Weatherford Reports First Quarter Results of $0.82 Per Diluted Share Before Non-Recurring Items

25 Apr 2007
           Record Performance; 44 Percent Increase Over Prior Year

HOUSTON, April 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Weatherford International Ltd. (NYSE: WFT) today reported first quarter 2007 net income of $284.2 million from continuing operations, or $0.82 per diluted share, before non-recurring items. First quarter diluted earnings per share reflected an improvement of 44 percent over the first quarter of 2006 diluted earnings per share of $0.57. The non-recurring items in the first quarter of 2007 results include severance associated with the company's fourth quarter exit and restructuring activities of $2.7 million, after tax.

First quarter revenues were $1,852.3 million, or 21 percent higher than the same period last year, against a backdrop of a five percent increase in rig activity. This is the highest level of quarterly revenues in the company's history.

Sequentially, the company's first quarter diluted earnings per share from continuing operations improved eight percent over the record fourth quarter 2006 diluted earnings per share of $0.76, before non-recurring items. The first quarter performance reflected gains across nearly all of the company's product and service offerings.

North America

Revenues for the quarter were $1,006.6 million, a nine percent increase above the same quarter in the prior year, as compared to a three percent rig count increase. Sequentially, revenues increased five percent, as compared to a four percent increase in rig count. From a product line perspective, wireline, well construction, completion, and drilling services (both directional drilling and underbalanced) reported sequential increases in revenues of 25 percent, 16 percent, 13 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Operating income of $297.7 million was 15 percent higher than the same quarter in the prior year, despite more than a 20% drop in Canadian rig count. Operating income was 11 percent higher than the preceding quarter.

Latin America

First quarter revenues of $205.9 million were 27 percent higher than the first quarter of 2006 and three percent lower than the prior quarter. This region's performance reflected sequential improvements in its directional drilling, underbalanced, drilling tools and wireline offerings.

The current quarter's operating income of $48.6 million improved 93 percent as compared to the same quarter in the prior year and five percent as compared to the fourth quarter of 2006. Sequentially, the increase in operating income was primarily driven by increased activity in Brazil and Mexico which more than offset decreased activity in Venezuela. Political concerns in the Orinoco basin dampened market activity, especially in our lift and completion product lines.

Europe/CIS/West Africa

First quarter revenues of $245.0 million were 38 percent higher than the first quarter of 2006 and seven percent higher than the prior quarter. The strongest growth was seen in the completion, drilling services and well construction product lines.

The current quarter's operating income of $53.9 million improved 60 percent as compared to the same quarter in the prior year and 15 percent as compared to the fourth quarter of 2006.

Middle East/North Africa/Asia

First quarter revenues of $394.8 million were 44 percent higher than the first quarter of 2006 and four percent lower than the prior quarter. This region's performance reflected sequential improvements in its wireline, re- entry, drilling tools and underbalanced service lines. Seasonal declines in completion, artificial lift and other product shipments more than offset these increases. In the case of Weatherford, this pattern of seasonal declines in product sales has been consistently the historical norm in this region.

The current quarter's operating income of $83.5 million improved 80 percent as compared to the same quarter in the prior year and decreased 15 percent as compared to the fourth quarter of 2006.

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 2007 first quarter results on April 25, 2007 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 33,300 people worldwide.


     Contact:  Andrew P. Becnel           (713) 693-4136
               Chief Financial Officer

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
                                 (Unaudited)
                     (In 000's, Except Per Share Amounts)

                                                         Three Months
                                                        Ended March 31,
                                                     2007             2006

    Net Revenues:
      North America                              $1,006,633         $922,434
      Latin America                                 205,942          162,095
      Europe/West Africa/CIS                        244,958          177,224
      Middle East/North Africa/Asia                 394,752          274,258
                                                  1,852,285        1,536,011

    Operating Income (Expense):
      North America                                 297,656          258,238
      Latin America                                  48,589           25,162
      Europe/West Africa/CIS                         53,936           33,710
      Middle East/North Africa/Asia                  83,473           46,314
      Research and Development                      (40,514)         (36,443)
      Equity in Earnings                                790            2,634
      Corporate Expenses                            (27,095)         (22,256)
      Exit Costs and Restructuring Charges           (4,184)             ---
                                                    412,651          307,359

    Other Income (Expense):
      Other, Net                                     (2,372)            (831)
      Interest Expense, Net                         (34,034)         (18,988)
    Income Before Income Taxes and
     Minority Interest                              376,245          287,540

    Provision for Income Taxes:
      Provision for Operations                      (91,819)         (83,386)
      Benefit From Exit and Restructuring Charges     1,520              ---
                                                    (90,299)         (83,386)

    Income Before Minority Interest                 285,946          204,154
    Minority Interest, Net of Taxes                  (4,374)            (837)
    Net Income                                     $281,572         $203,317

    Earnings Per Share:
      Basic                                           $0.83            $0.58
      Diluted                                         $0.81            $0.57

    Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
      Basic                                         339,010          349,160
      Diluted                                       346,308          358,326



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

                                            Three Months
                                                Ended
                     03/31/2007  12/31/2006  09/30/2006  06/30/2006 03/31/2006

    Net Revenues:
      North America  $1,006,633   $956,436    $954,007    $839,753   $922,434
      Latin America     205,942    211,512     173,953     178,637    162,095
      Europe/West
       Africa/CIS       244,958    229,757     215,270     205,092    177,224
      Middle East/
       North Africa/
       Asia             394,752    409,883     353,523     315,094    274,258
                     $1,852,285 $1,807,588  $1,696,753  $1,538,576 $1,536,011


    Operating Income
     (Expense):
      North America    $297,656   $269,202    $279,539    $220,957   $258,238
      Latin America      48,589     46,413      27,877      33,575     25,162
      Europe/West
       Africa/CIS        53,936     47,082      45,507      44,515     33,710
      Middle East/
       North Africa/
       Asia              83,473     98,086      71,134      57,806     46,314
      Research and
       Development      (40,514)   (37,384)    (38,241)    (37,361)   (36,443)
      Equity in Earnings
       (Losses)             790         93        (190)      3,293      2,634
      Corporate
       Expenses         (27,095)   (26,625)    (24,718)    (21,507)   (22,256)
      Exit Costs and
       Restructuring
       Charges           (4,184)   (23,433)        ---      (2,770)       ---
                       $412,651   $373,434    $360,908    $298,508   $307,359



                           Supplemental Information
                                 (Unaudited)
                                  (In 000's)

                                           Three Months
                                              Ended
                    03/31/2007  12/31/2006  09/30/2006  06/30/2006  03/31/2006
    Depreciation and
     Amortization:
      North America  $61,822      $58,521     $58,130     $53,854    $ 53,503
      Latin America   16,739       17,307      16,856      15,251      15,450
      Europe/West
       Africa/CIS     18,238       17,259      16,460      16,084      15,737
      Middle East/
       North Africa/
       Asia           36,167       32,549      29,653      27,263      28,134
      Research and
       Development     1,620        1,819       1,813       1,867       1,896
      Corporate          990        1,576         596         700         783
                    $135,576     $129,031    $123,508    $115,019    $115,503


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 March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006. 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
                                               March 31,        December 31,
                                                 2007              2006

    Operating Income:
      GAAP Operating Income                    $412,651          $373,434
       Exit costs and restructuring
        charges                                   4,184 (a)        23,433 (b)
      Non-GAAP Operating Income                $416,835          $396,867


    Provision for Income Taxes:
      GAAP Provision for Income Taxes          $(90,299)         $(62,636)
       Tax impact of charges                     (1,520)(a)        (5,315)(b)
       Other benefit                                ---           (26,398)(b)
      Non-GAAP Provision for Income Taxes      $(91,819)         $(94,349)


    Net Income:
      GAAP Net Income                          $281,572          $272,002
       Total charges (gains), net of tax          2,664 (a)        (8,280)(b)
      Non-GAAP Net Income                      $284,236          $263,722


    Diluted Earnings Per Share:
      GAAP Diluted Earnings per Share             $0.81             $0.78
       Total charges (gains)                       0.01 (a)         (0.02)(b)
      Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings per Share         $0.82             $0.76


     Note (a): This amount represents charges incurred in connection with the
     finalization of the Company's fourth quarter restructuring activities.
     On an after tax basis, these charges approximated $2.7 million, or one
     cent per diluted share, during the three months ended March 31, 2007.

     Note (b): This amount represents severance and other charges associated
     with the Company's exit and restructuring activities.  On an after tax
     basis, these charges approximated $18.1 million during the three months
     ended December 31, 2006.  In addition, the Company realized a tax benefit
     of $26.4 million related to the favorable settlement of certain foreign
     tax exposures.  On an after tax basis, these items resulted in an effect
     of two cents per diluted share.

SOURCE Weatherford International Ltd.

CONTACT: Andrew P. Becnel, Chief Financial Officer of Weatherford
International Ltd., +1-713-693-4136
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Web site: http://www.weatherford.com