Sekal AS
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersSandnes, Norway
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
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.
Sekal AS firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Sekal AS industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Sekal AS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sandnes
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sekal AS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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
Sekal AS product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Sekal AS
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sekal AS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability7 records
Feature4 records
Sekal AS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HalliburtoncoreHalliburton 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.
- ExxonMobilcoreCollaboration 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 CorporationcorePartner in the industry's first fully automated geological well placement offshore Guyana, providing drilling services alongside Halliburton, Sekal, ExxonMobil, and Wells Alliance.
- EquinorcoreHalliburton 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.
- ArchercoreJoint 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 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 BhdminorLocal 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)minorSumitomo 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
Sekal AS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
Sekal AS social profiles
Digital presenceSekal AS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sekal AS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Sekal AS subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Sekal AS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sekal AS 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 Sekal AS
What does Sekal AS do?
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.
Is Sekal AS a public or private company?
Sekal AS is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Sekal AS founded?
Sekal AS was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sekal AS based?
Sekal AS is headquartered in Sandnes, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Sekal AS make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Software Licensing and Services are the primary driver. The others are advisory Services.
Who are Sekal AS's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SLB (Schlumberger), Halliburton and Baker Hughes. Direct peers are National Oilwell Varco (NOV) and Archer. Emerging players are Stepwise, RigNet (now part of Viasat Energy), P2 Energy Solutions, Peloton (now Accenture Industry X) and Intelligent Wellhead Systems.
Does Sekal AS have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sekal AS.
What industry is Sekal AS in?
Sekal AS's product category is Drilling Automation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUALABAM, OFS Engineering, Construction & O&M (Field Development, Brownfield, Maintenance), with a secondary code of EUALABAB, Directional Drilling & MWD/LWD Services. Its NAICS code is 213112 and its SIC code is 1389.