Continental Resources, the company founded by shale billionaire Harold Hamm, looks to expand in Vaca Muerta as international companies vie to develop Argentina’s proven prolific shale patch. In January 2026, Continental doubled down on its shale expansion outside the U.S. with an acquisition of stakes in four Vaca Muerta blocks. Continental is now looking to expand its Vaca Muerta exposure in the licensing round ending this month. After a slow start earlier this decade, Vaca Muerta is now booming. Plans for infrastructure include the Vaca Muerta Oil Sur (VMOS) pipeline set to carry over 180,000 bpd of crude in Phase I and up to 550,000 bpd once Phase II is completed.