Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN)

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures — We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such terms are defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file with the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on that evaluation, and due to the material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as reported in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at a reasonable level of assurance, as of September 30, 2006. For a discussion of the material weaknesses, see Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting — Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). With the participation of our CEO and CFO, our management evaluates any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during each fiscal quarter which have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, such internal control. At December 31, 2005, the Company’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting concluded that material weaknesses in its control environment and controls over property and equipment existed. During the first nine months of 2006, the Company has implemented, or is in the process of implementing, remediation steps to address these material weaknesses. You can find more information about these material weaknesses and the actions that we have taken and are planning to take to remediate the material weaknesses in Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during its most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect its internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act.

 

“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in Item 2 of this Report contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, without limitation, statements relating to: liquidity; financing of operations; continued volatility of oil and natural gas prices; source and sufficiency of funds required for immediate capital needs and additional rig acquisitions (if further opportunities arise); and other matters. The words “believes,” “plans,” “intends,” “expected,” “estimates” or “budgeted” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses we make in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. We do not undertake to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: