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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>UNITED STATES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>FORM 8-K</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Date of report (Date of earliest event
reported) May 2, 2012</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 24pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>PARKER DRILLING COMPANY</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>(Exact name of registrant as specified
in its charter)</I></P>

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        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 1.6pt 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Delaware</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 1.6pt 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>(State or other jurisdiction
        of</I></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 1.6pt 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>incorporation or organization)</I></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 5%; vertical-align: bottom; padding-right: 0.8pt; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 47%; vertical-align: top">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 1.6pt 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>73-0618660</B></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 1.6pt 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>(I.R.S. Employer Identification
        No.)</I></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>5 Greenway Plaza, Suite&nbsp;100, Houston,
Texas 77046</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)</I></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(281)&nbsp;406-2000</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>(Registrant&rsquo;s telephone number,
including area code)</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Not Applicable</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><I>(Former Address if Changed Since Last
Report)</I></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Check the appropriate box below
if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions (<I>see</I> General Instruction A.2. below):</P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 96%; padding-right: 1.6pt">Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; padding-right: 1.6pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 1.6pt">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14A-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; padding-right: 1.6pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 1.6pt">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; padding-right: 1.6pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">o</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 1.6pt">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="width: 9%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 90%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 1.6pt; font-weight: bold"><B>Item&nbsp;2.02</B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 1.6pt; font-weight: bold"><B>Results of Operations and Financial Condition</B></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">On May 2, 2012, Parker Drilling Company
(the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;) issued a press release announcing results of operations for the&nbsp;first quarter of 2012.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">A copy of this press release is attached
as Exhibit&nbsp;99 to this Report on Form 8-K. This information is being furnished pursuant to Item&nbsp;2.02 of Form 8-K and shall
not be deemed &ldquo;filed&rdquo; for the purposes of Section&nbsp;18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &ldquo;Exchange
Act&rdquo;) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference
in such a filing.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 9%; padding-right: 1.6pt; font-weight: bold"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01</B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 90%; padding-right: 1.6pt; font-weight: bold"><B>Financial Statements and Exhibits</B></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; padding-right: 1.6pt">(d)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 94%; padding-right: 1.6pt">Exhibits.</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The following exhibit is furnished herewith:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 2%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 3%; padding-right: 1.6pt">99</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 1%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 94%; padding-right: 1.6pt">Press release dated May 2, 2012, issued by the Company</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B><U>SIGNATURES</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="width: 46%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 5%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 5%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 31%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 13%; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="3">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 5.6pt 0pt 0">Parker Drilling Company</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 5.6pt 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 1.6pt">Date: May 2, 2012</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; padding-right: 1.6pt">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="border-bottom: black 1.5pt solid; padding-right: 0.05in">/s/ W. Kirk Brassfield &nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="padding-right: 0.05in">W. Kirk Brassfield&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="padding-right: 0.05in">Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 0.8pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD COLSPAN="5" STYLE="padding-right: 4.8pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PARKER DRILLING CO /DE/", "cik": "0000076321", "assigned-sic": "1381", "irs-number": "730618660", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-07573", "film-number": "12802951"}, "business-address": {"street1": "5 GREENWAY PLAZA", "street2": "SUITE 100", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77046", "phone": "281-406-2000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "5 GREENWAY PLAZA", "street2": "SUITE 100", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77046"}}
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event
reported) May 2, 2012
PARKER DRILLING COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified
in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
        of
incorporation or organization)
73-0618660
(I.R.S. Employer Identification
        No.)
5 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100, Houston,
Texas 77046
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
(281) 406-2000
(Registrant's telephone number,
including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former Address if Changed Since Last
Report)
Check the appropriate box below
if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions (
see
General Instruction A.2. below):
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14A-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.02
Results of Operations and Financial Condition
On May 2, 2012, Parker Drilling Company
(the "Company") issued a press release announcing results of operations for the first quarter of 2012.
A copy of this press release is attached
as Exhibit 99 to this Report on Form 8-K. This information is being furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K and shall
not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference
in such a filing.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d)
Exhibits.
The following exhibit is furnished herewith:
99
Press release dated May 2, 2012, issued by the Company
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Parker Drilling Company
Date: May 2, 2012
By:
/s/ W. Kirk Brassfield
W. Kirk Brassfield
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer