First Amendment

WHEREAS, Parker Drilling Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and Philip Agnew (the "Executive") have entered into an Employment Agreement, effective as of December 6, 2010 (the "Employment Agreement");

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to enter into this amendment to the Employment Agreement to shorten the notice requirement with regard to automatic renewal of the term of the Employment Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Executive's employment with the Company, and the mutual promises and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

"Executive's initial term of employment with the Company under the Agreement shall be for the period from the Effective Date through December 31, 2012 (the 'Initial Term of Employment'). Unless notice is given by either the Company or Executive to the other Party at least 90 days prior to December 31, 2012 that the term of employment will not be renewed, the Initial Term of Employment shall be automatically extended for one four-month period commencing on January 1, 2013 and ending on April 30, 2013. Unless notice is given by either the Company or Executive to the other Party at least 60 days prior to April 30, 2013 that the terin of employment will not be renewed, the Initial Term of Employment shall be automatically extended for a one-year period commencing on May I, 2013 and ending on April 30, 2014. Thereafter, the Initial Term of Employment shall be automatically extended repetitively for an additional one-year period commencing on May 1, 2014 and each anniversary thereof, unless notice is given by either the Company or Executive to the other Party at least 60 days prior to the end of such extended Initial Term of Employment, or any subsequent one-year extension thereof, as applicable, that the term of employment will not be renewed. The Initial Term of Employment and any extension of the Initial Term of Employment hereunder shall each be referred to herein as a "Term of Employment." The Term of Employment shall also be extended upon a Change in Control as provided in Section 7, but shall not thereafter be extended under this Section 4. The Term of Employment shall automatically end in the event of the death or Disability of Executive. The Company and Executive shall each have the right to give Notice of Termination

(pursuant to Section 8) at will, with or without cause, at any time, subject however to the terms and conditions of the Agreement regarding the rights and duties    of the Parties    upon termination of employment. The period from the Effective Date through the earlier of the date of Executive's termination of employment for whatever reason or the end of the Term of Employment shall be referred to herein as the "Employment Period."

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this amendment, which may be sufficiently evidenced by any executed copy hereof, on this 29th day of August, 2011, but effective as of the date set forth above.