand for complex unconventional drilling.
Gerardo Molinaro, VP of Land Drilling at DLS Archer, noted that seeing the two rigs working in Vaca Muerta demonstrates execution capacity and reinforces the company's strategic relationship with YPF in the Argentine energy market.
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