Product Description

Reed Rock Bit Company (founded 1928, historically headquartered Houston TX; acquired by Baker International 1975; today part of Baker Hughes) was through the 20th century one of the major U.S. manufacturers of oilfield rotary drill bits, downhole tools, and drilling equipment components — competing with Hughes Tool and Smith International for the U.S. and global oilfield drill-bit market.

Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that Reed Rock Bit drilling equipment was specified through the asbestos era with asbestos gaskets and packing on drill-bit and downhole-tool assemblies and asbestos brake-block material on rotary drilling machinery components.

Reed Rock Bit Company / Baker Hughes has been named as a Manufacturer Defendant in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation.

Workers Exposed

  • Oilfield drilling crews
  • Drilling rig hands servicing Reed drill bits and downhole tools
  • Oilfield mechanics at drilling-rig service facilities