Nabors Industries LTD. (NBR)

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Nabors' 3Q2012 EPS Equals $0.42 from Continuing Operations, Excluding a $0.20 per Diluted Share, Non-Cash Ceiling Test Impairment

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Oct. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE: NBR) today announced its results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012. Adjusted income derived from operating activities was $225.5 million for the third quarter, compared to $269.3 million in the third quarter of 2011 and $230.4 million in the second quarter of this year. Excluding the Company's portion of its NFR affiliate's third quarter ceiling test impairment, which amounted to a pre-tax charge of approximately $96.3 million, or ($0.20) per diluted share, net income from continuing operations was $123.6 million, or $0.42 per diluted share. This compares to $132.5 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2011 and $109.7 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, in the second quarter of this year when all non-cash charges are excluded. Third quarter GAAP net income from continuing operations was $65.8 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to $87.2 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2011 and a net loss of $98.7 million, or ($0.34) per diluted share, in the second quarter of this year.

Operating revenues totaled $1.77 billion in the current quarter, compared to $1.61 billion in the third quarter of last year and $1.74 billion in the second quarter of this year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, adjusted income derived from operating activities was $777.1 million, compared to $654.4 million in 2011. Net income from continuing operations for the first nine months of 2012 was $422.2 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, compared to $297.9 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, in 2011. Year-to-date GAAP net income from continuing operations was $109.8 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, compared to $252.6 million or $0.86 per diluted share in 2011.

The quarter's results reflect the receipt of $25.3 million in contract termination payments in the Company's US Lower 48 and International operations, of which $6.7 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, would have been received in future periods extending as far as December 2013. They also reflect a lower effective tax rate, a portion of which (approximately $5.5 million, or $0.02 per diluted share) was attributable to favorable return-to-provision tax adjustments in multiple jurisdictions.

Tony Petrello, Nabors' Chairman and CEO, commented, "These results reflect improved operational performance in our US land well servicing, International and Canada operations. Unfortunately, a sharper than anticipated drop in US land drilling activity, the seasonal hurricane pause in the Gulf of Mexico, further seasonal slowing in Alaska, and reduced shipments in Canrig essentially offset those improvements. Net income also benefitted from a meaningful reduction in our effective tax rate, which we expect to be ongoing.

"The quarterly exit rates in US land drilling activity, along with the seasonal slowdown in well servicing and pressure pumping utilization, signal a significantly weaker fourth quarter followed by a modest uptick in the first quarter with the seasonal improvement in Alaska and Canada.

"Our initiatives to reduce leverage and improve financial flexibility are beginning to yield meaningful results, with third quarter operating cash flow of $495 million exceeding capital expenditures by approximately $247 million. We also achieved an $80 million reduction in accounts receivable despite a $30 million increase in revenues, primarily attributable to an improvement in DSO (days sales outstanding). This improvement in cash generation contributed to funding the redemption of $275 million in maturing notes, $120 million in semi-annual interest payments and approximately $250 million in capital expenditures, while effecting a $159 million reduction in net debt during the quarter. We will continue to diligently manage capital expenditures and working capital and expect to further reduce net debt. Proceeds from any potential asset sales will accelerate this progress.

"We continue to streamline our business through a conversion from our historical business unit structure into two lines of business, Nabors Completion & Production Services (NCPS) and Nabors Drilling & Rig Services (NDRS). The consolidation of our US well servicing and pressure pumping operations into NCPS is progressing under a matrix organizational structure. The NCPS management team has been established down to the local operations level, while the integration of support functions and facilities is ongoing. The impact of these improvements will become more meaningful over the next few quarters, although it will be obscured by the fourth and first quarter seasonal weakness that characterizes these services, as well as the macro issues discussed below. As a first step in the formation of our NDRS business line, we recently began the consolidation of our US Offshore and Alaska operations into our US Lower 48 business group.

Drilling & Rig Services

"Sequential operating income for this line of business was essentially flat at $184.6 million, compared to the $186.2 million posted in the second quarter. Improving results in Canada and International essentially offset the adverse effects of declining activity in US Lower 48 land drilling, slower US Offshore activity during hurricane season, seasonally low activity in Alaska, and reduced shipments in Canrig. During the quarter, we averaged 13 fewer rigs working at 364 rig years, with the financial effects being substantially offset by a $657 increase in average margins bringing the third quarter average to $12,351 per rig day. Approximately $200 of this increase was attributable to the portion of the lump sum contract termination payments that represent margins that would have been earned in future periods.

"Operating income in our US Lower 48 operations was $114.9 million, approximately $11.6 million lower than the second quarter, with a lower average rig count of 193.8 rigs, partially offset by an $852 increase in average margins at $12,030 per rig day. This included $40 per rig day in early termination margins that are attributable to future periods. As we anticipated, last quarter our customers reduced second half spending significantly compared to the first half in order to stay within budget in light of reduced cash flows from weaker natural gas and liquids pricing. This reduction led to third quarter activity declines and will further depress fourth quarter results. Our rig count declined by 35 rigs in the quarter, with one-half of those rigs concentrated with four large customers who curtailed their programs as contracts expired. Sixteen of our 35 rigs received early termination payments totaling $16 million in third quarter income, with only $0.7 million of this amount attributable to future periods. These combined effects caused our rig count to decline disproportionately, as compared to the industry, and it currently stands at 175 rigs on revenue.

"We deployed seven new rigs this quarter, all with long-term contract commitments. Additionally, we have secured three incremental long-term contract commitments for our new generation PACE(®)-X rig. This brings to nine the number of PACE(®)-X rigs we have yet to deliver through the first half of 2013, all with long-term contracts. Our new generation PACE(®)-X rigs represent a step change in pad drilling efficiency and mobility. Nabors pioneered pad drilling and has developed the PACE(®)-X rig to more efficiently address the evolving demand for multi-row, multi-well pad configurations. Customer response to the new offering is encouraging and we expect to attract additional contracts. There is a significant increase in demand for rigs with pad drilling capability, particularly in the shale plays. With the delivery of these nine PACE(®)-X rigs our US Lower 48 operations alone will have 93 pad-capable rigs, with our other drilling operations possessing another 79 pad rigs.

"Looking forward, our customers are indicating a resumption of more normal activity as they initiate their 2013 budgets. This should improve utilization relative to current levels and possibly moderate pricing pressure, although a number of new rigs continue to enter the market with lower rates and shorter contract durations.

"Operating income in our International operations was $30.3 million, compared to $16.4 million in the second quarter. This included an early contract termination payment of $8.8 million, of which $6.0 million would have been earned in future periods. Rig activity was 119.2 rigs, two rigs less than the prior quarter, which saw four rigs temporarily idled in Algeria that should return to work around the end of this year. Margins improved by nearly $1,340 to $12,299 per rig day, including $547 representing the future portion of the early termination payments. The absorption of higher labor costs in certain Middle East countries, the temporarily idled Algeria rigs, and the need to perform some deferred contractual rig upgrades will dampen the pace of improvement in this unit for the next several quarters. Longer term, we remain focused on improving results at a modest pace.

"Our drilling operations in Canada experienced a large increase in income as they emerged from the second quarter, despite a wetter-than-usual start to the third quarter. Operating income was $22.9 million, compared to a loss of $3.7 million in the second quarter, and $1.3 was million higher than the same quarter last year. Rig activity increased sequentially by 14 to average 34 rigs operating in the third quarter, while margins improved significantly to average $13,439, an increase of $3,513 per rig day over the second quarter. As is the case in the US Lower 48, customer cash flow constraints are limiting growth in activity. Nonetheless, we anticipate our fourth quarter to show moderate improvement and the first quarter to increase modestly again. We are also deploying a new 1,500 horsepower rig with a pad drilling moving system under a five-year contract for a key customer.

"As anticipated, our US Offshore operations experienced a modest loss in the third quarter as many of our shallow-water customers suspended their work programs for hurricane season. We anticipate some recovery in the fourth and first quarters, but the shallow-water platform market is still plagued by increased regulatory requirements that are limiting activity.

"In Alaska, results were down seasonally as expected at $4.0 million, compared to second quarter results of $8.9 million and first quarter results of $27.4 million. This market has become highly seasonal due to the reduced level of year-round drilling work being conducted in the legacy North Slope fields where steeply progressive tax rates limit reinvestment. We expect the fourth quarter to decline further, but anticipate a sharp rebound in the first quarter with what promises to be another active exploratory drilling season. There continues to be a high level of optimism that the Alaska legislature will modify the tax structure for operators, which would spur a significant increase in activity over time. Longer term, a number of strategic projects are planned in new areas where tax incentives are already in place, but these are characterized by long lead times and would likely not commence for another two to three years.

"Our Other Rig Services entities saw lower results as our Alaska trucking and construction businesses slowed seasonally and Canrig experienced a moderate slowdown in rentals and domestic shipments, mirroring other land rig equipment manufacturers. Although Canrig's capital equipment backlog has decreased recently, in line with slower North American rig construction, recent international orders are partially offsetting the decrease.

Completion & Production Services

"During the quarter, operating income in our Completion & Production Services business line was $80.0 million, up from the $74.7 million realized in the second quarter. The majority of this increase came from higher average rates in well servicing, augmented by a small improvement in pressure pumping margins to 13.1 percent, compared to 12.3 percent in second quarter. We anticipate the usual seasonally lower results in the fourth and first quarters.

"Operating income attributable to the US well servicing and fluids management operations was $32.8 million for the quarter, up $4.2 million compared to the second quarter. While rig and truck hours were essentially flat to down slightly, higher average rates for both generated most of the increase. Rates and utilization have flattened and certain markets are becoming increasingly competitive, especially in the fluids management portion of this business. We expect seasonally lower activity through late first quarter, followed by a resumption of activity as our customers indicate higher spending levels and the population of maintenance-intensive oil wells continues to increase at a robust pace.

"In our Pressure Pumping operations, operating income increased modestly to $47.2 million compared to $46.1 million in the second quarter. The outlook remains challenging across all regional markets as most of our long-term contract crews are now working at minimum activity levels and spot-market rates remain under pressure. Some competitors are bidding work at what appears to be near breakeven cash flow levels. Given the status of the spot market, we recently idled another crew in the Permian basin bringing our number of stacked frac spreads to six.

"Although we may see a small increase in industry utilization in the new year, the amount of excess capacity will likely limit any upside potential for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, we continue to focus on cost and efficiency, particularly relating to logistics and storage functions which have been centralized into our corporate procurement and logistics group. Inventory turns have increased significantly and material costs are improving.

"In summary, the near-term market for most of our services is challenging. Macro worries are still prevalent, and the lower levels of customer spending and seasonal constraints in North America are adversely affecting all areas of our operations. While we anticipate some increase in customer spending levels at the beginning of the new year, which will improve utilization moderately, it is not likely to absorb sufficient capacity to restore pricing momentum. That will come with a more meaningful increase in demand for rigs and other services, which can occur for a number of reasons, with improving gas prices having the greatest impact.

"Nonetheless, we believe our quality asset base, diverse product lines and geography, global infra-structure and talented employee base uniquely position us as opportunities arise, particularly in the expansion of unconventional resource development. Meanwhile, we will diligently continue to improve our balance sheet quality, streamline our business and achieve higher levels of operational excellence."

Financials continued at:


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