CBG

What CBG does

CBG Corp is a privately held Texas corporation founded in 1992 and headquartered in Austin, TX, that manufactures downhole gamma ray sensors used in Measurement While Drilling (MWD) and Logging While Drilling (LWD) operations for the upstream oil and gas industry. The company's core technology is built around Sodium Iodide NaI(Tl) scintillator crystals coupled with high-temperature photomultiplier tubes, with proprietary in-house crystal packaging, patent-pending electronics and mounting designs, and rigorous HASS-based environmental qualification. Its product catalog spans 20+ models organized into non-focused, small-diameter (0.75"–1.05" OD), and focused (azimuthal) gamma tools — including the industry-standard NGT-T, originally designed for Tensor in 1993 — plus a shock/vibration isolator (SNB Snubber) and custom design services. CBG claims the largest worldwide installed base of MWD/LWD gamma tools, with 9,000+ units deployed across 150+ companies.

The company operates a dual revenue model: hardware sales of its gamma tools and recurring service, repair, and API calibration work performed at its Austin facility. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is primarily enterprise field sales targeting major MWD/LWD service providers and directional drilling contractors worldwide, supplemented by a regional channel partnership with Beijing Sunus Electronics (SUNUS) for China and active participation in industry trade shows such as CIPPE. CBG serves two principal customer segments: upstream MWD/LWD service companies using gamma tools for geosteering and formation evaluation in directional/horizontal wells, and wireline/production logging companies. The firm is bootstrapped, debt-free, founder-led (President & CEO Chris Schnoor), and has invested in expanded Austin manufacturing capacity and HASS testing capability to support next-generation product launches in 2025 (NGT-T2, NGT-HTR 190°C, FGT).

Name

CBG

Legal name

CBG Corp

Website

https://cbgcorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CBG Corp, founded in 1992 in Austin, TX, manufactures scintillator-based MWD/LWD gamma ray sensors and provides calibration, repair, and custom design services for upstream oil and gas drilling service companies worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

MWD/LWD Downhole Gamma Tools

NAICS

Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333132), Mining and Oil and Gas Field Machinery Manufacturing (33313)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Directional Drilling & MWD/LWD Services (EUALABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Drill Tools, Bits & Downhole Equipment (IMAHAMAB), Drilling & Well Construction (Rig Ops, Directional, Casing, Cementing) (EUAAAAAI)

Keywords

• Downhole gamma sensors
• MWD measurement tools
• LWD drilling instruments
• Scintillator radiation detectors
• Directional drilling equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Gamma Tool Product Sales: Sale of MWD/LWD gamma tools including probe-based and collar-mounted scintillator gamma sensors. Products include NGT-T, NGT-T2, NGT-HTR, NGT-100, NGT-075-B2, NGT-CSX-B, FGT, DGA-C, DDG, and custom designs.
2. Service, Repair & Calibration: Professional services including scheduled maintenance and repair, API calibration, minor and major repairs performed at Austin facility. Includes enhanced performance testing for greater reliability and increased operational lifetimes.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

CBG manufactures and sells scintillator-based downhole gamma ray tools and sensors used in Measurement While Drilling (MWD) and Logging While Drilling (LWD) operations for the upstream oil and gas industry. The company offers more than 20 standard models across non-focused, small-diameter, and focused gamma tools, custom engineered designs, and supporting services including API calibration, repair and maintenance, and HASS enhanced reliability testing. Products are sold to oilfield service companies and directional drilling contractors worldwide for formation evaluation, geosteering, and depth correlation.

Product overview

CBG is a Texas corporation established in 1992, serving the upstream oil and gas industry for over 30 years as a manufacturer of MWD (Measurement While Drilling) and LWD (Logging While Drilling) gamma tools. The company offers a comprehensive line of scintillator-based gamma ray sensors for directional drilling applications. The core product portfolio includes three main categories: Non-Focused Gammas (NGT-T, NGT-T2, NGT-TX, NGT-TX2, NGT-HTR, NGT-CN), Small Diameter Gammas (NGT-075-B, NGT-075-B2, NGT-100, NGT-CSX-B), and Focused Gammas (FGT, DGA-C, DDG). These tools are available in three diameters (0.75", 1.05", and 1.36") for probe-based and collar-mounted systems. The NGT-T is the industry standard gamma tool originally designed for Tensor in 1993 and remains the most popular MWD gamma tool on the market. In addition to standard products, CBG offers custom gamma tool designs and comprehensive services including API calibration, maintenance and repair, and enhanced reliability testing using HASS environmental chambers. CBG claims to be the largest supplier of Gamma Tools with over 20 models and 9000 tools in operation worldwide, serving more than 150 companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NGT-T Gamma Tool Probe-based MWD gamma tool and industry standard originally designed for Tensor in 1993; the workhorse of the independent directional drilling industry with 175°C (350°F) operating temperature and 1.36" OD. Used by MWD/LWD service providers and directional drilling contractors for measurement while drilling.
• NGT-T2 Gamma Tool Next generation Directional Drilling Gamma sensor with patent-pending electrical and mechanical designs, operating temperature 182°C, and vibration specification 25% higher than competing tools (25 GRMS). Continues the legacy of the NGT-T for MWD/LWD service providers.
• NGT-TX Short Gamma Tool Shorter version of the NGT-T with 2.0 inches removed from the electronics chassis (overall make-up length of 11.6 inches); same specifications as the NGT-T with 1.36" OD, suited for space-constrained MWD toolstring assemblies.
• NGT-TX2 Short Gamma Tool Next generation short gamma tool based on NGT-TX with patent-pending designs, operating temperature 182°C and vibration specification 25 GRMS (25% higher than competing tools).
• NGT-HTR High Temperature/Ruggedized Gamma Tool Next generation gamma tool designed for severe high temperature drilling environments (Haynesville, Eagle Ford), with operating temperature 190°C and vibration specification 25% higher than competing tools; high temperature rating reduces gamma count drift.
• NGT-CN High Sensitivity Gamma Tool High sensitivity gamma tool with 40% higher sensitivity than the NGT-T due to a longer scintillator crystal; interchangeable with the standard NGT-T gamma tool using the same overall length and 1.36" OD.
• NGT-100 Gamma Tool Next generation small diameter gamma tool at 1.0" OD ideally suited for mounting within drill collar walls; patent-pending designs push operating temperature to 182°C with improved shock and vibration performance.
• NGT-075-B Gamma Tool Small diameter gamma tool with 0.75" OD, suited for mounting within drill-collar walls; encapsulated electronics protected from extreme shock and vibration using high-temperature silicone pads.
• NGT-075-B2 Gamma Tool Next generation 0.75" OD gamma tool with patent-pending designs, operating temperature 182°C, improved shock and vibration performance, and greater robustness against stresses from customer potting methods.
• NGT-CSX-B Gamma Tool Gamma tool at 1.05" OD ideal for probe-based or collar-mounted assemblies; sensitivity similar to larger diameter gamma tools, with encapsulated electronics protected from shock and vibration.
• FGT Focused Gamma Tool Next generation shielded gamma tool for Azimuthal Geosteering with 182°C temperature rating, 25 GRMS vibration (25% higher), greater sensitivity, and greater front-to-back count ratio than the DGA-C.
• DGA-C High Sensitivity Focused Gamma Tool High sensitivity shielded gamma tool for Azimuthal Geosteering applications with tungsten window design; 1.36" OD with sensitivity of 0.52 CPS/API.
• DDG Dual Detector Gamma Tool Dual-focused MWD Gamma tool for Azimuthal Geosteering with two opposed shielded NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors; unique shielding design effectively doubles tool sensitivity while maintaining directionality; 1.40" OD, 175°C operating temperature.
• SNB Snubber Gamma Shock & Vibration Isolator Shock and vibration isolator designed specifically for MWD gamma tools to protect the scintillator crystal and photomultiplier tube; uses a unique high-temperature rubber compound providing built-in damping with less than 1/4 spring rate and more than 4x range of motion compared to similar devices.
• Custom Gamma Tool Designs Custom engineering service in which CBG engineers work with customer design teams to develop unique gamma tool designs while maintaining reliability and performance; covers both modifications to existing tools and entirely new models. Custom designs remain proprietary to the commissioning customer.
• API Calibration Services API (American Petroleum Institute) calibration service performed at CBG's Austin facility using a KUTh verifier that simulates the gamma test formation at the University of Houston; tools are supplied with an API calibration factor and Certificate of Calibration, with annual recalibration recommended.
• Service & Repair Complete maintenance and repair services for all CBG products performed at the Austin facility; tools returned for repair undergo intense laboratory testing including temperature and temperature/vibration testing, are re-calibrated, and returned with complete documentation.
• Enhanced Reliability Tests (HASS) High Accelerated Stress Screening (HASS) environmental testing using a Thermatron AST-35 chamber and RSL-16-SCI multi-axis vibration system; tests simultaneous temperature, shock, and vibration profiles (-148°F to 392°F) to ensure gamma tool reliability before deployment or after repair.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% higher vibration specification than competing tools on the NGT-T2, NGT-HTR, and FGT models
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Beijing Sunus Electronics Co. LTDprimaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBeijing Sunus Electronics Co. LTD serves as CBG's authorized distributor for China. They exhibit at industry events including CIPPE on behalf of CBG. Located in Beijing's Haidian District, they provide local sales, support, and service for CBG's MWD/LWD gamma tools.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Schlumberger (SLB): Largest global oilfield services company offering comprehensive MWD/LWD services including proprietary gamma tools through its Drilling & Evaluation segment. Competes with CBG at the integrated services level while also being a potential customer for OEM gamma sensors.
• Halliburton: Major oilfield services company whose Sperry Drilling division offers MWD/LWD tools including gamma sensors. Halliburton's acquisition history traces back to Gearhart Industries where CBG's founders began their careers, and Halliburton is both a historical customer and a competitor.
• Baker Hughes: Global energy technology company providing integrated drilling services and downhole tools, including LWD gamma sensors, through its Oilfield Services & Equipment segment. Competes broadly with CBG across the upstream oil & gas value chain.
• Weatherford International: Multinational oilfield services company offering MWD/LWD services and proprietary downhole tools including gamma sensors. Directly comparable as a broad-spectrum competitor in the directional drilling tool market where CBG specializes.

Direct peers

• APS Technology: Independent manufacturer of downhole sensors, electronics, and MWD/LWD tools for the oil & gas industry. Closest direct peer to CBG as a similarly-sized niche provider of specialized downhole instrumentation serving directional drilling contractors.
• Probe Technology Services: UK-based independent provider of downhole MWD/LWD tools and sensors for the oilfield services sector. Comparable to CBG as a specialist OEM supplier of downhole instrumentation competing for similar directional drilling service customers.

Others

• Scientific Drilling International: Directional drilling and wellbore positioning services company that is a significant consumer of MWD/LWD gamma tools including CBG's. While not a tool manufacturer, they represent a comparable customer profile and adjacent market participant in directional drilling.
• Gyrodata: Wellbore surveying and directional drilling services provider using MWD/LWD tools. Related industry participant that consumes gamma sensors as part of its directional drilling service offerings, with technology overlap in downhole measurement.

Emerging players

• Bench Tree Group: Provider of MWD/LWD systems and downhole tools for directional drilling applications. Comparable as a smaller independent competitor in the downhole tools space; Chris Fuller (CBG's Director of Sales & Marketing) previously worked at Bench Tree.
• MicroTesla: Previously a directional drilling instrumentation company (now defunct or restructured) where CBG's Director of Sales & Marketing Chris Fuller led sales of directional steering instruments. Comparable historical adjacency to CBG's MWD gamma tool business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cbg-corp.

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 CBG