RDC

Rowan Companies Plc

A drilling contractor that built and ran the jack-up rigs used to drill for oil and gas in shallow offshore waters around the world. Brothers Charlie and Arch Rowan bought their first rig in 1923 and started drilling in the oil fields of Corsicana, Texas, incorporating as Rowan Drilling a year later. In 1967 the company bought Era Helicopters, whose aircraft ferried crews and supplies to offshore platforms, including work supporting the Alaska pipeline.