The shale patch has never stopped evolving—and Chevron’s latest move is a prime example of how operators are pushing the envelope to maximize efficiency and stay competitive.
Chevron has begun scaling up a cutting-edge well completion strategy known as triple-frac, which fractures three wells at the same time. After a successful pilot in 2024, the company now plans to use the technique on 50% to 60% of its Permian wells in 2025—up from just 20% last year.
So what exactly is triple-frac? And why is it such a game-changer?
🔧 What Is Triple-Frac?
Traditional fracking completes one well at a time (single-frac), and in recent years, many operators have adopted dual-frac (two wells simultaneously) to improve efficiency. Triple-frac takes it a step further by completing three wells at once using a shared set of frac spreads, pumps, and power systems.
This method is only possible when wells are:
- Drilled from the same pad
- At similar depths and spacing
- Engineered for simultaneous pressure management
📊 Chevron’s Results from Triple-Frac
Chevron first deployed the technique in the Permian Basin in March 2024 and quickly saw benefits:
- ⏱ 25% faster well completion
- 💰 12% lower cost per well
- ⚡ 50% more power consumed per day
- 🚛 60% more water and sand used per day (compared to single-well fracs)
While total resource use per well is the same, the daily rate of consumption is much higher—requiring tight logistical coordination and robust infrastructure. For example, Chevron needs over 10 sand trucks per hour at the wellsite when triple-frac is underway.
🌎 Where Is It Being Used?
Chevron’s primary deployment is in the Permian Basin, the largest oil-producing region in the U.S. But the company is also starting to apply the technique in the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin in Colorado.
💡 Why Triple-Frac Matters
Efficiency is everything in shale. Production from horizontal wells declines rapidly in the first year, so the faster an operator can bring a well online, the faster they generate cash flow.
Triple-frac gives Chevron a leg up by:
- Reducing cycle times
- Optimizing equipment and labor use
- Improving return on invested capital
- Supporting Permian growth goals with less CapEx over time
As Chevron hit 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) in the Permian at the end of 2024, its CEO Mike Wirth confirmed plans to grow production another 10% in 2025. But after that, the focus will shift to generating free cash flow, not just growth—making efficiency tools like triple-frac even more valuable.
🛠 What’s Next?
Triple-frac still isn’t mainstream. It requires careful planning, advanced equipment, and a highly coordinated supply chain. But for large operators like Chevron who have the scale and capital to make it work, it offers a powerful edge.
If you’re in the frac sand, water logistics, or power generation business, now might be the time to ask:
Are you ready to support triple-frac activity?
