8-K

================================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 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 14, 2005


                             PARKER DRILLING COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Delaware                        1-7573                   73-0618660
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                                       Identification No.)


    1401 Enclave Parkway, Suite 600
          Houston, Texas 77077                                        77077
(Address of principal executive offices)                            (Zip Code)

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


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
    230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
    240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


================================================================================




Item 8.01    Other Events.

         On April 14, 2005, Parker Drilling Company (the "Company") publicly
disseminated a press release announcing that it has agreed to sell an additional
$50 million in aggregate principal amount of its 9 5/8% Senior Notes due 2013 at
an offering price of 111% of the principal amount thereof in a previously
announced private offering that will result in gross proceeds of $55.5 million.
The purpose of this Current Report on Form 8-K is to file as Exhibit 99.1 a copy
of the Company's press release dated April 14, 2005 announcing such event. The
press release is incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01 and the foregoing
description of the press release is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such exhibit.

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         Exhibits. The following is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report
on Form 8-K:

             99.1 Press Release of Parker Drilling Company dated April 14, 2005.






                                      -2-


                                   SIGNATURES

         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.


                                    PARKER DRILLING COMPANY


Dated: April 15, 2005               By: /s/ W. Kirk Brassfield
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        W. Kirk Brassfield
                                        Vice President, Finance and Accounting




                                      -3-


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX




Exhibit
Number            Description
- -------           -----------

               
99.1              Press Release of Parker Drilling Company dated April 14, 2005.







                                      -4-

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1


                        PARKER DRILLING COMPANY ANNOUNCES
                      SALE OF 9 5/8% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013

         HOUSTON, April 14, 2005 - Parker Drilling Company (NYSE: PKD) announced
today that it has agreed to sell an additional $50 million in aggregate
principal amount of its 9 5/8% Senior Notes due 2013 (the "Additional Notes") at
an offering price of 111% of the principal amount thereof in a previously
announced private offering that will result in gross proceeds of $55.5 million.
The Additional Notes will be issued under an Indenture, dated as of October 10,
2003, under which $175.0 million in aggregate principal amount of notes of the
same series were previously issued.

         The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering of the
Additional Notes, together with cash on hand, to redeem $65 million aggregate
principal amount of the Company's 10 1/8% Senior Notes due 2009 on or about
May 21, 2005.

         The securities to be offered have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any state
securities laws, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the
United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not
subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable
state securities laws.

         This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any security and shall not constitute an offer,
solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering would be
unlawful.

         Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press
release contains statements that are "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained in this press
release, other than statements of historical facts, are "forward-looking
statements" for purposes of these provisions. These forward-looking statements
include the Company's intention to consummate the sale of the Additional Notes
and the Company's intended use of proceeds of the sale of Additional Notes. The
closing of the sale of the Additional Notes is subject to the satisfaction of
customary closing conditions. There can be no assurance that the Company will
complete the sale of the Additional Notes on the anticipated terms or at all.
The Company's ability to complete the sale of the Additional Notes will depend,
among other things, on market conditions for debt securities in general and the
Company's debt securities in particular. In addition, the Company's ability to
complete the sale of the Additional Notes and the Company's business are subject
to the risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Company's annual, quarterly and special reports are available
over the Internet at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. Nothing in this
press release should be construed as an offer to purchase, or as a notice to
redeem, any outstanding 10 1/8% Senior Notes due 2009.