drilrite-chem

What drilrite-chem does

DrilRite Chem LLC is a privately held, family-owned (two families, three generations) specialty chemical manufacturer headquartered in Winnsboro, Texas, that produces 100% concentrated liquid drilling fluid additives for horizontal directional drilling (HDD), water well drilling, and underground utility construction. Its core product portfolio centers on the proprietary SureFlow polymer blend, with complementary additives including SureFlow Clay, ClayRite, DetRite, PolyRite, and ZanRite-L, all engineered to control viscosity, gel strength, cuttings suspension, fluid loss, and clay reactivity in bentonite-based mud systems. In 2025 the company extended the line with the 500 Series, a set of pre-dosed liquid additives packaged to treat exactly 500 gallons per container for crews using smaller mixing systems.

The company sells exclusively through a network of 80+ authorized dealers across the US and Canada, primarily Ditch Witch and Vermeer equipment dealerships and specialized HDD supply distributors; pricing is dealer-set and quote-based, with products available in 1-gallon jugs, multi-gallon pails, and 25-pound bags. Revenue is generated through unit sales of these consumable additives to HDD contractors, water well drillers, municipalities, and underground utility companies. The company augments its product business with a free online training course, a dosage-calculation mobile app, the 'One Foot at a Time' podcast, and 24/7 engineering support backed by certified drilling fluid engineers and a next-day jobsite service guarantee. Key certifications include NSF approval for potable water and environmentally sensitive applications. Notable project validation includes use of SureFlow on the world-record James River HDD crossing led by Huxted Trenchless and Garney Construction, and a 2025 NASTT Abbott Innovative Product & Services Award finalist recognition.

Name

drilrite-chem

Legal name

DrilRite Chem LLC

Website

https://drilrite.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DrilRite Chem is a family-owned Texas-based manufacturer of 100% concentrated liquid drilling fluid additives for horizontal directional drilling, water well, and underground utility contractors, distributed through 80+ authorized dealers across the US and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drilling Fluid Additives

NAICS

Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Oil & Gas Water Treatment & Production Chemicals (IMAEAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

High-Performance & Specialty Polymers (PPS, LCP, PI/PAI, PAEK) (IMAEANAI)

Keywords

• Drilling fluid additives
• Horizontal directional drilling
• HDD mud polymers
• Clay inhibitors drilling
• Bentonite replacement additives

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnsboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Drilling Fluid Additive Products: DrilRite manufactures and sells 100% concentrated liquid drilling fluid additives for HDD through a dealer network. Products are sold in various sizes (1-gallon jugs, multi-gallon pails, 25lb bags, and 500 Series formats). Revenue is generated through product sales to HDD contractors, water well drillers, municipalities, and underground utility companies.
2. Free Online Training (Intro to Fluid Additives): DrilRite offers a free online Intro to Fluid Additives course for HDD professionals. Completion yields a mailed certificate of achievement, field handbook, and sticker pack — used as a customer acquisition and retention tool rather than a revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DrilRite Chem manufactures and supplies 100% concentrated liquid drilling fluid additives engineered for horizontal directional drilling (HDD). Its proprietary polymer blends — including the flagship SureFlow, plus ClayRite, DetRite, PolyRite, ZanRite-L, and the 500 Series — are sold through an authorized dealer network to HDD contractors, water well drillers, and underground utility companies. The company also offers free online training, a dosage-calculation app, and 24/7 engineering support backed by a next-day service guarantee.

Product overview

DrilRite Chemical is a family-owned manufacturer and supplier of high-performance drilling fluid additives specifically engineered for horizontal directional drilling (HDD). The core product portfolio centers on their proprietary SureFlow brand and related additives including SureFlow Clay (a clay-specific blend), ClayRite (clay inhibitor), DetRite (drilling detergent), PolyRite (liquid polymer), and ZanRite-L (gel strength modifier). All liquid additives are 100% concentrated. The company also offers the 500 Series—a newer line of pre-sized liquid additives packaged to treat exactly 500 gallons per container, designed for crews using smaller mixing systems who prefer simpler dosing. Beyond products, DrilRite provides the DrilRite App for dosage calculations, an online training course on fluid additives, and hosts the 'One Foot at a Time' podcast for the HDD community. Products are backed by certified drilling fluid engineers with 24/7 customer support and next-day service guarantee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SureFlow: Proprietary flagship drilling fluid additive with variable viscosity properties, designed for maximum suspension power, gel strength, and fluid loss prevention. Suitable for sand, gravel, rock, and challenging soil conditions. Available in 1000, 750, 500 sizes and 25lb bags for reclaimers.
• SureFlow Clay
• ClayRite
• DetRite
• PolyRite
• ZanRite-L
• 500 Series

Products and services

• SureFlow A proprietary flagship drilling fluid additive blend of polymers engineered for horizontal directional drilling in challenging conditions. Provides variable viscosity (thin when in motion, thick when idle), maximum gel strength, and superior suspension power to keep cuttings from settling in the borehole. NSF certified. Sold to HDD contractors in 1000, 750, and 500 sizes and 25lb bags for reclaimers.
• SureFlow Clay A 100% concentrated proprietary drilling fluid additive blended for clay formations. Combines DetRite (detergent/surfactant) and ClayRite (clay inhibitor) into one product to address swelling and sticking clays, providing clay inhibition, torque reduction, and lubrication. NSF approved for environmentally sensitive areas.
• ClayRite A 100% concentrated clay inhibitor that encapsulates clay to limit water absorption, minimizes clay swelling, and reduces torque required to complete bores. Treats 5,000 gallons per gallon of product.
• DetRite A 100% concentrated drilling detergent designed to minimize bit balling, mud rings, and increased torque caused by sticking clay in directional drilling.
• PolyRite A high-molecular-weight anionic liquid polymer designed to aid in cuttings encapsulation and formation stabilization. Functions as a viscosifier, friction reducer, and flocculant.
• ZanRite-L A high-quality liquid gel strength modifier whose primary function is to increase the gel strength of the drilling fluid, suspending cuttings in the hole for easier removal. Also increases viscosity for proper hole cleaning. Treats 1,000 gallons per gallon.
• DrilRite 500 Series (CR500, DR500, PR500, ZR500) A line of standardized liquid drilling fluid additives packaged to treat exactly 500 gallons of water per container for crews using 500-gallon mixing tanks. Concentration-adjusted variants of clay inhibitor (CR500), low-foaming detergent (DR500), liquid polymer (PR500), and liquid xanthan (ZR500), giving crews a clearly defined and repeatable dosing option.
• Intro to Fluid Additives Online Course A free online course exploring the fundamental principles and applications of fluid additives in HDD operations, covering product introductions, mixing procedures, and field application. Available 24/7 with lifetime access; completers receive a printed certificate, field handbook, and sticker pack. Used as a customer acquisition and retention tool rather than a revenue stream.
• DrilRite App A digital tool that helps HDD crews calculate correct additive dosages for their drilling fluid programs in the field, supporting use of the DrilRite product line.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33% reduction in bentonite use (from 12 ppb to 8 ppb) when using SureFlow vs. traditional mix products
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Ditch Witch ACE Manassas, VirginiacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Ditch Witch ACE is a family-owned Ditch Witch dealership serving the Mid-Atlantic region for over 50 years. Led by President and Owner Michelle Horton. The Manassas, Virginia location joined the DrilRite dealer network in 2026, giving contractors in the area access to DrilRite's high-performance drilling fluid additives backed by technical support and on-site expertise.
• Ditch Witch of LouisianacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1977Third-generation family-owned Ditch Witch equipment dealership serving the Shreveport–Bossier region of Louisiana since 1977. Family members include Linda Duncan (CEO), Tad Duncan and Trent Duncan (Vice Presidents), and Trevor Duncan (third generation). Multiple-time Crescent Club Award winner. Acts as a DrilRite dealer, providing local inventory, on-site training, and support to HDD contractors in the region.
• Georgia Underground SuperstorecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHDD specialty distributor led by Mike Bearden (HDD specialist). Partnered with DrilRite to solve a sticky clay drilling challenge for a Virginia-based HDD crew. Georgia Underground Superstore provides drilling fluid solutions, tooling expertise, and on-site assessment to contractors. Acts as a DrilRite dealer providing both products and technical field support.
• Coastal Drilling SupplycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFounded by Kurtis Fulkman, Coastal Drilling Supply serves HDD contractors in South Florida. Introduced SureFlow to customers struggling with fluid loss, hole instability, and equipment wear in sandy conditions. Customers reported fewer issues and significant production increases after switching to SureFlow.
• Garney ConstructionflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGarney Construction is a major infrastructure contractor that teamed up with Huxted Trenchless on the world-record James River HDD crossing project in Virginia (5,000+ ft under the James River). Garney relied solely on DrilRite's SureFlow for the project's drilling fluid needs. The successful project demonstrates SureFlow's capability on large-scale, high-stakes infrastructure bores.
• Ditch Witch WestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDitch Witch equipment dealership that provided full on-site training and support during the I-40/I-17 interchange HDD project in Flagstaff, Arizona alongside Core Media Solutions. Supports DrilRite customers by providing equipment setup, drilling guidance, and hands-on assistance throughout challenging projects.
• Huxted TrenchlessflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHuxted Trenchless, led by Senior Engineer Greg Horn, is a leading HDD contractor that completed the world-record James River crossing and the world-record JRX project. SureFlow played a critical role in both projects, keeping boreholes stable, minimizing annular pressure, and optimizing hole cleaning on record-setting bores. Huxted Trenchless is featured in the One Foot at a Time podcast and in multiple DrilRite case studies.
• Horizontal Directional Drilling Association (HDDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe HDDA is the trade association exclusively focused on HDD, covering safety training, workforce development, and regulatory advocacy. DrilRite actively supports HDDA through attendance at the Winter Meeting, sponsorship, and featuring HDDA President Robert Myers (also CEO of Hardrock Infrastructure) on the One Foot at a Time podcast. DrilRite encourages its customers to join HDDA.
• Agua ResourcesminorOthersAgua Resources is a non-profit that has drilled over 500 water wells worldwide, providing clean water to communities in Mexico, Ghana, Kenya, the Philippines, India, and beyond. DrilRite team member Dennis Whitehurst personally volunteers with Agua Resources on drilling trips to Mexico. This is a community/social impact partnership rather than a commercial one.
• A1 Water Wells (Jace Mitchell)coreOthersA1 Water Wells, owned by second-generation water well contractor Jace Mitchell in Winnsboro, Texas (near DrilRite HQ), has worked closely with DrilRite to evaluate and optimize drilling fluid programs in real time on municipal water well projects. This proximity-based collaboration has resulted in documented time savings (30–40 hours per well) and bentonite reduction case studies that DrilRite uses as evidence of product performance.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Newpark Resources: Public industrial products company with a drilling fluids segment selling bentonite, polymer additives, and specialty chemistries to oilfield and industrial drilling customers. Comparable in chemistry focus and product breadth, but larger and more diversified than DrilRite.
• Trenchless Industries: Trenchless/HDD specialty distributor and product manufacturer serving underground construction contractors. Comparable in being a focused HDD channel player providing tools, fluids, and field support to drilling crews — but operates as a smaller niche distributor rather than a chemistry manufacturer.
• CETCO (Mineral Technologies): Direct competitor in HDD, water well, and trenchless drilling fluids, with overlapping bentonite and additive product lines. Like DrilRite, CETCO serves HDD contractors and water well drillers, but operates as a division of a much larger mineral-products company, giving it broader distribution and bentonite sourcing.
• KB International: Manufacturer of specialty polymers and clay-control additives specifically formulated for HDD drilling fluids. Closely comparable to DrilRite in product category (HDD-specific polymer additives), target customer (HDD contractors and dealers), and scale (specialty mid-sized niche player).

Broad incumbents

• Lubrizol: Global specialty chemical company with polymer, surfactant, and rheology-modifier product families used in industrial fluid systems. Comparable at the underlying chemistry level — DrilRite's polymer and surfactant blends draw on similar specialty chemistries — but Lubrizol does not market a focused HDD drilling-fluid product line or dealer channel.
• Baroid Industrial Drilling Products (Halliburton): Halliburton's industrial drilling products business — sells drilling fluid systems, additives, and technical service to industrial drilling markets including HDD, water well, mining, and construction. Directly competes with DrilRite but as part of a global oilfield-services giant with substantially larger R&D, sales, and technical-service footprint.
• M-I SWACO (SLB): Schlumberger's drilling fluids and production chemistry business — one of the largest global suppliers of drilling fluid additives, viscosifiers, clay stabilizers, and fluid-loss control agents. Overlaps with DrilRite's chemistry portfolio at the formulation level and in oil & gas drilling customers, but operates at vastly greater scale.

Emerging players

• AMC (Australian Mud Company) / Imdex: AMC is a specialty drilling chemistry company offering polymer and additive products for HDD, trenchless, water well, and oilfield drilling, now part of Imdex. Comparable to DrilRite in chemistry focus but with roots in Australian/Asia-Pacific markets and a more global commercial reach than DrilRite's North America-focused dealer network.
• Wyo-Ben: Specialty bentonite producer serving HDD, oilfield, water well, and environmental drilling markets. Competes with DrilRite on raw-material bentonite inputs (DrilRite's SureFlow explicitly reduces bentonite use) and is a partial competitor in drilling fluid portfolios, but does not match DrilRite's specialty polymer chemistry.
• BDC International: Mid-sized drilling fluid additive supplier offering bentonite, polymers, and specialty chemistries for HDD and water well applications. Closely aligned with DrilRite in target customer and product category, with overlapping dealer channels in parts of the US.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=DrilRite
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drilrite-chemical-llc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 drilrite-chem