ProFrac and Seismos Deploy Closed-Loop Fracturing at Commercial Scale Using Direct In-Well Measurements

ProFrac (NASDAQ: ACDC) and Seismos completed a commercial-scale closed-loop fracturing program in the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk basins from Feb 13–Mar 4, 2026, running 183 stages on a 4-well pad.

Rhea-AI Summary

ProFrac (NASDAQ: ACDC) and Seismos completed a commercial-scale closed-loop fracturing program in the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk basins from Feb 13–Mar 4, 2026, running 183 stages on a 4-well pad.

The system used direct in-well measurements (SAFA™) and ProFrac surface automation (ProPilot®) to detect deviations and execute automated intra-stage adjustments with average response time under five minutes, producing measured improvements in perforation efficiency and no added non-productive time.

Positive

• Completed 183 stages in Feb–Mar 2026 pilot
• Average data-to-adjustment response under five minutes
• 7% improvement in mid-stage perforation efficiency with interventions
• 7.5% improvement in end-of-stage perforation efficiency with interventions
• No screen-outs or additional NPT from intra-stage adjustments

Negative

• Pilot limited to a 4-well pad over three weeks (Feb 13–Mar 4, 2026)
• Productivity uplift cited as up to 20% is industry research, not direct pilot proof

Argus Mar 12 session

+18.77% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – ACDC

On Mar 12, the day this news came out, ACDC closed 18.77% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Mar 12 session.

Key Figures

Stages completed: 183 stages Well pad configuration: 4-well pad Response time achieved: Under 5 minutes +5 more

Stages completed

183 stages

Closed-loop fracturing program Feb 13–Mar 4, 2026

Well pad configuration

4-well pad

Eagle Ford & Austin Chalk deployment

Response time achieved

Under 5 minutes

Average time from data acquisition to treatment adjustment

Response time target

Below 2 minutes

Future target for automated treatment adjustments

Productivity uplift

Up to 20%

Industry research on improved cluster-level fluid distribution

PE trigger threshold

70%

Mid-stage perforation efficiency trigger for interventions

Mid-stage PE gain

7% improvement

Intervention stages vs. non-intervention stages

End-stage PE gain

7.5% improvement

Intervention stages vs. non-intervention stages

Historical Context

3 past events · Latest: Mar 02

3 events

1. Mar 02

   Earnings call schedule

   24h Move

   +4.4%

   Set date and time for Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings call and webcast.

2. Nov 10

   Earnings results

   24h Move

   -20.2%

   Reported Q3 2025 revenue decline, net loss, margin compression and weaker cash flow.

3. Oct 27

   Earnings call schedule

   24h Move

   +0.9%

   Announced timing and access details for Q3 2025 earnings release and webcast.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

closed-loop fracturing, perforation efficiency, non-productive time (NPT), uniformity index (UI)

4 terms

closed-loop fracturing technical

"announced today the successful completion of their fully closed-loop fracturing program"

Closed-loop fracturing is a method for performing hydraulic fracturing where all fluids and cuttings are contained, routed through a sealed system, and reused or properly treated instead of discharged to open pits or directly to the environment. Like a sealed recycling loop for drilling fluids, it cuts waste, reduces truck traffic and spill risk, and can lower cleanup costs and regulatory or permitting hurdles—factors that can affect operating expenses, project timelines and investor risk.

perforation efficiency technical

"Primary triggers included mid-stage perforation efficiency falling below the 70% threshold"

Perforation efficiency measures how effectively planned holes made through a well’s casing and surrounding rock actually create open channels for oil or gas to flow into the wellbore. Think of it as the percentage of drilled holes that work as intended and connect the reservoir to the pipe; higher efficiency usually means better initial production, lower operating cost per barrel, and a clearer link between completion spending and revenue, so investors use it to judge the likely payoff from drilling and completion activity.

non-productive time (NPT) technical

"no additional non-productive time (NPT) introduced"

Non-productive time (NPT) is the portion of scheduled operating time when an asset or workforce cannot produce value because of delays, maintenance, breakdowns, weather or other interruptions. It matters to investors because higher NPT cuts output and revenue and raises per-unit costs, so it acts like a leaky faucet on profitability; tracking NPT helps judge operational reliability and the effectiveness of management at keeping assets working.

uniformity index (UI) technical

"standardizing on Uniformity Index (UI) as the primary control metric"

A uniformity index (UI) is a numerical measure of how consistent individual units of a manufactured product are—commonly used in pharmaceuticals to show that tablets or capsules each contain the same amount of active ingredient. For investors, a low UI (high consistency) signals reliable manufacturing and lower regulatory or recall risk, while a high UI suggests quality problems that can delay approvals, disrupt supply, and hurt revenue. Think of it as a score for how evenly cookies in a batch are baked and sized.

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WILLOW PARK, Texas and AUSTIN, Texas, March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ProFrac Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: ACDC) ("ProFrac"), in partnership with Seismos, Inc. ("Seismos"), announced today the successful completion of their fully closed-loop fracturing program, demonstrating the first real-time, intra-stage optimization utilizing in-well subsurface measurements and immediate surface actuation. The program took place in the Eagle Ford & Austin Chalk basins with a 4-well pad configuration. From February 13 to March 4, 2026, 183 stages were completed utilizing the ProFrac-Seismos leading-edge, closed-loop fracturing technology.

Unlike systems that rely on offset well measurements to infer treatment well performance, this approach focuses directly on the targeted asset, the treatment well. It tracks subsurface performance through direct in-well measurements while pumping, detects deviations algorithmically, executes corrective action instantly, and validates the response within the same stage at any point. During deployment, average response time from data acquisition to automated treatment adjustment was under five minutes, with future targets below two minutes.

Industry research shows improved cluster-level fluid distribution, currently measured exclusively by the ProFrac-Seismos closed-loop system, can increase productivity by up to 20%, highlighting the value of real-time measurement and adjustment. These findings align with a recent URTeC study (Craig Cipolla et al. – URTeC 4044071, 2024), which quantifies the value of achieving uniform fluid distribution across all clusters.

Intervention Methodology and Execution
The ProFrac-Seismos closed-loop control logic activated when intra-stage performance deviations were detected against defined envelopes and triggers. When criteria were met, the Seismos proprietary measurement system (SAFA™) and completion logic prescribed corrective interventions, and ProFrac's surface automation system (ProPilot®) executed coordinated adjustments during the active stage.

Primary triggers included mid-stage perforation efficiency falling below the 70% threshold or a rapid PE degradation trend detected during the active stage. In response, surface parameters adjusted intra-stage included rate adjustments to improve cluster stimulation, friction reducer adjustments to maintain stable treating pressure, and other operational parameters controlled by ProPilot^®.

As a result of the closed-loop optimization process, stages with intra-stage interventions experienced an additional 7% improvement in mid-stage perforation efficiency and 7.5% improvement in end-of-stage perforation efficiency compared to stages without intervention. There were no screen-outs attributable to intra-stage intervention adjustments and no additional non-productive time (NPT) introduced.

Why ProFrac-Seismos Closed Loop is a step change
Traditional frac execution often relies on treating pressure and post-job interpretation to infer downhole performance. Attempts to optimize the treatment well using offset responses face natural limitations because the treatment well lacks critical direct measurements indicative of performance. The ProFrac-Seismos closed loop changes that model by using real-time in-well measurements to guide decisions so treatments can be optimized as they are executed. Its integrated architecture is designed to scale control and learnings across stages and pads, combining real-time execution with a continuous improvement loop for design and operational decisioning.

Matt Wilks, Executive Chairman of ProFrac Holding Corp., stated, "Closed-loop fracturing begins with accurate, real-time subsurface measurements, but its full value is realized when that intelligence drives coordinated surface execution. Through ProPilot® surface automation and selective chemistry integration, we are enabling true intra-stage adjustments at scale and advancing the industry's first fully integrated closed-loop fracturing architecture. We cannot change the resource itself. However, we know that as many as 35% of perforations remain closed after completion operations. Machina™, our well optimization suite, exists to help operators access that remaining 35% and maximize the productive potential of every stage."

Controlling the Frac Outcome 
"We are no longer just measuring the well; we are controlling the frac outcome," said Panos Adamopoulos, Founder and CEO of Seismos. "Seismos, with its proprietary measurements and completion logic systems, is the core intelligence layer that makes Closed-Loop Fracturing possible. By standardizing on Uniformity Index (UI) as the primary control metric, we ensure consistent, precise execution across all crews and basins, aligning real-time work with measurable production drivers."

About ProFrac
ProFrac Holding Corp. is a technology-focused, vertically integrated and innovation-driven energy services holding company providing hydraulic fracturing, proppant production, related completion services and complementary products and services to leading upstream oil and natural gas companies engaged in the exploration and production of North American unconventional oil and natural gas resources. ProFrac operates through four business segments: Stimulation Services, Proppant Production, Manufacturing, and Other Business Activities. For more information, please visit ProFrac's website at www.PFHoldingsCorp.com.

About Seismos
Seismos delivers actionable data intelligence across the energy infrastructure, enabling greater situational awareness, confident decision-making, and superior performance. The company pioneered real-time frac optimization in 2018, which led to its portfolio of Closed-Loop automation, including physics-based subsurface measurement technologies, advanced completion logic systems, AI-based frac advisory systems and a vast data repository of hundreds of thousands of stages.

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SOURCE ProFrac Holding Corp. and Seismos Inc.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did ACDC announce about closed-loop fracturing on March 12, 2026?

ACDC announced a successful closed-loop fracturing pilot using in-well measurements and automated controls. According to the company, the program completed 183 stages on a 4-well pad between Feb 13 and Mar 4, 2026, demonstrating intra-stage adjustments and measured efficiency gains.

How fast did ProFrac-Seismos convert measurements to automated treatment changes during the ACDC pilot?

Average conversion time from measurement to automated adjustment was reported under five minutes. According to the company, the system recorded sub-five-minute response times and targets future reductions to below two minutes.

What efficiency gains did ACDC report from intra-stage interventions?

Stages with intra-stage interventions showed a 7% mid-stage and 7.5% end-of-stage improvement. According to the company, these gains were measured by the closed-loop system versus stages without intervention, with no added non-productive time.

Which technologies powered the closed-loop fracturing announced by ACDC?

The program combined Seismos SAFA™ in-well measurements with ProFrac ProPilot® surface automation. According to the company, SAFA™ detects deviations and ProPilot® executes coordinated surface adjustments in real time.

Where and when did ACDC run the closed-loop fracturing demonstration?

The demonstration ran in the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk basins from Feb 13 to Mar 4, 2026. According to the company, work occurred on a 4-well pad and encompassed a total of 183 stages.

What operational risks or limits did ACDC note about the closed-loop pilot?

The pilot was limited in scale to a single 4-well pad over three weeks, which may limit generalizability. According to the company, results are from this deployment and cited broader industry research for potential productivity upside.