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Patterson-UTI Energy Reports Financial Results for Second Quarter of 2008

HOUSTON, July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC. (Nasdaq: PTEN) today reported net income of $81.4 million, or $0.52 per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2008, compared to net income of $140 million, or $0.88 per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2007. Revenues for the second quarter of 2008 were $526 million, compared to revenues of $523 million for the second quarter of 2007.

The Company reported net income of $159 million, or $1.02 per share, for the six months ended June 30 2008, compared to net income of $255 million, or $1.62 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2007. Revenues for the first six months of 2008 were $1.03 billion, compared to revenues of $1.07 billion for the first six months of 2007.

The results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 include pre-tax nonrecurring gains of $58.4 million. These gains, net of tax, increased net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 by $37.9 million, or $0.24 per share.

Commenting on the second quarter's results, Douglas J. Wall, Patterson-UTI's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We had an average of 244 rigs operating, comprised of 242 in the U.S. and 2 in Canada. Compared to the first quarter of 2008, our average rigs working increased by 10 in the U.S. and decreased by an equal number in Canada. Our rig count in Canada reflects a reduction in Canadian drilling activity resulting from the annual spring breakup."

Mr. Wall added, "Average revenue per operating day for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was $18,740, compared to $18,900 for the prior three-month period ended March 31, 2008. Average direct operating costs per operating day for the second quarter increased to $11,300, compared to $10,990 for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The increase in average direct operating costs per operating day includes incremental costs incurred during the quarter from the activation of additional drilling rigs."

"We are seeing increases in demand and dayrates for our U.S. land drilling rigs along with a seasonal rebound in Canadian activity. We estimate that our July rig count increased to 269 average rigs operating, comprised of 258 in the U.S. and 11 in Canada. Our average rigs operating in the U.S. have increased by 28 since December 2007, including the activation of seven new rigs and the reactivation of rigs from our existing fleet."

"As expected, business levels in our pressure pumping operations in Appalachia improved during the second quarter. Both the number of jobs completed and average revenue per job increased compared to the first quarter," Mr. Wall added.

Mark S. Siegel, Chairman of Patterson-UTI stated, "We continue to see encouraging signs in the marketplace, with an acceleration in the number of wells drilled and growing interest in unconventional resource plays. If natural gas and crude oil prices continue to remain at historically high levels, we expect the demand for both new and existing rigs to continue to increase."

Mr. Siegel added, "We expect to complete activation of our previously announced newbuild rigs over the next six months. Moreover, there is significant customer interest in securing new fit-for-purpose rigs for unconventional resource drilling programs in the U.S. To meet this demand, our current plans include the construction of 20 additional new rigs with deliveries beginning this year and continuing through early 2010. We expect that substantially all of these rigs will work under three-year term contracts. Customer interest in additional new-builds remains high and further increases in our rig construction program are likely."

"Our strong balance sheet allows us to continue to invest in our rig fleet and pressure pumping business. As of June 30, 2008, we have working capital of approximately $335 million and no long-term debt," Mr. Siegel added.

The Company also declared a quarterly cash dividend on its Common Stock of $0.16 per share, to be paid on September 30, 2008, to holders of record as of September 12, 2008.

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 a conference call to discuss second quarter results on Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time and 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time). This call is being webcast and can be accessed through Patterson-UTI's web site at http://www.patenergy.com or at http://www.streetevents.com in the Individual Investor Center. Webcast participants should go to one of the web addresses above 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Replay of the conference call webcast will be available at these sites through Thursday, August 14, 2008.

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 currently 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, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Pennsylvania and western Canada. Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. is also engaged in the businesses of pressure pumping services and drilling and completion fluid services. Additionally, the Company has an exploration and production business.

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, 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       Six Months Ended
                                       June 30,               June 30,
                                    2008     2007          2008      2007
                                 --------- ---------   ----------- -----------
    REVENUES                     $526,283  $522,558    $1,030,837  $1,069,659

    COSTS AND EXPENSES
      Direct operating costs
       (excluding  depreciation,
       depletion and impairment)  318,865   289,163       622,337     585,137
      Depreciation, depletion
       and impairment              65,673    59,947       129,399     115,878
      Selling, general and
       administrative              17,747    16,322        34,743      30,991
      Embezzlement costs
       (recoveries)                     -   (41,935)            -     (41,935)
      Gain on disposal of assets   (2,721)  (16,475)       (2,535)    (16,273)
      Other operating expenses        300       400           600       1,000
                                 --------- ---------   ----------- -----------
        Total Costs and Expenses  399,864   307,422       784,544     674,798
                                 --------- ---------   ----------- -----------

    OPERATING INCOME              126,419   215,136       246,293     394,861
                                 --------- ---------   ----------- -----------

    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
      Interest expense                (63)     (831)         (340)     (1,594)
      Interest income                 493       457           836         826
      Other                           353       109           737         203
                                 --------- ---------   ----------- -----------
        Total Other Income
         (Expense)                    783      (265)        1,233        (565)
                                 --------- ---------   ----------- -----------

    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES    127,202   214,871       247,526     394,296

    INCOME TAX EXPENSE             45,780    75,320        88,695     138,944
                                 --------- ---------   ----------- -----------

    NET INCOME                    $81,422  $139,551      $158,831    $255,352
                                 ========= =========   =========== ===========

    NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
      Basic                         $0.53     $0.90         $1.04       $1.64
                                 ========= =========   =========== ===========
      Diluted                       $0.52     $0.88         $1.02       $1.62
                                 ========= =========   =========== ===========

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF
     COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
      Basic                       153,978   155,527       153,289     155,457
                                 ========= =========   =========== ===========
      Diluted                     156,437   157,912       155,766     157,580
                                 ========= =========   =========== ===========

    CASH DIVIDENDS PER COMMON
     SHARE                          $0.16     $0.12         $0.28       $0.20
                                 ========= =========   =========== ===========



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

                                Three Months Ended        Six Months Ended
                                      June 30,                June 30,
                                   2008      2007         2008        2007
                                 --------  --------      --------    --------

    Contract Drilling:
      Revenues                   $416,835  $419,191      $836,984    $886,689
      Direct operating costs
       (excluding depreciation)  $251,381  $228,297      $495,748    $474,451
      Selling, general and
       administrative              $1,297    $1,400        $2,821      $2,851
      Depreciation                $57,362   $51,782      $113,234     $99,970
      Operating income           $106,795  $137,712      $225,181    $309,417
      Operating days               22,245    21,597        44,478      44,569
      Average revenue per
       operating day               $18.74    $19.41        $18.82      $19.89
      Average direct operating
       costs per operating day     $11.30    $10.57        $11.15      $10.65
      Average margin per
       operating day                $7.44     $8.84         $7.67       $9.25
      Average rigs operating          244       237           244         246
      Capital expenditures        $67,815  $129,913      $135,026    $283,189

    Pressure Pumping:
      Revenues                    $57,094   $51,592       $99,958     $90,176
      Direct operating costs
       (excluding depreciation)   $32,506   $25,777       $61,011     $46,928
      Selling, general and
       administrative              $5,834    $4,808       $11,441      $8,876
      Depreciation                 $4,477    $3,408        $8,777      $6,532
      Operating income            $14,277   $17,599       $18,729     $27,840
      Total jobs                    3,400     3,573         6,311       6,412
      Average revenue per job      $16.79    $14.44        $15.84      $14.06
      Average costs per job         $9.56     $7.21         $9.67       $7.32
      Average margin per job        $7.23     $7.23         $6.17       $6.74
      Capital expenditures        $17,689   $14,206       $30,648     $30,631

    Drilling and Completion Fluids:
      Revenues                    $38,745   $39,667       $71,295     $70,427
      Direct operating costs
       (excluding depreciation)   $31,449   $32,628       $59,982     $58,019
      Selling, general and
       administrative              $2,517    $2,436        $5,143      $4,833
      Depreciation                   $724      $697        $1,448      $1,393
      Operating income             $4,055    $3,906        $4,722      $6,182
      Capital expenditures         $1,525    $1,023        $1,533      $2,121

    Oil and Natural Gas Production
     and Exploration:
      Revenues                    $13,609   $12,108       $22,600     $22,367
      Direct operating costs
       (excluding depreciation,
       depletion and impairment)   $3,529    $2,461        $5,596      $5,739
      Selling, general and
       administrative                  $-      $674            $-      $1,322
      Depreciation, depletion
       and impairment              $2,907    $3,857        $5,534      $7,577
      Operating income             $7,173    $5,116       $11,470      $7,729
      Capital expenditures         $4,527    $4,619        $8,955      $9,651

    Corporate and Other:
      Selling, general and
       administrative              $8,099    $7,004       $15,338     $13,109
      Depreciation                   $203      $203          $406        $406
      Other operating expenses       $300      $400          $600      $1,000
      Embezzlement costs (recoveries)  $-  $(41,935)           $-    $(41,935)
      Gain on disposal of assets  $(2,721) $(16,475)      $(2,535)   $(16,273)

    Total capital expenditures    $91,556  $149,761      $176,162    $325,592



                                                        June 30,  December 31,
                                                          2008        2007
                                                       ---------- -----------
    Selected Balance Sheet
     Data (Unaudited):
      Cash and cash equivalents                           $62,232     $17,434
      Current assets                                     $609,659    $522,785
      Total assets                                     $2,583,957  $2,465,199
      Current liabilities                                $274,502    $295,208
      Borrowings outstanding under line of credit              $-     $50,000
      Working capital                                    $335,157    $227,577

SOURCE Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

CONTACT: John E. Vollmer III, SVP & Chief Financial Officer of
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., +1-214-360-7800
Web site: http://www.patenergy.com
http://www.streetevents.com
(PTEN)