About
Unit Drilling Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unit Corporation.
Unit Drilling Company was founded in 1963 with three drilling rigs. Today, the company operates 21 onshore drilling rigs in various regions throughout the United States. Unit is focused on its core operating basins in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming. With over 58 years of experience, Unit Drilling offers super-spec, pad-optimal rigs with excellent crews. Unit prides itself in its rig crews and an unmatched level of professionalism. Unit strives to build relationships and create value for its customers, helping them exceed expectations by operating safely and efficiently.
In 2014, Unit debuted its proprietary designed BOSS drilling rig. This purpose-built, 1,500 horsepower, AC, super-spec rig combines the best technological innovations into a single rig to meet the market’s ever-changing demands. Currently, Unit operates 14 BOSS drilling rigs in our core operating basins.

Strategy
- Build upon our 58-year history and maximize our operational and HSE performance while creating value for all stakeholders.
- Focus our resources on core operating basins while maintaining full utilization of the company’s 14 pad-optimal, high specification, A/C BOSS rigs.
- Create sustainable careers by further developing and retaining our loyal employee base.
- Align ourselves with customers who seek value through efficiency, HSE performance and innovated technology that will enable us to exceed expectations and fundamentally change our industry for the better.
- Maximize the value of our BOSS rig technology through bolt-on, industry changing hardware and software such as advanced battery technology, natural gas and grid power utilization.
Operations
Rig Fleet Presence in Key Regions
Rig Fleet
Unit’s fleet is comprised of 14 super-spec, AC, BOSS rigs and 7 high-end 1,500 SCR rigs. The super-spec BOSS rigs are equipped with high-torque top drives and 2 2,200 horsepower 7,500 psi quintuplex mud pumps and automated, walking catwalks. The BOSS rigs have racking capabilities ranging from 22,500 to 26,500 feet for today’s horizontal drilling requirements. All Unit rigs have omni-directional walking or skidding systems designed for high-density drilling locations.
Super-Spec BOSS Rig Fleet
Rig
Location
availability
Spec Sheet
401
Permian
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
402
Permian
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
403
Rockies
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
404
Permian
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
405
Permian
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
406
Rockies
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
407
Permian
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
408
Permian
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
409
Mid Continent
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
410
Permian
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
411
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
412
Permian
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
413
Permian
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
414
Rockies
Contracted
BOSS Spec Sheet
SCR Rig Fleet
Rig
Location
availability
Spec Sheet
109
Mid Continent
Available
117
Mid Continent
Available
152
Mid Continent
Available
126
Mid Continent
Contracted
Rig #126 Spec Sheet
301
Mid Continent
Available
315
Mid Continent
Contracted
Rig #315 Spec Sheet
327
Mid Continent
Contracted
Rig #327 Spec Sheet
Management
Chris Menefee – President
Mr. Menefee was appointed President of Unit Drilling Company in November 2020. He most recently served as Senior Vice President, Business Development at Independence Contract Drilling from 2012 to April 2020. Before that, he spent over 15 years at Rowan Companies, Inc. where he held many operational and management roles, including the Director of Marketing from 2006 to 2012. Mr. Menefee graduated from The University of Mississippi in Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He also holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.
Mr. Sparkman joined Unit Drilling Company in 2005 as a Drilling Engineer. In 2011, he undertook the role of Engineering Manager. In 2013, he was promoted to Vice President, Engineering & Operational Support. His current responsibilities include supervising the design and fabrication of new build and refurbished drilling rigs, providing technical support to field operations and developing the engineering department. Mr. Sparkman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma.
Chris Menefee – President

Mr. Menefee was appointed President of Unit Drilling Company in November 2020. He most recently served as Senior Vice President, Business Development at Independence Contract Drilling from 2012 to April 2020. Before that, he spent over 15 years at Rowan Companies, Inc. where he held many operational and management roles, including the Director of Marketing from 2006 to 2012. Mr. Menefee graduated from The University of Mississippi in Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He also holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.

Mr. Sparkman joined Unit Drilling Company in 2005 as a Drilling Engineer. In 2011, he undertook the role of Engineering Manager. In 2013, he was promoted to Vice President, Engineering & Operational Support. His current responsibilities include supervising the design and fabrication of new build and refurbished drilling rigs, providing technical support to field operations and developing the engineering department. Mr. Sparkman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma.
Environmental Health and Safety
Our EHS policy is to conduct business in a manner that safeguards people, the environment, and company assets. Unit employees and the public are the number one priority of this policy. Unit employees and contractors must comply with this policy. Unit has implemented an environmental, health, and safety (EHS) management system to accomplish the objectives of this policy.
Identify and attempt to eliminate risks to employees, contractors and the environment.
Verify that all employees and contractors understand they are responsible for their safe performance while completing all tasks on the job.
Seek to manage all risks that cannot be eliminated.
Work with government agencies and first responders to ensure an appropriate and effective response will be executed in the event of an emergency.
Design and maintain facilities to ensure proper safeguards are in place to protect people, the environment, and the asset.
Conduct safety, environmental and operational evaluations to measure compliance with the EHS management system programs and standards.
Educate all employees and contractors of the hazards and risks associated with operations.
Continuously improve the EHS management system to ensure Unit meets compliance objectives with all environmental, health, and safety regulations.
Provide operations and maintenance training to employees to enable them to perform their jobs safely and effectively.
Community Support
Hunting for Heroes
- Employees have participated in this charity, which arranges hunting trips in Wyoming for disabled veterans
Oklahoma State Capitol
- Working with State Representatives, Lt. Governor’s Chief of Staff, and other oil and gas companies to provide training and rig/facility tours to government staff and politicians to increase their knowledge of the industry.
Oklahoma Buddy Walk Association
- Participation 18 years and counting
- Down syndrome fundraiser event in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma Energy Resources Board Partnership
- 2.5 years and running
- Provided rig tours for over 120 educators and OERB staff.
- Unit employee representation within the OERB by being on their Education Committee.
- Attendance at workshops that offer our services, as subject matters experts, to teachers during training events.
- Participate in their Petro Pro program.
- Speak at career day events in Oklahoma public schools.
Science Museum of Oklahoma
- Took museum personnel who were designing an energy production exhibit to an active rig location.
- Provided feedback on their energy exhibit write-ups.
- Connected the museum with other industry personnel and companies. Those companies then also provided information and, in some cases, gave donations to the exhibit and the museum.
Videos
Contact
Sales & Marketing
7101 SW 29th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73179
PH: 405-745-4948
FAX: 405-745-2136
salesandmarketing@unitcorp.com