Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited, in partnership with Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited, has completed a three-well drilling campaign as part of the Shenandoah South Pilot Project located in the Beetaloo Sub-basin in the Northern Territory. This operation marks the largest drilling programme ever carried out in the region, with a total of 12,000 metres of cased horizontal sections suspended pending hydraulic stimulation.
The wells — Shenandoah South SS2-1H, SS2-3H and SS2-5H — each feature a 3,000-metre horizontal section. The average time to reach target depth was 26.7 days, remaining within the 35-day forecast. Modifications to the mud system and the use of anti-vibration drilling bits improved operational efficiency, reaching a record horizontal drilling rate of approximately 1,000 metres per day on the SS2-1H well.
Technical preparations ahead of production testing
Well SS2-5H is set for stimulation of up to 60 stages along its entire horizontal length. This operation, scheduled for Q4 2025, will be followed by a 30-day flow test. Upon completion, the well will be shut in temporarily until commercial gas sales begin, currently expected in mid-2026.
In H1 2026, two additional wells from the current campaign and one drilled in 2024 will also undergo stimulation. All wells are part of the pilot project aiming to deliver a contracted volume of 40 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) under the gas sales agreement with the Northern Territory Government, subject to weather and final stakeholder approvals.
Equipment management and infrastructure readiness
Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited has reduced its participation in the three 2025 wells to 0%, eliminating any direct financial exposure. Meanwhile, construction continues on the gas gathering and compression facilities. Commissioning is scheduled in alignment with the initial stimulations to ensure a smooth transition to the commercial phase.
These maintenance and technical integration operations are designed to ensure infrastructure compliance and long-term reliability of the contracted volumes. The project partners are relying on schedule consistency and equipment performance to maintain the timeline toward initial production.
