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

IPC E21 recorded 570,457 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 4 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 39,425 in 2013 to 62,807 in 2023 (+59%), peaking at 66,713 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class E21 are HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES GROUP (26,607 applications), PETROCHINA COMPANY (14,382 applications) and SINOPEC (CHINA PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION) (10,137 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings