Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS FOURTH AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) dated as of February 21, 2017, is by and among PARKER DRILLING COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), each of the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined in the Credit Agreement referenced below), the Lenders (as such term is hereinafter defined) party hereto and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as the administrative agent for the Lenders party to the Credit Agreement referenced below (in such capacity, together with the successors in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and L/C Issuer.

R E C I T A L S

A.    The Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and, individually, a “Lender”), the Administrative Agent and the other agents referred to therein are parties to that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 26, 2015, as amended by the First Amendment dated as of June 1, 2015, the Second Amendment dated as of September 29, 2015 and the Third Amendment, dated May 27, 2016 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which the Lenders have made certain extensions of credit (subject to the terms and conditions thereof) to the Borrower.

B.    The Borrower has previously informed the Administrative Agent that it desires to amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement as set forth herein.

C.    In order to amend such provisions of the Credit Agreement, the Lenders signatory hereto and the Administrative Agent are willing to amend the Credit Agreement on the terms and conditions more fully described herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Section 1.Defined Terms. Each capitalized term used herein but not otherwise defined herein has the meaning given such term in the Credit Agreement. Unless otherwise indicated, all article, schedule, exhibit and section references in this Amendment refer to articles and sections of the Credit Agreement.

Section 2.Amendments to Credit Agreement.

2.1Amendment to Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement. Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to add the following definition in the appropriate place based on alphabetical order:

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“Series A Preferred Stock” means the Borrower’s Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00.

2.2Amendment to Section 7.05 of the Credit Agreement. Section 7.05(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety to read as follows:

“(e) the sale or issuance of (i) the Borrower’s Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock), including the Series A Preferred Stock, or (ii) any Subsidiary’s Equity Interests to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;”

2.3Amendment to Section 7.06 of the Credit Agreement. The first sentence of the last paragraph of Section 7.06 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

“Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, starting on the Second Amendment Effective Date, no Restricted Payment (other than Restricted Payments pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (c), (e) and/or, only to the extent of dividends paid on the Series A Preferred Stock, (k) of Section 7.06) shall be permitted hereunder before March 31, 2019.”

Section 3.Conditions Precedent. This Amendment shall not become effective until the date (the “Effective Date”) on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.01 of the Credit Agreement):

3.1Counterparts. The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Required Lenders, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors, executed counterparts (in such number as may be requested by the Administrative Agent) of this Amendment.

3.2No Default or Event of Default. As of the date hereof and the Effective Date, immediately before and after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

3.3Representations and Warranties. Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors shall represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Date, after giving effect to the terms of this Amendment, all of the representations and warranties contained in each Loan Document to which it is a party are true and correct in all material respects (except for such representations and warranties that have a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification, which shall be true and correct in all respects), except to the extent any such representations and warranties are expressly limited to an earlier date, in which case, such representations and warranties shall continue to be true and correct in all material respects (except for such representations and warranties that have a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification, which shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such specified earlier date.

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

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Section 4.Miscellaneous.

4.1Confirmation. The provisions of the Loan Documents, as amended by this Amendment, shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms following the effectiveness of this Amendment.

4.2Ratification and Affirmation; Representations and Warranties. The Borrower and each of the other Loan Parties does hereby adopt, ratify, and confirm the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, in each case, as amended hereby, and its obligations thereunder. Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby (a) acknowledges, renews and extends its continued liability under, each Loan Document, as amended hereby, to which it is a party and agrees that each Loan Document, as amended hereby, to which it is a party remains in full force and effect, notwithstanding the amendments contained herein and (b) represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that: (i) as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Date, after giving effect to the terms of this Amendment, all of the representations and warranties contained in each Loan Document to which it is a party are true and correct in all material respects (except for such representations and warranties that have a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification, which shall be true and correct in all respects), except to the extent any such representations and warranties are expressly limited to an earlier date, in which case, such representations and warranties shall continue to be true and correct in all material respects (except for such representations and warranties that have a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification, which shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such specified earlier date and (ii) as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Date, (A) immediately before giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (B) immediately after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing.

4.3General Release. EACH OF THE BORROWER AND THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES (ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES) HEREBY FOREVER WAIVES, RELEASES, ACQUITS AND DISCHARGES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY AND ALL CLAIMS (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CROSSCLAIMS, COUNTERCLAIMS, RIGHTS OF SET-OFF AND RECOUPMENT), SUITS, DEMANDS, DEBTS, ACCOUNTS, CONTRACTS, LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, JUDGMENTS, DAMAGES, ACTIONS AND CAUSES OF ACTIONS, WHETHER IN LAW OR IN EQUITY, OF WHATSOEVER NATURE AND KIND, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, WHETHER NOW OR HEREAFTER EXISTING, THAT THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY (AND EACH OF THEIR RELATED PARTIES) AT ANY TIME HAD OR HAS, OR THAT ITS SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, AFFILIATES, SHAREHOLDERS AND “CONTROLLING PERSONS” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS) HEREAFTER CAN OR MAY HAVE AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE L/C ISSUER, ANY ARRANGER, ANY LENDER OR ANY OF THEIR RELATED PARTIES THROUGH THE DATE HEREOF, IN EACH CASE IN CONNECTION WITH THE CREDIT AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS EXECUTED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY.

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4.4Loan Document. This Amendment and each agreement, instrument, certificate or document executed by the Borrower and/or the Subsidiary Guarantors, as applicable, or any of their respective officers in connection therewith are “Loan Documents” as defined and described in the Credit Agreement and all of the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents relating to other Loan Documents shall apply hereto and thereto.

4.5Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by telecopy or other electronic imaging means (e.g., “pdf” or “tiff”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment.

4.6NO ORAL AGREEMENT. THIS AMENDMENT, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH AND THEREWITH REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

4.7GOVERNING LAW. THIS AMENDMENT (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE VALIDITY AND ENFORCEABILITY HEREOF) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

[signature pages follow]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

BORROWER

PARKER DRILLING COMPANY,

as the Borrower

By:     /s/ Christopher T. Weber            

Name:     Christopher T. Weber

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

ANACHORETA, INC., a Nevada corporation

PARDRIL, INC., an Oklahoma corporation

PARKER AVIATION INC., an Oklahoma corporation

PARKER DRILLING ARCTIC OPERATING, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

PARKER DRILLING COMPANY NORTH AMERICA, INC., a Nevada corporation

PARKER DRILLING COMPANY OF NIGER, an Oklahoma corporation

PARKER DRILLING COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA, INCORPORATED, an Oklahoma corporation

PARKER DRILLING COMPANY OF SOUTH AMERICA, INC., an Oklahoma corporation

PARKER DRILLING OFFSHORE COMPANY LLC, a Nevada limited liability company

PARKER DRILLING OFFSHORE USA, L.L.C., an Oklahoma limited liability company

PARKER NORTH AMERICA OPERATIONS, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company

PARKER TECHNOLOGY, INC., an Oklahoma corporation

PARKER TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C., a Louisiana limited liability company

PARKER TOOLS, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company

QUAIL USA, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company

ITS RENTAL AND SALES, INC., a Texas corporation

PARKER DRILLING MANAGEMENT

SERVICES, LTD., a Nevada limited liability

company

By:/s/ David W. Tucker

Name:     David W. Tucker

Title:     Vice President and Treasurer

[Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]

QUAIL TOOLS, L.P.,an Oklahoma limited partnership

By: Quail USA, LLC, its General Partner

By:     /s/ David W. Tucker         Name: David W. Tucker

Title: Vice President and Treasurer

[Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

By: /s/ Priscilla Baker

Name:    Priscilla Baker

Title:    AVP

[Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as a Lender and L/C Issuer

By: /s/ Kevin M. Behen_____________________

Name: Kevin M. Behen

Title: Managing Director

[Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]

BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as a Lender

By:     /s/ May Huang                    

Name: May Huang

Title:     Assistant Vice President

[Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]

WELLS FARGO BANK N.A., as a Lender

By:     /s/ Katherine M. Scalzo        

Name: Katherine M. Scalzo

Title:     Vice President

[Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as a Lender

By:     /s/ Ushma Dedhiya                

Name: Ushma Dedhiya

Title:     Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]