Cactus Drilling Co
Cactus Drilling Co is the largest privately-held U.S. land drilling contractor, operating 49 contracted rigs across Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico to serve 23 oil and gas E&P operators through B2B dayrate-based contract drilling services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersOklahoma City, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cactus Drilling Co does
Cactus Drilling Company, L.L.C. is the largest privately-held U.S. land drilling contractor, headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with operations spanning four active onshore basins: Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico. The company provides B2B contract drilling services to 23 oil and gas exploration and production operators using a fleet of 49 contracted rigs operated by 1,564 personnel, delivering 3.36 million man-hours over a recent 12-month period. Cactus organizes its rig fleet into three series: LEGACY (conventional and mid-spec rigs), ROCKET (modern high-spec rigs with 1500-2000 HP and AC/DC drive systems), and BOSS (premium rigs with 1500 HP and AC drive).
The company's service offering is differentiated by integration with SLB's digital drilling technologies — DrillSync, DrillOps, and Neuro — which enable automated and autonomous drilling capabilities and provide real-time data insights to improve drilling efficiency and equipment utilization. This collaboration, formalized in a June 2025 strategic agreement, positions Cactus as a vehicle for scaling intelligent well-construction solutions on a privately-held operational platform. The fleet's high-spec fit-for-purpose rigs are operated by company personnel under a direct enterprise sales model, with no intermediary distribution.
Cactus generates revenue through dayrate-based contract drilling services with long-term contracts negotiated directly with E&P operators, augmented by professional services revenue associated with the integrated SLB digital drilling solutions. In November 2025, the company acquired Unit Drilling from Unit Corp for $120 million, expanding fleet capacity and basin presence. The company operates as a privately-held LLC, with no public listing, parent company, or institutional ownership disclosed in available sources.
Cactus Drilling Co firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cactus Drilling Co
- Legal name
- Cactus Drilling Company, L.L.C.
- Website
- https://cactusdrlg.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Cactus Drilling Co is the largest privately-held U.S. land drilling contractor, operating 49 contracted rigs across Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico to serve 23 oil and gas E&P operators through B2B dayrate-based contract drilling services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cactus Drilling Co industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Land Drilling Services
- NAICS
- Drilling Oil and Gas Wells (213111)
- SIC
- Drilling Oil & Gas Wells (1381)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Drilling & Workover Rigs (Land & Offshore) (EUALABAA)
Keywords
Where Cactus Drilling Co is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oklahoma City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cactus Drilling Co business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Contract Drilling Services: Dayrate-based contract drilling services providing drilling rigs and personnel to oil and gas operators. Revenue generated through long-term contracts with exploration and production companies in active basins.
- Integrated Digital Drilling Solutions: Services incorporating SLB digital technologies (DrillSync, DrillOps, Neuro) that provide real-time data insights, improve drilling efficiency, and optimize equipment utilization for customers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Cactus Drilling Co product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cactus Drilling Co provides U.S. domestic land-based contract drilling services to oil and gas exploration and production companies. The company operates a fleet of 49 contracted rigs across four active basins (Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico), supported by 1,564 team members delivering safe, efficient, and reliable well construction services. Its rig fleet includes LEGACY, ROCKET, and BOSS series rigs equipped with SLB digital drilling technologies (DrillSync, DrillOps, Neuro) for automated and autonomous drilling.
Product overview
Cactus Drilling Co is a mid-size U.S. domestic land drilling contractor operating as a single unified service offering. The company provides land drilling services through a fleet of 49 contracted rigs across 4 active basins (Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico). Their rig fleet consists of three main rig type brands: LEGACY rigs (conventional and older-model rigs), ROCKET rigs (modern high-spec rigs including National 110-UE, NOV DSGD series, and Alta ARS series), and BOSS rigs (Alta ARS-1512 series). In June 2025, Cactus entered a strategic collaboration with SLB to integrate SLB's digital drilling technologies—DrillSync, DrillOps, and Neuro—into their rig operations, enabling automated and autonomous drilling capabilities with real-time data insights.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Land Drilling Services U.S. domestic land drilling services provided through a fleet of 49 contracted rigs operated by 1,564 team members across Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico, serving 23 current operators in 4 active basins. Services cover directional drilling and conventional land-based well construction for oil and gas E&P companies.
- Rig Fleet (LEGACY, ROCKET, and BOSS Rig Series) High-specification drilling rigs offered across three main series: LEGACY rigs (conventional, including Oilwell E-2000, Ideco 2100-E, Mid-Continent U-914-EC), ROCKET rigs (modern high-spec including National 110-UE, NOV DSGD series, Alta ARS series with AC/DC drive), and BOSS rigs (Alta ARS-1512 series, 1500 HP, AC drive, SLB Precise controls). Available horsepower ratings range from 1400–2000 HP across multiple states.
- Integrated Digital Drilling Solutions (SLB DrillSync, DrillOps, Neuro) Digital drilling services incorporating SLB technologies (DrillSync, DrillOps, and Neuro) integrated into Cactus Drilling's rigs to improve drilling efficiency, equipment utilization, and provide real-time data insights for automated and autonomous well construction. Delivered to oil and gas operators as part of contract drilling engagements.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3.36 million man-hours worked in 12-month period
Companies that use Cactus Drilling Co
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Cactus Drilling Co technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Cactus Drilling Co partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- SLBcoreSLB announced a strategic collaboration agreement with Cactus Drilling to expand adoption of automated and autonomous drilling solutions. Under the agreement, Cactus integrates SLB's digital drilling technologies including DrillSync, DrillOps, and Neuro systems to improve drilling efficiency, equipment utilization, and provide real-time data insights. The collaboration aims to shape the future of well construction by scaling intelligent solutions to improve drilling performance and safety.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cactus Drilling Co competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nabors Industries: Global drilling contractor with substantial U.S. land rig operations and a strong focus on high-spec rigs, drilling automation, and downhole performance technologies — overlapping directly with Cactus's premium and digital drilling strategy.
- Precision Drilling: North American drilling contractor operating a large land rig fleet in the U.S. and Canada with high-spec AC drive rigs, mirroring Cactus's premium rig positioning and SLB-style digital integrations.
- Independence Contract Drilling: Pure-play U.S. land drilling contractor operating pad-optimal rigs targeting the Permian and other active basins; competes head-to-head with Cactus for E&P contracts among independent operators.
- Patterson-UTI Energy: Public U.S. land drilling and oilfield services company with ~140 drilling rigs plus pressure pumping and directional drilling, directly competing with Cactus for E&P contracts in the Permian, Anadarko, and other onshore basins.
Others
- ProPetro Holding: U.S. oilfield services company focused on pressure pumping and complementary well completion services rather than drilling rigs; serves the same E&P customer base during the completions phase that follows Cactus's drilling phase.
Broad incumbents
- Helmerich & Payne: Largest U.S. land drilling contractor by rig count (~210 rigs), offering FlexRig and conventional land drilling services to E&P operators across the Lower 48 — the dominant public incumbent to Cactus's 'largest privately-held' position.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cactus Drilling Co social profiles
Digital presenceCactus Drilling Co financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cactus Drilling Co leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Cactus Drilling Co subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Cactus Drilling Co funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cactus Drilling Co M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cactus Drilling Co
What does Cactus Drilling Co do?
Cactus Drilling Co provides U.S. domestic land-based contract drilling services to oil and gas exploration and production companies. The company operates a fleet of 49 contracted rigs across four active basins (Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico), supported by 1,564 team members delivering safe, efficient, and reliable well construction services. Its rig fleet includes LEGACY, ROCKET, and BOSS series rigs equipped with SLB digital drilling technologies (DrillSync, DrillOps, Neuro) for automated and autonomous drilling.
Is Cactus Drilling Co a public or private company?
Cactus Drilling Co is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Cactus Drilling Co founded?
Cactus Drilling Co was founded in 2001. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Cactus Drilling Co based?
Cactus Drilling Co is headquartered in Oklahoma City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cactus Drilling Co make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Contract Drilling Services are the primary driver. The others are integrated Digital Drilling Solutions.
Who are Cactus Drilling Co's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nabors Industries, Precision Drilling, Independence Contract Drilling and Patterson-UTI Energy. ProPetro Holding is listed as an others. Helmerich & Payne is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Cactus Drilling Co have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cactus Drilling Co.
What industry is Cactus Drilling Co in?
Cactus Drilling Co's product category is Land Drilling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUALABAA, Drilling & Workover Rigs (Land & Offshore). Its NAICS code is 213111 and its SIC code is 1381.