Sekal AS

What Sekal AS does

Sekal AS is a Norwegian software company founded in 2011 that provides real-time drilling decision support and automation software to the oil and gas industry. Headquartered in Stavanger with a regional operations office in Aberdeen (Sekal Aberdeen Limited), the company serves major exploration and production operators — including Equinor, BP, Aker BP, Vår Energi, Wintershall Dea, OMV, PETRONAS Carigali, and ExxonMobil — as well as drilling contractors and carbon capture and storage projects. As of April 2026, Sekal's technology has been deployed across more than 1,100 wells in over 30 countries. Prior to its April 1, 2026 acquisition by Halliburton, Sekal was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation; the deal combines Halliburton's LOGIX automation and remote operations with Sekal's DrillTronics platform into a single drilling-automation portfolio.

Sekal's product portfolio centers on three proprietary offerings built on its Core Model — a tightly coupled set of real-time dynamic models spanning hydraulic, mechanical, and thermodynamic domains, originally developed through NORCE research and extended by Sekal's R&D team. DrillTronics is the automated drilling control system that translates core-model outputs into direct inputs to rig machinery controls, enabling autonomous directional drilling and closed-loop wellbore hydraulics; the system has been demonstrated as the basis for the world's first automated on-bottom drilling system for Equinor on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and the first fully automated geological well placement offshore Guyana. DrillScene provides real-time wellbore monitoring and anomaly detection by comparing sensor data against physical-model calculations, surfacing deviations hours before they become hazardous. DrillExpect is a digital twin used for 'what-if' simulation during well planning and live operations, supporting transient temperature evolution, ECD/ESD, and dynamic surge/swab analyses. The platform integrates with rig automation systems including NOV's NOVOS and Halliburton's LOGIX, and is embedded in operator remote operating centers such as BP's RCC in Sunbury.

Sekal generates revenue primarily through multi-year frame agreements and software licensing with major oil and gas operators, supplemented by professional services including drilling advisory, planning, and post-well investigations. Distribution is direct enterprise sales to operators, with channel partnerships through Halliburton (post-acquisition, via LOGIX integration), Archer (joint contracts with Equinor on Norwegian fixed platforms), and local agents such as Faazmiar Technology Sdn Bhd in Malaysia. The company operates two 24/7 Remote Operation Centers in Stavanger and Aberdeen and is staffed by 11–50 employees. Pricing is negotiated per-project or per-frame-agreement rather than publicly disclosed. Quantified outcomes cited by the company and its customers include up to 25% reduction in well delivery times, 60% reduction in technical sidetracks, roughly 17–20% CO2 emissions reduction per well, and cumulative customer cost savings of approximately $1.6 billion across 1,000 wells. Sekal holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications and received the 2020 Research and Innovation Award for Rogaland, Norway.

Name

Sekal AS

Legal name

SEKAL AS

Website

https://sekal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sekal AS provides real-time drilling automation and digital twin software to global oil and gas operators. Its DrillTronics, DrillScene, and DrillExpect platforms are deployed across 1,100+ wells in 30+ countries; Halliburton acquired the company in April 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drilling Automation Software

NAICS

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

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389), Drilling Oil & Gas Wells (1381), Services-Engineering Services (8711), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

OFS Engineering, Construction & O&M (Field Development, Brownfield, Maintenance) (EUALABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Directional Drilling & MWD/LWD Services (EUALABAB)

Keywords

• Drilling automation software
• Real-time drilling monitoring
• Digital twin drilling
• Well construction automation
• Drilling optimization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandnes

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing and Services: Sekal generates revenue through software licensing of its DrillTronics, DrillScene, and DrillExpect products combined with ongoing support and monitoring services. The company provides 24/7 operational support through its Remote Operation Centers in Aberdeen and Stavanger. Services are delivered through frame agreements with major oil and gas operators covering multiple wells and assets.
2. Advisory Services: Sekal provides drilling advisory services including planning and well strategy, live drilling simulations during operations, and post-well investigations. These services are delivered alongside software products or as standalone offerings.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sekal develops and licenses real-time drilling automation and decision-support software—DrillTronics (automated drilling control), DrillScene (real-time wellbore monitoring), and DrillExpect (digital twin well planning)—combined with 24/7 advisory and remote operations services delivered from centers in Stavanger and Aberdeen to oil and gas operators and drilling contractors worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DrillTronics: Automated Drilling Control software that continuously applies optimal real-time drilling actions from the core model directly into the rig machinery
• DrillScene
• DrillExpect

Products and services

• DrillTronics
• DrillScene Real-time wellbore condition monitoring and analysis system that detects anomalies by comparing live drilling sensor data (hook load, pit volume, SPP, surface torque, cutting transport) against calculated outputs from Sekal's physical models, enabling early notification of problematic downhole situations for oil and gas operators.
• DrillExpect Digital twin software for the oil and gas industry that runs what-if simulations to evaluate alternative drilling parameters before and during operations, modeling transient temperature evolution, ECD, ESD, and surge/swab dynamics to optimize drilling and tripping tasks in narrow pressure margin conditions.
• Sekal Drilling Advisory Services Professional services offering including drilling planning, well strategy, live drilling simulations during operations, and post-well investigations, delivered by Sekal's drilling engineers to oil and gas operators and drilling contractors alongside the company's software products.
• 24/7 Remote Operation Center Support 24/7 monitoring, advisory, and operational support service delivered from Sekal's Remote Operation Centers in Stavanger and Aberdeen, integrated into customer remote operating centers (e.g., BP's RCC in Sunbury) for continuous surveillance and intervention on active wells.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 25% reduction in well delivery times
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HalliburtoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Halliburton acquired Sekal from Sumitomo Corporation on April 1, 2026. The acquisition combines Halliburton's LOGIX automation and remote operations with Sekal's DrillTronics automation platform to create an industry-leading drilling automation portfolio. Prior to acquisition, Sekal and Halliburton had been collaborating since November 2023 on joint well construction automation solutions.
• ExxonMobilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Collaboration on the industry's first fully automated geological well placement with complete rig automation offshore Guyana. Sekal's DrillTronics was integrated with Halliburton's LOGIX, ExxonMobil's subsurface interpretation, Noble's drilling services, and Wells Alliance Guyana team's coordination.
• Noble CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Partner in the industry's first fully automated geological well placement offshore Guyana, providing drilling services alongside Halliburton, Sekal, ExxonMobil, and Wells Alliance.
• EquinorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Halliburton and Sekal deployed the world's first automated on-bottom drilling system for Equinor on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The integrated closed-loop control solution orchestrates autonomous directional drilling with automated wellbore hydraulics and dynamic surface drilling rig equipment control.
• ArchercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Joint contract with Equinor for Automatic Drilling Control implementation on fixed platforms. Sekal provides DrillTronics, DrillScene, and DrillExpect while Archer provides drilling services. The combined offering delivers automated drilling control and real-time drilling engineering solutions on Gullfaks A/B/C, Snorre A/B, Visund and Heidrun platforms.
• StepwiseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Strategic alliance partnership to integrate Sekal's drilling autonomy platform within Stepwise's carbon emission reduction SaaS application. The collaboration enables clients to plan and implement carbon emission reduction strategies effectively, combining drilling automation with environmental sustainability tools.
• Faazmiar Technology Sdn BhdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2022Local agent in Malaysia providing DrillExpect and DrillScene services to PETRONAS Carigali since 2016, and now supporting DrillTronics deployment. Local engineers are trained to execute and enable DrillTronics automation on a 24/7 basis.
• SC Tubular Solutions Malaysia (SCTSM)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Sumitomo Corporation's local subsidiary in Malaysia supporting Sekal's delivery of DrillTronics services to PETRONAS Carigali in the region.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SLB (Schlumberger): SLB is the world's largest oilfield services company with a comprehensive drilling automation portfolio including DrillPlan and Schlumberger Drilling Platform. They compete with Sekal's DrillTronics across major operators but offer a much broader OFS portfolio and global scale.
• Halliburton: Halliburton acquired Sekal in April 2026 to combine its LOGIX automation and remote operations with Sekal's DrillTronics platform. Before the acquisition, Halliburton was both a partner and adjacent competitor in drilling automation, now fully integrated into a single offering.
• Baker Hughes: Baker Hughes provides drilling automation solutions through its Well Construction Suite and iCruise rotary steerable system. As one of the three major OFS players, they compete with Sekal's automation platform across global drilling markets.

Direct peers

• National Oilwell Varco (NOV): NOV's NOVOS rig automation platform is fully integrated with Sekal's DrillTronics (v4.1). NOV competes in drilling automation but also enables Sekal's deployment on NOV rigs, making them both a competitor and an integration partner.
• Archer: Archer is a drilling contractor that jointly delivers Sekal's automation solutions to Equinor on fixed platforms. As both a partner and customer, they represent the drilling contractor segment of Sekal's market.

Emerging players

• Stepwise: Stepwise is a Norwegian SaaS company focused on carbon emission planning for drilling operations. Sekal and Stepwise formed a strategic alliance in April 2023 to integrate drilling automation with emissions reduction tools, making them complementary rather than direct competitors.
• RigNet (now part of Viasat Energy): RigNet provided managed communications and remote operations services to drilling rigs. Their real-time data transmission capabilities complement Sekal's automation software, with some overlap in remote operations center services.
• P2 Energy Solutions: P2 Energy Solutions provides well data management and drilling operations software (TowPoint, WellView) to oil and gas operators. While not a direct competitor in real-time automation, they serve overlapping oil and gas drilling software customers.
• Peloton (now Accenture Industry X): Peloton (acquired by Accenture) provided well data visualization and drilling operations software solutions. They compete in some drilling software segments but with less focus on real-time automation than Sekal.
• Intelligent Wellhead Systems: Intelligent Wellhead Systems provides digital wellhead automation and control systems. They compete in drilling automation with a focus on wellhead equipment rather than full drilling process automation like Sekal.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sekal-as

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Sekal AS