According to Drilling Contractor, Eric Kolstad, Executive VP of Drilling at Caturus Energy, told attendees at the 2026 IADC/SPE International Drilling Conference in Galveston that companies must build the right culture before new drilling technologies can take hold. Kolstad said alignment on expectations, starting from senior leadership and carried through the entire organization, is the critical ingredient for successful adoption.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Drilling service companies and automation vendors need to be prepared to speak to culture and change management, not just technical specs, when pitching new tools to operators.
- If an operator’s leadership isn’t aligned on a new technology, subcontractors may face stalled rollouts, scope changes, or project cancellations regardless of how good the product is.
- Directional drillers, rig automation crews, and data service providers stand to benefit most when operators come in with clear standards and expectations already set from the top down.
