Session 16. Oral Presentation for: Reusing flowback for remote hydraulic fracturing: iron control and gel compatibility at Carpentaria-5H, Beetaloo Sub-basin

Presented on 20 May 2026: Session 16 Carpentaria-5H in the Beetaloo Sub-basin (Northern Territory, Australia) set a national benchmark for hydraulic fracturing volumes while operating in a highly remote location. Some water for this stimulation was reused from flow testing of nearby wells, stored in large onsite tanks. For large Northern Territory campaigns, this practice reduces aquifer extraction, disposal cost, and concentrated brine waste while addressing stored fluid management. The challenge was quality: untreated flowback water often cannot serve as a base fluid. In this case, high dissolved iron (~150 ppm) risked fisheyes and reduced slickwater gel performance, making treatment essential before reuse. Accordingly, about 4.5 ML of stored flowback water was treated and reused as part of the frac base fluid. A field-deployable treatment train combining oxidation, pH control, circulation, settling, and multi-stage media filtration reduced iron to <10 ppm and restored fluid performance. Treated water supported high-rate operations (>105 bbl/min and five to six stages per day). Pre- and post-treatment water quality and the operating envelopes that drove treatment time are presented. Benefits included reduced freshwater extraction, added onsite fluid capacity, and improved cost and health, safety, and environment outcomes. Limitations included lead time, quality assurance/quality control to prevent re-oxidation, power and footprint requirements, sludge handling, and routine monitoring. This workflow demonstrates how fit-for-purpose flowback reuse with iron control can de-risk large hydraulic fracturing campaigns in remote Australian basins, where reuse is increasingly essential. To access the Oral Presentation click ‘Supplementary data’ below. To read the full paper click here