Quick question: I was told it started on a Barnett pad where two wireline crews alternated like teeth on a zipper to keep the pumps hot — anyone know the real story? We ran 36 stages in 36 hours last spring using that cadence, and tight handoffs between wireline and pumps cut our idle time to near zero.
36 hours last spring using that cadence, and tight handoffs between wireline and pumps Agree on the timing — heard it first on a 2007 Barnett pad, but it was alternating wells on a shared spread more than “two WL crews = zipper.” The move that made it hum was a common zipper manifold and pre-rigged guns staged three deep so WL never waited on pumps.
My take: I’d lean toward the simplest next step and see if it changes anything this week — if not, you’ve got a clear case to escalate. What would block you from trying that?
Pretty sure the name stuck in the 2007-ish Barnett era when crews alternated wells “like teeth” — a NASCAR pit-crew rhythm — not just wireline on one hole. If you want receipts, search SPE for “zipper fracturing” around 2009–2011; @dana_r2050, got anything earlier?