Parker Drilling Reports Second Quarter Earnings: Announces New Commitments

Parker Drilling Company (NYSE: PKD) today reported significantly higher operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2006 over the excellent quarter reported in 2005, led by the record performance of the Company’s U.S. drilling and rental tool operations.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was $49.8 million for the second quarter of 2006, 24 percent higher than the $40.1 million reported in the second quarter of 2005. For the second consecutive quarter, both the U.S. Gulf of Mexico barge rigs and Quail Tools generated record EBITDA results.