Patterson Uti Energy Inc (PTEN) SEC Filing 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ending Thursday, March 31, 2022

Exhibit 99.1

Contact: Mike Drickamer

Vice President, Investor Relations

(281) 765-7170

Patterson-UTI Energy Reports Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

HOUSTON, Texas – April 27, 2022 – PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC. (NASDAQ: PTEN) today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The Company reported a net loss of $28.8 million, or $0.13 per share, for the first quarter of 2022, compared to a net loss of $106 million, or $0.57 per share, for the first quarter of 2021. Revenues for the first quarter of 2022 were $509 million, compared to $241 million for the first quarter of 2021.

Andy Hendricks, Patterson-UTI’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Pricing for all of our services accelerated during the first quarter due to the limited supply of readily available, high-quality drilling and completion equipment. The increasing demand and tight supply of rigs should drive better pricing, longer-term contracts and increasing contract backlog in contract drilling. Given the strength in pricing, we are increasing our forecast for our consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for 2022 to greater than $500 million, while maintaining our 2022 capital expenditure forecast at approximately $350 million.”

Mr. Hendricks continued, “In contract drilling, activity further increased in the first quarter with our average rig count in the United States growing by nine to 115 rigs. We expect continued growth in our rig count with our second quarter rig count in the United States expected to average 122 rigs.

“Contract drilling revenues and margins increased significantly due to higher activity, increasing dayrates and lower operating costs on a per day basis. Average rig revenue per day in the United States increased by $1,100 to $23,130 for the first quarter, while average rig operating cost per day decreased by $620 to $15,960. Average adjusted rig margin per day in the United States increased during the first quarter by $1,720 to $7,170.

“In Colombia, contract drilling revenues increased to $17.0 million for the first quarter compared to $15.8 million for the fourth quarter. Adjusted gross margin improved to $5.6 million for the first quarter from $5.3 million in the fourth quarter.

“As of March 31, 2022, we had term contracts for drilling rigs in the United States providing for future dayrate drilling revenue of approximately $400 million. Based on contracts currently in place in the United States, we expect an average of 57 rigs operating under term contracts during the second quarter, and an average of 43 rigs operating under term contracts during the four quarters ending March 31, 2023.

“In pressure pumping, revenues and margins improved during the first quarter due to better pricing and the full quarter impact of the spread reactivated in the fourth quarter. Pressure pumping revenues increased during the first quarter to $190 million from $183 million during the fourth quarter. Adjusted gross margin during the first quarter of $32.1 million included a $9.9 million benefit related to a sales and use tax refund. Our pressure pumping stage count during the first quarter was less than planned on two spreads, primarily due to customer-related logistics challenges and downtime, which we feel have been addressed.

“In directional drilling, first quarter revenues and margins increased due to higher activity and more favorable pricing. First quarter directional drilling revenues increased 23% to $43.3 million, and the adjusted gross margin improved to $6.4 million.”

Mr. Hendricks concluded, “The fundamentals for oil and gas over the last six months and the resulting rapid increase in demand and activity for equipment and services have led to a strong pricing environment in the U.S. drilling and completions markets. For example, I do not recall another period where leading-edge dayrates for drilling rigs are moving up this quickly. The supply of high-quality equipment is now very limited. As well, any meaningful increase in drilling or completion equipment capacity across the market is further limited by global supply chain challenges where there are long lead times for various raw materials and manufactured components. Therefore, we expect the market for our equipment and services to continue to remain tight and for pricing to continue to increase.”

The Company declared a quarterly dividend on its common stock of $0.04 per share, payable on June 16, 2022, to holders of record as of June 2, 2022.

The financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2022 include pretax acquisition-related expenses of $1.9 million related to the acquisition of Pioneer Energy Services.

All references to "per share" in this press release are diluted earnings per common share as defined within Accounting Standards Codification Topic 260.