Drilling Controls, Inc. (DCI)

traces its lineage to Paul C. Koomey and has, for 30 years, been designing, producing and selling the finest blowout preventer control systems in the world. Within the drilling industry, the Koomey-type blowout preventer control systems produced by DCI and recognizable by their bright red paint are synonymous with excellence in technology and durability. The Type 80™ is the registered trademark of DCI and is well-known and respected by the major players in the drilling sector. These control systems are safety critical items that are an integral part of every onshore and offshore drilling rig. DCI has provided over 6,000 control systems and its customers appreciate its ability to provide specially-engineered products of quality and reliability. DCI provides excellent aftermarket support through the sale of spare parts and the upgrade, repair, refurbishment and maintenance of all BOP and diverter control systems.

A Proud History

1979 - 1986 The business was originally established in 1979 as Koomey Inc. and grew rapidly to a turnover in 1981 of $80 million with a staff of 750 employees. The Type 80™ became the preferred equipment for most rig contractors and oil companies.

1986 - 1996 Maritime Hydraulics acquired the business as the industry restructured in the aftermath of the "oil shock" of 1986. The business moved to its current Jackrabbit Road, Houston location in 1988. During the mid-1990's, the business entered the deepwater multiplex control system (MUX) market.

1996 - 2004 ABB Handels-und Verwaltungs AG ("ABB") acquired Maritime Hydraulics in 1996 as part of a strategy to build a broad oilfield equipment manufacturing division; however the drilling controls division (DCI) was only a very small part of ABB's overall oil, gas & petrochemical business. Under ABB the drilling controls business focused more on the large deepwater drilling controls systems (MUX), rather than sales of core Type 80™ products. In 2004, the business was acquired by a private equity syndicate as part of a leveraged buyout of the ABB Oil and Gas division, forming Vetco International Ltd.

2004 - 2006 Vetco continued to focus on large deepwater projects. During 2005, DCI began repositioning itself by concentrating its growth on the Type 80™ control systems, expanding production and re-establishing a direct sale to its customers. The first large contract in the re-positioned company was a contract to supply 13 onshore BOP control systems to Helmerich & Payne (H&P). H&P remains DCI's largest customer.

2006 - Present In 2006, DCI was sold from Vetco Gray to the Vetco Aibel Group in preparation for the sale of the remaining Vetco Gray companies to General Electric Company (GE). In 2007, Aibel was sold by Vetco Aibel to Herkules Private Equity Fund, formerly Ferd Capital.