Danny Mcnease News

For the three months ended September 30, 2008, Rowan Companies, Inc. (NYSE: RDC) generated net income of $114.1m or $1.00 per share, compared to $130.8m or $1.16 per share in the third quarter of 2007 and $120.6m or $1.06 per share in the second quarter of 2008. Revenues were $527.1m in the third quarter of 2008, compared to $502.2m in the third quarter of 2007 and $587.1m in the second quarter of 2008. The third quarter 2008 results included $21.4m, or $0.12 per share, of gains on asset sales, compared to $1.1m, or less than $0.01 per share, in the third quarter of 2007 and $1.5m, or $0.01 per share, in the second quarter of 2008. Rowan's offshore rig utilization was 95% during the third quarter of 2008…

Rowan Companies announced that its Tarzan Class jack-up, Bob Keller, has been awarded a term drilling contract for work offshore Saudi Arabia. The contract provides for a three-year term, over which the Company expects total revenues of approximately $201 million, and contains an option for a fourth year. The Bob Keller recently concluded work in the Gulf of Mexico and is en route to the Middle East. The rig is expected to commence drilling operations during the second quarter of 2008. Danny McNease, Rowan Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to grow our relationship with Saudi Aramco and again want to thank Rawabi Trading & Contracting Co. Ltd. for their continuing assistance. Just two years ago, we re-entered the Middle East market after a 25-year absence.

Rowan Companies, Inc. was awarded a contract to drill two wells on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, using a Super Gorilla class rig. The contract provides an option for a third well. This assignment, which is subject to certain regulatory approvals, should commence around mid-year and is expected to last into December 2005. After undergoing modifications, Rowan Gorilla VI will be relocated from the Gulf of Mexico to eastern Canada during the second quarter. Rowan estimates that revenues from this contract will be as much as $26 million, depending upon the duration of the assignment. Danny McNease, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer…

Rowan Companies, Inc. announced that it's wholly-owned subsidiary, LeTourneau, Inc., has been awarded a contract by Perforadora Central, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican drilling contractor, to construct a Super 116E class jack-up rig.The rig will be an enhanced version of LeTourneau's Super 116-C class jack-up rig, with greater environmental and payload capacity. It will have 511 feet of leg, enabling operations in water depths up to 350 feet in areas like the Gulf of Mexico, Asia and the Persian Gulf. Construction of the rig will begin immediately at the Company's Vicksburg, Mississippi shipyard with delivery expected during the second quarter of 2007.Danny McNease…

Rowan Companies, Inc. entered into contracts with Keppel AmFELS, Inc. for the construction of four Super 116E class jack-ups. The rigs will be built at AmFELS' Brownsville, Texas shipyard, with delivery scheduled at approximately four-month intervals beginning in the second quarter of 2010. Rowan's total cost of each rig is expected to average approximately $175 million, with more than one-third of that amount attributable to the cost value of the design, kit components and drilling equipment to be provided by the Company's manufacturing businesses. Rowan will also build two additional 240-C class jack-ups at its own Vicksburg, Mississippi shipyard for delivery in the third quarters of 2010 and 2011, at a total cost of approximately $400 million.

Rowan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:RDC) announced that, pursuant to a plea agreement with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), it entered guilty pleas to three felony counts in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, in connection with environmental violations related to maintenance and operations of the offshore drilling rig Rowan-Midland during the period from 2002 through 2004. The Rowan-Midland was sold by the company in January 2007. Specifically, the Company pleaded guilty to (i) causing the discharge of a pollutant, abrasive sandblast media, into U.S. navigable waters, thereby violating the Clean Water Act, (ii) failing to immediately report the discharge of waste hydraulic oil into U.S.

Rowan Companies, Inc. was awarded term drilling contracts by the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi ARAMCO) for two Tarzan Class jack-up drilling rigs to begin operating offshore Saudi Arabia in 2007. Each contract is for a four-year term. The relocation of the two rigs from the Gulf of Mexico will begin in January 2007 and the rigs should be operational in Saudi Arabia by the end of the first quarter. Rowan estimates that revenues from the contracts will be in excess of $550m. Danny McNease, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to expand our relationship with Saudi ARAMCO and again want to thank Rawabi Trading & Contracting Co. Ltd. for their assistance.