(WO) — Tamboran Resources has completed the largest hydraulic fracturing campaign ever conducted in Australia’s Beetaloo basin, successfully stimulating three horizontal wells as the company advances toward first gas production in the Northern Territory.
The Shenandoah South 3H, 4H and 5H wells were stimulated, cleaned out and completed in the basin’s Northern Pilot Area using a hydraulic fracturing fleet from Liberty Energy. The three-well zipper stimulation campaign placed 178 stages across approximately 30,000 ft within the Mid Velkerri B Shale, marking the largest stimulation program completed in the Beetaloo basin to date.
Tamboran said the campaign established several basin records, averaging 6.7 stimulated stages per day while pumping for more than 20 hours in a single day. The operation also achieved a record 12 stimulated stages in one day.
The company additionally completed the first deployment of locally produced Beetaloo Red sand during hydraulic fracturing operations, placing the proppant across 10 stages in the Shenandoah South 4H well. Tracers were deployed to evaluate performance relative to imported sand as Tamboran continues efforts to reduce development costs.
“The successful completion of the SS-3H, -4H and -5H stimulation program is a significant achievement for Tamboran and for the Beetaloo basin,” said Todd Abbott, chief executive officer of Tamboran Resources. “Together with the efficiency records set during this program, these trials represent further progress down the cost curve, and we continue to identify opportunities to optimize and improve performance as we move toward development.”
The completed wells will be tied into the Sturt Plateau Compression Facility (SPCF), where construction is nearing completion and commissioning activities are expected to begin shortly. Tamboran said the project remains within its gross budget of A$141 million (approximately US$97 million), with first gas sales to the Northern Territory Government still expected in the third quarter of 2026.
Meanwhile, the company has begun drilling the Shenandoah South 7H, 8H and 9H wells using a Helmerich & Payne rig. Those wells are scheduled for hydraulic fracturing during the second half of 2026 before being connected to the SPCF.
Abbott said the completion of the stimulation program and the compression facility will help position the Beetaloo basin to begin supplying natural gas to the Northern Territory and support future exports into Asia-Pacific markets.
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