Tamboran Resources has completed the largest stimulation program in Northern Territory history, wrapping up fracking across three wells in the Beetaloo Basin’s Northern Pilot Area.
The campaign covered the Shenandoah South 3H, 4H, and 5H wells, placing 178 stimulated stages across approximately 30,000 feet within the Mid Velkerri B Shale formation using a Liberty Energy fleet.
The three-well zipper stimulation set new operational benchmarks for the basin, averaging 6.7 stages per day. Daily records included over 20 hours of continuous pumping operations and 12 stages completed within a single 24-hour period.
In an operational trial aimed at driving down development costs, Tamboran placed locally sourced Beetaloo Red sand across 10 stages of the SS-4H lateral section. Downhole tracers were deployed to monitor performance against imported proppant.
Tamboran Resources CEO Todd Abbott said the completion of the program represented a major step forward for both the company and regional commercialisation.
“Delivering the largest stimulation campaign in the basin’s history, including records of 12 stages in a single day and pumping operations exceeding 20 hours per day is a testament to the skill and dedication of our operational team and partners,” he said.
“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 optimise and improve performance as we move toward development.”
All three wells will be connected to the Sturt Plateau Compression Facility, where construction is nearing completion ahead of imminent commissioning. The project remains on schedule and within its gross budget of AU$141 million.
First gas sales to the Northern Territory government remain on target for the third quarter of 2026.
Meanwhile, Tamboran has commenced drilling the next batch of production wells, SS-7H, 8H, and 9H, using an imported Helmerich & Payne rig, with stimulation planned for the second half of 2026.
