PARKER DRILLING COMPANY

5 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100

Houston, Texas 77046
Telephone: (713) 406-2000

August 17, 2017

VIA EDGAR

United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
100 F Street N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549-6010

Attention: H. Roger Schwall

Assistant Director

Office of Natural Resources

Re:	Request for Acceleration of Effectiveness of Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-219239)

 Ladies and Gentlemen:
 

Pursuant to Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Parker Drilling Company hereby requests that the effective date of the above-captioned Registration Statement be accelerated so that it becomes effective at 3:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on August 21, 2017, or as soon thereafter as practicable. Once the Registration Statement has been declared effective, please orally confirm that event with our counsel, Baker Botts L.L.P., by calling Kelly B. Rose at (713) 229-1234.

Very truly yours,

PARKER DRILLING COMPANY    

By: /s/ Jon-Al Duplantier                

Jon-Al Duplantier

Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Interim Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel

cc:    Irene Barberena-Meissner, Securities and Exchange Commission

Timothy S. Levenberg, Securities and Exchange Commission

Kelly B. Rose, Baker Botts L.L.P.