## 1 Introduction  
In recent years, Vaca Muerta has garnered increasing attention and investment, largely attributed to shifts in government policies that aim to incentivize energy ventures [1]. Predominantly owned by YPF, Argentina's state-owned oil and gas company--holding a 42% stake in the Loma Campana concession which accounts for 47% of all unconventional investments to date--the field has also seen significant involvement from industry heavy-weights such as ExxronMobil, Pan American Energy, Petronas, Pluspetrol, Shell, Tecpetrol, and Wintershall [2]. Nevertheless, operational costs remain prohibitive, despite this influx of interest and capital which is mainly due to complex logistical challenges [3]. Originally, the field was exploited using vertical wells; however, by the year 2016, a pivotal shift towards horizontal drilling occurred, as 75% of the wells were either vertical or deviated. This strategic transition was necessitated by the higher productivity rates exhibited by horizontal wells. According to data that was available up to December 2018, the field produced around 80,000 stock tank barrels per day (STB/d), a figure that impressively soared to approximately 291,000 STB/d by February 2023. However, when juxtaposedagainst similar U.S. unconventional formations, the pace of Vaca Muerta's ramp-up in both production and well-count appears to be more modest [3]. A comprehensive survey of the existing literature reveals a glaring gap: there is an absence of all-encompassing review articles that detail Vaca Muerta's development from multiple perspectives [4; 5; 6; 7]. We argue that understanding the intricacies of Vaca Muerta's successful operational history is not just instructive for the field itself but serves as a seminal case study for other unconventional reservoirs also. Harnessing these lessons could facilitate the growth and optimization of similar unconventional formations. Given this motivating framework, we have elected to craft this review, aiming to be a definitive resource that encompasses all facets of Vaca Muerta's development. This includes a thorough analysis of geological characteristics, the petrophysical properties of the reservoir, drilling methodologies, hydraulic fracturing techniques, post-fracturing management, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) approaches, and phase-specific optimization strategies. It is important to begin by contextualizing Vaca Muerta within the global energy landscape. As the world grapples with the complexities of transitioning to renewable energy, hydrocarbons remain an indispensable part of the energy mix [8; 9; 10]. Within this scope, unconventional reservoirs like Vaca Muerta represent an increasingly important asset, especially given their capacity to produce both gas and liquid hydrocarbons. The Argentinian government, recognizing this potential, has initiated policy shifts to attract both domestic and foreign investments into this promising play. From a geological standpoint, Vaca Muerta's significance cannot be understated. Comprising a mix of organic-rich shales and interbedded carbonates, its resource-rich strata present both opportunities and challenges [11]. Detailed seismic surveys and core sampling methodologies have been instrumental in mapping the complex geological heterogeneities that characterize the formation [12; 13; 14], ultimately guiding drilling and completion activities [15; 16]. In terms of petrophysics, the reservoir properties, such as porosity and permeability, are critical determinants of well productivity [17; 18]. Advances in downhole logging techniques and lab-based experiments have contributed to a more nuanced understanding of these petrophysical attributes. Such insights have been pivotal in optimizing drilling practices [19; 20; 21; 22], which have evolved from traditional vertical wells to more complex deviated and horizontal trajectories [23; 24]. High-resolution reservoir simulations and geomechanical models are frequently employed to predict the impacts of different drilling and completion scenarios [25].