Weatherford Reports Third Quarter Income From Continuing Operations of $0.85 Per Diluted Share

21 Oct 2007

Record Net Income; 27 Percent Earnings Per Share Increase Over Prior Year

HOUSTON, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Weatherford International Ltd. (NYSE: WFT) today reported third quarter 2007 income from continuing operations of $294.9 million, or $0.85 per diluted share. Third quarter diluted earnings per share from continuing operations reflect an improvement of 27 percent over the third quarter of 2006 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.67.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990308/WEATHERFORDLOGO )

Third quarter revenues were $1,972.0 million, or 16 percent higher than the same period last year, against a backdrop of flat rig count activity.

Sequentially, the company's third quarter diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.17 higher than the second quarter 2007 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.68, before non-recurring items.

In the first nine months of 2007, revenues were $5.6 billion and income from continuing operations before non-recurring items was $816.4 million, or $2.35 per diluted share. In 2006, the company reported revenues for the first nine months of $4.8 billion and income from continuing operations before non- recurring items of $633.0 million, or $1.77 per diluted share.

North America

Revenues for the quarter were $993.8 million. This is a four percent increase over the same quarter in the prior year, as compared to a three percent rig count decline. Growth in the U.S. rig count was more than offset by a 29% drop in the Canadian rig count. Sequentially, revenues increased 13 percent, as compared to a 12 percent increase in rig count. Artificial lift, directional & underbalanced drilling and wireline performed exceptionally well.

Operating income of $264.2 million was six percent lower than the same quarter in the prior year and 37 percent higher sequentially.

Latin America

Third quarter revenues of $213.6 million were 23 percent higher than the third quarter of 2006 and three percent higher than the prior quarter. This region's performance reflected the strongest sequential growth in its artificial lift, directional & underbalanced drilling and well construction service lines.

The current quarter's operating income of $45.5 million improved 63 percent as compared to the same quarter in the prior year and was flat as compared to the second quarter of 2007.

Europe/West Africa/CIS

Third quarter revenues of $308.6 million were 43 percent higher than the third quarter of 2006 and six percent higher than the prior quarter. This region improved across most product lines with the strongest growth in the artificial lift, completion, directional & underbalanced drilling, and well construction service lines.

The current quarter's operating income of $73.9 million improved 60 percent as compared to the same quarter in the prior year and seven percent higher sequentially.

Middle East/North Africa/Asia

Third quarter revenues of $455.9 million were 29 percent higher than the third quarter of 2006 and five percent higher than the prior quarter. This region's performance reflected improvements in its directional & underbalanced drilling, well construction, artificial lift and wireline service lines.

The current quarter's operating income of $103.7 million improved 46 percent as compared to the same quarter in the prior year and seven percent as compared to the prior quarter.

Discontinued Operations

The company is disposing of its non-core oil and gas development and production business. The results of operations of this business for the current and prior periods are reflected as discontinued operations, net of taxes. For the three months ended September 30, 2007, the loss per diluted share from discontinued operations was $0.01.

Reclassifications and Non-GAAP

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 third quarter results on October 22, 2007 at 8:00 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 35,500 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           Nine Months
                                 Ended September 30,    Ended September 30,
                                  2007       2006        2007        2006


    Net Revenues:
      North America             $993,828   $954,007  $2,883,825  $2,716,194
      Latin America              213,644    173,953     626,190     514,685
      Europe/West Africa/CIS     308,587    215,270     844,184     597,586
      Middle East/North
       Africa/Asia               455,932    353,523   1,286,022     942,875
                               1,971,991  1,696,753   5,640,221   4,771,340

    Operating Income
     (Expense):
      North America              264,183    281,484     756,349     766,173
      Latin America               45,453     27,877     139,784      86,614
      Europe/West Africa/CIS      73,884     46,049     197,442     125,402
      Middle East/North
       Africa/Asia               103,692     71,134     284,163     175,254
      Research and Development   (43,199)   (38,241)   (124,413)   (112,045)
      Equity in Earnings
       (Losses)                    4,149       (190)      5,928       5,737
      Corporate Expenses         (28,573)   (24,718)    (79,193)    (68,481)
      Exit Costs and
       Restructuring Charges           -          -     (17,316)     (2,770)
                                 419,589    363,395   1,162,744     975,884

    Other Income (Expense):
      Other, Net                   1,282        332      (7,024)    (10,417)
      Interest Expense, Net      (50,194)   (27,487)   (119,258)    (70,066)
    Income from Continuing
     Operations Before
      Income Taxes and
      Minority Interest          370,677    336,240   1,036,462     895,401

    Provision for Income
     Taxes:
     Provision for Operations    (70,429)   (94,022)   (223,172)   (257,398)
     Tax Charges and Benefit
      From Exit and
      Restructuring Charges            -          -     (43,906)        970
                                 (70,429)   (94,022)   (267,078)   (256,428)

    Income from Continuing
     Operations Before
     Minority Interest           300,248    242,218     769,384     638,973
    Minority Interest, Net of
     Taxes                        (5,324)    (6,076)    (14,161)     (7,812)
    Income from Continuing
     Operations                 $294,924   $236,142    $755,223    $631,161
    Loss from Discontinued
     Operation, Net of Taxes      (2,211)    (1,939)    (15,628)     (6,794)
    Net Income                  $292,713   $234,203    $739,595    $624,367

    Basic Earnings Per Share:
     Income from Continuing
      Operations                   $0.87      $0.68       $2.23       $1.81
     Loss from Discontinued
      Operation                    (0.00)     (0.00)      (0.05)      (0.02)
     Net Income                    $0.87      $0.68       $2.18       $1.79

    Diluted Earnings Per
     Share:
     Income from Continuing
      Operations                   $0.85      $0.67       $2.17       $1.77
     Loss from Discontinued
      Operation                    (0.01)     (0.01)      (0.04)      (0.02)
     Net Income                    $0.84      $0.66       $2.13       $1.75

    Weighted Average Shares
     Outstanding:
     Basic                       338,176    345,733     338,506     347,915
     Diluted                     348,248    354,471     347,458     356,905



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

                                         Three Months
                                            Ended
                    9/30/2007   6/30/2007   3/31/2007   12/31/2006  9/30/2006

    Net Revenues:
     North America   $993,828    $883,364  $1,006,633     $956,436   $954,007
     Latin America    213,644     206,604     205,942      211,512    173,953
     Europe/West
      Africa/CIS      308,587     290,639     244,958      229,757    215,270
     Middle East/
      North Africa/
      Asia            455,932     435,338     394,752      409,883    353,523
                   $1,971,991  $1,815,945  $1,852,285   $1,807,588 $1,696,753

    Operating
     Income
     (Expense):
      North America  $264,183    $192,268    $299,898     $274,007   $281,484
      Latin America    45,453      45,742      48,589       46,413     27,877
      Europe/West
       Africa/CIS      73,884      68,801      54,757       47,646     46,049
      Middle East/
       North Africa/
       Asia           103,692      96,998      83,473       98,086     71,134
      Research and
       Development    (43,199)    (40,700)    (40,514)     (37,384)   (38,241)
      Equity in
       Earnings
       (Losses)         4,149         989         790           93       (190)
      Corporate
       Expenses       (28,573)    (23,525)    (27,095)     (26,625)   (24,718)
      Exit Costs and
       Restructuring
       Charges              -     (13,132)     (4,184)     (23,433)         -
                     $419,589    $327,441    $415,714     $378,803   $363,395



                             Supplemental Information
                                   (Unaudited)
                                    (In 000's)

                                               Three Months
                                                  Ended
                        9/30/2007  6/30/2007  3/31/2007  12/31/2006  9/30/2006

    Depreciation and
     Amortization:
      North America       $74,047    $66,959    $61,764     $58,475    $58,102
      Latin America        18,880     17,118     16,739      17,307     16,856
      Europe/West
       Africa/CIS          22,926     20,936     18,235      17,259     16,460
      Middle East/North
       Africa/Asia         40,983     36,951     36,167      32,549     29,653
      Research and
       Development          1,678      1,669      1,620       1,819      1,813
      Corporate               463        909        990       1,576        596
                         $158,977   $144,542   $135,515    $128,985   $123,480

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 nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, and the three months ended June 30, 2007. We did not report non-GAAP financial measures for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 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           Nine Months
                                  Ended                  Ended
                                 June 30,     September 30,  September 30,
                                   2007            2007           2006

    Operating Income:
      GAAP Operating Income     $327,441       $1,162,744       $975,884
       Exit costs and
        restructuring
        charges                   13,132 (a)       17,316 (b)      2,770 ( c )
      Non-GAAP Operating
       Income                   $340,573       $1,180,060       $978,654

    Provision for Income
     Taxes:
      GAAP Provision for
       Income Taxes            $(105,271)       $(267,078)     $(256,428)
        Tax impact of charges     (4,574)(a)       (6,094)(b)       (970)( c )
        Other charge              50,000 (a)       50,000 (b)          - ( c )
      Non-GAAP Provision for
       Income Taxes             $(59,845)       $(223,172)     $(257,398)

    Income from Continuing
     Operations:
      GAAP Income from
       Continuing Operations     $176,480        $755,223       $631,161
        Total charges,
         net of tax                58,558 (a)      61,222 (b)      1,800 ( c )
      Non-GAAP Income from
       Continuing Operations     $235,038        $816,445       $632,961


    Diluted Earnings Per
     Share From Continuing
     Operations:
      GAAP Diluted Earnings per
       Share From Continuing
       Operations                   $0.51           $2.17          $1.77
       Total charges, net of tax     0.17 (a)        0.18 (b)          - ( c )
      Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings per
       Share From Continuing
       Operations                   $0.68           $2.35          $1.77



       Note (a): This amount represents severance charges associated with
       the Company's restructuring activities.  On an after tax basis, these
       charges approximated $8.6 million during the three months ended June
       30, 2007.  In addition, the Company incurred a tax charge of $50.0
       million for withholding taxes required to be paid on a distribution
       made by the Company to one of its foreign subsidiaries.  On an after
       tax basis, these items resulted in an effect of seventeen cents per
       diluted share for the three months ended June 30, 2007.

       Note (b): This amount represents severance charges associated with
       the Company's restructuring activities.  On an after tax basis, these
       charges approximated $11.2 million during the nine months ended
       September 30, 2007.  In addition, the Company incurred a tax charge
       of $50.0 million for withholding taxes required to be paid on a
       distribution made by the Company to one of its foreign subsidiaries.
       On an after tax basis, these items resulted in an effect of eighteen
       cents per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

       Note ( c ): This amount represents severance charges associated with
       the Company's restructuring activities.  On an after tax basis, these
       charges approximated $1.8 million.

SOURCE Weatherford International Ltd.

CONTACT: Andrew P. Becnel, Weatherford International Ltd.,
Chief Financial Officer, +1-713-693-4136 /
CO: Weatherford International Ltd.
ST: Texas
IN: OIL
SU: ERN ERP DIV CCA