HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 6, 2025--
Halliburton Energy Services (NYSE: HAL) and Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE: CTRA) announced the launch of autonomous hydraulic fracturing technology in North America with the Octiv® Auto Frac service, which is part of the ZEUS platform. This technology automates stage delivery execution with the push of a button. Coterra is the first operator to fully automate and control their hydraulic fracturing design and execution.
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The Octiv Auto Frac service adds new capabilities to Halliburton's Zeus intelligent fracturing platform and its leading electric pumping units and Sensori™ fracture monitoring service. Before this service, fracture decisions were managed manually while pumping. Coterra can now configure the Octiv Auto Frac service to execute designs to their specifications and automate the entire fracture process.
Coterra and Halliburton recognize the importance of automation for consistency and control during fracture execution. The initial rollout of this service led to a 17% increase in stage efficiency. Based on these results, Coterra deployed the Octiv Auto Frac service to its remaining completion programs that Halliburton executes in the Permian Basin.
“Octiv Auto Frac changes the game of completion performance,” said Shawn Stasiuk, Halliburton’s vice president of Production Enhancement. “The service ensures that automation delivers consistent fracture execution every stage while giving our customers the control they demand over their assets. The Octiv Auto Frac service is the first system to deliver on this promise.”
Coterra’s adoption of the Octiv Auto Frac service aligns with its approach to achieve operational performance through the use of advanced technologies.
“Coterra remains focused on maximizing efficiencies and exploring new opportunities to improve our operations. The deployment of intelligent automation for hydraulic fracturing helps us execute stages consistently and provides us with more autonomy and control over the completion process,” said Tom Jorden, CEO of Coterra.
Octiv Auto Frac provides a step change in fracturing capability. This technology integrated in the ZEUS platform gives operators a unique and powerful solution to maximize consistency and efficiency and increase their asset value.
Learn more about Halliburton Intelligent Fracturing solutions.
About Coterra
Coterra is a premier exploration and production company based in Houston, Texas, with operations focused on the Permian Basin, Marcellus Shale, and Anadarko Basin. The company strives to be a leading energy producer, delivering sustainable returns through the efficient and responsible development of its diversified asset base. Learn more about Coterra at www.coterra.com.
About Halliburton
Halliburton is one of the world’s leading providers of products and services to the energy industry. Founded in 1919, Halliburton creates innovative technologies, products, and services that help its customers maximize their value throughout the life cycle of an asset and advance a sustainable energy future. Connect with Halliburton on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
The Octiv Auto Frac service adds new capabilities to Halliburton's Zeus intelligent fracturing platform and its leading electric pumping units and Sensori™ fracture monitoring service. Before this service, fracture decisions were managed manually while pumping. Coterra can now configure the Octiv Auto Frac service to execute designs to their specifications and automate the entire fracture process. (Photo: Business Wire)
The architects of the Bazball revolution that England aimed to use to summit test cricket have conceded the preparation wasn't quite right for the Ashes. That's not to say the strategy will be shelved.
After arriving on Australian shores with great expectations, coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes were intent on imposing the attack-at-all-costs strategy on the contest for the oldest trophy in cricket.
After just one warmup game — an internal trial against the second-string England lineup — it quickly backfired.
Relying on a pragmatic, conventional approach to the game and long experience of the conditions, Australia retained the Ashes on Sunday with two matches remaining.
“Retrospectively, we lost 3-0 so you would probably say there was room for change there," McCullum told British broadcaster TNT Sport in terms of the preparations. “You put your hand up as a coach and say you might not have got that right.”
After England lost the first two tests by eight wickets, McCullum decided the squad had overdone it in training between the outings in Perth and Brisbane and decided to give the players a break at Noosa, one of Australia's premier beach resort villages.
The rest and relaxation did improve one statistic — in Adelaide England made it to Day 5 of a test for the first time on tour.
McCullum had been building for the Ashes series for years but hasn't yet been able to break the long drought in Australia extending back to 2011.
“We came here with high hopes, high ambitions and lofty goals,” he said. “And we’ve been outplayed across three test matches.”
The Bazball strategy was suspended late in Brisbane when Stokes played a conservative hand in trying to save the day-night test. In the last two days in Adelaide, with some glaring expectations, the batters at least tried to grit it out at the crease rather than hit the ball out of the ground every over.
“The last two days have been our best cricket, and that's because we've just played,” McCullum said. “The previous nine days, we were so caught up and so driven to achieve something and succeed that we've almost got in our own way and we've stymied our talent and our skill and our ability.”
McCullum said there were lessons to be taken from the differences in the contest in the third test.
“There's a lesson not just for the players. There's a lesson for the coach and the coaching staff,” he said. "Preparation, that'll be something that's questioned.
“But we do have a great opportunity in the next two tests. We need to find something out of this tour. We need to play for pride.”
England's bowling attack hasn't so far got its line and length right consistently on the hard, bouncy Australian wickets. Top-order batters have given away their wickets with poor shot selection — often attacking when conditions called for defense. There were too many catches put down, whereas Australia's catching has at times been exceptional.
Under Stokes and McCullum, whose nickname is “Baz,” England played an entertaining brand of cricket that earned the label “Bazball” that turned around the fortunes of England’s test team. But it has divided critics.
McCullum said some players had gone off script in the heat of the moment.
“I did think we were rock hard in our belief of the style we were going to play when we came down here, knowing that we were going to be challenged,” he said, “but I do think we got a little bit stuck.”
Stokes said there'd be no “restricting people’s mindset” in terms of how they believe they can succeed for the team.
“You never want to take away their ability to go out and score their runs in the way they feel is best going to suit them,” the England skipper said. "But then, marrying the skills and the ability that they have with the mentality that it takes to be successful as an international sportsman.
“You put those two together and I know that we’ve got a very, very exciting test team."
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
England head coach Brendon McCullum talks to the media after Australia won the third Ashes Test against England in Adelaide, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
England's Ben Stokes throws his bat as he reacts after he was out bowled during play on day three of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
England's Jofra Archer is congratulated by teammate Ben Stokes after taking a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Australia's Scott Boland during play on day four of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
England's Ben Stokes attends the presentation after losing the third Ashes Test against Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
Australian players celebrate after England's Ben Stokes, right, was dismissed during play on day four of the third Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Adelaide, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
