BUENOS AIRES, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Argentina's state-run

oil company YPF formed a new partnership with local

oil companies to transport and export oil from its massive Vaca

Muerta shale oil formation, the company announced on Monday.

In a statement, YPF said it was partnering with Vista Energy

Argentina, Pampa Energia and Pan American

Sur to form VMOS S.A. to run its Vaca Muerta Sur

project. The project includes a 473 km (about 294 miles)

pipeline, loading and unloading terminal as well as storage

facilities.

The project will require an estimated $3 billion in

financing that will be provided by the partners, as well as

local and foreign investors, the statement said. The proposed

pipeline will have a transportation capacity of 550,000 barrels

per day (bpd) that could be increased to 700,000 bpd if

necessary.

Construction will start immediately and aim to start

commercial operations on July 31, 2027. YPF said companies in

the partnership have committed to about 275,000 bpd in capacity

and has given options to Chevron Argentina, Pluspetrol

and Shell Argentina, among others, for

approximately 230,000 bpd.

YPF said it's committed to a transportation capacity of

120,000 bpd and has a minority stake in VMOS that's proportional

to transportation contracts.