Total has started up production at the offshore Vega Pleyade gas and condensate field in the Tierra del Fuego region of Argentina.

Operated by Total, the project will have a production capacity of 10 million cubic meters of gas per day (70,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d)).

“Vega Pleyade is Total’s second start up this year and will contribute to our production growth in 2016 and for the years to come,” said Arnaud Breuillac, President Exploration & Production. “The project consists of the development of one of the largest offshore gas fields in Argentina and is the world’s southern-most gas development. It will allow us to maintain the level of our operated production in Tierra del Fuego at around 18 million cubic meters per day (130,000 boe/d) and to contribute to the long-term delivery of gas to Argentina.”

The Vega Pleyade development consists of a wellhead platform in 50 meters water depth, tied back via a 77 kilometer offshore pipeline to the Total-operated Rio Cullen and Cañadon Alfa onshore treatment facilities, and was completed in two and a half years.