The Argentine consortium of Clevelan Petroleo Argentina, Integra Investment and Kilwer has won seven blocks in Chubut province, according to a provincial government statement.
The blocks are Rio Senguer, Paso Moreno, Rio Genguel Norte, Buen Pasto, Sierra Cuadrada, Nueva Lubecka and Paso de Indios.
The consortium bid US$50mn for the six-year exploration period and now has four months to conduct an environmental impact study, a source at the provincial hydrocarbons department told BNamericas.
If hydrocarbons are found, the consortium could sign a 25-year production contract.
"They are blocks on which practically no one has done seismic," Clevelan's director of operations Alejandro Alvarez de Toledo said in a brief interview about the seven blocks.
The company has yet to sign the ground permits with landholders.
