What CORTEC does

CORTEC is a privately held, family-operated US manufacturer of engineered flow control equipment for the global upstream oil and gas industry. Founded in January 2004 and headquartered in Houma, Louisiana, the company operates through three wholly owned divisions: CORTEC Fluid Control (CFC) in Houma, CORTEC Manifold Systems (CMS) in Port Allen, Louisiana, and CORTEC Power Chokes (CPC) in Houston, Texas (acquired August 2025 from ADS Services). Across more than 200,000 square feet of vertically integrated manufacturing, CORTEC designs, machines, welds, coats, assembles, and tests its products in-house under API 6A, 6D, and 16C licenses with API Q1 and ISO 9001 quality registrations.

The core product portfolio spans production chokes, well control/extreme service chokes, choke relief valves, ball valves, check valves, and diverter valves, complemented by custom manifold/turnkey packages, API flowline components, and PLC-based automation systems including the Automated Sand Dump System. Proprietary technologies include GRIT SHIELD (seat spring pack-off prevention), tungsten carbide metal-seated valve coatings for abrasive service, and CX-RV pressure relief systems with sub-250 millisecond relief cycles. Products are engineered to be interchangeable with incumbent OEM brands (Cameron H2, FMC JWA/PC, Gray 8746), addressing operators, drilling contractors, and oilfield service companies globally.

CORTEC generates revenue primarily through quote-based, project-driven hardware sales to upstream energy operators, drilling contractors, and service companies, supplemented by an aftermarket services stream covering repair, replacement parts, technician deployment, and CORTEC University training. Distribution is direct enterprise field sales with no intermediary channels. Named enterprise customers include Chevron (Tahibi operations), ConocoPhillips (MPD manifolds), and BP (Haynesville wellhead chokes), and CORTEC states its client base includes virtually all major organizations within the upstream energy sector. Management is led by CEO Bobby Corte Jr., CFO Justin Corte, and VP of Sales and Marketing Stephen Corte.

Name

CORTEC

Legal name

CORTEC

Website

https://uscortec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CORTEC is a privately held, family-owned US manufacturer of API-licensed choke, valve, and PLC-based automation products for the global upstream oil and gas industry, operating three vertically integrated manufacturing divisions across Louisiana and Texas serving operators and drilling contractors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Flow Control Equipment (Oil & Gas)

NAICS

Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333132), Mining and Oil and Gas Field Machinery Manufacturing (33313), Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)

akta.pro primary industry

Completion Tools & Subsurface Equipment (Packers, Liners, Valves, Sand Control) (EUALABAD)

Keywords

• Upstream flow control
• Oil and gas chokes
• Wellhead valves
• Managed pressure drilling equipment
• Flow control automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Houma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flow Control Equipment Sales: CORTEC generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of choke, valve, and automation products including production chokes, well control chokes, ball valves, check valves, diverter valves, and associated automation systems. Products are sold directly to upstream energy sector operators, drilling contractors, and service companies.
2. Aftermarket Services: Revenue from service technicians providing repair and maintenance of CORTEC products, replacement parts inventory, and training services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CORTEC is a US-based, vertically integrated manufacturer of choke, valve, and automation products for the global upstream oil and gas industry. The company designs, manufactures, and repairs API 6A, 6D, and 16C licensed flow control equipment across three US facilities, and supports customers with aftermarket repair, training, and replacement parts.

Product overview

CORTEC is a vertically integrated US manufacturer of flow control equipment serving the global energy industry across upstream, midstream, and downstream markets. The company operates three divisions (CORTEC Fluid Control, CORTEC Manifold Systems, and CORTEC Power Chokes) and offers a portfolio of core products centered on chokes and valves, complemented by automation systems and aftermarket services. The choke product line includes Production Chokes (adjustable and fixed orifice designs for flow control), Well Control/Extreme Service Chokes (CX series for drilling and harsh service), Choke Relief Valves (CX-RV series for pressure protection), and Power Chokes (acquired brand for well control applications). The valve portfolio spans Ball Valves (compact trunnion and floating designs, including BSDV and subsea models), Check Valves (compact and top-entry configurations), and Diverter Valves (poppet and drilling types). Supporting these core products, CORTEC provides Automation Systems (control panels, setpoint systems, hydraulic power units), Manifolds/Turnkey Solutions (custom integrated packages), API Flow Line Components (spools, tees, adapters), the Automated Sand Dump System (PLC-controlled sand management), and comprehensive Aftermarket Services including training and global support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CORTEC Fluid Control (CFC): Division manufacturing production and well control/extreme service chokes, choke relief valves, API flowline components, and turnkey valve manifold packages. Located in Houma, Louisiana.
• CORTEC Manifold Systems (CMS)
• CORTEC Power Chokes (CPC)

Products and services

• Production Chokes Adjustable and fixed-orifice chokes for upstream oil and gas flow control, available in multiple trim configurations (cage and sleeve, needle and seat, positive bean, rotary disc, multistage) rated from 2,000 to 20,000 PSI CWP. Sold to E&P operators and service companies needing reliable production-rate and pressure management.
• Well Control/Extreme Service Chokes Heavy-duty chokes engineered for high-pressure applications with substantial solids and abrasives, including CX models (CX-2.0, CX-3.0, CX-4.0, CX-6.0) designed for drilling, frac flowback, coil tubing, and snubbing operations. Sold to drilling contractors and operators performing well control and harsh-service interventions.
• Choke Relief Valves Pressure relief choke valves (CX-RV series) providing safety and reliability for high-pressure operations, available in pneumatic and hydraulic models (CX-RV 2.6, CX-RV 3.0, CX-RV 4.0) for mud pump protection and MPD applications.
• Power Chokes Well control chokes and pressure control equipment serving drilling contractors, operators, and service companies with MPD chokes and pressure relief systems.
• Ball Valves Compact and conventional flanged-end ball valves under API 6A and 6D licenses, including trunnion and floating designs with metal-seated and soft-seated options rated up to 24-inch bore and 20,000 PSI. Sold to upstream and midstream operators needing flow isolation in demanding energy applications.
• Check Valves Compact and conventional check valves with top entry and side entry designs, available in soft and metal-to-metal seated configurations for demanding energy industry applications.
• Diverter Valves Poppet and drilling diverter valves for fast flow diversion between production and test headers, with pneumatic, hydraulic, or field gas actuation options.
• Manifolds / Turnkey Solutions Custom manifold systems combining CORTEC valve, choke, and automation products for land-based and offshore operations, including BSDV assemblies, MPD manifolds, waterflood systems, and plug/trash catchers.
• API Flow Line Components Flowline and piping accessories including flanged spools, tees, crosses, adapters, swivel flanges, blast joints, and instrument flanges in various sizes and pressure classes.
• Automation Systems Choke and valve control panels, setpoint systems, pressure relief control systems, hydraulic power units, and command center trailers for automated wellhead operations.
• Automated Sand Dump System PLC-controlled hydraulic automation system for automated sand trap dumping with remote monitoring, reducing manual intervention and improving safety in flowback and early production operations.
• Aftermarket Services Technical support, repair and maintenance services, on-site technician deployment, training programs (CORTEC University), and a global partner network for international customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products tested to extreme conditions beyond expected operating limits, validated through API 6A Annex F, API 6AV1 sand slurry certifications
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature6 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TechnipFMC: TechnipFMC manufactures surface wellhead equipment, valves, chokes, and integrated subsea and MPD systems. CORTEC's choke portfolio — including its Power Chokes acquisition historically served by FMC-era products (JWA/PC) — directly competes with TechnipFMC in wellhead and MPD flow control.
• Forum Energy Technologies: Forum Energy Technologies manufactures valves, wellhead equipment, and flow control products serving upstream oil & gas. Its subsea and drilling product lines overlap directly with CORTEC's API 6A/6D valve and choke portfolio, targeting similar drilling contractor and operator customers.
• Hunting PLC: Hunting PLC manufactures upstream oil & gas equipment including wellhead, valves, and pressure control products. With API-licensed manufacturing and direct sales to operators and service companies, Hunting overlaps with CORTEC in severe-service wellhead and choke equipment.
• Master Flo Valve (Severn Glocon): Severn Glocon (Master Flo Valve) designs and manufactures severe-service control valves, chokes, and manifold systems for upstream oil & gas, with engineered solutions for HPHT, sand, and MPD applications — directly comparable to CORTEC's CX-series well control chokes and choke relief valves.
• MOGAS Industries: MOGAS specializes in severe-service ball and knife gate valves for high-pressure, high-temperature, and abrasive upstream applications. Its metal-seated, severe-service focus and API-grade qualifications make it one of the closest comparables to CORTEC's ball valve and choke relief product lines.

Broad incumbents

• NOV (National Oilwell Varco): NOV's Wellbore Technologies and Rig Technologies segments manufacture wellhead components, chokes, valves, and pressure control equipment for drilling and production. NOV is a broad incumbent in oilfield equipment with the scale, capital, and global service network that CORTEC benchmarks against in integrated MPD and manifold packages.
• Weatherford International: Weatherford provides wellhead equipment, valves, and pressure control products across drilling and production, including niche severe-service chokes and Christmas trees. The peer competes with CORTEC on integrated manifold and wellhead packages sold to upstream operators and drilling contractors.
• Baker Hughes: Baker Hughes provides a broad portfolio of upstream equipment, wellhead systems, and pressure control products. As a top-tier oilfield services and equipment conglomerate, it competes with CORTEC on integrated wellhead and drilling packages at major operators.
• SLB (Schlumberger) — Cameron division: SLB's Cameron division is a global leader in wellhead, choke, valve, and Christmas tree equipment for upstream oil & gas. CORTEC explicitly designs its chokes to be interchangeable with Cameron H2 models, making Cameron the most direct incumbent competitor in CORTEC's core choke product category.
• DRESSER (flow control business / Flowserve acquisition): Flowserve (via acquired Dresser/Natural Gas Engine businesses) and Dresser-Utility Solutions produce valves, regulators, and pressure control products used in oil & gas and adjacent process industries. The Dresser/Roots brothers-era franchises compete with CORTEC's API 6D ball valves in upstream and midstream applications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uscortec

Compliance17 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about CORTEC