Weatherford Reports Second Quarter Results of $0.53 Per Diluted Share

19 Jul 2006
              66 Percent Increase Over Prior Year Second Quarter

HOUSTON, July 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Weatherford International Ltd. (NYSE: WFT) today reported second quarter 2006 net income of $188.6 million from continuing operations, or $0.53 per diluted share, before a non-recurring charge. Second quarter diluted earnings per share reflect an improvement of 66 percent over the second quarter of 2005 diluted earnings per share of $0.32. The non-recurring charge in the second quarter 2006 results includes severance of $1.8 million, net of tax, related to the integration of the Precision acquisition.

Second quarter revenues were $1,538.6 million, or 64 percent higher than the same period last year against a backdrop of a 14 percent increase in the rig activity.

Sequentially, the company's second quarter diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were slightly lower than the record first quarter 2006 diluted earnings per share of $0.57, due to the seasonal downturn in the Canadian market. The second quarter performance reflected worldwide gains outside of Canada across the breadth of the company's product and service offerings. Excluding the impact of the 42 percent Canadian seasonal decline, revenue improved $163 million, or 14 percent. The Eastern Hemisphere was the fastest growing region. Eastern Hemisphere's revenues increased 15 percent sequentially, as compared to a less than one percent rig count increase. The United States' revenues increased 14 percent sequentially, or nearly twice that of the regional rig count improvement. Latin American revenues increased 10 percent sequentially, as compared to a 5 percent rig count increase.

In the first six months of 2006, revenues were $3.1 billion and income from continuing operations before charges was $392.0 million, or $1.09 per diluted share. In 2005, the company reported revenues for the first six months of $1.8 billion, and income from continuing operations before charges of $181.2 million, or $0.61 per diluted share.

Evaluation, Drilling & Intervention Services

Revenues for the quarter were $965.5 million, an 88 percent increase above the prior year period and a 4 percent decline from the prior quarter. Geographically, all regions excluding Canada posted sequential revenue improvements. Middle East/North Africa led with 19 percent sequential growth. From a product line perspective, all product lines exceeded prior quarter revenue levels excluding the seasonal impact of Canada.

Operating income of $241.0 million was 97 percent higher than the same quarter in the prior year and 11 percent lower than the preceding quarter. The sequential decline was attributable to the lower contribution from Canada, which was offset in part by the improvements in the Middle East, Europe, West Africa and the United States.

Completion & Production Systems

Second quarter revenues of $573.1 million were 35 percent higher than the second quarter of 2005 and 8 percent higher than the prior quarter. Geographically, all regions, excluding Canada, posted sequential improvements of 15 percent or greater. Middle East/North Africa and Latin America led the improvements; each with a 31 percent increase. This division's performance reflected improvements in its expandables, electrical submersible pumps, production optimization and stimulation product lines.

The current quarter's operating income of $115.9 million improved 105 percent as compared to the same quarter in the prior year and 26 percent as compared to the first quarter of 2006.

Other, Net

During the second quarter, the company recorded a loss of $11.4 million of Other, Net, which was primarily a foreign currency book loss.

Reclassifications and Non-GAAP

Reclassifications have been made to the company's segments due to a change in organizational structure. All prior periods have been restated to conform to the current presentation and are included for reference. In addition, Non- GAAP performance measures and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures have been provided for meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods.

Conference Call

The company will host a conference call with financial analysts to discuss the 2006 second quarter results on July 20, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. (CDT). The company invites investors to listen to a play back of the conference call at the company's website, http://www.weatherford.com in the "investor relations" section.

Weatherford is one of the largest global providers of innovative mechanical solutions, technology and services for the drilling and production sectors of the oil and gas industry. Weatherford operates in over 100 countries and employs approximately 30,200 people worldwide.

Contact: Lisa W. Rodriguez (713) 693-4746
Chief Financial Officer

Andrew P. Becnel (713) 693-4136
Vice President - Finance

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning, among other things, Weatherford's prospects for its operations which are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties, which are more fully described in Weatherford International Ltd.'s reports and registration statements filed with the SEC, include the impact of oil and natural gas prices and worldwide economic conditions on drilling activity, the demand for and pricing of Weatherford's products and services, domestic and international economic and regulatory conditions and changes in tax and other laws affecting our business. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those currently anticipated.



                         Weatherford International Ltd.
                  Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
                      (In 000's, Except Per Share Amounts)

                                    Three Months           Six Months
                                   Ended June 30,        Ended June 30,
                                   2006       2005       2006       2005

    Net Revenues:
       Evaluation, Drilling &
        Intervention Services     $965,504  $514,022  $1,971,770   $981,003
       Completion & Production
        Systems                    573,072   423,273   1,102,817    813,998
                                 1,538,576   937,295   3,074,587  1,795,001

    Operating Income (Expense):
       Evaluation, Drilling &
        Intervention Services      240,959   122,180     512,172    231,376
       Completion & Production
        Systems                    115,894    56,640     208,105    111,453
       Research and Development    (37,361)  (23,903)    (73,804)   (44,922)
       Equity in Earnings            3,293     2,822       5,927      4,123
       Corporate Expenses          (21,507)  (17,330)    (43,763)   (34,219)
       Exit Costs and
        Restructuring Charges       (2,770)      ---      (2,770)    (2,737)
                                   298,508   140,409     605,867    265,074

    Other Income (Expense):
       Debt Redemption Expense
        of Unconsolidated
        Affiliate                      ---       ---         ---     (4,025)
       Other, Net                  (11,371)    3,432     (13,490)     5,231
       Interest Expense, Net       (23,715)  (14,979)    (42,703)   (28,637)
    Income from Continuing
     Operations Before Income
     Taxes                         263,422   128,862     549,674    237,643
    Provision for Income Taxes     (76,575)  (34,137)   (159,510)   (62,483)
    Income from Continuing
     Operations                    186,847    94,725     390,164    175,160
    Income from Discontinued
     Operation, Net of Taxes           ---       463         ---        624
    Net Income                    $186,847   $95,188    $390,164   $175,784

    Basic Earnings Per Share:
     Income from Continuing
      Operations                     $0.54     $0.34       $1.12      $0.63
     Income from Discontinued
      Operation                       0.00      0.00        0.00       0.01
     Net Income                      $0.54     $0.34       $1.12      $0.64

    Diluted Earnings Per Share:
     Income from Continuing
      Operations                     $0.52     $0.32       $1.09      $0.59
     Income from Discontinued
      Operation                       0.00      0.00        0.00       0.00
     Net Income                      $0.52     $0.32       $1.09      $0.59

    Weighted Average Shares
     Outstanding:
     Basic                         348,853   277,872     349,006    276,750
     Diluted                       358,433   307,026     358,164    305,584



                        Weatherford International Ltd.
                    Selected Income Statement Information
                                  (In 000's)

                                     Three Months Ended
                   6/30/06    3/31/06   12/31/05    9/30/05  6/30/05  3/31/05

    Net Revenues:
     Evaluation,
      Drilling &
      Intervention
      Services    $965,504 $1,006,266   $920,052   $627,690 $514,022 $466,981
     Completion &
      Production
      Systems      573,072    529,745    541,358    449,126  423,273  390,725

                $1,538,576 $1,536,011 $1,461,410 $1,076,816 $937,295 $857,706

    Operating Income
    (Expense):
     Evaluation,
      Drilling &
      Intervention
      Services    $240,959   $271,213   $209,630   $143,294 $122,180 $109,196
     Completion &
      Production
      Systems      115,894     92,211     89,629     67,784   56,640   54,813
     Research and
      Development  (37,361)   (36,443)   (35,300)   (27,140) (23,903) (21,019)
     Equity in
      Earnings      3,293       2,634      3,313      2,991    2,822    1,301
     Corporate
      Expenses    (21,507)    (22,256)   (21,039)   (19,159) (17,330) (16,889)
     Exit Costs
      and
      Restructuring
      Charges      (2,770)        ---    (16,977)   (97,258)     ---   (2,737)
                 $298,508    $307,359   $229,256    $70,512 $140,409 $124,665



                           Supplemental Information
                                  (In 000's)

                                     Three Months Ended
                   6/30/06     3/31/06   12/31/05    9/30/05  6/30/05  3/31/05

    Geographic Revenues:
     Eastern
      Hemisphere  $520,186    $451,482   $478,796   $373,485 $357,920 $298,347
     United
      States       620,335     542,803    508,517    410,725  372,247  317,720
     Canada        219,418     379,631    316,985    188,787  124,459  161,265
     Latin
      America      178,637     162,095    157,112    103,819   82,669   80,374
                $1,538,576  $1,536,011 $1,461,410 $1,076,816 $937,295 $857,706

    Depreciation
     and Amortization:
     Evaluation,
      Drilling &
      Intervention
      Services     $89,613     $90,112    $88,243    $58,988  $48,131  $47,854
     Completion &
      Production
      Systems       22,839      22,712     21,189     20,982   20,455   20,558
     Research
      and
      Development    1,867       1,896      1,744      1,431    1,168    1,142
     Corporate         700         783        773        549      563      568
                  $115,019    $115,503   $111,949    $81,950  $70,317  $70,122

    Research and
     Development:
     Evaluation,
      Drilling &
      Intervention
      Services     $23,064     $21,963    $21,612    $14,624  $11,312   $9,361
     Completion &
      Production
      Systems       14,297      14,480     13,688     12,516   12,591   11,658
                   $37,361     $36,443    $35,300    $27,140  $23,903  $21,019



                      Selected Balance Sheet Information
                                  (In 000's)

                                                  June 30,        December 31,
                                                    2006               2005


    Cash                                          $127,375           $134,245
    Accounts Receivable, Net                     1,340,699          1,259,990
    Inventories                                  1,069,865            890,121
    Accounts Payable                               454,367            476,363
    Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term
     Debt                                        1,820,195          1,586,837
    Shareholders' Equity                         5,964,021          5,666,817

We report our financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, Weatherford's management believes that certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios may provide users of this financial information additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods. One such non-GAAP financial measure we may present from time to time is operating income or income from continuing operations excluding certain charges or amounts. This adjusted income amount is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Accordingly, it should not be considered as a substitute for operating income, net income or other income data prepared in accordance with GAAP. See the table below for supplemental financial data and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.



                        Weatherford International Ltd.
             Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
                                  (Unaudited)
                     (In thousands, except per share data)

                                      Three Months
                                         Ended         Six Months Ended
                                        June 30,     June 30,     June 30,
                                          2006         2006         2005

    Operating Income:
       GAAP Operating Income            $298,508     $605,867     $265,074
         Exit costs and restructuring
          charges                          2,770 (a)    2,770 (a)    2,737 (b)
       Non-GAAP Operating Income        $301,278     $608,637     $267,811


    Other Income (Expense), net:
       GAAP Other Income (Expense), net $(35,086)    $(56,193)    $(27,431)
         Exit costs and restructuring
          charges                            ---          ---        4,025 (b)
       Non-GAAP Other Income (Expense),
        net                             $(35,086)    $(56,193)    $(23,406)


    Income from Continuing Operations:
       GAAP Income from Continuing
        Operations                      $186,847     $390,164     $175,160
         Exit costs and restructuring
          charges, net of tax              1,800 (a)    1,800 (a)    6,050 (b)
       Non-GAAP Income from Continuing
        Operations                      $188,647     $391,964     $181,210


    Diluted Earnings Per Share:
       GAAP Diluted Earnings per Share     $0.52        $1.09        $0.59
         Exit costs and restructuring
          charges                           0.01 (a)      --- (a)     0.02 (b)
       Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings per
        Share                              $0.53        $1.09        $0.61


         Note (a): This amount represents severance charges associated with
         the integration of the Precision acquisition.  On an after tax basis,
         these charges approximated $1.8 million, or one cent per diluted
         share, during the three months ended June 30, 2006.

         Note (b): These amounts represent exit and debt restructuring costs
         primarily related to our equity investment in Universal Compression
         Holdings, Inc.  On an after tax basis, these costs approximated $6.1
         million, or two cents per diluted share, during the six months ended
         June 30, 2005.

SOURCE Weatherford International Ltd. CONTACT: Lisa W. Rodriguez, Chief Financial Officer, +1-713-693-4746, or
Andrew P. Becnel, Vice President - Finance, +1-713-693-4136, both of
Weatherford International Ltd.
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