The race to lower costs and accelerate production timelines in the Permian Basin has pushed operators to continuously rethink completion strategies. The latest evolution in this drive is the triple frac, a method that hydraulically fractures three wells at the same time from a single pad. While the idea builds on the success of simul-frac, which treats two wells in parallel, triple frac is delivering faster cycle times, lower per-well costs, and greater logistical complexity. Early adopters say the rewards justify the operational challenge.
What Triple Frac Is and Why It Matters
In practical terms, a triple frac operation requires drilling and casing three horizontal wells to identical specifications, then completing them in parallel using synchronized surface equipment, pressure control, and pumping schedules. The setup involves shared manifolds, high-horsepower fleets, and tightly coordinated wireline crews to ensure continuous perforating and pumping without screenouts.
The appeal is simple. By working on three wells at once instead of sequentially or in pairs, operators can spread fixed costs across more production, reduce idle time for crews and equipment, and bring hydrocarbons to market sooner. For high-volume pads with consistent well designs, the gains can be substantial. Reports from the field indicate that triple frac can deliver completion times up to 25 percent faster and cut per-well costs in the low double digits compared with simul-frac.
However, the method is far from plug-and-play. Triple frac requires handling roughly 60 percent more sand and water each day than dual-well operations, which stresses supply chains and storage facilities. Power demand also rises, leading many to integrate electric frac fleets for more reliable performance and lower emissions.
Who Is Deploying Triple Frac in the Permian
Chevron has emerged as one of the most visible champions of the technique. The company reports that about 50 to 60 percent of its 2025 Permian wells will be completed using triple frac, up from roughly 20 percent the prior year. Early results show a 25 percent improvement in time to first production and about 12 percent lower cost per completed well. Chevron’s scale and established infrastructure in the basin allow it to support the high daily throughput of materials and power that triple frac demands.
Ovintiv has taken the approach a step further with a dedicated “trimulfrac” fleet in the Permian. The company says it has achieved more than 4,000 feet of lateral completed per day and saved about 125 thousand dollars per well compared with simul-frac, with savings approaching 525 thousand versus zipper-frac designs. Ovintiv has positioned the method as a competitive advantage on large pads with uniform well geometries.
Matador Resources tested triple frac in the Delaware Basin in mid-2024 and quickly expanded its use. Initial pilots showed about a 25 percent reduction in completion days and savings of around 100 thousand dollars per well over simul-frac and 350 thousand over zipper-frac. In a later case, the company reported saving approximately 1.1 million dollars in a remote triple frac versus the original completion plan, highlighting the potential upside in challenging logistics environments.
While these operators have published the most concrete results, industry interest is broader. Several large independents and majors in the Permian are evaluating triple frac on select pads. The method is most attractive where operators have pad designs with consistent lateral lengths, strong midstream and materials support, and the operational scale to absorb the logistical load.
Why Triple Frac Has Limits
Despite the results, triple frac will not immediately replace simul-frac or zipper-frac as the default approach in the Permian. The operational complexity is significant. Sand and water supply must be continuous and precisely timed. High-horsepower fleets need redundancy to avoid downtime that can halt three wells at once. Pad uniformity is critical, as differences in well design or geologic conditions can create pressure imbalances and operational delays. These demands favor large operators with robust field infrastructure and capital to invest in dedicated equipment.
There is also a balance to strike between efficiency and flexibility. Simul-frac allows operators to manage risk across fewer wells and can be better suited to smaller pads or areas with variable geology. In some cases, the incremental gains from triple frac may not offset the higher coordination and infrastructure costs.
Still, the direction is clear. As operators in the Permian continue to optimize for scale, many will find opportunities to apply triple frac selectively to high-volume pads where the economics and infrastructure align. For companies willing to invest in the capability, the payoff is faster completions, lower unit costs, and quicker returns on capital in a competitive, high-cost environment.
