Helmerich And Payne Inc 's Customers Performance

In the United States, we draw our customers primarily from the major oil companies and the larger independent oil companies. In South America, our current customers include major international oil companies.

BHP Billiton, Devon Energy Production Co. LP and Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, including their affiliates, are our three largest contract drilling customers.

Our drilling contracts are obtained through competitive bidding or as a result of negotiations with customers, and often cover multi-well and multi-year projects. Each drilling rig operates under a separate drilling contract. All drilling services were performed on a "daywork" contract basis, under which we charge a fixed rate per day, with the price determined by the location, depth and complexity of the well to be drilled, operating conditions, the duration of the contract, and the competitive forces of the market. We have previously performed contracts on a combination "footage" and "daywork" basis, under which we charged a fixed rate per foot of hole drilled to a stated depth, usually no deeper than 15,000 feet, and a fixed rate per day for the remainder of the hole. Contracts performed on a "footage" basis involve a greater element of risk to the contractor than do contracts performed on a "daywork" basis. Also, we have previously accepted "turnkey" contracts under which we charge a fixed sum to deliver a hole to a stated depth and agree to furnish services such as testing, coring and casing the hole which are not normally done on a "footage" basis. "Turnkey" contracts entail varying degrees of risk greater than the usual "footage" contract. We have not accepted any "footage" or "turnkey" contracts in over fifteen years.

We believe that under current market conditions, "footage" and "turnkey" contract rates do not adequately compensate us for the added risks. The duration of our drilling contracts are "well-to-well" or for a fixed term. "Well-to-well" contracts are cancelable at the option of either party upon the completion of drilling at any one site. Fixed-term contracts generally have a minimum term of at least six months but customarily provide for termination at the election of the customer, with an "early termination payment" to be paid to us if a contract is terminated prior to the expiration of the fixed term. However, under certain limited circumstances such as destruction of a drilling rig, our bankruptcy, sustained unacceptable performance by us or delivery of a rig beyond certain grace and/or liquidated damage periods, no early termination payment would be paid to us.

Contracts generally contain renewal or extension provisions exercisable at the option of the customer at prices mutually agreeable to us and the customer. In most instances contracts provide for additional payments for mobilization and demobilization.

In the United States, we draw our customers primarily from the major oil companies and the larger independent oil companies. In South America, our current customers include major international oil companies.

BHP Billiton, Devon Energy Production Co. LP and Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, including their affiliates, are our three largest contract drilling customers.

Our drilling contracts are obtained through competitive bidding or as a result of negotiations with customers, and often cover multi-well and multi-year projects. Each drilling rig operates under a separate drilling contract. All drilling services were performed on a "daywork" contract basis, under which we charge a fixed rate per day, with the price determined by the location, depth and complexity of the well to be drilled, operating conditions, the duration of the contract, and the competitive forces of the market. We have previously performed contracts on a combination "footage" and "daywork" basis, under which we charged a fixed rate per foot of hole drilled to a stated depth, usually no deeper than 15,000 feet, and a fixed rate per day for the remainder of the hole. Contracts performed on a "footage" basis involve a greater element of risk to the contractor than do contracts performed on a "daywork" basis. Also, we have previously accepted "turnkey" contracts under which we charge a fixed sum to deliver a hole to a stated depth and agree to furnish services such as testing, coring and casing the hole which are not normally done on a "footage" basis. "Turnkey" contracts entail varying degrees of risk greater than the usual "footage" contract. We have not accepted any "footage" or "turnkey" contracts in over fifteen years.

We believe that under current market conditions, "footage" and "turnkey" contract rates do not adequately compensate us for the added risks. The duration of our drilling contracts are "well-to-well" or for a fixed term. "Well-to-well" contracts are cancelable at the option of either party upon the completion of drilling at any one site. Fixed-term contracts generally have a minimum term of at least six months but customarily provide for termination at the election of the customer, with an "early termination payment" to be paid to us if a contract is terminated prior to the expiration of the fixed term. However, under certain limited circumstances such as destruction of a drilling rig, our bankruptcy, sustained unacceptable performance by us or delivery of a rig beyond certain grace and/or liquidated damage periods, no early termination payment would be paid to us.

Contracts generally contain renewal or extension provisions exercisable at the option of the customer at prices mutually agreeable to us and the customer. In most instances contracts provide for additional payments for mobilization and demobilization.