PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC. (Nasdaq: PTEN) today reported that for the month of December 2009, the Company had an average of 118 drilling rigs operating, including 108 rigs in the United States and 10 rigs in Canada. For the three months ended December 2009, the Company had an average of 103 drilling rigs operating, including 95 rigs in the United States and 8 rigs in Canada.
Average drilling rigs operating reported in the Company's monthly announcements represent the average number of the Company's drilling rigs that were operating under a drilling contract. The Company cautioned that numerous factors in addition to average drilling rigs operating can impact the Company's operating results and that a particular trend in the number of drilling rigs operating may or may not indicate a trend in or be indicative of the Company's financial performance. The Company intends to continue providing monthly updates on drilling rigs operating shortly after the end of each month.