8-K

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) March 18, 2009

PARKER DRILLING COMPANY

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-7573	73-0618660
(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
1401 Enclave Parkway, Suite 600, Houston, Texas	77077
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

(281) 406-2000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

     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):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EX-99.1

EX-99.2

EX-99.3

EX-99.4

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

     On March 18, 2009, Parker Drilling Company (the “Registrant”) issued a press release relating to a report issued by the Registrant entitled “Gulf of Mexico Barge Rig Fleet.” The Gulf of Mexico Barge Rig Fleet report updates rig status and contract information as of February, 2009. The Registrant expects to update this report monthly. The report is intended to provide analysts and investors with information about activity in the Registrant’s U.S. Barge Drilling segment, including average dayrate figures and rig utilization statistics for each of the Registrant’s Gulf of Mexico barge rigs. A copy of this press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on Form 8-K and a copy of the Gulf of Mexico Barge Rig Fleet report is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Report on Form 8-K.

     On March 19, 2009, the Registrant issued a press release relating to a report issued by the Registrant entitled “Worldwide Drilling Rig Fleet.” The Worldwide Drilling Rig Fleet report updates rig status and contract information as of February, 2009. The Registrant expects to update this report monthly. The report is intended to provide analysts and investors with information about activity in the Registrant’s International Drilling segment, including rig utilization statistics for each of the Registrant’s worldwide drilling rigs. A copy of this press release is attached as Exhibit 99.3 to this Report on Form 8-K and a copy of the Worldwide Drilling Rig Fleet report is attached as Exhibit 99.4 to this Report on Form 8-K.

     This information is being furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 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 (the “Exchange Act”) 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 (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

     The information and statements made in the Gulf of Mexico Barge Rig Fleet report and the Worldwide Drilling Rig Fleet report that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements include statements concerning contract expiration dates, estimated dayrates and rig utilization, estimated dates for completion of construction or repairs and upgrades and commencement dates of new contracts. Such statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including without limitation, early termination by the customer pursuant to the contract or otherwise, cancellation or completion of certain contracts earlier than expected, operational difficulties and other factors described in the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its most recent periodic reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which are available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or the Registrant’s website at www.parkerdrilling.com. The Registrant cautions you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these statements.

2

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (d) Exhibits.

     The following exhibits are furnished herewith:

99.1	Press release dated March 18, 2009, issued by the Registrant.
99.2	Gulf of Mexico Barge Rig Fleet report.
99.3	Press release dated March 19, 2009, issued by the Registrant.
99.4	Worldwide Drilling Rig Fleet report.

3

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
Date: March 20, 2009	By:	/s/ W. Kirk Brassfield
		W. Kirk Brassfield
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

4

Index to Exhibits

99.1	Press release dated March 18, 2009, issued by the Registrant.
99.2	Gulf of Mexico Barge Rig Fleet report.
99.3	Press release dated March 19, 2009, issued by the Registrant.
99.4	Worldwide Drilling Rig Fleet report.

5

EX-99.1

News

Exhibit 99.1

PARKER DRILLING PROVIDES REPORT ON GULF OF MEXICO BARGE RIG FLEET

HOUSTON, March 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Parker Drilling Company (NYSE: PKD) today announced that it has posted a report on the Company’s Gulf of Mexico barge rig fleet updating rig status and contract information as of February, 2009. The Company expects to update this report monthly. The report is intended to provide analysts and investors with information about activity in Parker’s U.S. Barge Drilling segment.

The report “Gulf of Mexico Barge Rig Fleet” is available through the Company’s Web site at www.parkerdrilling.com. The report can be accessed by selecting the “Rig Fleet Status Report” link under the Investor Relations section of the site. To be notified of rig fleet status report updates, subscribe to the “Rig Fleet Status Report Alert” in the Information Request link at the Investor Relations section of the site.

Parker Drilling Company (NYSE: PKD) provides high-performance contract drilling solutions, rental tools and project management services to the worldwide energy industry. Parker operates 29 land rigs in strategic international markets and 17 offshore barge rigs, primarily in the coastal waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The Company’s Quail Tools division rents premium equipment to operators in active land and offshore markets in North America. Founded in 1934, Parker has set numerous world records for deep and extended-reach drilling and is an industry leader in safety performance. More information about Parker Drilling can be found at http://www.parkerdrilling.com.

SOURCE Parker Drilling Company

CONTACT: Investors, Richard Bajenski, +1-281-406-2030, or Media, Rose
Maltby, +1-281-406-2212, both of Parker Drilling Company

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

GULF OF MEXICO BARGE RIG FLEET Rated1Q’082Q’083Q’084Q’081Q’09 (trailing 13 weeks) RIG #DepthJAN FEBMARAPRMAYJUN JULAUGSEP OCTNOVDECJANFEB MAR RIG # DEEP DRILLING BARGE RIGS 12B18,000’12B 15B15,000’15B 50B20,000’50B 51B20,000’51B 54B25,000’54B 55B25,000’55B 56B25,000’56B 72B30,000’72B 76B30,000’76B 77B30,000’77B RIG UTILIZATION94%98%82%67%36% (est.) AVERAGE DAYRATE$44,800$43,300$44,300$44,600$37,200 (est.) INTERMEDIATE DRILLING BARGE RIGS 8B14,000’8B 20B13,000’20B 21B14,000’21B RIG UTILIZATION50%95%100%50%3% (est.) AVERAGE DAYRATE$35,000$30,300$32,800$30,300$25,400 (est.) SHALLOW DRILLING / WORKOVER BARGE RIGS 6Bn.a.6B 16B12,000’16B 23Bn.a.Sold23B TOTAL GULF OF MEXICO BARGE RIG FLEET RIG UTILIZATION76%91%79%61%31% (est.) AVG. RIGS AVAILABLE15.715.015.015.015.0 (est.) = Working = Not Working = Repair, Refurb & Upgrade = Actual | Estimate · Average utilization and average dayrates shown here represent averages for the Company’s drilling rigs that were operating under a drilling contract. · Actual utilization is based on days available and revenue-producing days for each period. Estimated utilization is based on weekly activity for the prior 13 weeks. · The Company cautions that numerous factors in addition to average utilization and average dayrates can impact the Company’s operating results and that a particular trend in average utilization and average dayrates may or may not indicate a trend in or be indicative of the Company’s financial performance. March, 2009

EX-99.3

News

Exhibit 99.3

PARKER DRILLING PROVIDES REPORT ON WORLDWIDE DRILLING RIG FLEET

HOUSTON, March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Parker Drilling Company (NYSE: PKD) today announced that it has posted a report on the Company’s worldwide drilling rig fleet updating rig status and contract information as of February, 2009. The Company expects to update this report monthly. The report is intended to provide analysts and investors with information about activity in Parker’s International Drilling segment.

The report “Worldwide Drilling Rig Fleet,” is available through the Company’s Web site at www.parkerdrilling.com. The report can be accessed by selecting the “Rig Fleet Status Report” link under the Investor Relations section of the site. To be notified of rig fleet status report updates, subscribe to the “Rig Fleet Status Report Alert” in the Information Request link at the Investor Relations section of the site.

Parker Drilling Company (NYSE: PKD) provides high-performance contract drilling solutions, rental tools and project management services to the worldwide energy industry. Parker operates 29 land rigs in strategic international markets and 17 offshore barge rigs, primarily in the coastal waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The Company’s Quail Tools division rents premium equipment to operators in active land and offshore markets in North America. Founded in 1934, Parker has set numerous world records for deep and extended-reach drilling and is an industry leader in safety performance. More information about Parker Drilling can be found at http://www.parkerdrilling.com.

SOURCE Parker Drilling Company

CONTACT: Investors, Richard Bajenski, +1-281-406-2030, or Media, Rose
Maltby, +1-281-406-2212, both of Parker Drilling Company

EX-99.4

Exhibit 99.4

WORLDWIDE DRILLING RIG FLEET CURRENT1Q’082Q’083Q’084Q’081Q’092009 RIG # HPLOCATION JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 2010+ RIG # LATIN AMERICA 121 2,000 Mexico2012 121 122 2,000 Mexico122 165 3,000 Mexico2010165 221 3,000 Mexico2010221 256 3,000 Mexico2010256 266 2,000 Mexico266 267 2,000 Mexico267 268 3,000 Colombia268 270 2,800 Available270 271 3,000 Colombia271 53B 1,600 Mexico53B RIG UTILIZATION72%73%80%90%82%63% ALASKA 272 1,800 Alaska2010 2015 272 273 1,800 Alaska2010 2015 273 RIG UTILIZATIONn.m.n.m.n.m.n.m.n.m.n.m. ASIA PACIFIC 140 2,000 Papua New Guinea140 188 2,400 New Zealand188 225 2,000 Bangladesh225 226 2,000 Papua New Guinea226 231 1,000 Indonesia231 246 1,500 New Zealand2010246 252900 Indonesia252 253 1,500 Indonesia253 RIG UTILIZATION63%65%75%73%41%18% CIS 107 1,500 Kazakhstan2011 107 216 2,000 Kazakhstan2011 216 230 1,500 Turkmenistan230 236 1,500 Kazakhstan236 247 2,000 Kazakhstan247 249 3,000 Kazakhstan2010249 257 3,000 Kazakhstan2011 257 258 3,000 Kazakhstan2010258 259 1,500 Kazakhstan259 269 2,800 Kazakhstan269 RIG UTILIZATION90%90%90%90%83%64% AFRICA / MIDDLE EAST 121 2,000 Libyamoved to Latin America121 264 2,000 Algeria2010264 265 2,000 Algeria2010265 Total Global Fleet RIGS AVAILABLE292930303131 RIG UTILIZATION73%76%84%87%73%54% = Contracted to work = Not under contract = Under construction= Actual | Estimate · Average utilization and average dayrates shown here represent averages for the Company’s drilling rigs that were operating under a drilling contract. • Actual utilization is based on days available and revenue-producing days for each period. Estimated utilization is based on average weekly activity. · The Company cautions that numerous factors in addition to average utilization and average dayrates can impact the Company’s operating results and that a particular trend in average utilization and average dayrates may or may not indicate a trend in or be indicative of the Company’s financial performance. March 2009