Nabors acquires Robotic Drilling Systems

Nabors Industries announced that it has acquired Stavanger-based Robotic Drilling Systems, a provider of automated tubular and tool handling equipment for the onshore and offshore drilling markets. This transaction integrates the RDS team and product offering with the technology portfolio of Canrig, Nabors’ rig equipment subsidiary, and strengthens the development of its drilling automation solutions.

The RDS modular systems are applicable both in onshore and offshore markets, on newbuilds as well as retrofits. The applicability of RDS’s technologies to offshore drilling applications provides additional opportunities to further develop Canrig’s global scale and customer base. The development of this innovative technology has received significant funding from major global exploration and production companies, as well as industry and governmental sponsors.

Nabors operates the largest global land drilling fleet and, by combining the RDS portfolio with the automation features of its Rigtelligence operating system, Nabors is positioned to integrate and scale this technology into its global rig footprint. This expanded capability will enable Nabors to further improve operational efficiency and drilling performance.

Anthony G. Petrello, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer for Nabors, commented, “We are excited about the experienced and highly skilled employees of RDS joining Nabors and helping to deliver the benefits of next-generation automated drilling solutions to our customers and shareholders. The inclusion of RDS’ advanced robotic systems and the expertise resident in its highly capable staff accelerates our automation initiatives. We expect the introduction of robotic technology will unlock performance achievements witnessed in other industries. We also believe that the RDS components, when combined with Canrig equipment, our new iRacker handling system and the Tesco casing running tools, will create a new paradigm for offshore drilling packages that has the prospect of making all existing offshore packages legacy systems. As part of the transaction, we are continuing an ongoing relationship with RDS’ largest prior shareholder, Odfjell Drilling, to apply our robotic and other efficiency enhancing technologies to their rigs. Odfjell’s commitment, and similar expressions of interest by other offshore contractors, in working with Canrig make us even more confident that we have the people, technology and infrastructure to bring new levels of performance to our industry.”