The market for automation and autonomy in oil and gas (O&G) drilling and production (or simply, drilling automation) is one of the highest-growth subsegments of the overall O&G automation industry. Large global automation firms compete alongside dedicated O&G solution providers and disruptive technology developers.
The main technologies deployed are artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics. These technologies cover a wide variety of applications, including drilling systems, autonomous rigs, and exploration automation systems. They can significantly enhance efficiency and safety as well as reduce downtime and even carbon emissions through process optimization and efficiency gains.
This study analyzes the drilling automation sector on a global scale, covering all main trends and innovations occurring worldwide. The regions covered are North America (NA), Latin America (LATAM), Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). The analysis covers both onshore and offshore O&G exploration and production (E&P) operations, with a close look at a combination of hardware and software automation technologies designed for drilling processes.
This study provides a detailed analysis of the industry’s growth trajectory, competitive landscape, and most dynamic growth opportunities from 2024 to 2030.
Revenue Forecast
The revenue estimate for the base year 2023 is $1.55 billion, with a CAGR of 6.5% for the study period from 2023 to 2030.

The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the Drilling Automation Industry
Transformative Megatrends
Why
- Sustainability is becoming increasingly crucial to the oil and gas (O&G) industry as businesses recognize the importance of promoting a more sustainable future by decarbonizing their operations.
- Industry 4.0 will provide the integration of various technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics, which will enable the digital transformation and decarbonization of the O&G industry.
Frost Perspective
- Key O&G players are investing in Industry 4.0 technologies with the goal of automating their operations while optimizing energy efficiency and reducing their carbon emissions.
- Drilling automation will rise as a popular trend in the O&G sector between 2024 and 2030. Driven by major need for safety and efficiency in drilling operations, industry players will allocate significant investments toward drilling automation technologies.
Internal Challenges
Why
- The O&G industry has long been conservative, with major participants showing limited interest in implementing new technologies or changing their business practices to conform to environmental requirements.
- Decision-makers in this sector frequently favor using conventional, dependable technology over investing in newer automation technologies.
Frost Perspective
- Companies have been under growing pressure to comply with environmental requirements and improve operational efficiencies, and adoption of new automation technologies will be necessary to navigate the transition toward greener and more efficient production.
- Drilling automation is a priority in the O&G industry due to a high rate of on-site accidents, which has heightened the need to lower human exposure to risks and increase safety.
Disruptive Technologies
Why
- New disruptive technologies, such as AI, IoT, and robotics, are revolutionizing O&G upstream operations.
- These technologies will complement human labor and enable O&G vendors to increase safety, efficiency, and productivity in extraction and production operations.
Frost Perspective
- Major O&G players prefer operational technologies (OTs) over Industry 4.0 technologies. However, to maximize automation in their operations, they must invest in and adopt more disruptive technologies, such as AI, IoT, and robotics.
- Automation technologies, predominantly AI and IoT, will likely replicate traditional OT by the 2030.
Scope
| Geographic Coverage | Global |
|---|---|
| Study Period | 2023–2030 |
| Base Year | 2023 |
| Forecast Period | 2024–2030 |
| Monetary Unit | US Dollars |
Segmentation by Technology
Technology
Software
This segment includes autonomous drilling software platforms that manage drilling operations:
- AI-based technologies
- IoT-based technologies
- Real-time monitoring technologies
- Data analytics technologies
- Control systems
- Others
Hardware
This segment includes hardware components employed to achieve autonomous drilling:
- Autonomous drilling rigs
- Sensors
- Robotics
- Others
Segmentation by Application
Application
Onshore
This segment includes drilling solutions suitable for land-based operations:
- Land-based facilities
- Shale drilling
- Geothermal drilling
Offshore
This segment includes drilling solutions suitable for in-water and remote operations:
- Offshore facilities
- Subsea facilities
Competitive Environment
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Competitors | 180 with revenue greater than $1.5 million |
| Competitive Factors | Cost, performance, technology, reliability, integrability |
| Key End-user Industry Verticals | Oil and gas, mining, geology exploration |
| Leading Competitors | SLB, Nabors, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Weatherford |
| Revenue Share of Top 5 Competitors (2023) | 54.6% |
| Other Notable Competitors | Emerson, Rockwell Automation, Yokogawa, National Oilwell Varco (NOV) |
| Distribution Structure | Drilling software distributors, drilling hardware distributors |
| Notable Acquisitions and Mergers | SLB acquired Gyrodata in 2023 Seadrill and Aquadrill agreed to merge in 2023 |
Key Competitors
- SLB
- WEATHERFORD
- HALLIBURTON
- SCIENTIFIC DRILLING
- ROCKWELL AUTOMATION
- BAKER HUGHES
- NABORS
- NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO (NOV)
- ABB
- YOKOGAWA
- PASON SYSTEMS
- RIGNET
- PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY
- HELMERICH & PAYNE
- METRIMAN
- INVENTURE DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES
- CANrig TECHNOLOGIES
- REMSENES TECHNOLOGIES
- WELLWARE
- BENTEC
- OLIASOFT
- AIZETECH
- BLUEFISH
- CNR
- DRILLMEC
- LOGICA
- OLISTREAM SERVICES
- DRILLSCAN
- 5D ANALYTICS
- RIGSENSE
- AVT RELIABILITY
- ROBOTIC DRILLING SYSTEMS
- KAWSAKI ROBOTICS
- PETROLINK SERVICES
- AUTOMATED RIG TECHNOLOGIES
- SAPURA ENERGY BERHAD
- XERAFY
- SENSIA
- NAUTITECH
- WELL RESOURCES ASIA PACIFIC
- INTELLISTRAM TECHNOLOGIES
- PTTEP
- SMART DRILLING SOLUTIONS
- HEXAGON MINING
- GEOLOG
- BITCO
- SIMBA MINING SOLUTIONS
- IMDEX LIMITED
- GEODCS
- EPIROC
- ADEX INTERNATIONAL
- EMIRATES DRILLING COMPANY
- SHELF DRILLING
- DAN DRILLING

Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow?
The Strategic Imperative 8™
The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the Drilling Automation Industry
Scope of Analysis
Segmentation by Technology
Segmentation by Application
Competitive Environment
Key Competitors
Introduction to Drilling Automation
Introduction to Drilling Automation (continued)
The Role of Automation in Drilling Operations
Technologies and Use Cases for Drilling Automation
High Growth Applications for Drilling Automation
Benefits and Challenges of Drilling Automation
Stages of Drilling Automation
Overall O&G Automation Competitive Landscape
Drilling Automation and Autonomous Drilling Ecosystem
Focus on Measurement While Drilling (MWD)
MWD Adoption Drivers
MWD Key Players
MWD Key Players (continued)
Growth Metrics
Growth Drivers
Growth Restraints
Forecast Considerations
Revenue Forecast
Revenue Forecast Analysis
Revenue Forecast by Region
Revenue Forecast Analysis
Revenue Forecast by Application
Revenue Forecast by Application Analysis
Revenue Forecast by Technology
Revenue Forecast by Technology Analysis
Revenue Share
Highlights of Key Vendors in Drilling Automation
Highlights of Key Vendors in Drilling Automation (continued)
Highlights of Key Vendors in Drilling Automation (continued)
Growth Opportunity 1: Digital Twins for Autonomous Drilling
Growth Opportunity 1: Digital Twins for Autonomous Drilling (continued)
Growth Opportunity 2: Automated Robots
Growth Opportunity 2: Automated Robots (continued)
Growth Opportunity 3: Automated Well Planning and Design
Growth Opportunity 3: Automated Well Planning and Design (continued)
Best Practices Recognition
Frost Radar
Benefits and Impacts of Growth Opportunities
Next Steps
Take the Next Step
List of Exhibits
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| Deliverable Type | Market Research |
|---|---|
| Author | Agustina DeSarriera |
| Industries | Energy |
| No Index | No |
| Is Prebook | No |
| Keyword 1 | Drilling automation growth |
| Keyword 2 | Oil and gas industry trends |
| Keyword 3 | Automation technologies |
| Podcast | No |
| WIP Number | KA20-01-00-00-00 |
Oil and Gas Drilling Automation, Global, 2024-2030
Oil and Gas Sector is Driving Transformational Growth through Autonomous Drilling
05-Jul-2024
Global
Market Research
