<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>h14727e8vk.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PARKER DRILLING COMPANY
<TEXT>
<PAGE>
                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

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

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 27, 2004

                             PARKER DRILLING COMPANY
                             -----------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


<TABLE>
<S>                          <C>                          <C>
        Delaware                      1-7573                         73-0618660
------------------------     ------------------------     ---------------------------------
(State of Incorporation)     (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer Identification No.)
</TABLE>


              1401 Enclave Parkway, Suite 600, Houston, Texas 77077
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (281) 406-2000


                                 Not Applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)

<PAGE>

ITEM 12.  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

         On April 27, 2004, the Registrant issued its press release announcing
first quarter 2004 earnings and results of operations. A copy of this press
release is attached as Exhibit 99 to this Report on Form 8-K. This information
is being furnished pursuant to Item 12 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed
"filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall
it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference
in any such filing.


                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Date:  April 27, 2004

                                          PARKER DRILLING COMPANY

                                     By:  /s/ Robert L. Parker Jr.
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Robert L. Parker Jr.
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer

<PAGE>
                                 Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.       Description
-----------       -----------
    99            Press Release dated April 27, 2004, issued by the Registrant,
                  announcing the first quarter 2004 earnings and results of
                  operations.

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>