Pioneer Drilling Reports Second Quarter 2010 Results

Aug 5, 2010

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pioneer Drilling Company, Inc. (NYSE Amex: PDC) today reported financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.  Some of the highlights include:

  • Drilling rig utilization increased to 58% in the second quarter from 49% in the first quarter and is currently 65%
  • Workover rig utilization increased to 74% in the second quarter from 60% in the first quarter and is currently approximately 75%
  • 27 drilling rigs, or 59% of our rigs currently working, are operating under term drilling contracts
  • 65% of our working drilling rigs and 66% of our workover rigs are operating on wells that are targeting or producing oil

Second Quarter 2010 Results

Revenues for the second quarter were $117.0 million, compared with $86.0 million for the first quarter of 2010 ("the prior quarter") and $69.1 million for the second quarter of 2009 ("the year-earlier quarter").  The increase in second quarter revenues as compared to the prior and year-earlier quarters was primarily due to higher utilization rates for our drilling rig, workover rig and wireline unit fleets.  Also, an increase in average revenue rates for both our Drilling Services and Production Services divisions has contributed to the increase in revenues in the second quarter as compared to the prior quarter.    

Net loss for the second quarter was $10.1 million, or $0.19 per share, compared with a net loss for the prior quarter of $14.5 million, or $0.27 per share, and a net loss for the year-earlier quarter of $6.3 million, or $0.13 per share.  The sequential improvement was due to better operating performance, partially offset by a $3.0 million increase in interest expense in the second quarter due to the issuance of $250 million of Senior Notes on March 11, 2010.  Interest expense increased by $5.4 million in the second quarter as compared to the year-earlier quarter.  EBITDA(1) increased to $22.0 million in the second quarter, compared to $9.2 million for the prior quarter and $17.9 million for the year-earlier quarter.

First Six Months of 2010 Results

Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was $24.7 million, or $0.46 per share, compared with a net loss of $5.6 million, or $0.11 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2009. Revenues for the first six months of 2010 were $203.0 million, compared with $170.0 million for the prior year's first six months.  EBITDA(1) for the first six months of 2010 was $31.3 million, compared to $45.7 million for the comparable period in 2009.

Operating Results

Revenues for the Drilling Services Division were $76.1 million in the second quarter, a 36% increase over revenues of $55.8 million in the prior quarter and a 66% increase from the year-earlier quarter.  During the second quarter, the utilization rate for our drilling rig fleet averaged 58%, up from 49% in the prior quarter and 35% utilization in the year-earlier quarter.  As demand for drilling services continued to improve in the second quarter, average drilling revenues per day increased 14% from the prior quarter and Drilling Services margin(2) increased 48% to $4,648 per day, versus $3,145 per day in the prior quarter.  In contrast, average revenues per day in the second quarter were 1% lower when compared to the year-earlier quarter, since many drilling rigs during 2009 were earning standby revenue or operating under long-term contracts with historically high revenue rates.  As a result, Drilling Services margin(2) decreased 40% in the second quarter when compared to the year-earlier period.

Revenues for the Production Services Division were $40.9 million in the second quarter, a 36% increase over revenues of $30.2 million in the prior quarter and a 75% increase from the year-earlier quarter. Production Services margin(2) as a percentage of revenue increased to 40% in the second quarter from 34% in the prior quarter and 36% in the year-earlier quarter.  Currently, 72 of Pioneer's 74 workover rigs have crews assigned and are operating or being actively marketed, while the remaining two workover rigs are idle with no crews assigned.

"During the second quarter we grew our revenue 36% by continuing to improve utilization of our equipment at higher rates," said Wm. Stacy Locke, President and CEO of Pioneer Drilling.   "Our strategy to upgrade and position our equipment to be attractive to our customers working in the active shale plays or on crude oil related projects has contributed to our improving results.  Operating margins were higher across the board, with our Production Services Division contributing almost half of the gross margin for the quarter.  In addition to the growing demand for our workover rigs, our wireline segment continues to grow.  We now have 79 wireline units, after adding nine units in the second quarter and another four units so far this quarter.

"We also continued to upgrade our drilling fleet by adding seven topdrives in the second quarter, with another four added in the third quarter, resulting in 49% of our fleet being equipped with topdrives.  These upgrades have positioned our fleet to be highly competitive in the most active markets, particularly the shale plays.  We now have six drilling rigs operating in the Marcellus Shale play with a seventh drilling rig scheduled for September, 12 in the Eagle Ford Shale and eight in the Bakken Shale.  Currently, we have 28 electric drilling rigs and 18 mechanical drilling rigs working.  By September, we expect to have 35 drilling rigs with topdrives operating at 100% utilization with 80% supported by term contracts. Included in these 35 drilling rigs are eight mechanical rigs, of which five are supported by term contracts," continued Locke.

"In Colombia, revenues and margins are increasing steadily.  In the second quarter, we installed a walking system on the seventh of the eight drilling rigs working in Colombia and plan to complete the installation of a walking system on the remaining drilling rig in October of this year.  With these upgrades almost complete, operating margins in Colombia should continue to rise during the second half of the year.

"In the third quarter of 2010, we expect drilling rig utilization will average between 60% to 65% and Drilling Service margin(2) to be between $5,500 and $5,800 per day.  In the Production Services division, we expect revenues to increase 2% to 5%, and margin as a percentage of revenue to be comparable to the second quarter," Locke said.

Liquidity

Working capital was $38.1 million at June 30, 2010, down from $90.3 million at December 31, 2009.  Our cash and cash equivalents were $17.3 million at the end of the second quarter, down from $40.4 million at December 31, 2009, primarily due to $63.8 million used for purchases of property and equipment, partially offset by cash provided by operations of $42.6 million during the first half of 2010.  We currently have $22.8 million outstanding under our revolving credit facility and $9.2 million in committed letters of credit, which is unchanged from the end of the first quarter.

Conference Call

Pioneer's management team will hold a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time), to discuss these results.  To participate in the call, dial 480-629-9819 at least 10 minutes early and ask for the Pioneer Drilling conference call.  A replay will be available after the call ends and will be accessible until August 12, 2010.  To access the replay, dial (303) 590-3030 and enter the pass code 4329062#.

A broadcast of the conference call will also be available on the Internet at Pioneer's Web site at www.pioneerdrlg.com.  To listen to the live call, visit Pioneer's Web site at least 10 minutes early to register and download any necessary audio software.  An archive will be available shortly after the call.  For more information, please contact Donna Washburn at DRG&E at (713) 529-6600 or e-mail dmw@drg-e.com.

About Pioneer

Pioneer Drilling Company provides contract land drilling services to independent and major oil and gas operators in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, the Rocky Mountain and Appalachian regions and internationally in Colombia through its Pioneer Drilling Services Division. The Company also provides workover rig, wireline and fishing and rental services to producers in the U.S. Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent, Rocky Mountain and Appalachian regions through its Pioneer Production Services Division.  Its fleet consists of 71 land drilling rigs that drill at depths ranging from 6,000 to 25,000 feet, 74 workover rigs (69 550-horsepower rigs, four 600-horsepower rigs and one 400-horsepower rig), 79 wireline units, and fishing and rental tools.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations

Statements we make in this news release that express a belief, expectation or intention, as well as those that are not historical fact, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, could differ materially from those we express in this news release as a result of a variety of factors, including general economic and business conditions and industry trends; levels and volatility of oil and gas prices; decisions about onshore exploration and development projects to be made by oil and gas producing companies; risks associated with economic cycles and their impact on capital markets and liquidity; the continued demand for the drilling services or production services in the geographic areas where we operate; the highly competitive nature of our business; our future financial performance, including availability, terms and deployment of capital; the supply of marketable drilling rigs, workover rigs and wireline units within the industry; the continued availability of drilling rig, workover rig and wireline unit components; the continued availability of qualified personnel; the success or failure of our acquisition strategy, including our ability to finance acquisitions and manage growth; changes in, or our failure or inability to comply with, governmental regulations, including those relating to the environment.  We have discussed many of these factors in more detail in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010.  These factors are not necessarily all the important factors that could affect us.  Unpredictable or unknown factors we have not discussed in this news release, or in our annual report on Form 10-K or our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q could also have material adverse effects on actual results of matters that are the subject of our forward-looking statements.  All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether, as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  We advise our shareholders that they should (1) be aware that important factors not referred to above could affect the accuracy of our forward-looking statements and (2) use caution and common sense when considering our forward-looking statements.

This news release contains non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G.  A reconciliation of each such measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, together with an explanation of why management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors, is provided in the following tables.

Contacts:

Lorne E. Phillips, CFO


Pioneer Drilling Company


210-828-7689




Lisa Elliott / lelliott@drg-e.com


Anne Pearson / apearson@drg-e.com


DRG&E / 713-529-6600



-------------------

(1) We define EBITDA as earnings (loss) before interest income (expense), taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairments. Although not prescribed under GAAP, we believe the presentation of EBITDA is relevant and useful because it helps our investors understand our operating performance and makes it easier to compare our results with those of other companies that have different financing, capital or tax structures. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for net income, as an indication of operating performance or cash flows from operating activities or as a measure of liquidity. A reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to EBITDA is included in the tables to this press release. EBITDA, as we calculate it, may not be comparable to EBITDA measures reported by other companies. In addition, EBITDA does not represent funds available for discretionary use.

(2) Drilling Services margin represents contract drilling revenues less contract drilling operating costs.  Production Services margin represents production services revenues less production services operating costs. We believe that Drilling Services margin and Production Services margin are useful measures for evaluating financial performance, although they are not measures of financial performance under GAAP.  However, Drilling Services margin and Production Services margin are common measures of operating performance used by investors, financial analysts, rating agencies and Pioneer management.  A reconciliation of Drilling Services margin and Production Services margin to net earnings (loss) is included in the tables to this press release.  Drilling Services margin and Production Services margin as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures reported by other companies.



- Financial Statements and Operating Information Follow –




PIONEER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)









Three months ended


Six months ended


June 30,

March 31,


June 30,


2010

2009

2010


2010

2009








Revenues:







Drilling services

$                    76,096

$                    45,720

$                    55,817


$                  131,913

$                  117,086

Production services

40,931

23,400

30,204


71,135

52,874

Total revenue

117,027

69,120

86,021


203,048

169,960








Costs and Expenses:







Drilling services

58,549

28,437

45,903


104,452

72,565

Production services

24,527

14,906

19,965


44,492

33,622

Depreciation and amortization

29,557

26,069

28,871


58,428

51,515

Selling, general and administrative

12,257

8,951

11,473


23,730

18,978

Bad debt (recovery) expense

(7)

30

(75)


(82)

(304)








Total costs and expenses

124,883

78,393

106,137


231,020

176,376

Loss from operations

(7,856)

(9,273)

(20,116)


(27,972)

(6,416)








Other (expense) income:







Interest expense

(7,121)

(1,728)

(4,094)


(11,215)

(3,716)

Interest income

22

55

20


42

139

Other

315

1,140

484


799

625

Total other (expense) income

(6,784)

(533)

(3,590)


(10,374)

(2,952)








Loss before income taxes

(14,640)

(9,806)

(23,706)


(38,346)

(9,368)

Income tax benefit

4,498

3,547

9,159


13,657

3,727








Net loss

$                  (10,142)

$                    (6,259)

$                  (14,547)


$                  (24,689)

$                    (5,641)








Loss per common share:







Basic

$                      (0.19)

$                      (0.13)

$                      (0.27)


$                      (0.46)

$                      (0.11)

Diluted

$                      (0.19)

$                      (0.13)

$                      (0.27)


$                      (0.46)

$                      (0.11)








Weighted average number







of shares outstanding:







Basic

53,781

49,826

53,717


53,750

49,825

Diluted

53,781

49,826

53,717


53,750

49,825



PIONEER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)








June 30, 2010

December 31, 2009

ASSETS

(unaudited)

(audited)

Current assets:



Cash and cash equivalents

$                            17,348

$                                    40,379

Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

87,522

81,467

Deferred income taxes

9,400

5,560

Inventory

7,832

5,535

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

7,994

6,199

Total current assets

130,096

139,140




Net property and equipment

664,218

637,022

Intangible assets, net of amortization

24,269

25,393

Noncurrent deferred income taxes

1,572

2,339

Other long-term assets

27,345

21,061

Total assets

$                          847,500

$                                  824,955




LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY



Current liabilities:



Accounts payable

$                            45,303

$                                    15,324

Current portion of long-term debt

1,897

4,041

Prepaid drilling contracts

3,679

408

Accrued expenses

41,106

29,031

Total current liabilities

91,985

48,804

Long-term debt, less current portion

264,497

258,073

Other long term liabilities

9,836

6,457

Deferred taxes

81,306

90,173

Total liabilities

447,624

403,507

Total shareholders' equity

399,876

421,448

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$                          847,500

$                                  824,955



PIONEER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(unaudited)








Six months ended



June 30,



2010


2009






Cash flows from operating activities:





Net loss


$                  (24,689)


$                    (5,641)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash





provided by operating activities:





Depreciation and amortization


58,428


51,515

Allowance for doubtful accounts


(54)


96

(Gain) loss on dispositions of property and equipment


(716)


91

Stock-based compensation expense


3,432


3,889

Amortization of debt issuance costs


1,142


332

Deferred income taxes


(11,958)


3,414

Change in other assets


(2,609)


575

Change in non-current liabilities


3,375


(991)

Changes in current assets and liabilities


16,217


27,397

Net cash provided by operating activities


42,568


80,677






Cash flows from investing activities:





Acquisition of Tiger Wireline, Inc.


(1,340)


-

Purchases of property and equipment


(63,817)


(47,677)

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment


1,003


261

Proceeds from insurance recoveries


      -


      36

Net cash used in investing activities


(64,154)


(47,380)






Cash flows from financing activities:





Debt repayments


(245,951)


(16,418)

Proceeds from issuance of debt


249,375


-

Debt issuance costs


(4,795)


-

Proceeds from sale of common stock


12


-

Purchase of treasury stock


    (86)


       -

Net cash used in by financing activities


(1,445)


(16,418)






Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents


(23,031)


16,879

Beginning cash and cash equivalents


40,379


26,821

Ending cash and cash equivalents


$                    17,348


$                    43,700



PIONEER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

Operating Statistics

(in thousands, except average number of drilling rigs, utilization rate and revenue day information)

(unaudited)













Three months ended


Six months ended




June 30,

March 31,


June 30,




2010

2009

2010


2010

2009










Drilling Services Division:







Revenues

$                          76,096

$                          45,720

$                          55,817


$                  131,913

$                  117,086

Operating costs

58,549

28,437

45,903


104,452

72,565

Drilling services margin (1)

$                          17,547

$                          17,283

$                            9,914


$                    27,461

$                    44,521










Average number of drilling rigs

71.0

70.7

71.0


71.0

70.3

Utilization rate

58%

35%

49%


54%

44%

Revenue days

3,775

2,238

3,152


6,927

5,534










Average revenues per day

$                          20,158

$                          20,429

$                          17,708


$                    19,043

$                    21,158

Average operating costs per day

15,510

12,706

14,563


15,079

13,113










Drilling services margin per day (2)

$                            4,648

$                            7,723

$                            3,145


$                      3,964

$                      8,045










Production Services Division:







Revenues

$                          40,931

$                          23,400

$                          30,204


$                    71,135

$                    52,874

Operating costs

24,527

14,906

19,965


44,492

33,622

Production services margin (1)

$                          16,404

$                            8,494

$                          10,239


$                    26,643

$                    19,252










Combined:







Revenues

$                        117,027

$                          69,120

$                          86,021


$                  203,048

$                  169,960

Operating Costs

83,076

43,343

65,868


148,944

106,187

Combined margin

$                          33,951

$                          25,777

$                          20,153


$                    54,104

$                    63,773










EBITDA (3)

$                          22,016

$                          17,936

$                            9,239


$                    31,255

$                    45,724










(1) Drilling services margin represents contract drilling revenues less contract drilling operating costs. Production services margin represents production
services revenue less production services operating costs. Pioneer believes that Drilling services margin and Production services margin are useful
measures for evaluating financial performance, although they are not measures of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles.
However, Drilling services margin and Production services margin are common measures of operating performance used by investors, financial analysts,
rating agencies and Pioneer’s management.  A reconciliation of Drilling services margin and Production services margin to net earnings (loss) is included
in the table below. Drilling services margin and production services margin as presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures reported
by other companies.

(2) Drilling services margin per revenue day represents the Drilling Services Division’s average revenue per revenue day less average operating costs per
revenue day.

(3) We define EBITDA as earnings (loss) before interest income (expense), taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairments. Although not prescribed under
GAAP, we believe the presentation of EBITDA is relevant and useful because it helps our investors understand our operating performance and makes it easier
to compare our results with those of other companies that have different financing, capital or tax structures. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation from
or as a substitute for net earnings (loss) as an indication of operating performance or cash flows from operating activities or as a measure of liquidity. A reconciliation
of net earnings (loss) to EBITDA is included in the table below. EBITDA, as we calculate it, may not be comparable to EBITDA measures reported by other companies.
In addition, EBITDA does not represent funds available for discretionary use.



PIONEER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

Reconciliation of Combined Drilling Services Margin and Production

Services Margin and EBITDA to Net Loss

(in thousands)

(unaudited)













Three months ended


Six months ended




June 30,

March 31,


June 30,




2010

2009

2010


2010

2009











Combined margin

$                          33,951

$                          25,777

$                          20,153


$                    54,104

$                    63,773












General and administrative

(12,257)

(8,951)

(11,473)


(23,730)

(18,978)



Bad debt expense (recoveries)

7

(30)

75


82

304



Other income (expense)

315

1,140

484


799

625











EBITDA

22,016

17,936

9,239


31,255

45,724












Depreciation and amortization

(29,557)

(26,069)

(28,871)


(58,428)

(51,515)



Interest income (expense), net

(7,099)

(1,673)

(4,074)


(11,173)

(3,577)



Income tax benefit

4,498

3,547

9,159


13,657

3,727












  Net loss

$                         (10,142)

$                           (6,259)

$                         (14,547)


$                  (24,689)

$                    (5,641)



PIONEER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

Capital Expenditures

(in thousands)

(unaudited)











Budget




Three months ended


Six months ended


Year Ending




June 30,

March 31,


June 30,


December 31,




2010

2009

2010


2010

2009


2010

Capital expenditures:





















 Drilling Services Division:











Routine rigs


$               4,544

$               1,788

$               1,981


$               6,525

$               5,684


$              20,000


Discretionary


33,955

5,455

14,352


48,307

11,518


80,900


Tubulars


47

1,102

27


74

1,970


4,700


New-builds and acquisitions


       -

       -

       -


       -

       -


       -













 Total Drilling Services Division capital expenditures


38,546

8,345

16,360


54,906

19,172


105,600












 Production Services Division:











Routine


1,364

1,023

934


2,298

2,736


5,000


Discretionary


200

90

95


295

171


5,000


New-builds and acquisitions


4,358

246

2,525


6,883

4,725


10,000













 Total Production Services Division capital expenditures


5,922

1,359

3,554


9,476

7,632


20,000












 Actual and budgeted capital expenditures


44,468

9,704

19,914


64,382

26,804


125,600












 Budgeted capital expenditures approved in 2009 that










 will be incurred in 2010


3,096

-

16,155


19,249

-


20,000

 Budgeted capital expenditures approved in 2008 that










 will be incurred in 2009


       -

8,778

       -


       -

18,416


       -















$             47,564

$             18,482

$             36,069


$             83,631

$             45,220


$            145,600



PIONEER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

Drilling Rig, Workover Rig and Wireline Unit Information






Rig Type



Mechanical

Electric

Total Rigs

Drilling Services Division:








Drilling rig horsepower ratings:




   550 to 700 HP

6

-

6

   750 to 950 HP

14

2

16

   1000 HP

18

13

31

   1200 to 2000 HP

 3

 15

 18

       Total

41

30

71





Drilling rig depth ratings:




   Less than 10,000 feet

7

2

9

   10,000 to 13,900 feet

31

7

38

   14,000 to 25,000 feet

 3

21

24

       Total

41

30

71





Production Services Division:








Workover rig horsepower ratings:




   400 HP



1

   550 HP



69

   600 HP



  4

       Total



74





Wireline units



79



SOURCE Pioneer Drilling Company


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