UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

þ		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010

or

o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to

Commission file number 0-22664

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

				Page
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.		Financial Statements
		Unaudited consolidated balance sheets			1
		Unaudited consolidated statements of operations			2
		Unaudited consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity			3
		Unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows			5
		Notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements			6
ITEM 2.		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			15
ITEM 3.		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			23
ITEM 4.		Controls and Procedures			23
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1A.		Risk Factors			24
ITEM 2.		Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			25
ITEM 6.		Exhibits			25
Signature					27
EX-10.4
EX-10.5
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-32.1
EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

     The following table presents information necessary to calculate income from continuing operations per share, income from discontinued operations per share and net income per share for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 as well as potentially dilutive securities excluded from the weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding, as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive (in thousands, except per share amounts):

2. Discontinued Operations

     On January 20, 2010, the Company exited the drilling and completion fluids business, which had previously been presented as one of the Company’s reportable operating segments. On that date, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Ambar Lone Star Fluids Services LLC, completed the sale of substantially all of its assets, excluding billed accounts receivable. The sales price was approximately $42.6 million. Upon the Company’s exit from the drilling and completion fluids business, the Company classified its drilling and completion fluids operating segment as a discontinued operation. Accordingly, the results of operations of this business have been reclassified and presented as results of discontinued operations for all periods presented in these consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2009, the assets to be disposed of were considered held for sale and were presented separately within current assets under the caption “Assets held for sale” in the consolidated balance sheet. Upon being classified as held for sale, the assets to be disposed of were adjusted to fair value less estimated costs to sell resulting in an impairment loss of $1.9 million. Due to the fact that the carrying value of the assets had been adjusted to net realizable value, no additional gain or loss was recognized in connection with the sale in 2010.

     Summarized operating results from discontinued operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, and 2009 are shown below (in thousands):

3. Stock-based Compensation

     The Company uses share-based payments to compensate employees and non-employee directors. The Company recognizes the cost of share-based payments under the fair-value-based method. Share-based awards consist of equity instruments in the form of stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units and have included service and, in certain cases, performance conditions. Additionally, share-based awards also include both cash-settled and share-settled performance unit awards. Cash-settled performance unit awards are accounted for as liability awards. Share-settled performance unit awards are accounted for as equity awards. The Company issues shares of common stock when vested stock options are exercised, when restricted stock is granted and when restricted stock units and share-settled performance unit awards vest.

      Stock Options. The Company estimates the grant date fair values of stock options using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model. Volatility assumptions are based on the historic volatility of the Company’s common stock over the most recent period equal to the expected term of the options as of the date the options are granted. The expected term assumptions are based on the Company’s experience with respect to employee stock option activity. Dividend yield assumptions are based on the expected dividends at the time the options are granted. The risk-free interest rate assumptions are determined by reference to United States Treasury yields. Weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the grant date fair values for stock options granted in the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 follow:

     Stock option activity from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010 follows:

      Restricted Stock. For all restricted stock awards to date, shares of common stock were issued when the awards were made. Non-vested shares are subject to forfeiture for failure to fulfill service conditions and, in certain cases, performance conditions. Non-forfeitable dividends are paid on non-vested shares of restricted stock. For restricted stock awards made prior to 2008, the Company uses the “graded-vesting” attribution method to recognize periodic compensation cost over the vesting period. For restricted stock awards made in 2008 and thereafter, the Company uses the straight-line method to recognize periodic compensation cost over the vesting period.

     Restricted stock activity from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010 follows:

      Restricted Stock Units. For all restricted stock unit awards made to date, shares of common stock are not issued until the units vest. Restricted stock units are subject to forfeiture for failure to fulfill service conditions. Non-forfeitable cash dividend equivalents are paid on non-vested restricted stock units.

     Restricted stock unit activity from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010 follows:

      Performance Unit Awards. On April 28, 2009, the Company granted cash-settled performance unit awards to certain executive officers (the “2009 Performance Units”). The 2009 Performance Units provide for those executive officers to receive a cash payment upon the achievement of certain performance goals established by the Company during a specified period. The performance period for the 2009 Performance Units is the period from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2012, but can extend through March 31, 2014 in certain circumstances. The performance goals for the 2009 Performance Units are tied to the Company’s total shareholder return for the performance period as compared to total shareholder return for a peer group determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. These goals are considered to be market conditions under the relevant accounting standards and the market conditions are factored into the determination of the fair value of the performance units. Generally, the recipients will receive a base payment if the Company’s total shareholder return is positive and, when compared to the peer group, is at or above the 25 ^th percentile but less than the 50 ^th percentile, two times the base if at or above the 50 ^th percentile but less than the 75 ^th percentile, and four times the base if at the 75 ^th percentile or higher. The total base amount with respect to the 2009 Performance Units is approximately $1.7 million. As the 2009 Performance Units are to be settled in cash at the end of the performance period, the Company’s pro-rated obligation is measured at estimated fair value at the end of each reporting period using a Monte Carlo simulation model. As of June 30, 2010 this pro-rated obligation was approximately $917,000.

     On April 27, 2010, the Company granted stock-settled performance unit awards to certain executive officers (the “2010 Performance Units”). The 2010 Performance Units provide for those executive officers to receive a grant of shares of stock upon the achievement of certain performance goals established by the Company during a specified period. The performance period for the 2010 Performance Units is the period from April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2013, but can extend through March 31, 2015 in certain circumstances. The performance goals for the 2010 Performance Units are tied to the Company’s total shareholder return for the performance period as compared to total shareholder return for a peer group determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. These goals are considered to be market conditions under the relevant accounting standards and the market conditions are factored into the determination of the fair value of the performance units. Generally, the recipients will receive a base number of shares if the Company’s total shareholder return is positive and, when compared to the peer group, is at or above the 25 ^th percentile but less than the 50 ^th percentile, two times the base if at or above the 50 ^th percentile but less than the 75 ^th percentile, and four times the base if at the 75 ^th percentile or higher. The grant of shares when achievement is between the 25 ^th and 75 ^th percentile will be determined on a pro-rata basis. The total base number of shares with respect to the 2010 Performance Units is 89,375 shares. Because the 2010 Performance Units are stock-settled awards, they are accounted for as equity awards and measured at fair value on the date of grant. The fair value of the 2010 Performance Units as of the date of grant was approximately $3.1 million using a Monte Carlo

simulation model. This amount will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the performance period. During the three months ended June 30, 2010, the Company recognized approximately $260,000 in expense related to the 2010 Performance Units.

4. Property and Equipment

     Property and equipment consisted of the following at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands):

     During the three months ended June 30, 2010, the Company sold certain rights to explore and develop zones deeper than depths that it generally targets for certain of the oil and natural gas properties in which it has working interests. The proceeds from this sale were approximately $22.3 million and the sale resulted in a gain on disposal of $20.1 million.

5. Business Segments

     The Company’s revenues, operating profits and identifiable assets are primarily attributable to three business segments: (i) contract drilling of oil and natural gas wells, (ii) pressure pumping services and (iii) the investment, on a working interest basis, in oil and natural gas properties. Each of these segments represents a distinct type of business. These segments have separate management teams which report to the Company’s chief operating decision maker. The results of operations in these segments are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker for purposes of determining resource allocation and assessing performance. As discussed in Note 2, in January 2010 the Company exited the drilling and completion fluids business which previously was reported as a business segment. Operating results for that business for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 are presented as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations. Separate financial data for each of our business segments is provided in the table below (in thousands):

6. Goodwill

     Goodwill is evaluated at least annually to determine if the fair value of recorded goodwill has decreased below its carrying value. For purposes of impairment testing, goodwill is evaluated at the reporting unit level. The Company’s reporting units for impairment testing have been determined to be its operating segments.

     As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had goodwill of $86.2 million, all within its contract drilling reporting unit. In the event that market conditions weaken, the Company may be required to record an impairment of goodwill in its contract drilling reporting unit in the future, and such impairment could be material.

7. Accrued Expenses

     Accrued expenses consisted of the following at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in thousands):

8. Asset Retirement Obligation

     The Company records a liability for the estimated costs to be incurred in connection with the abandonment of oil and natural gas properties in the future. This liability is included in the caption “other” in the liabilities section of the consolidated balance sheet. The following table describes the changes to the Company’s asset retirement obligations during the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):

9. Borrowings Under Revolving Credit Facility

     The Company has an unsecured revolving credit facility with a maximum borrowing capacity of $240 million, including a letter of credit sublimit of $150 million and a swing line sublimit of $40 million. In addition, the aggregate borrowing and letter of credit capacity under the revolving credit facility may, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein including the receipt of additional commitments from lenders, be increased up to a maximum amount not to exceed $450 million.

     Interest is paid on the outstanding principal amount of revolving credit facility borrowings at a floating rate based on, at the Company’s election, LIBOR or a base rate. The margin on LIBOR loans ranges from 3.00% to 4.00% and the margin on base rate loans ranges from 2.00% to 3.00%, based on the Company’s debt to capitalization ratio. At June 30, 2010, the margin on LIBOR loans would have been 3.00% and the margin on base rate loans would have been 2.00%. Any outstanding borrowings must be repaid at maturity on January 31, 2012 and letters of credit may remain in effect up to six months after such maturity date. This revolving credit facility includes various fees, including a commitment fee on the actual daily unused commitment. The commitment fee rate was 1.00% at June 30, 2010.

     There are customary representations, warranties, restrictions and covenants associated with the revolving credit facility. Financial covenants under the revolving credit facility provide for a maximum debt to capitalization ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio. As of June 30, 2010, the maximum debt to capitalization ratio was 35% and the minimum interest coverage ratio was 3.00 to 1. The Company does not expect that the restrictions and covenants will impact its ability to operate or react to opportunities that might arise.

     As of June 30, 2010, the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility. The Company had $41.2 million in letters of credit outstanding at June 30, 2010 and, as a result, had available borrowing capacity of approximately $199 million at that date. Each domestic subsidiary of the Company other than any immaterial subsidiary has unconditionally guaranteed the existing and future obligations of the Company and each other guarantor under the revolving credit facility and related loan documents, as well as obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries under any interest rate swap contracts that may be entered into with lenders party to the revolving credit facility.

10. Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters

     As of June 30, 2010, the Company maintained letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $41.2 million for the benefit of various insurance companies as collateral for retrospective premiums and retained losses which could become payable under the terms of the underlying insurance contracts. These letters of credit expire annually at various times during the year and are typically renewed. As of June 30, 2010, no amounts had been drawn under the letters of credit.

     As of June 30, 2010, the Company had commitments to purchase approximately $215 million of major equipment.

     The Company is party to various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of its business. The Company does not believe that the outcome of these proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

11. Stockholders’ Equity

      Cash Dividends — The Company paid cash dividends during the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2010 as follows:

     On July 28, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a cash dividend on its common stock in the amount of $0.05 per share to be paid on September 30, 2010 to holders of record as of September 15, 2010. The amount and timing of all future dividend payments, if any, is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon business conditions, results of operations, financial condition, terms of the Company’s credit facilities and other factors.

     On August 1, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock buyback program authorizing purchases of up to $250 million of the Company’s common stock in open market or privately negotiated transactions. During the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company purchased 6,106 shares of its common stock under the program at a cost of approximately $84,000. As of June 30, 2010, the Company is authorized to purchase approximately $113 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock under the program. Shares purchased under the program are accounted for as treasury stock.

     The Company purchased 91,386 shares of treasury stock from employees during the six months ended June 30, 2010. These shares were purchased at fair market value upon the vesting of restricted stock to provide the employees with the funds necessary to satisfy payroll tax withholding obligations. The total purchase price for these shares was approximately $1.3 million. These purchases were made pursuant to the terms of the Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan and not pursuant to the stock buyback program.

12. Income Taxes

     On January 1, 2010, the Company converted its Canadian operations from a Canadian branch to a controlled foreign corporation for Federal income tax purposes. Because the statutory tax rates in Canada are lower than those in the United States, this transaction triggered a $5.1 million reduction in the Company’s deferred tax liabilities, which is being amortized as a reduction to deferred income tax expense over the weighted average remaining useful life of the Canadian assets.

     As a result of the above conversion, the Company’s Canadian assets are no longer subject to United States taxation, provided that the related unremitted earnings are permanently reinvested in Canada. Effective January 1, 2010, the Company has elected to permanently reinvest these unremitted earnings in Canada, and it intends to do so for the foreseeable future. As a result, no deferred United States Federal or state income taxes have been provided on such unremitted foreign earnings, which totaled approximately $825,000 as of June 30, 2010.

13. Recently Issued Accounting Standards

     In June 2009, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the accounting and disclosure requirements for the consolidation of variable interest entities. This new standard removes the previously existing exception from applying consolidation guidance to qualifying special-purpose entities and requires ongoing reassessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. Before this new standard, generally accepted accounting principles required reconsideration of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity only when specific events occurred. This new standard is effective as of the beginning of each reporting entity’s first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009, for interim periods within that first annual reporting period, and for interim and annual reporting periods thereafter. This new standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2010. The adoption of this standard did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

14. Subsequent Events

     On July 2, 2010, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement ”) by and among the Company, Portofino Acquisition Company (now known as Universal Pressure Pumping, Inc.), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Buyer”), Key Energy Pressure Pumping Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Key Pressure Pumping”), Key Electric Wireline Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with Key Pressure Pumping, the “Sellers”), and Key Energy Services, Inc., a Maryland corporation. The transaction is expected to close during the quarter ending September 30, 2010.

     Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Buyer has agreed to purchase certain assets and assume certain liabilities from the Sellers relating to the businesses of providing certain pressure pumping services and electric wireline services to participants in the oil and natural gas industry for an approximate aggregate purchase price of $238 million in cash (the “Purchase Price”). The Purchase Price is subject to certain adjustments based on closing inventory and the value of certain owned properties that may be retained.

     The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, covenants, indemnification obligations and closing conditions. Subject to certain conditions and exceptions, the Purchase Agreement may be terminated prior to the Closing in the event that (i) Buyer and the Sellers mutually consent in writing to such termination, (ii) there is a material breach of any covenant in the Purchase Agreement by Buyer or the Sellers, (iii) any representation or warranty of Buyer or the Sellers made in the Purchase Agreement was untrue when made or becomes untrue or (iv) the closing has not occurred on or before December 1, 2010. The transaction is expected to close in September 2010.

     Also on July 2, 2010, the Company entered into a 364-Day Credit Agreement (the “364-Day Credit Agreement”) among the Company, as borrower, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and lender. The 364-Day Credit Agreement is a committed senior unsecured single draw term loan credit facility that permits a borrowing of up to $250 million; provided that the loan must be drawn no later than September 30, 2010 or, if an additional fee is paid, October 30, 2010. The maturity date under the 364-Day Credit Agreement is 364 days after the date on which the closing conditions under the 364-Day Credit Agreement are met.

     Loans under the 364-Day Credit Agreement bear interest by reference, at the Company’s election, to the LIBOR rate or base rate. The applicable margin on LIBOR rate loans varies from 3.00% to 4.00% and the applicable margin on base rate loans varies from 2.00% to 3.00%, in each case determined based upon the Company’s debt to capitalization ratio.

     Each domestic subsidiary of the Company other than any immaterial subsidiary has agreed to unconditionally guarantee all indebtedness and liabilities of the other guarantors and the Company arising under the 364-Day Credit Agreement and other loan documents. Such guarantees also cover obligations of the Company and any subsidiary of the Company arising under any interest rate swap contract with any person while such person is a lender under the 364-Day Credit Agreement.

     The 364-Day Credit Agreement requires compliance with two financial covenants. The Company must not permit its debt to capitalization ratio to exceed 35% at any time, unless the Company enters into a bank credit facility that refinances the indebtedness under the credit agreement dated as of March 20, 2009 among the Company, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, in which case the debt to capitalization ratio may not exceed the lesser of (A) the debt to capitalization ratio as set forth in such credit facility and (B) 45%. The 364-Day Credit Agreement generally defines the debt to capitalization ratio as the ratio of (a) total borrowed money indebtedness to (b) the sum of such indebtedness plus consolidated net worth. The Company also must not permit the interest coverage ratio as of the last day of a fiscal quarter to be less than 3.00 to 1.00. The 364-Day Credit Agreement generally defines the interest coverage ratio as the ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) to interest charges. The 364-Day Credit Agreement also contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative covenants.

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

     This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Report”) and other public filings and press releases by us contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These “forward-looking statements” involve risk and uncertainty. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to: liquidity; financing of operations; continued volatility of oil and natural gas prices; source and sufficiency of funds required for immediate capital needs and additional rig acquisitions (if further opportunities arise); impact of inflation; demand for our services; and other matters. Our forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts and often use words such as “believes,” “budgeted,” “continue,” “expects,” “estimates,” “project,” “will,” “could,” “may,” “plans,” “intends,” “strategy,” or “anticipates,” or the negative thereof and other words and expressions of similar meaning. The forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses we make in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements may be made orally or in writing, including, but not limited to, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in this Report and other sections of our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Exchange Act and the Securities Act.

     Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and a variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated or expected results expressed in or suggested by these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, deterioration of global economic conditions, declines in oil and natural gas prices that could adversely affect demand for our 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, adverse credit and equity market conditions, difficulty in integrating acquisitions, demand for oil and natural gas, shortages of rig equipment, governmental regulation and ability to retain management and field personnel. Refer to “Risk Factors” contained in Part 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for a more complete discussion of these and other factors that might affect our performance and financial results. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are intended to relay our expectations about the future, and speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, changes in internal estimates or otherwise.

ITEM 2.		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

      Management Overview — We are a leading provider of contract services to the North American oil and natural gas industry. Our services primarily involve the drilling, on a contract basis, of land-based oil and natural gas wells and, to a lesser extent, pressure pumping services. In addition to the aforementioned contract services, we also invest, on a working interest basis, in oil and natural gas properties. Prior to the sale of substantially all of the assets of our drilling and completion fluids business in January 2010, we provided drilling fluids, completion fluids and related services to oil and natural gas operators. Due to our exit from the drilling and completion fluids business in January 2010, we have presented the results of that operating segment as discontinued operations in this Report. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, our operating revenues from continuing operations consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

     We provide our contract services to oil and natural gas operators in many of the land-based oil and natural gas producing regions of North America. Our contract drilling operations are focused in various regions of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and western Canada, while our pressure pumping services are focused primarily in the Appalachian Basin. The oil and natural gas properties in which we hold interests are primarily located in Texas and New Mexico.

     Generally, the profitability of our business is impacted most by two primary factors in our contract drilling segment: our average number of rigs operating and our average revenue per operating day. During the second quarter of 2010, our average number of rigs operating was 156 compared to 63 in the second quarter of 2009. Our average revenue per operating day was $16,920 in the second quarter of 2010 compared to $17,780 in the second quarter of 2009. We had consolidated net income of $29.5 million for the second quarter of 2010 compared to a consolidated net loss of $17.7 million for the second quarter of 2009. Included in consolidated net income for the second quarter of 2010 was a pre-tax gain on the sale of certain oil and natural gas properties of $20.1 million (approximately $12.9 million net of tax). The remaining increase in consolidated net income was primarily due to our contract drilling segment experiencing an increase in the average number of rigs operating and increases in large fracturing jobs in our pressure pumping segment in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter of 2009.

     Our revenues, profitability and cash flows are highly dependent upon prevailing prices for natural gas and, to a lesser extent, oil. During periods of improved commodity prices, the capital spending budgets of oil and natural gas operators tend to expand, which generally results in increased demand for our contract services. Conversely, in periods when these commodity prices deteriorate, the demand for our contract services generally weakens and we experience downward pressure on pricing for our services. Subsequent to reaching a peak in June 2008, there was a significant decline in oil and natural gas prices and a substantial deterioration in the global economic environment. As part of this deterioration, there was substantial uncertainty in the capital markets and access to financing was reduced. Due to these conditions, our customers reduced or curtailed their drilling programs, which resulted in a decrease in demand for our services, as evidenced by the decline in our monthly average of rigs operating from a high of 283 in October 2008 to a low of 60 in June 2009 before partially recovering to 163 in June 2010. Furthermore, these factors have resulted in, and could continue to result in, certain of our customers experiencing an inability to pay suppliers, including us. We are also highly impacted by competition, the availability of excess equipment, labor issues and various other factors that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. Please see “Risk Factors” included as Item 1A of Part II of this Report and included as Item 1A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

     We believe that our liquidity as of June 30, 2010, which includes approximately $87.2 million in working capital and approximately $199 million available under our $240 million revolving credit facility, together with cash expected to be generated from operations, should provide us with sufficient ability to fund our current plans to build new equipment, make improvements to our existing equipment and pay cash dividends.

     On July 2, 2010, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement wherein one of our subsidiaries agreed to purchase certain assets and assume certain liabilities from Key Energy Pressure Pumping Services, LLC and Key Electric Wireline Services, LLC relating to the businesses of providing certain pressure pumping services and electric wireline services to participants in the oil and natural gas industry for an approximate aggregate purchase price of $238 million in cash. We also entered into the 364-Day Credit Agreement on July 2, 2010 which is a committed senior unsecured single draw term loan credit facility that permits a borrowing of up to $250 million; provided that the loan must be drawn no later than September 30, 2010 or, if an additional fee is paid, October 30, 2010. The maturity date under the 364-Day Credit Agreement is 364 days after the date on which the closing conditions under the 364-Day Credit Agreement are met.

     If we pursue additional opportunities for growth that require capital, we believe we would be able to satisfy these needs through a combination of working capital, cash generated from operations, borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility or additional debt or equity financing. However, there can be no assurance that such capital will be available on reasonable terms, if at all.

      Commitments and Contingencies — As of June 30, 2010, we maintained letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $41.2 million for the benefit of various insurance companies as collateral for retrospective premiums and retained losses which could become payable under the terms of the underlying insurance contracts. These letters of credit expire annually at various times during the year and are typically renewed. As of June 30, 2010, no amounts had been drawn under the letters of credit.

     As of June 30, 2010, we had commitments to purchase approximately $215 million of major equipment.

      Trading and Investing — We have not engaged in trading activities that include high-risk securities, such as derivatives and non-exchange traded contracts. We invest cash primarily in highly liquid, short-term investments such as overnight deposits and money market accounts.

      Description of Business — We conduct our contract drilling operations primarily in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and western Canada. As of June 30, 2010, we had approximately 350 marketable land-based drilling rigs. We provide pressure pumping services to oil and natural gas operators primarily in the Appalachian Basin. These services consist primarily of well stimulation and cementing for

completion of new wells and remedial work on existing wells. We invest, on a working interest basis, in oil and natural gas properties. Prior to the sale of substantially all of the assets of our drilling and completion fluids business in January 2010, we provided drilling fluids, completion fluids and related services to oil and natural gas operators offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and on land in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Due to our exit from the drilling and completion fluids business in January 2010, we have presented the results of that operating segment as discontinued operations in this Report.

     The North American land drilling industry has experienced periods of downturn in demand over the last decade. During these periods, there have been substantially more drilling rigs available than necessary to meet demand. As a result, drilling contractors have had difficulty sustaining profit margins and, at times, have sustained losses during the downturn periods.

     In addition, exploration and development of unconventional resource plays has substantially increased recently and some drilling rigs are not capable of drilling these wells efficiently. Accordingly, the utilization of some older technology drilling rigs may be hampered by their lack of capability to successfully compete for this work. Other ongoing factors which could continue to adversely affect utilization rates and pricing, even in an environment of high oil and natural gas prices and increased drilling activity, include:

	•		movement of drilling rigs from region to region,
	•		reactivation of land-based drilling rigs, or
	•		construction of new drilling rigs.

     Construction of new drilling rigs increased significantly during the last ten years. The addition of new drilling rigs to the market coupled with a decrease in demand has resulted in excess capacity. We cannot predict either the future level of demand for our contract drilling services or future conditions in the oil and natural gas contract drilling business.

Critical Accounting Policies

     In addition to established accounting policies, our consolidated financial statements are impacted by certain estimates and assumptions made by management. No changes in our critical accounting policies have occurred since the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     As of June 30, 2010, we had working capital of $87.2 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $96.0 million compared to working capital of $264 million and cash and cash equivalents of $49.9 million at December 31, 2009. The decrease in working capital during the six months ended June 30, 2010 was primarily due to capital expenditures and deposits on equipment purchases exceeding operating cash flow.

     During the six months ended June 30, 2010, our sources of cash flow included:

	•		$294 million from operating activities,
	•		$42.6 million in proceeds from the disposal of our drilling and completion fluids business, and
	•		$25.2 million in proceeds from the sale of certain oil and natural gas rights and the disposal of other assets.

     During the six months ended June 30, 2010, we used $15.4 million to pay dividends on our common stock and $299 million to:

	•		build new drilling rigs,
	•		make capital expenditures for the betterment and refurbishment of our drilling rigs,
	•		acquire and procure drilling equipment and facilities to support our drilling operations,
	•		fund capital expenditures for our pressure pumping segment, and
	•		fund investments in oil and natural gas properties on a working interest basis.

     We paid cash dividends during the six months ended June 30, 2010 as follows:

     On July 28, 2010, our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend on our common stock in the amount of $0.05 per share to be paid on September 30, 2010 to holders of record as of September 15, 2010. The amount and timing of all future dividend payments, if any, is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon business conditions, results of operations, financial condition, terms of our credit facilities and other factors.

     On August 1, 2007, our Board of Directors approved a stock buyback program, authorizing purchases of up to $250 million of our common stock in open market or privately negotiated transactions. During the six months ended June 30, 2010, we purchased 6,106 shares of our common stock under the program at a cost of approximately $84,000. As of June 30, 2010, we are authorized to purchase approximately $113 million of our outstanding common stock under the program.

     We have an unsecured revolving credit facility with a maximum borrowing and letter of credit capacity of $240 million. Interest is paid on the outstanding principal amount of borrowings under the revolving credit facility at a floating rate based on, at our election, LIBOR or a base rate. The margin on LIBOR loans ranges from 3.00% to 4.00% and the margin on base rate loans ranges from 2.00% to 3.00%, based on our debt to capitalization ratio. Any outstanding borrowings must be repaid at maturity on January 31, 2012 and letters of credit may remain in effect up to six months after such maturity date. As of June 30, 2010, we had no borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility. We had $41.2 million in letters of credit outstanding at June 30, 2010 and as a result, had available borrowing capacity of approximately $199 million at such date.

     There are customary representations, warranties, restrictions and covenants associated with the revolving credit facility. Financial covenants under the revolving credit facility provide for a maximum debt to capitalization ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio. As of June 30, 2010, the maximum debt to capitalization ratio was 35% and the minimum interest coverage ratio was 3.00 to 1. We were in compliance with these financial covenants as of June 30, 2010. We do not expect that the restrictions and covenants will impair our ability to operate or react to opportunities that might arise.

     We believe that the current level of cash, short-term investments and borrowing capacity available under our revolving credit facility, together with cash expected to be generated from operations, should be sufficient to fund our current plans to build new equipment, make improvements to our existing equipment and pay cash dividends.

     On July 2, 2010, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement wherein one of our subsidiaries agreed to purchase certain assets and assume certain liabilities from Key Energy Pressure Pumping Services, LLC and Key Electric Wireline Services, LLC relating to the business of providing certain pressure pumping services and certain electric wireline services to participants in the oil and natural gas industry for an approximate aggregate purchase price of $238 million in cash. We also entered into the 364-Day Credit Agreement on July 2, 2010 which is a committed senior unsecured single draw term loan credit facility that permits a borrowing of up to $250 million; provided that the loan must be drawn no later than September 30, 2010 or, if an additional fee is paid, October 30, 2010. The maturity date under the 364-Day Credit Agreement is 364 days after the date on which the closing conditions under the 364-Day Credit Agreement are met.

     From time to time, opportunities to expand our business, including acquisitions and the building of new equipment, are evaluated. The timing, size or success of any acquisition and the associated capital commitments are unpredictable. If we pursue additional opportunities for growth that require capital, we believe we would be able to satisfy these needs through a combination of working capital, cash generated from operations, borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility or additional debt or equity financing. However, there can be no assurance that such capital will be available on reasonable terms, if at all.

     Revenues increased in 2010 compared to 2009 as a result of a significant increase in operating days reduced by the impact of a decrease in average revenue per operating day. Average revenue per operating day decreased in 2010 primarily due to decreases in dayrates for rigs that were operating in the spot market and a smaller proportion of rigs on term contracts which are generally at higher rates. Direct operating costs increased in 2010 compared to 2009 primarily as a result of an increase in the number of operating days. The increase in operating days was due to increased demand largely caused by higher prices for natural gas and oil. Significant capital expenditures were incurred in 2010 and 2009 to build new drilling rigs, to modify and upgrade our drilling rigs and to acquire additional related equipment such as top drives, drill pipe, drill collars, engines, fluid circulating systems, rig hoisting systems and safety enhancement equipment. Depreciation expense increased as a result of capital expenditures.