Parker Drilling Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2006 Results; Pretax Income Increases 67% Over 2005; Company Continues Execution of Its Strategic Growth Plan

HOUSTON, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Parker Drilling Company (NYSE: PKD), a global drilling contractor specializing in drilling services in the Gulf of Mexico and international land and offshore markets, today reported strong financial and operating results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2006. Financial highlights in 2006 include:

     *  Full-year 2006 revenues of $586.4 million and EBITDA of $205.0 million
        were the highest since 1982.
     *  Pretax income increased 67 percent to $117.4 million for 2006 driven
        by strong operating results and lower interest costs.
     *  Quail Tools reported record rental tool revenues of $122.0 million and
        record EBITDA of $75.5 million in 2006 and announced expansion into
        new markets.
     *  Strong financial results enabled the Company to utilize $99.5 million
        of net operating loss carryforwards in 2006.  Based on current market
        conditions, Parker believes it will report continued strong results in
        2007.
     *  Debt decreased to $329.4 million in 2006, a decrease of $242.2 million
        or 42 percent since 2003 with a corresponding decrease in interest
        expense of $22.2 million compared to 2003.
     *  Ended 2006 with a debt to capitalization ratio of 42 percent, down
        significantly from 59 percent at the end of 2005 and 76 percent at the
        end of 2004.  This was achieved through debt reduction, the successful
        issuance of $99.9 million of equity in January 2006 and equity from
        earnings of $179.9 million over the last two years.

Robert L. Parker Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer of Parker Drilling, said: "2006 was a year of significant accomplishment for Parker Drilling. Our strengthening financial performance is the result of the steadfast execution of our strategic growth plan, as we converted investments in our fleet and expansion platform into growth opportunities, expanded our international footprint to include Algeria and Saudi Arabia, capitalized on record margins in our U.S. barge rig and rental tool operations and sharpened our focus on providing our customers with high-performance integrated drilling solutions."

For the three months ended December 31, 2006, Parker posted earnings of $37.2 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, on revenues of $146.3 million, compared to revenues of $149.6 million and net income of $56.7 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2005. Net income in the fourth quarter of 2006 included net non-routine income of $0.12 per diluted share or $12.8 million, of which $12.6 million was non-cash deferred taxes. The fourth quarter of 2005 included $0.45 per diluted share or $44.6 million of non-routine items, $44.9 million of which was non-cash deferred tax benefit. The tax benefit was incurred as a result of the Company's profitability in 2005 with a sustained profit outlook, thereby making the realization of past net operating loss tax deductions highly likely. (See note "a" below).

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were $51.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2006, 18 percent higher than the $43.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. Significantly higher dayrates resulted in a 61 percent EBITDA improvement for Parker's U.S. Gulf of Mexico barge rigs over the prior year's quarter. Quail Tools also showed an improvement, with a 29 percent increase from the prior year's quarter. For the year 2006, EBITDA was $205.0 million, a 27 percent increase over the $161.6 million for 2005. (The details of the EBITDA calculation, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the current and prior eight quarters are defined and reconciled later in this press release to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.)

For the year ended December 31, 2006, Parker Drilling reported revenues of $586.4 million, a 10 percent increase from $531.7 million in 2005. Net income was $81.0 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, compared to $98.9 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, in 2005. Net income for 2006 includes non-routine items of $0.14 per diluted share, and net income for 2005 includes non-routine items of $0.56 per diluted share. The details of the non-routine items for the year and the quarter are available on Parker's website and can be viewed or downloaded by going to "Investor Relations" and then to "Reconciliation of Non-Routine Items."

Capital expenditures for the year 2006 totaled $195.0 million. Total debt was $329.4 million at December 31, 2006, a reduction of $50.6 million from the previous year. The Company's cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $155.1 million at year end compared to $78.2 million at year end 2005.

Average utilization for the Gulf of Mexico barge rigs for the fourth quarter of 2006 was 68 percent, compared to 73 percent reported for the fourth quarter of 2005. The decline in utilization is attributable to customers delaying some projects until 2007, causing two deep barge rigs to experience downtime during the quarter; however, both rigs have since re-entered the active fleet. In addition, two rigs were alternatively down for upgrades and scheduled preventive maintenance. Deep barge rig 50 completed its refurbishment program and re-entered the fleet in December under a six-month contract, and intermediate barge rig 8 is scheduled to re-enter the fleet in April under a ten-month contract.

Current utilization is 76 percent for the Gulf of Mexico barge rigs. Despite the slight decline in average utilization during the fourth quarter, the Company's deep drilling barge dayrates in the Gulf of Mexico continued to experience record levels, averaging $49,500 per day during the fourth quarter of 2006, up approximately 44 percent, or $15,000 per day, from the fourth quarter of 2005 and up approximately eight percent, or $3,700 per day, above the third quarter of 2006. (Average dayrates for each classification of barge by quarter are available on Parker's website and can be viewed or downloaded by going to "Investor Relations" and then to "Dayrates -- GOM.")

The average utilization of international land rigs for the fourth quarter of 2006 decreased to 46 percent from the 84 percent reported for the fourth quarter of 2005 as a result of rigs mobilizing to new areas of operation. International utilization should increase during the first quarter of 2007 as newly constructed land rigs are deployed in Algeria, and as rigs working under previously announced contracts contribute for the full quarter.

Quail Tools, Parker Drilling's drilling and production rental tools subsidiary, continued its outstanding performance as it posted revenues of $31.6 million in the fourth quarter. 2007 is anticipated to improve as additional equipment is scheduled to be delivered during the first half of 2007. Quail's new operating facility in Northeast Texas will open in March, and will provide increased coverage of the Barnett Shale area and Fayetteville Shale area in Arkansas, in addition to the East Texas and Oklahoma markets.

"Looking ahead, we expect increasing contributions from our international segments in 2007 due to higher demand, forecasted increased customer spending and a greater focus on our international markets," said Parker. "Domestically, we expect continued steady demand for our preferred barge rigs in our U.S. Gulf of Mexico transition zone market; although we anticipate the growth in dayrates will begin to level out during the first half of 2007 as they normalize from the record pace of increases seen over the last two years. Finally, we also expect continued growth and outstanding performance from our rental tools segment, as the benefits from expansion plans and capital investment are realized in the first half of 2007."

Parker continued: "In 2006, we completed the first full year of our strategic growth plan, resulting in dramatic improvements in key operational metrics and a stronger balance sheet. As we continue execution of our plan we expect to strengthen our financial position and increase our market share in the critical domestic and international markets that value our competitive differentiation based on preferred rigs, rental tools and project management services. We also plan to build on our competitive advantages in deep and frontier drilling through technological innovation while maintaining our industry leadership in safety and performance. These factors will enable us to capture demand, manage our Company's growth and provide our customers with cost-effective integrated drilling solutions. The combination of these factors makes us optimistic about our outlook for 2007."

    Operating Segment Highlights

     *  Barge rig 53 was awarded an additional two-year contract by Pemex for
        drilling services in Mexico.  The rig has drilled continuously in the
        region since 2004, and new contract terms contain dayrates in
        accordance with current market pricing that will improve the rig's
        operating margins.
     *  Rig 188 in New Zealand was awarded an extension of its current long-
        term contract.  The rig is expected to drill continuously throughout
        2007 and into 2008.
     *  Construction on two of our four new 2,000 horsepower, variable-
        frequency drive land rigs has been completed.  The rigs are currently
        being mobilized to Algeria for a three-year contract with Sonatrach
        and should begin operations during the second quarter.
     *  Ultra-deep barge rig 77, the newest barge rig in our Gulf of Mexico
        fleet, completed construction and mobilized in December, and is
        currently operating under two consecutive three-month contracts.
     *  The scope of our previously announced joint venture in Saudi Arabia,
        which will perform a three-year contract for Saudi Aramco with a one
        year option, has expanded from four rigs to six.  Four of the rigs are
        in-country and are currently rigging up and commissioning equipment,
        with expected spud dates ranging throughout the late first quarter and
        second quarter of 2007.

Parker has scheduled a conference call at 9 a.m. CST (10 a.m. EST) Feb. 22, 2007 to discuss fourth quarter 2006 results. Those interested in participating in the call may dial in at (303) 262-2138. The conference call replay can be accessed from Feb. 22 through Mar. 1 by dialing (303) 590-3000 and using the access code 11083271#. Alternatively, the call can be accessed live through the Company's website at http://www.parkerdrilling.com and will be archived on the site for 12 months.

      (a) The 2005 results reflect a $44.9 million non-cash benefit from the
      elimination of the valuation allowance related to federal Net Operating
      Loss Carryforwards (NOL) and other deferred tax assets.  The valuation
      allowance was originally recorded in accordance with Generally Accepted
      Accounting Principles (GAAP) as an offset to the Company's deferred tax
      assets, which consisted primarily of net operating loss carryforwards.
      GAAP required the Company to recognize a valuation allowance unless it
      was "more likely than not" that the Company could realize the benefit of
      the NOL and deferred tax assets in future periods.   Because expected
      earnings performance would enable the Company to benefit from the
      federal NOL, the valuation allowance was no longer required in the
      fourth quarter of 2005.  The 2006 results reflect a $12.6 million non-
      cash benefit from the elimination of the valuation allowance related to
      state NOL carryforward and other deferred tax assets.  The Company fully
      utilized its federal NOL during 2006 and expects to utilize the state
      NOL over the next three to five years.

This release contains certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Acts. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including earnings per share guidance, the outlook for rig utilization and dayrates, general industry conditions including demand for drilling and customer spending, competitive advantages including cost effective integrated solutions, future technological innovation, future operating results of the Company's rigs and rental tool operations, capital expenditures, expansion and growth opportunities, asset sales, successful negotiation of contracts, strengthening of financial position, increase in market share and other such matters, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that its expectations stated in this release are based on reasonable assumptions, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. For a detailed discussion of risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations, please refer to the Company's reports filed with the SEC, and in particular, the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward- looking statement.



                   PARKER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
               Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations
                                 (Unaudited)

                                Three Months Ended       Twelve Months Ended
                                   December 31,             December 31,
                                 2006         2005        2006         2005
                              (Dollars in Thousands)   (Dollars in Thousands)
    DRILLING AND RENTAL REVENUES
      U.S. Drilling              $55,928     $36,162     $191,225    $128,252
      International Drilling      58,809      87,985      273,216     308,572
      Rental Tools                31,593      25,413      121,994      94,838
    TOTAL DRILLING AND RENTAL
     REVENUES                    146,330     149,560      586,435     531,662

    DRILLING AND RENTAL
     OPERATING EXPENSES
      U.S. Drilling               25,234      18,423       83,462      66,827
      International Drilling      48,204      68,514      219,710     237,161
      Rental Tools                12,666      10,723       46,454      38,211
      Depreciation and
       Amortization               17,605      16,619       69,270      67,204
    TOTAL DRILLING AND RENTAL
     OPERATING EXPENSES          103,709     114,279      418,896     409,403

    DRILLING AND RENTAL
     OPERATING INCOME             42,621      35,281      167,539     122,259

    General and Administrative
     Expense                      (8,525)     (8,011)     (31,786)    (27,830)
    Provision for Reduction in
     Carrying Value of
     Certain Assests                 ---      (2,584)         ---      (4,884)
    Gain on Disposition of
     Assets, Net                     672       3,185        7,573      25,578

    TOTAL OPERATING INCOME        34,768      27,871      143,326     115,123

    OTHER INCOME AND (EXPENSE)
      Interest Expense            (6,375)    (10,473)     (31,598)    (42,113)
      Change in Fair Value of
       Derivative Position          (126)        550           40       2,076
      Loss on Extinguishment
       of Debt                       ---      (1,613)      (1,912)     (8,241)
      Other Income (Expense) --
       Net                         2,947       1,285        7,579       3,383
    TOTAL OTHER INCOME AND
     (EXPENSE)                    (3,554)    (10,251)     (25,891)    (44,895)

    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES    31,214      17,620      117,435      70,228

    INCOME TAX EXPENSE
      Current Tax Expense          9,962       5,825       20,654      16,328
      Deferred Tax (Benefit)
       Expense                   (15,916)    (44,912)      15,755     (44,912)
    TOTAL INCOME TAX (BENEFIT)
     EXPENSE                      (5,954)    (39,087)      36,409     (28,584)

    INCOME FROM CONTINUING
     OPERATIONS                   37,168      56,707       81,026      98,812
    Discontinued Operations,
     Net of Taxes                    ---         ---          ---          71

    NET INCOME                   $37,168     $56,707      $81,026     $98,883


    EARNINGS PER SHARE -- BASIC
      Income From Continuing
       Operations                  $0.35       $0.59        $0.76       $1.03
      Discontinued Operations,
       Net of Taxes                 $---        $---         $---        $---
      Net Income                   $0.35       $0.59        $0.76       $1.03

    EARNINGS PER SHARE --
     DILUTED
      Income From Continuing
       Operations                  $0.34       $0.58        $0.75       $1.02
      Discontinued Operations,
       Net of Taxes                 $---        $---         $---        $---
      Net Income                   $0.34       $0.58        $0.75       $1.02

    AVERAGE COMMON SHARES
     OUTSTANDING
      Basic                  107,379,371  96,562,584  106,552,015  95,818,893
      Diluted                108,751,555  98,166,077  108,138,384  97,208,345



                   PARKER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
                                 (Unaudited)

                                         December 31, 2006  December 31, 2005
                   ASSETS                       (Dollars in Thousands)
    CURRENT ASSETS
      Cash and Cash Equivalents                    $92,203            $60,176
      Marketable Securities                         62,920             18,000
      Accounts and Notes Receivable, Net           112,359            104,681
      Rig Materials and Supplies                    15,000             18,179
      Deferred Costs                                 6,662              4,223
      Deferred Income Taxes                         17,307             12,018
      Other Current Assets                          11,123             64,058
        TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS                       317,574            281,335

    PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET             435,473            355,397

    OTHER ASSETS
      Goodwill                                     100,315            107,606
      Deferred Taxes                                13,405             34,449
      Other Assets                                  34,534             22,833
        TOTAL OTHER ASSETS                         148,254            164,888

    TOTAL ASSETS                                  $901,301           $801,620

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
     CURRENT LIABILITIES
      Current Portion of Long-Term Debt               $---               $---
      Accounts Payable and Accrued
       Liabilities                                 101,903            150,755
        TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES                  101,903            150,755

    LONG-TERM DEBT                                 329,368            380,015

    LONG-TERM DEFERRED TAXES                           ---                ---

    OTHER LIABILITIES                               10,931             11,021

    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                           459,099            259,829

    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY    $901,301           $801,620



    Current Ratio                                     3.12               1.87

    Total Long-Term Debt as a Percent of
     Capitalization                                    42%                59%

    Book Value Per Common Share                      $4.21              $2.66



                   PARKER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           Selected Financial Data
                                 (Unaudited)


                                                     Three Months Ended
                                               December 31,      September 30,
                                             2006        2005         2006
    DRILLING AND RENTAL REVENUES                  (Dollars in Thousands)
      U.S. Offshore Drilling                 $50,830     $36,162     $50,089
      U.S. Land Drilling                       5,098         ---       2,258
      International Land Drilling             49,146      72,503      48,146
      International Offshore Drilling          9,663      15,482      13,459
      Rental Tools                            31,593      25,413      32,831
        Total Drilling and Rental Revenues   146,330     149,560     146,783

    DRILLING AND RENTAL OPERATING EXPENSES
      U.S. Offshore Drilling                  22,345      18,423      19,982
      U.S. Land Drilling                       2,889         ---         962
      International Land Drilling             40,508      55,315      40,491
      International Offshore Drilling          7,696      13,199      11,789
      Rental Tools                            12,666      10,723      12,349
        Total Drilling and Rental
         Operating Expenses                   86,104      97,660      85,573

    DRILLING AND RENTAL OPERATING INCOME
      U.S. Offshore Drilling                  28,485      17,739      30,107
      U.S. Land Drilling                       2,209         ---       1,296
      International Land Drilling              8,638      17,188       7,655
      International Offshore Drilling          1,967       2,283       1,670
      Rental Tools                            18,927      14,690      20,482
      Depreciation and Amortization          (17,605)    (16,619)    (16,993)
        Total Drilling and Rental
         Operating Income                     42,621      35,281      44,217

      General and Administrative Expense      (8,525)     (8,011)     (7,992)
      Provision for Reduction in Carrying
       Value of Certain Assets                   ---      (2,584)        ---
      Gain on Disposition of Assets, Net         672       3,185       4,328

    TOTAL OPERATING INCOME                   $34,768     $27,871     $40,553



                         Marketable Rig Count Summary
                           As of December 31, 2006

                                                                         Total

      U.S. Land Rigs                                                       3

      U.S. Gulf of Mexico Barge Rigs
        Workover                                                           5
        Intermediate                                                       4
        Deep                                                              10
      Total U.S. Gulf of Mexico Barge Rigs                                19

      International Land Rigs
        Asia Pacific                                                       9
        Africa -- Middle East                                              1
        Latin America                                                      3
        CIS                                                                8
          Total International Land Rigs                                   21

      International Barge Rigs
        Mexico                                                             1
        Caspian Sea                                                        1
          Total International Barge Rigs                                   2

          Total Marketable Rigs                                           45



                               Adjusted EBITDA
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                Three Months Ending
                              December 31,  September 30,  June 30,  March 31,
                                  2006          2006         2006      2006

    Income (Loss) from
     Continuing Operations       $37,168      $18,639       $13,761   $11,458
      Adjustments:
        Income Tax Expense        (5,954)      13,173        14,694    14,496
        Total Other Income
         and Expense               3,554        8,741         5,731     7,865
        Gain (Loss) on
         Disposition of
         Assets, Net                (672)      (4,328)       (2,125)     (448)
        Depreciation and
         Amortization             17,605       16,993        17,715    16,957
        Provision for Reduction
         in Carrying Value           ---          ---           ---       ---

    Adjusted EBITDA              $51,701      $53,218       $49,776   $50,328



                                 Adjusted EBITDA
                                   (Unaudited)

                                                Three Months Ending
                              December 31,  September 30,  June 30,  March 31,
                                  2005          2005         2005      2005

    Income (Loss) from
     Continuing Operations       $56,707      $18,073      $20,194   $3,838
      Adjustments:
        Income Tax Expense       (39,087)       2,165        3,486    4,852
        Total Other Income
         and Expense              10,251        9,627       15,140    9,877
        Gain (Loss) on
         Disposition of
         Assets, Net              (3,185)      (5,943)     (15,898)    (552)
        Depreciation and
         Amortization             16,619       16,563       17,146   16,876
        Provision for Reduction
         in Carrying Value         2,584        2,300          ---      ---

    Adjusted EBITDA              $43,889      $42,785      $40,068  $34,891



                               Adjusted EBITDA
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                   Three Months Ending
                                         December 31, 2004  September 30, 2004

    Income (Loss) from Continuing
     Operations                                 $(2,147)             $(24,802)
      Adjustments:
        Income Tax Expense                        3,001                 4,542
        Total Other Income and Expense           10,698                22,027
        Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets,
         Net                                     (2,328)                 (333)
        Depreciation and Amortization            18,642                17,806
        Provision for Reduction in Carrying
         Value                                    6,562                   ---

    Adjusted EBITDA                             $34,428               $19,240

SOURCE Parker Drilling Company