SEPTEMBER 7, 2001 – SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Pioneer Drilling Company (AMEX: PDC) today announced it will participate in Morgan Keegan’s 11th Annual Energy Conference on Monday, September 10, 2001 at the New York Palace Hotel.

Michael Little, Pioneer Drilling’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to make a presentation on September 10th from approximately 11:25 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. eastern time.

To access a live audio simulcast of this presentation with an accompanying slide presentation, please go to http://www.easterlyir.com at least ten minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those that cannot listen to the live webcast, an archive will be available shortly after the presentation.

“We are pleased to be presenting at Morgan Keegan’s 11th Annual Energy Conference,” stated Mr. Little. “Participating in this conference affords us the opportunity to highlight the successes we have been experiencing, as well as meet with various analysts and investors while in New York.”

Top management from twenty-seven sector firms examine the natural resources sector in this special webcast of the Morgan Keegan 11th Annual Energy Conference. To listen to the free streaming audio of the live conference, see http://www.etwst.com/infobox/mk/mkconference.html. To access special interviews with Morgan Keegan Energy analysts Neal McAtee, Brent Rakers and Subash Chandra as they discuss the conference and the sector outlook, go to www.twst.com.

Pioneer Drilling Company provides contract land drilling services to independent and major oil and gas operators drilling wells in central, south and east Texas. The Company’s fleet consists of 18 land drilling rigs that can reach depths of 10,000-18,000 feet. Pioneer Drilling also has another 1700-hp technologically advanced land rig under construction and a newly acquired National 110UE 1500-hp being refurbished.