E21 EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
Description
E21 encompasses machinery, equipment, and methods for drilling into the earth and rock, as well as extraction of minerals and other subsurface materials. This class covers drill rigs, drilling tools, borehole equipment, mining machinery, and associated techniques for both onshore and offshore applications. Typical subjects include rotary and percussion drilling systems, wellbore completion, mineral extraction processes, and supporting underground construction activities. Adjacent classes handle specific applications such as oil and gas extraction (subclass E21B), coal mining operations (E21C), and foundational aspects of fixed construction engineering.
Filing statistics
CPC E21 recorded 331,189 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 4 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 23,070 in 2013 to 31,270 in 2023 (+36%), peaking at 36,745 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class E21 are HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES GROUP (27,652 applications), SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY (7,755 applications) and PETROCHINA COMPANY (7,025 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
4 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- E21B EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21C MINING OR QUARRYING
- E21D SHAFTS; TUNNELS; GALLERIES; LARGE UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS (soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising materials C09K17/00; drilling or cutting machines for mining or quarrying E21C; safety devices, transport, rescue, ventilation or drainage E21F)
- E21F SAFETY DEVICES, TRANSPORT, FILLING-UP, RESCUE, VENTILATION, OR DRAINING IN OR OF MINES OR TUNNELS
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES GROUP US 27,652
- SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY SA 7,755
- PETROCHINA COMPANY 7,025
- BAKER HUGHES US 6,589
- SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY US 6,151
- SINOPEC (CHINA PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION) 4,443
- SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY NL 4,255
- CNPC (CHINA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION) 3,991
- SERVICES PETROLIERS SCHLUMBERGER FR 3,300
- SCHLUMBERGER CANADA CA 3,086