In the ever-evolving world of hydraulic fracturing, U.S. operators are under constant pressure to maximize well performance while keeping a sharp eye on the bottom line. With frac costs rising and well economics under scrutiny, progressive operators are demanding more precision from every stage.
Enter FracPLAYBOOK —a platform built to make live completions smarter, leaner, and more productive—that is quickly gaining traction across U.S. shale plays.
Developed by ShearFRAC®, a leader in fracture diagnostics & optimization technology, the FracPLAYBOOK tool - and its ability to translate real-time frac data into tangible operational and financial improvements - is helping operators rethink the way they approach frac stage performance, with quantifiable gains in production and capital returns. Unlike traditional diagnostics that analyze performance post-job, FracPLAYBOOK enables real-time, mid-stage optimization—turning insights into immediate action.
“We’re not here to analyze—we’re here to act,” says Andrew McMurray, ShearFRAC ® CEO. “We’re delivering actionable intelligence that’s proven to materially improve stage performance, reduce completions variability, and ultimately drive returns on capital.”
From Data to Decisions: Adjust the Game Plan Mid-Play
At its core, the FracPLAYBOOK is an automated, decision-support tool that identifies underperforming stages during hydraulic fracturing operations. The concept is simple but powerful: better data leads to better decisions. FracPLAYBOOK brings this principle to life by ingesting performance data at the stage level, then using rule-based automation to implement recommendations during live operations.
By integrating real-time fracture performance data, it empowers crews to make quick, data-backed adjustments to completion designs—redirecting capital to where it delivers the highest return. The tool enables immediate action—be it a pump schedule change, fluid system modification, or proppant adjustment—based on real-time conditions due to enhanced visibility into subsurface behavior.
Key Benefits That Drive the Bottom Line
Those familiar with the challenges of hydraulic fracturing know the value of predictability, consistency, and fast decision-making. The FracPLAYBOOK delivers on all three fronts, which is why energy execs are paying very close attention to its:
- Real-Time Underperformance Detection: Automatically flags stages that are trending below expectations.
- Exception-Based Adjustments: Applies predefined changes only when live performance metrics fall outside acceptable thresholds.
- Consistent Decision-Making: Establishes a repeatable framework to reduce variability between pads, crews, or even individual engineers.
- Faster Response Times: Reduces manual review cycles and accelerates frac design adjustments without needing to stop operations.
Field-Proven Results in Major U.S. Basins
While the concept is clearly compelling, it’s the field results that truly tell the story. Two recent applications of the FracPLAYBOOK in high-activity basins underscore its potential:
Case Study: $1.5M in Savings in the Delaware Basin
In one recent deployment, a super major Permian operator used FracPLAYBOOK across 19 wells in the Delaware Basin. The operator applied ShearFRAC®’s real-time optimization workflows to identify and adjust pump schedules for underperforming stages—while preserving designs for stages already performing at or above target.
The impact was significant. As noted by the operator’s completions team, “By implementing the FracPlaybook across multiple frac crews, we saved $1.5M last quarter with production enhancements and improvements."
Not only did the operator achieve $1.5 million in cost savings in a single quarter, but early production analysis suggested an uptick in EUR as well. Importantly, the adjustments were executed across multiple frac crews and coordinated from the operator’s Remote Operating Center (ROC), validating the system’s scalability.
DJ Basin Case: 12% Production Gain, $580K in Additional Revenue
Another operator in the Denver-Julesburg Basin faced completion challenges tied to variable reservoir quality and inefficient capital deployment. By implementing FracPLAYBOOK in a controlled trial, the team was able to dynamically adjust proppant schedules for 50% of stages in one of seven co-completed wells.
The results: a 12% increase in production over nine months and $580,000 in added revenue— plus $136,000 in immediate operational savings from more efficient time on location.
These cases point to a broader trend. As more operators look to integrate tools into frac execution, platforms like FracPLAYBOOK offer a new layer of intelligence to complement traditional geologic and engineering inputs.
The Next Step Toward Smarter Fracturing
With increasing pressure to do more with less, early adopters are already seeing the benefits—cost savings, improved production outcomes, and a more disciplined, data-driven approach to fracture design—all enabled by the real-time engine’s most impactful features:
- Strategic Resource Allocation: Redirects effort and capital away from low-performing stages and toward high-yield zones.
- Automated Performance Analysis: Flags ineffective stages on the fly, enabling rapid response and completion adjustments.
- Data-Driven Cost Reduction: Helps minimize waste and increase ROI through optimized capital deployment.
- Uniformity Across Operations: Introduces process standardization, reducing guesswork and execution variability.
- Real-Time Schedule Adjustments: Allows completion schedules to evolve in the field, improving operational efficiency without waiting on end-of-stage reviews.
Unlocking the Future of the Efficient Frac
FracPLAYBOOK represents a shift toward more agile, automated completions. And while each basin and operator face unique challenges, the underlying promise of the system—optimize what’s working, fix what’s not, and do it in real-time—is resonating across the Lower 48.
For oil and gas executives balancing performance targets with capital discipline, tools like FracPLAYBOOK may soon become essential. The ability to adjust on-the-fly, apply learnings at scale, and capture measurable financial upside makes this technology more than just a dashboard—it’s a proven strategy.
FracPLAYBOOK is part of a broader trend toward closed-loop completions and frac automation, where data doesn’t just inform - it drives action.
Ready to take control of your next pad?
Visit www.shearfrac.com/our-technology/frac-playbook/ to learn more or request a demo.
