By the OGJ Online Staff
LONDON, June 25 -- Wintershall Energia SA, the Argentinean unit of Germany's Wintershall AG, Friday expanded its South American exploration portfolio with the acquisition of the Ranquil Norte Block in the Neuquen basin off Argentina.
Exploration on the 2,232 km block, where Wintershall becomes the operator with a 100% stake, will begin in September with 2D and 3D seismic studies and an initial exploration well.
Wintershall plans to spend some $8 million on this phase of exploration.
The company has interests in oil and gas fields in the Tierra del Fuego area, along with a stake in the construction of the Cruz del Sur gas pipeline from Buenos Aires to Montevideo.