What Independence Contract Drilling does

Independence Contract Drilling, Inc. (OTCQX: ICDI) is a US onshore drilling contractor founded in 2011 and headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company provides contract drilling services to oil and gas exploration and production operators using a branded ShaleDriller® fleet of high-spec AC drilling rigs deployed primarily in the Permian Basin (Texas) and Haynesville Shale (Louisiana). As of the input data, the fleet totals 37 rigs across three status categories: 19 active, 2 coming soon, and 12 ready to deploy. ICD merged with Sidewinder Drilling in October 2018, which brought in current CEO J. Anthony Gallegos Jr. and broadened the rig base across the Bakken, Marcellus, Permian, Haynesville, and Eagle Ford.

ICD's revenue model is contract-based, with day-rate and footage-based agreements negotiated directly with E&P customers; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company differentiates on rig technology rather than commodity service: it integrates third-party automation through strategic partnerships with Nabors Drilling Solutions (NDS) for next-generation drilling automation, Schlumberger Drilling Technologies for advanced drilling tools, and Corva for real-time drilling intelligence and performance optimization. Operational identity is reinforced by the ICD Way safety methodology (STRIPE planning, STAR Observation, Management of Change, Incident Review) and a 'People First. Customer Focused. Performance Driven.' operating posture.

Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales targeting E&P operators in US unconventional resource plays, supported by a corporate website (icdrilling.com), a public Rig Locator tool, and active hiring through a BambooHR careers portal. Senior sales leadership (SVP Business Development, VP Sales & Marketing) drives long-term contract relationships. The company is publicly traded on OTCQX, employs 251-500 people, and has no identified parent company or institutional investors disclosed in the source data.

Name

Independence Contract Drilling

Legal name

Independence Contract Drilling, Inc.

Website

https://icdrilling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Independence Contract Drilling is a US onshore drilling contractor providing high-spec ShaleDriller® rig services to oil and gas E&P operators in the Permian Basin and Haynesville Shale, generating revenue through day-rate and footage-based contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Drilling Services

NAICS

Drilling Oil and Gas Wells (213111), Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations (213112)

SIC

Drilling Oil & Gas Wells (1381), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

Drilling & Workover Rigs (Land & Offshore) (EUALABAA)

Keywords

• Contract drilling services
• Land drilling rigs
• Oilfield services
• Unconventional resource drilling
• Shale drilling operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract Drilling Services: Provides high-quality drilling services to oil and gas companies on a contract basis. Revenue generated through day rates or footage-based contracts for drilling operations using the company's fleet of modern, high-spec ShaleDriller® rigs in US unconventional resource plays.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Independence Contract Drilling provides contract drilling services to oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) companies using its ShaleDriller® branded fleet of technologically advanced high-spec land drilling rigs. Services are delivered across U.S. unconventional resource plays, primarily the Permian Basin and Haynesville Shale, with integrated automation, directional drilling, and real-time analytics provided through partnerships with Nabors Drilling Solutions, Schlumberger Drilling Technologies, and Corva.

Product overview

Independence Contract Drilling provides high-quality drilling services to the oil and gas industry through its ShaleDriller® Fleet of technologically advanced drilling rigs. The core offering consists of approximately 30 rigs that fall into three categories: Active Fleet, Ready to Deploy, and Coming Soon. The company differentiates itself by integrating advanced automation technologies through strategic partnerships with Nabors Drilling Solutions and Schlumberger Drilling Technologies, combined with real-time drilling intelligence from Corva. Together, these components form a comprehensive drilling solution that emphasizes automation, predictive analytics, and performance optimization for unconventional resource plays in US basins.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ShaleDriller®: Brand name for Independence Contract Drilling's fleet of technologically advanced drilling rigs designed for challenging drilling programs, peak efficiency, and reliability in complex and deep drilling operations in US oil and gas fields.

Products and services

• ShaleDriller® Rig Fleet A fleet of approximately 30 high-spec land drilling rigs marketed under the ShaleDriller® brand, designed for complex and deep drilling operations in U.S. unconventional resource plays such as the Permian Basin and Haynesville Shale. The fleet is organized into Active Fleet (ICD 301-341, 19 rigs), Ready to Deploy (ICD 164, 201-209, 218, 230, 12 rigs), and Coming Soon (ICD 342, 343, 2 rigs), and is offered to oil and gas E&P companies on contract.
• Contract Drilling Services Contract-based drilling services using ICD's ShaleDriller® rig fleet to drill oil and gas wells on behalf of E&P customers, typically structured around day-rate or footage-based contracts and tailored to each operator's drilling program. Services span rig mobilization, drilling operations, and integration of automation and real-time drilling intelligence.

Quantifiable outcome

• Improved bit life and rate of penetration through next-generation automation technologies
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Nabors Drilling Solutions (NDS)coreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic technology partnership implementing next-generation automation technologies that improve bit life and rate of penetration, reduce trips, and improve precision, consistency, and overall well economics for ICD's ShaleDriller® rig fleet.
• Schlumberger Drilling TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic technology partnership providing advanced automation technologies and drilling solutions to enhance ICD's drilling capabilities and operational efficiency across the ShaleDriller® fleet.
• CorvacoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with industry leader in real-time drilling intelligence to continuously analyze performance metrics and uncover optimization opportunities. Corva provides real-time drilling insights tracking ROP, torque, weight-on-bit, and downhole conditions to proactively adjust parameters and improve operational efficiency.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RPC Inc. Diversified US oilfield services company providing contract drilling and pressure pumping across active shale basins. Operates a smaller land rig fleet comparable in scale to ICD and targets the same E&P customers for drilling work.
• Patterson-UTI Energy: US land drilling and completion services company operating a large AC-driven drilling rig fleet across the Permian, Haynesville, and other active basins. Competes head-to-head with ICD for super-spec drilling contracts and pressure pumping work in the same customer set.
• Helmerich & Payne: Largest US land drilling contractor with a FlexRig® fleet focused on high-spec horizontal drilling in US shale basins. Directly comparable to ICD on customer base (major E&Ps), product (high-spec land rigs), and geography (Permian, Haynesville, Eagle Ford).
• Nabors Industries: Global drilling contractor and ICD's strategic technology partner through Nabors Drilling Solutions. Operates a large US land drilling fleet in the same basins and supplies the automation platform ICD has integrated, making Nabors both a peer and an enabling partner.
• ProPetro Holding: US completion services and drilling-focused oilfield services company concentrated in the Permian Basin. Direct overlap with ICD on E&P customers and Permian activity, though focused on completions rather than contract drilling.
• Unit Corporation: Mid-continent contract drilling and oil & gas E&P company operating drilling rigs primarily in Oklahoma and surrounding basins. Comparable in fleet size and contract-drilling business model, with a more diversified geographic footprint than ICD.
• Cactus Inc. US-focused wellhead equipment manufacturer and drilling services provider serving Permian and other shale operators. Closely comparable on customer base and basin focus, though more weighted toward wellhead and pressure control than contract drilling.
• Precision Drilling: Largest North American land drilling contractor with a high-spec Alpha™ and Omni™ rig fleet serving the same Permian, Haynesville, and Eagle Ford customers as ICD. Closest international comparable with similar focus on high-spec, automated rigs in unconventional plays.
• Pioneer Energy Services (now Phoenix Services / successor): Previously a direct US land drilling competitor focused on Permian and Eagle Ford. Emerged from restructuring with a smaller, high-spec rig fleet and overlapping E&P customer base, making it a near-comparable for fleet size and target market.

Broad incumbents

• Schlumberger (SLB): World's largest oilfield services company and ICD's strategic technology partner through Schlumberger Drilling Technologies. Overlaps with ICD on drilling performance services for the same E&P customers but operates across the full upstream value chain rather than as a pure land drilling contractor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IndependenceContractDrillingInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/independence-contract-drilling
• Instagraminstagram.com/icdrilling
• TikToktiktok.com/@icdrilling?lang=en
• Xx.com/ICDShaleDriller

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Independence Contract Drilling