Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

General

v3.7.0.1
General
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
General
General
The Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements as of March 31, 2017 and for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 are unaudited. In the opinion of Parker Drilling Company (Parker Drilling or the Company), these financial statements include all adjustments, which, unless otherwise disclosed, are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows, and stockholders’ equity for the periods presented. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. The financial statements presented herein should be read in connection with the financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Nature of Operations — Our business is comprised of two business lines: (1) Drilling Services and (2) Rental Tools Services. We report our Drilling Services business as two reportable segments: (1) U.S. (Lower 48) Drilling and (2) International & Alaska Drilling. We report our Rental Tools Services business as two reportable segments: (1) U.S. Rental Tools and (2) International Rental Tools.
In our Drilling Services business, we drill oil, natural gas and geothermal wells for customers in both the U.S. and international markets. We provide this service with both Company-owned rigs and customer-owned rigs. We refer to the provision of drilling services with customer-owned rigs as our operations and management (O&M) service in which operators own their own drilling rigs but choose Parker Drilling to operate and manage the rigs for them. The nature and scope of activities involved in drilling an oil and natural gas well is similar whether it is drilled with a Company-owned rig (as part of a traditional drilling contract) or a customer-owned rig (as part of an O&M contract). In addition, we provide project-related services, such as engineering, procurement, project management and commissioning of customer-owned drilling facility projects. We have extensive experience and expertise in drilling geologically difficult wells and in managing the logistical and technological challenges of operating in remote, harsh and ecologically sensitive areas.
    In our Rental Tools Services business, we provide premium rental equipment and services to exploration and production (E&P) companies, drilling contractors and service companies on land and offshore in the U.S. and international markets. Tools we provide include standard and heavy-weight drill pipe, all of which are available with standard or high-torque connections, tubing, drill collars, pressure control equipment, including blow-out preventers (BOPs), and more. We also provide well construction services, which include tubular running services and downhole tool rentals, and well intervention services, which include whipstock, fishing and related services, as well as inspection and machine shop support. Rental tools are used during drilling and/or workover programs and are requested by the customer when they are needed, requiring us to keep a broad inventory of rental tools in stock. Rental tools are usually rented on a daily or monthly basis.
Consolidation — The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and subsidiaries in which we exercise control or have a controlling financial interest, including entities, if any, in which the Company is allocated a majority of the entity’s losses or returns, regardless of ownership percentage. If a subsidiary of Parker Drilling has a 50 percent interest in an entity but Parker Drilling’s interest in the subsidiary or the entity does not meet the consolidation criteria described above, then that interest is accounted for under the equity method.
Noncontrolling Interest — We apply accounting standards related to noncontrolling interests for ownership interests in our subsidiaries held by parties other than Parker Drilling. We report noncontrolling interest as equity on the consolidated balance sheets and report net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest and to noncontrolling interest separately on the consolidated condensed statements of operations.
Reclassifications — Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications did not materially affect our consolidated financial results.
Revenue Recognition — Drilling revenues and expenses, comprised of daywork drilling contracts, call-outs against master service agreements and engineering and related project service contracts, are recognized as services are performed and collection is reasonably assured. For certain contracts, we receive payments contractually designated for the mobilization of rigs and other drilling equipment. Mobilization payments received, and direct costs incurred for the mobilization, are deferred and recognized over the primary term of the related drilling contract; however, costs incurred to relocate rigs and other drilling equipment to areas in which a contract has not been secured are expensed as incurred. For contracts that are terminated prior to the specified term, early termination payments received by us are recognized as revenues when all contractual requirements are met. Revenues from rental activities are recognized ratably over the rental term, which is generally less than six months. Our project-related services contracts include engineering, consulting, and project management scopes of work and revenue is typically recognized on a time and materials basis.
Reimbursable Revenues — The Company recognizes reimbursements received for out-of-pocket expenses incurred as revenues and accounts for out-of-pocket expenses as direct operating costs. Such amounts totaled $15.3 million and $19.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Additionally, the Company typically receives a nominal handling fee, which is recognized as earned in revenues in our consolidated statement of operations.
Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting policies generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect our reported amounts of assets and liabilities, our disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and our revenues and expenses during the periods reported. Estimates are typically used when accounting for certain significant items such as legal or contractual liability accruals, mobilization and deferred mobilization, self-insured medical/dental plans, income taxes and valuation allowance, and other items requiring the use of estimates. Estimates are based on a number of variables which may include third party valuations, historical experience, where applicable, and assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved with estimates, actual results may differ from management estimates.
Purchase Price Allocation — We allocate the purchase price of an acquired business to its identifiable assets and liabilities in accordance with the acquisition method based on estimated fair values at the transaction date. Transaction and integration costs associated with an acquisition are expensed as incurred. The excess of the purchase price over the amount allocated to the assets and liabilities, if any, is recorded as goodwill. We use all available information to estimate fair values, including quoted market prices, the carrying value of acquired assets, and widely accepted valuation techniques such as discounted cash flows. We typically engage third-party appraisal firms to assist in fair value determination of inventories, identifiable intangible assets, and any other significant assets or liabilities. Judgments made in determining the estimated fair value assigned to each class of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as well as asset lives, can materially impact our results of operations.
Goodwill — We perform our annual goodwill impairment review during the fourth quarter, as of October 1, and more frequently if negative conditions or other triggering events arise. The quantitative impairment test we perform for goodwill utilizes certain assumptions, including forecasted revenues and costs assumptions. See Note 2 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets for further discussion.    
Intangible Assets — Our intangible assets are related to trade names, customer relationships, and developed technology, which were acquired through acquisition and are classified as definite lived intangibles, that are generally amortized over a weighted average period of approximately three to six years. We assess the recoverability of the unamortized balance of our intangible assets when indicators of impairment are present based on expected future profitability and undiscounted expected cash flows and their contribution to our overall operations. Should the review indicate that the carrying value is not fully recoverable, the excess of the carrying value over the fair value of the intangible assets would be recognized as an impairment loss. See Note 2 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets for further discussion.
Impairment — We evaluate the carrying amounts of long-lived assets for potential impairment when events occur or circumstances change that indicate the carrying values of such assets may not be recoverable. We evaluate recoverability by determining the undiscounted estimated future net cash flows for the respective asset groups identified. If the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the asset group, we measure the impairment as the amount by which the assets’ carrying value exceeds the fair value of such assets. Management considers a number of factors such as estimated future cash flows from the assets, appraisals and current market value analysis in determining fair value. Assets are written down to fair value if the final estimate of current fair value is below the net carrying value. The assumptions used in the impairment evaluation are inherently uncertain and require management judgment.    
Concentrations of Credit Risk — Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade receivables with a variety of national and international oil and natural gas companies. We generally do not require collateral on our trade receivables. We depend on a limited number of significant customers. Our largest customer, Exxon Neftegas Limited (ENL), constituted approximately 34.9 percent of our consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Excluding reimbursable revenues of $13.0 million, ENL constituted approximately 25.7 percent of our total consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Our second largest customer, BP Exploration Alaska, Inc. (BP), constituted approximately 11.3 percent of our consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017.
At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had deposits in domestic banks in excess of federally insured limits of approximately $110.4 million and $81.4 million, respectively. In addition, we had uninsured deposits in foreign banks as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $39.4 million and $39.7 million, respectively.    
Income Taxes — Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method and have been provided for based upon tax laws and rates in effect in the countries in which operations are conducted and income or losses are generated. There is little or no expected relationship between the provision for or benefit from income taxes and income or loss before income taxes as the countries in which we operate have taxation regimes that vary not only with respect to nominal rate, but also in terms of the availability of deductions, credits, and other benefits. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled and the effect of changes in tax rates is recognized in income in the period in which the change is enacted. Valuation allowances are established to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In order to determine the amount of deferred tax assets or liabilities, as well as the valuation allowances, we must make estimates and assumptions regarding future taxable income, where rigs will be deployed and other matters. Changes in these estimates and assumptions, including changes in tax laws and other changes impacting our ability to recognize the underlying deferred tax assets, could require us to adjust the valuation allowances.
The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not to be sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized and changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs.
Earnings (Loss) Per Share (EPS) —Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The effects of dilutive securities, stock options, unvested restricted stock, convertible debt and equity are included in the diluted EPS calculation, when applicable.
Legal and Investigation Matters — We accrue estimates of the probable and estimable costs for the resolution of certain legal and investigation matters. We do not accrue any amounts for other matters for which the liability is not probable and reasonably estimable.  Generally, the estimate of probable costs related to these matters is developed in consultation with our legal advisors. The estimates take into consideration factors such as the complexity of the issues, litigation risks and settlement costs. If the actual settlement costs, final judgments, or fines, after appeals, differ from our estimates, our future financial results may be adversely affected.