Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. announced the start of simulation activities at the Shenandoah South 1H (SS1H) well in exploration permit 117 (EP117)—operated by its joint venture (JV) partner Tamboran B2 Pty Ltd.— according to a Nov. 27 press release.

The planned program, to be conducted by Condor Energy Service, includes 10 stimulation stages within the Amungee Member B-Shale over a 500 m horizontal section of SS1H. The stimulation operation is expected to be completed in December 2023.

On completion of the stimulation campaign, production tubing will be installed ahead of expected flowback of stimulation fluid and gas breakthrough.

The stimulation program incorporates lessons learned from the JV’s Amungee NW-2H well in EP98 and the Tanumbirini wells in Santos operated EP161. This includes an increase in hydraulic horsepower and higher well design pressures to increase effectiveness of stimulation treatments and fluid conditioning methodologies to decrease the risk of skin damage.

Diagnostic fracture injection test (DFIT) results demonstrated an over-pressured regime at the Shenandoah South location, with a pore pressure gradient of at least 0.54 psi/ft. This is in line with results demonstrated at the Tanumbirini well (0.51 – 0.56 psi/ft), proving the ability to replicate or exceed the commercial flow rates achieved at the Tanumbirini location.

Current expectations are to release 30-day initial production (IP30) flow rates in the first quarter of 2024, subject to weather conditions and the timing to flow back stimulation fluid to achieve gas breakthrough.

Results from the SS1H well will support the sanctioning of the JV’s proposed 40 MMcf/d pilot project at Shenandoah South.

“We look forward to this phase of operations in the Beetaloo with the stimulation and extended production testing of SS1H with the planned program incorporating the lessons from previous programs, including Amungee NW-2H and with the DFIT results providing confidence on the ability to achieve commercial flow rates,” Philip O’Quigley, CEO of Falcon, said in the press release. “We will continue to update the market as results become available.”