The Beetaloo Basin is a game changer for Australia, and with the largest net acreage, Tamboran Resources is gearing up for the biggest year yet.
It will be a historic year for Tamboran when they deliver their first gas to the Northern Territory market in Q3, demonstrating to the world that the Beetaloo is now at the start of delivering significant benefits to Australians.
With 1.9 million net prospective acres across one of the largest unconventional shale basins in the world, Tamboran is working with its joint venture partners Daly Waters Energy, to lead the development of the Beetaloo.
“First gas is going to send a strong signal to Australia and important trade partners in Asia that the Beetaloo is ready to meet the demand for natural gas to help deliver secure and affordable energy and support the energy transition,” said new Tamboran CEO Todd Abbott.
“I’m proud of our team and their work to get to this point, and the depth of experience we have in shale development. It means we attract the best when it comes to investment and partnerships. We have brought the best technology and capability into the Beetaloo.
“This includes APA, who are building our pipelines, Helmerich & Payne, who have brought their Flex 3 high-performance drilling rig and capability to the Beetaloo, as well as Liberty Energy with their hydraulic fracturing fleet and oil field service by Baker Hughes.”
As operations for Tamboran go from strength to strength, Mr Abbott predicts the company is at a pivotal point, with initial flow tests comparable to the Marcellus Shale basin in the United States.
“We’ve seen what that did to US energy supply, security and affordability. The opportunity we have here at Tamboran and in the Beetaloo is to turn this natural resource into energy security for the Northern Territory, East Coast of Australia and Asia as a whole.”
In 2025, Tamboran delivered the largest drilling program ever conducted in the Beetaloo Basin, which included batch drilling of three wells at the Shenandoah South 2 well pad.
The company also reached final investment decision for the Shenandoah South Pilot Project and became the first company to secure native title holder consent and Northern Territory government approvals under the Beneficial Use of Gas framework.
“We are proud of the work we are doing to strengthen initiatives that create jobs, provide training, and deliver lasting economic benefits to the region. As Tamboran grows, we want to see jobs and business opportunities for native title holders grow as well. We have put a lot of effort into our local training and employment program to ensure more native title holders are working with us on site.”
Mr Abbott firmly believes the work Tamboran is doing is one of the most exciting prospects in the world right now, which can transform the entire gas sector.
“My team is working hard to get that message out to both investors and customers, that we are the new supply option in Australia. It’s Australian gas, for an Australian market first, and it grows local jobs, energy security and affordability.”
“While we have prioritised delivering our first gas to the local community of the Northern Territory, which has supported us from the beginning, we are working towards meeting the shortfalls that the east coast gas market is facing.
“The east coast gas shortage is well known, and we have the gas at the right time. This will help households with their bills, and can help Australian manufacturing.”
Long-term plans for Tamboran include energy supply for the Asia-Pacific that offers countries in the region the option to switch from coal to gas.
“I don’t think enough people understand just how important Darwin’s role in Asia already is, supplying 10 per cent of Japan’s energy, and how much more it can do. It’s the world’s fastest-growing market for energy demand, and we have the solution right here in the Beetaloo.”
Original article can be read here: Petroleum Australia – March 2026.
