Nabors Announces Third Quarter 2014 Results

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Oct. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Third-Quarter Highlights Include:

• EPS of $0.39, excluding net charges from strategic transactions
• Operating revenues increased 12% sequentially
• Secured 9 awards for additional rigs: 3 PACE®-X for U.S. and 6 for International
• Repurchased $250 million of common stock
• Repurchased $22 million face value of 6.15% 2018 notes

Nabors Industries Ltd. NBR today reported third-quarter 2014 operating revenues and earnings from unconsolidated affiliates of $1.81 billion, compared to $1.62 billion in the second quarter of 2014 and $1.55 billion in the same quarter of the prior year.  Third-quarter revenue increased by 12% sequentially and 17% year-over-year. Drilling revenue grew 10% sequentially, Completion & Production revenue increased 14%, and Canrig delivered a 20% sequential revenue increase.

Net income from continuing operations was $57.4 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared to $65.7 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, in the second quarter.  Net income from continuing operations, excluding net charges from strategic transactions, was $116.7 million, a sequential increase of 57%.  Earnings per diluted share, excluding net charges, were $0.39, compared to $0.24 in the second quarter of this year.  Net charges totaling $59 million after taxes, or $0.20 per diluted share, included $13 million in after-tax expenses attributable to the pending transaction with C&J Energy Services, a $63 million tax charge related to the restructuring of our completion and production entities in preparation for the transaction, and an offsetting post-tax gain of $17 million on the divestiture of our Alaska E&P business.  The adjusted earnings of $0.39 per diluted share also include early termination proceeds ($0.08 per share) and other charges, comprised principally of tax adjustments ($0.06 per share), which net to $0.02 per share.  

Tony Petrello, Nabors' Chairman, President & CEO, commented, "The third quarter presented solid operating results across all of our businesses except Production Services, where weather and ongoing spending constraints of a key customer led to lower sequential results.  Our International operation realized the largest sequential improvement in operating income, followed by Completion Services, Canrig and the seasonal recovery in Canada.  U.S. Drilling benefited from the receipt of a previously announced $30 million contract termination payment.  Excluding this payment, a meaningful improvement in the U.S. lower 48 operation was offset by seasonally lower activity in Alaska.  The International improvement reflects the initial contribution from new rig deployments and rate increases on contract renewals, despite idle time on a few higher-contribution rigs.  The increase in Completion Services resulted from a record quarterly stage count and improving pricing, although higher proppant and logistics costs inhibited margin improvement.  Canrig benefited from a high volume of shipments, particularly for third parties. 

"While we are acutely aware of the potential ramifications of further downside in commodity prices, our nine new contract awards are indicative of today's strategic planning by several of our key customers.  Internationally, these rigs are destined for long-term projects, while the PACE^®-X rigs facilitate improved returns associated with the migration toward higher density pad drilling.  Interest in our PACE^®-X rigs remains high as these rigs consistently outperform, and our ramped up production capability provides us a more competitive delivery timeframe."  

The Company's operating cash flow (adjusted EBITDA) increased to $490.0 million in the third quarter, compared to $439.3 million in the same quarter last year and $416.3 million in the second quarter of this year.  Adjusted income from operating activities increased correspondingly to $203.4 million, compared to $133.5 million in the second quarter of 2014.

Drilling & Rig Services

Operating income in the Drilling & Rig Services business line improved sequentially to $218.3 million inclusive of a $30 million final payment from a 2013 contract termination.  Excluding this amount, results still improved 26% compared to the second quarter.  This unit also saw operating cash flow increase by $43.7 million exclusive of the termination payment. 

In North America, U.S. Drilling operating results of $117.2 million reflect an increase of $27.2 million, with the sequential improvement reflecting the $30 million termination payment and continued improvement in the U.S. Lower 48 operations, partially offset by seasonally slower exploration activity in Alaska.  The results reflect improvement in both utilization and pricing in the Lower 48 operation: an incremental four rigs working and an increase of $191 in daily rig margins.  Pad-rig demand continues, particularly in the Permian and South Texas, as indicated by the award of three additional PACE^®-X rigs.  The total number of PACE^®-X rig awards is now 43, with 28 deployed and the ramped-up build schedule committed into the second quarter.  Utilization for AC rigs is currently 96%, while SCR rig utilization is 52% overall and 83% for the pad-capable units.  This operation expects to deliver seven more PACE^®-X rigs in the fourth quarter, increasing to twelve during the second quarter of 2015.  Activity in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico should improve modestly in the fourth quarter, with more meaningful increases throughout the first half of 2015.     

International operating income increased by approximately 35% sequentially to $68.5 million, reflecting the return to operations of Jackup rig 660, coupled with the initial impact of several rig startups and rate increases associated with contract renewals. This operation received awards for six additional rigs: four to be deployed in Saudi Arabia and two in Kazakhstan.  The two 3,000-horsepower rigs for Kazakhstan will be newly constructed, with one to be sold to a joint-venture partner.  Nabors will operate both rigs through this joint venture and hold a 50% interest.  One of the four Saudi Arabia rigs will be an upgraded, currently idle rig in Iraq.  The other three rigs will be essentially new rigs incorporating certain components from underutilized deep SCR rigs from the U.S. fleet.  These rigs should commence gas drilling during the second half of 2015, expanding our fleet to 47 rigs in the Kingdom.  Shipyard work on two jackups was recently completed, and rig 655 returned to operations in early October.  Rig 240 is currently available and is being actively marketed.  Three platform rigs and seven land rigs are scheduled to commence during the fourth quarter, while a fourth platform rig is set to deploy in late first quarter.   Canada income increased to $11.5 million following the seasonally low second quarter and should continue to improve through the characteristically high first quarter. 

Rig Services' operating income more than doubled sequentially to $21.1 million, primarily attributable to increased shipments of third-party capital equipment by Canrig. Canrig's backlog remains at near-record levels even with an uptick in deliveries.  Ryan Directional Services recently completed the acquisition of a development-stage rotary steerable technology.  This complements the earlier acquisition of an MWD manufacturer, now in the commercialization phase of a new suite of more robust tools.  These moves are consistent with Nabors' long-term strategy to integrate additional drilling services capability.   

Completion & Production Services

The Completion & Production Services business line recorded operating income of $35.4 million, with operating cash flow of $89.8 million.  This consists of a significant improvement in Completion Services partially offset by significant weather-induced interruptions in Production Services, principally attributable to the remnants of two Pacific hurricanes crossing through Texas during the quarter. 

In Completion Services, operating income improved significantly to $14.2 million on a record stage count and higher pricing.  Margins increased during the quarter, but the extent was limited by higher logistics costs.  The record pace of activity continues and additional price increases are being implemented; however, higher costs persist and interruptions are expected with the holiday season and the onset of winter in the northern regions.  The Company's second dual-fuel frac spread is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter, bringing its working horsepower to 750,000, which represents effective full utilization.  This operation currently has 17 of its 19 active crews working on a 24-hour basis. 

Production Services saw an $8.7 million sequential decrease in operating income, primarily attributable to the aforementioned storms and continuing budget constraints of a key customer.  This operation expects the fourth quarter to be essentially flat, as the absence of the third-quarter weather effects offsets the customary seasonality arising from shorter daylight hours and the holidays.  A recent increase in inquiries for 24-hour heavy workover rigs appears to indicate that the long-awaited inflection in rework associated with long horizontal completions is commencing.  The rapidly expanding population of these long-length horizontal wells supports a strengthening market despite the near-term pockets of weakness. 

Financial Discussion

Third-quarter financial results reflected a healthy progression in operating margins, which reached 11.2% for the quarter, a 297 basis point improvement over the second quarter. The $30 million early termination payment accounted for half of the total increase in operating margins. Most of the Company's segments continued to take advantage of the favorable market conditions to materially improve margins.

The effective tax rate during the quarter was 65%, reflecting the above-mentioned $63.3 million tax charge for the restructuring of entities in preparation for the C&J transaction, of which $58 million was non-cash. The tax provision for the quarter also included a $6.5 million return to provision charge resulting from the finalization of tax returns in various jurisdictions. The underlying effective tax rate excluding these charges has increased somewhat to approximately 20%, as our earnings mix has shifted towards higher tax regimes.

Capital expenditures for the third quarter were $488 million. Capital expenditures for the full year should be in the range of $1.9 billion. During the quarter, in addition to the share buyback, the Company retired $22 million face value of its 6.15% 2018 senior notes in line with our objective to reduce total debt.

Summary and Outlook

Petrello concluded, "I am very pleased with the sequential progression of our results in both our drilling and completions operations.  Despite the third quarter performance of our production services operation, I continue to believe we will see improvement in this business as 2015 progresses, assuming supportive oil prices.  The recent new contract awards and the volume of ongoing discussions support our positive bias and appear to indicate a resiliency among most of our customers regarding temporary swings in oil prices.   Nonetheless, we are acutely aware of the potential for further weakness in crude oil prices and the associated impact on our customers' spending plans, particularly in North and Latin America.  Our business is much better positioned to weather and potentially capitalize upon any significant downturn in industry activity.  This is a result of the actions we have taken over the last three years to improve our financial flexibility, streamline our operations and improve our cost structure.   Additionally, the longer-term focus of our international customers, the large proportion of our U.S. fleet now comprised of higher capability AC rigs, and the enhanced economics associated with continued migration to higher density pad drilling should enable us to maintain a higher level of utilization for our fleet relative to the industry.  Meanwhile, we will continue to execute our numerous initiatives to improve our service quality and cost structure, and to deploy our backlog of new rigs on schedule and within budget." 

About Nabors

The Nabors companies own and operate approximately 501 land drilling rigs throughout the world and approximately 542 land workover and well servicing rigs in North America. Nabors' actively marketed offshore fleet consists of 37 platform rigs in the United States and multiple international markets. In addition, Nabors is one of the largest providers of hydraulic fracturing, cementing, nitrogen and acid pressure pumping services with approximately 800,000 hydraulic horsepower currently in service. Nabors also manufactures top drives and drilling instrumentation systems.   Nabors participates in most of the significant oil and gas markets in the world.

The information above includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, as disclosed by Nabors from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of these factors, Nabors' actual results may differ materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking statements.  The projections contained in this release reflect management's estimates as of the date of the release.  Nabors does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.   

MEDIA CONTACT:

Dennis A. Smith, Director of Corporate Development & Investor Relations, +1 281-775-8038. To request investor materials, contact Nabors' corporate headquarters in Hamilton, Bermuda at +441-292-1510 or via e-mail at mark.andrews@nabors.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE Nabors Industries Ltd.