Directional Drilling HPHT Durability Patent Snapshot
This is a concentrated, declining-phase niche in which Schlumberger-family entities dominate filing activity and the United States leads as the primary grant jurisdiction. Annual volume peaked in 2020 and has since eased, making it a mature space with selective entry points rather than a high-growth frontier.
Schlumberger entities lead a highly concentrated field
The top-ranked applicant, Schlumberger Holding Ltd, holds 8 patent records, closely followed by Schlumberger Tech Corp at 8 and Spartek Systems UK and Charles Machine Works Inc each at 6, establishing a clear first tier of oilfield-services specialists.
The top five filers account for 46% of the combined total across the ranked applicants visible in this query, signaling a field where a small number of established players control the visible share of disclosed IP and new entrants face a concentrated incumbent evidence snapshot.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schlumberger Holding Ltd | 8 | |
| 2 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | 8 | |
| 3 | Spartek Systems UK | 6 | |
| 4 | Charles Machine Works Inc | 6 | |
| 5 | DOCK MATTHEW L | 5 | |
| 6 | Schlumberger Canada Ltd | 5 | |
| 7 | STEPHENSON BRENT G | 5 | |
| 8 | BROWNLINE | 3 | |
| 9 | ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company | 3 | |
| 10 | Kondex Corporation | 3 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Baker Hughes Co | 3 | |
| 12 | National Oilwell Varco LP | 2 | |
| 13 | Kerr-McGee Coal (Delaware) | 2 | |
| 14 | Smart Stabilizer Systems | 2 | |
| 15 | STIBBE HOLGER C | 1 | |
| 16 | LASATER JEFFREY B | 1 | |
| 17 | Sichuan Jutingzao Technology Co Ltd | 1 | |
| 18 | Hunting Energy Services Inc | 1 | |
| 19 | Halliburton Energy Services Inc | 1 | |
| 20 | LILLY DAVID H | 1 |
Schlumberger’s multi-entity presence across Schlumberger Holding Ltd, Schlumberger Tech Corp, and Schlumberger Canada Ltd implies a coordinated, global IP strategy spanning downhole sensing, materials joining, and directional control — leaving narrower but meaningful positions for specialists such as Spartek Systems UK and Charles Machine Works Inc.
Records from the most recent 18–24 months are subject to publication lag and are likely under-represented; the apparent absence of 2026 filings should not be read as a cessation of activity. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Activity peaked in 2020; drilling mechanics dominate the technology mix
The annual filing trend and technology composition together reveal a field that crested around 2020 and is now consolidating around its core drilling-mechanics competency, with a handful of adjacent technical branches drawing only sparse attention.
Annual filing trend
Filings climbed to a single-year peak in 2020 before declining; the most recent two years should be treated as provisional given publication lag. The -40% recent-growth figure confirms that annual volume has eased from its 2020 high on a multi-year basis.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
E21B (Earth & rock drilling — wells) overwhelmingly is visible in, reflecting the field’s tight focus on downhole tool mechanics and sensing. G01V (Geophysics & gravity surveying) is the only other branch with more than marginal representation, while coating, heat-treatment, casting, and electronics branches each register very low counts.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Bearing assembly with flow restrictor for a dual r…
A rock housing for horizontal directional drilling machine includes a cylindrical housing body with walls defining a longitudinal cavity. A bearing assembly is provided as a part of the housing and is located above a bit box region of the housing. The bearing assembly is lubricated by drilling mud which flows through the drill string of the drilling… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Well-bore sensor apparatus and method | 202 |
| 2 | Well-bore sensor apparatus and method | 125 |
| 3 | Downhole generator for horizontal directional dril… | 120 |
| 4 | Process for degasification of subterranean mineral… | 83 |
| 5 | Ultra-low friction coatings for drill stem assembl… | 78 |
| 6 | Downhole sensor system | 35 |
| 7 | Adjustable Bend Assembly for a Downhole Motor | 33 |
| 8 | Downhole Device | 21 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
Assignee snapshot from the current evidence set
The applicants below are visible in this query result. Because the evidence set is relatively small, read this section as a directional snapshot rather than a full competitive ranking.
Schlumberger Holding Ltd
Schlumberger Holding Ltd holds 8 patent records with a primary focus on E21B47 (downhole measurement while drilling) and E21B49 (formation evaluation), complemented by E21B23 (steering and directional control). The broader Schlumberger family — including Schlumberger Tech Corp, which is a new entrant in the most recent filing window with 2 recent records on a rising trend, and Schlumberger Canada Ltd with its B22D and B23K materials-processing angle — collectively reinforces the group’s cross-disciplinary HPHT durability coverage.
patent records: 8Charles Machine Works Inc
Charles Machine Works Inc holds 6 patent records concentrated in E21B41 (equipment conditioning) and E21B7 (directional drilling mechanics), reflecting a pragmatic focus on operational durability of horizontal directional drilling equipment. Its inventor co-filing model with Stephenson Brent G and Dock Matthew L (5 joint records each) suggests a structured approach to capturing field-derived innovations.
patent records: 6Frequently asked questions
The corpus covers 10 patent families focused on directional drilling HPHT durability.
Schlumberger Holding Ltd ranks first with 8 patent records. When combined with Schlumberger Tech Corp (8 records) and Schlumberger Canada Ltd (5 records), the broader Schlumberger group represents a visible multi-entity position in this niche.
The field is in a Decline stage. Annual filings peaked in 2020 and have eased since, pointing to post-peak consolidation rather than active expansion.
The United States leads with 23 patent records, followed by WIPO PCT (11), Canada (10), Europe/EPO (10), and the United Kingdom (9). Norway, Australia, and the UAE also feature, tracking major HPHT drilling geographies.
The most-cited works include two records on well-bore sensor apparatus and method (202 and 125 citations respectively), a downhole generator for horizontal directional drilling (120 citations), a process for degasification of subterranean minerals (83 citations), and an ultra-low friction coatings invention for drill-stem assemblies (78 citations).
C23C (coating and surface deposition) and F25B (refrigeration and heat pumps for thermal management) each hold only 3 patent records at 3% share, making them among the sparsest adjacent branches. G01V (geophysics and gravity surveying) at 7 records and 7% share is the next tier, with high citation evidence of commercial relevance but limited incumbent depth.
Built on Patsnap Open Platform
This report’s underlying patent dataset — filings, assignees, technology clusters — is open for developers via MCP and REST API. Free to start, 10,000 credits, no credit card required.
Disclaimer. This page is generated from Patsnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
Nothing on this page constitutes an exhaustive prior-art, novelty, freedom-to-operate, or validity search, nor does it constitute legal, financial, investment, or professional advice, and it should not be relied upon as such. Any patent, commercial, or strategic decision should be verified independently and reviewed with qualified patent, legal, and domain professionals. Patsnap makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose of the information presented.