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Patterson-UTI Energy Reports Financial Results for First Quarter of 2009
 

HOUSTON, April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTEN) today reported net income of $16.2 million, or $0.11 per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to net income of $77.4 million, or $0.50 per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2008. Revenues for the first quarter of 2009 were $296 million, compared to revenues of $505 million for the first quarter of 2008.

Douglas J. Wall, Patterson-UTI's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "As anticipated, the decline in demand that we experienced in the fourth quarter of 2008 continued into the first quarter of 2009, as customers continued to scale back their drilling operations in response to lower oil and natural gas prices along with continued weakness in the credit and equity markets. We had an average of 127 rigs operating in the first quarter of 2009, comprised of 116 in the U.S. and 11 in Canada. This represents a decrease of 125 rigs from the average of 252 rigs operating in the fourth quarter of 2008. Currently, the Company has 63 rigs operating, including 62 in the U.S. and 1 in Canada. It should be noted that Canadian drilling activities are affected by the annual spring break up."

Mr. Wall added, "Average revenue per operating day for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $19,670, a decrease of $540 from the three month period ended December 31, 2008. Average direct operating costs per operating day for the first quarter of 2009 decreased by $200 to $11,010, compared to the three months ended December 31, 2008. As a result, the average margin per operating day in the first quarter of 2009 was $8,660, a decrease of $340 compared to the fourth quarter of 2008.

"Our average rigs operating during the first quarter include 11 rigs operating under term contracts that earned standby revenues of $10.7 million. Our current rig count of 63 includes 7 rigs on standby. Rigs on standby earn a discounted dayrate since they do not have crews and have lower costs. In addition, we recognized $6.6 million of revenues during the quarter from the early termination of drilling contracts.

"During the first quarter we had an average of approximately 49 rigs operating under term contracts, including the 11 rigs earning standby revenues. We expect to have an average of approximately 31 rigs under term contract for the remainder of this year, and then to average approximately 28 rigs in 2010 and 21 rigs in 2011 under the terms of existing long-term contracts.

"During the first quarter of 2009, we activated 4 new Apex(R) rigs. We currently have multi-year contracts for seventeen additional new advanced technology Apex(R) rigs," he concluded.

Mark S. Siegel, Chairman of Patterson-UTI stated, "Drilling activity has fallen dramatically as our customers felt the impact of declining commodity prices and the contraction of commercial credit. This severe downturn has affected virtually every segment of the land rig market; all of our regions and all sizes of rigs have been impacted. Across the industry, customers have laid down rigs regardless of the rigs' performance. As the downturn has progressed, they have even laid down many rigs subject to term contracts with substantial costs for termination.

"In this difficult period for the oil services industry, we believe we are in a strong position. At March 31, 2009 we had no debt, $192 million in cash, and a huge array of unencumbered 'hard assets.' These 'hard assets' include significantly upgraded fleets of drilling rigs and pressure pumping equipment. In addition, we have substantial other drilling and pressure pumping assets, as well as assets in our E&P and drilling fluids businesses."

Mr. Siegel added, "Beyond our strong financial position, a fundamental strength of our business is the very high degree to which operating costs are variable. Patterson-UTI has a track record, in past industry cycles, of being able to scale the business to the current levels of activity - whether expanding or contracting. During the current contraction period, we are reducing our costs and streamlining our business, while maintaining the capability to run a large number of rigs. This streamlined structure, along with our large fleet of new and recently upgraded equipment, makes us confident that we will greatly benefit from the next upturn in drilling."

The Company also declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.05 per share, to be paid on June 30, 2009 to holders of record as of June 15, 2009.

All references to "net income per share" in this press release are diluted earnings per common share as defined within Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128.

The Company will hold its conference call to discuss its first quarter results on Thursday, April 30, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time and 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time). The dial-in information for participants is 866-272-9941(Domestic) and 617-213-8895 (International). The Passcode for both numbers is 29224897. The conference call is also being webcast and can be accessed through Patterson-UTI's web site (http://www.patenergy.com) in the Investor Relations section. Webcast participants should log on 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Replay of the conference call will be available through May 14, 2009 at www.patenergy.com (in the Investor Relations section). Telephone replay of the call will be available through May 4, 2009. The dial-in numbers for the replay are: 888-286-8010 (Domestic) and 617-801-6888 (International). The Passcode for both numbers is 50507073.

About Patterson-UTI

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. provides onshore contract drilling services to exploration and production companies in North America. The Company has approximately 350 marketable land-based drilling rigs that operate primarily in the oil and natural gas producing regions of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and western Canada. Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. is also engaged in the businesses of pressure pumping services and drilling and completion fluid services.

Statements made in this press release which state the Company's or management's intentions, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future are forward-looking statements. It is important to note that actual results could differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, deterioration in the global economic environment, declines in oil and natural gas prices that could adversely affect demand for the Company's services, and their associated effect on day rates, rig utilization and planned capital expenditures, excess availability of land drilling rigs, including as a result of the reactivation or construction of new land drilling rigs, adverse industry conditions, difficulty in integrating acquisitions, demand for oil and natural gas, shortages of rig equipment and ability to retain management and field personnel. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, which may be obtained by contacting the Company or the SEC. These filings are also available through the Company's web site at http://www.patenergy.com or through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval System (EDGAR) at http://www.sec.gov. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.

                            PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
            Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)
                    (in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                                         Three Months Ended
                                                              March 31,
                                                          2009       2008
                                                          ----       ----

    REVENUES                                            $296,039  $504,554

    COSTS AND EXPENSES
      Direct operating costs (excluding depreciation,
       depletion and impairment)                         179,825   303,472
      Depreciation, depletion and impairment              70,347    63,726
      Selling, general and administrative                 15,984    16,996
      Net loss on asset disposals/retirements                174       186
      Other operating expenses                             4,000       300
                                                         -------   -------
           Total costs and expenses                      270,330   384,680
                                                         -------   -------

    OPERATING INCOME                                      25,709   119,874
                                                         -------   -------

    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
      Interest  expense                                     (447)     (277)
      Interest income                                         61       343
      Other                                                   23       384
                                                         -------   -------
           Total other income (expense)                     (363)      450
                                                         -------   -------


    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES                            25,346   120,324

    INCOME TAX EXPENSE                                     9,143    42,915
                                                         -------   -------

    NET INCOME                                           $16,203   $77,409
                                                         =======   =======

    NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
      Basic                                                $0.11     $0.50
                                                         =======   =======
      Diluted                                              $0.11     $0.50
                                                         =======   =======

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON
     SHARES OUTSTANDING
      Basic                                              151,735   152,600
                                                         =======   =======
      Diluted                                            151,829   154,325
                                                         =======   =======

    CASH DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE                        $0.05     $0.12
                                                         =======   =======



                           PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.
              Additional Financial and Operating Data (Unaudited)
                             (dollars in thousands)

                                                    Three Months Ended
                                                           March 31,
                                                       2009        2008
                                                       ----        ----

    Contract Drilling:
      Revenues                                     $225,704      $420,149
      Direct operating costs (excluding
       depreciation)                               $126,321      $244,367
      Selling, general and administrative              $986        $1,524
      Depreciation                                  $57,386       $55,872
      Operating income                              $41,011      $118,386
      Operating days                                 11,473        22,233
      Average revenue per operating day              $19.67        $18.90
      Average direct operating costs per
       operating day                                 $11.01        $10.99
      Average rigs operating                            127           244
      Capital expenditures                          $67,002       $67,211

    Pressure Pumping:
      Revenues                                      $38,105       $42,864
      Direct operating costs (excluding
       depreciation)                                $27,006       $28,505
      Selling, general and administrative            $5,835        $5,607
      Depreciation                                   $6,139        $4,300
      Operating income (loss)                         $(875)       $4,452
      Total jobs                                      1,911         2,911
      Average revenue per job                        $19.94        $14.72
      Average costs per job                          $14.13         $9.79
      Capital expenditures                          $21,820       $12,959

    Drilling and Completion Fluids:
      Revenues                                      $27,830       $32,550
      Direct operating costs (excluding
       depreciation)                                $24,522       $28,533
      Selling, general and administrative            $2,175        $2,626
      Depreciation                                     $615          $724
      Operating income                                 $518          $667
      Capital expenditures                               $6            $8

    Oil and Natural Gas
     Production and Exploration:
      Revenues                                       $4,400        $8,991
      Direct operating costs (excluding
       depreciation, depletion and impairment)       $1,976        $2,067
      Depreciation and depletion                     $3,490        $2,406
      Impairment of oil and natural gas
       properties                                    $2,490          $221
      Operating income (loss)                       $(3,556)       $4,297
      Capital expenditures                             $970        $4,428

    Corporate and Other:
      Selling, general and administrative            $6,988        $7,239
      Depreciation                                     $227          $203
      Other operating expenses                       $4,000          $300
      Net loss on asset disposals/retirements          $174          $186

    Total capital expenditures                      $89,798       $84,606



                                                    March 31,  December 31,
                                                       2009        2008
                                                       ----        ----
    Selected Balance Sheet Data
     (Unaudited):
      Cash and cash equivalents                    $192,288       $81,223
      Current assets                               $537,742      $641,374
      Total assets                               $2,651,682    $2,712,817
      Current liabilities                          $216,932      $302,613
      Borrowings outstanding under line of
       credit                                            $-            $-
      Working capital                              $320,810      $338,761




SOURCE Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.