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Precision Drilling Corporation

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Industry Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Employees 5001-10,000
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FY2013 Annual Report · Precision Drilling Corporation
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Annual Report

Precision Drilling 
Corporation

2013

What’s Inside

  6 

About Precision 

10 

2013 Highlights and Outlook

14 

Understanding our Business Drivers

 The Energy Industry
 A Competitive Operating Model
 An Effective Strategy
 Risks to our Business

26 

2013 Results

36 

Financial Condition

41 

Accounting Policies and Estimates

44 

Evaluation of Disclosure  
Controls and Procedures

45 

Corporate Governance

46 

 Consolidated Financial  
Statements and Notes

86 

Supplemental Information

88 

Shareholder Information

89 

Corporate Information

Management’s 
Discussion and Analysis

Consolidated 
Financial 
Statements and Notes

Precision

Precision 
Drilling 
Corporation 
2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2013 SHARE TRADING SUMMARY

The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)

P D

Volume (millions)

Share Price (Cdn$)

(1)

10

$15

$12

$9

$6

$3

)
$
n
d
C

(
e
c
i
r

P
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a
h
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0
Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

(1)

On December 5, 2013, Precision’s then largest shareholder sold its entire equity position in the Corporation, approximately 56 million shares which contributed to a total volume  
of 74 million shares traded that day.

Toronto (TSX: PD)
High: $11.53    Low: $7.47    Close: $9.94    Volume Traded: 297,457,268

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)

P DS

Volume (millions)

Share Price (US$)

$15

$12

$9

$6

$3

)
$
S
U

(
e
c
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r

P
e
r
a
h
S

0
Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

New York (NYSE: PDS) 
High: US$11.21    Low: US$7.29    Close: US$9.37    Volume Traded: 288,801,100

)
s
n
o

i
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Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report 

1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management’s 
Discussion and 
Analysis

MD&A

Precision 
Drilling 
Corporation 
2013

This management’s discussion and analysis 
(MD&A) contains information to help you 
understand our business and financial 
performance. Information is as of March 7, 2014. 
This MD&A focuses on our consolidated financial 
statements and includes a discussion of known 
risks and uncertainties relating to the oilfield 
services sector. It does not, however, cover the 
potential effects of general economic, political, 
governmental and environmental events, or other 
events that could affect us in the future.

You should read this MD&A with the 
accompanying audited consolidated financial 
statements and notes, which have been prepared 
in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) and with the 
information in About Forward-Looking Information 
on page 3. We adopted IFRS effective January 1, 
2011, and restated our 2010 results at that time. 
Results for 2009 and prior years were prepared 
in accordance with previous Canadian generally 
accepted accounting principles (previous 
Canadian GAAP). 

The terms we, us, our, the Corporation and 
Precision mean Precision Drilling Corporation 
and our consolidated subsidiaries, and include 
any partnerships that we and/or our subsidiaries 
are part of.

All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless 
otherwise stated.

2  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
We disclose forward-looking information to help current and prospective investors understand our future prospects. This 
MD&A contains statements about what we believe, intend and expect about developments, results and events that may or 
will occur in the future and are forward-looking within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and the safe harbor 
provisions  of  the  United  States  (U.S.)  Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act  of  1995  (collectively,  the  forward-looking 
information and statements). 

Forward-looking information and statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as 
“anticipate”, “could”, “should”, “can”, “expect”, “seek”, “may”, “intend”, “likely”, “will”, “plan”, “estimate”, “believe” and 
other similar expressions. In particular, this MD&A includes statements about the following:

   our strategic priorities 
   our new-build and upgradable rigs giving us favourable positioning in the market for premium drilling rigs 
   continuing  improvements  in  unconventional  drilling  and  completion  techniques,  allowing  customers  to  realize 

favourable economics and drive additional investment capital towards oil and liquids-rich natural gas plays

   our capital expenditure plans in 2014 including the amount of funds allocated for expansion capital, rig upgrade 

capital and sustaining and infrastructure expenditures

   growth opportunities for our Contract Drilling Services land drilling rig fleet both in North America and internationally, 
including  potential  for  additional  rigs  going  to  work  in  Mexico,  two  new-builds  being  delivered  to  Kuwait  in  the 
second quarter and rig additions to our Middle East fleet

   the completion and production work associated with unconventional oil and natural gas plays providing the most 

profitable growth opportunities for our Completion and Production Services segment

   the additional supply of drilling rigs potentially intensifying price competition and possibly leading to lower rates in 

the oilfield services industry generally and lower utilization of our existing rigs

   cost increases, delays in delivery due to the strong activity or financial hardship of our suppliers or contractors, or 

other unforeseen circumstances relating to third parties 

   the outcome from the tax reassessment proceedings in Ontario involving one of our subsidiaries 
   our expectations regarding our ability to comply with our financial ratio covenants.

The forward-looking information and statements in this MD&A are based on certain factors and assumptions made by us 
in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments as 
well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. These include, among other things:

   our expectations regarding our customers’ capital budgets and geographical areas of focus
   the status of current negotiations with our customers
   the demand drivers for natural gas including growing potential of LNG export development
   the economic viability of unconventional oil and gas projects in North America
   the advantages of our premium rigs in respect of drilling in unconventional oil and natural gas plays 
   our ability to obtain qualified personnel, equipment and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner
   our ability to operate our business in a safe, efficient and effective manner
   our ability to obtain capital financing
   the ‘retooling’ of the industry-wide fleet having made Tier 3 rigs obsolete in North America
   potential customers’ focus on pricing, rig availability and other considerations when selecting a drilling contractor
   unconventional drilling being the primary opportunity in the North American marketplace and the suitability of our 

Tier 1 rigs for drilling wells in unconventional oil and natural gas plays 

   new or newer rigs continuing to enter markets where we operate
   the inherently challenging cyclical natures of the energy services business
   the general stability of the economic and political environment in the places where we operate
   our knowledge and understanding of applicable tax legislation and court proceedings. 

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report 

3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Since forward-looking information and statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve 
inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated or implied by such 
forward-looking information and statements due to a number of factors and risks including the following: 

   volatility in the price and demand for oil and natural gas 
   delays or changes in plans with respect to our customers’ exploration or production projects or capital expenditures 
   liquidity of the capital markets to fund our customers’ drilling programs 
   the availability of cash flow, debt and equity sources to fund our capital and operating requirements, as needed 
   the impact of weather and seasonal conditions on our operations and facilities 
   changes in rig technology and our ability to integrate such technologies on a timely and cost-effective basis
   general economic, market or business conditions
   changes in tax, health and safety and environmental legislation including potentially more stringent regulation or 

restriction of hydraulic fracturing

   the availability of qualified personnel, management or other key inputs 
   a decline in our safety performance possibly resulting in lower demand for our services
   fluctuations in foreign exchange, interest rates and tax rates
   operating in foreign countries
   uncertainty in judicial decision-making and proceedings
   other unforeseen conditions that could affect the use of our services 
   other risks and uncertainties set out in this MD&A under the heading Risks to our Business.

You are cautioned that the foregoing list of assumptions, risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive. Additional information 
on these and other factors that could affect our business, operations or financial results are also discussed in our annual 
information form (AIF) on file with the Canadian securities commissions on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and with the U.S. 
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on  EDGAR  (www.sec.gov).  Our  AIF  may  also  be  accessed  from  our  corporate 
website (www.precisiondrilling.com). 

The forward-looking information and statements contained in this MD&A are made as of the date hereof and Precision 
undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise this forward-looking information as a result of new information, future 
events or otherwise, unless we are required to do so by law. 

4  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ADDITIONAL GAAP MEASURES
In  this  MD&A,  we  reference  additional  GAAP  measures  that  are  not  defined  terms  under  IFRS  to  assess  performance 
because we believe they provide useful supplemental information to investors. 

Adjusted EBITDA
We  believe  that  Adjusted  EBITDA  (earnings  before  income  taxes,  finance  charges,  foreign  exchange,  impairment  of 
goodwill, loss on asset decommissioning, and depreciation and amortization), as reported in the Consolidated Statement 
of Earnings, is a useful supplemental measure because it gives us, and our investors, an indication of the results from our 
principal business activities before consideration of how our activities are financed and excluding the impact of foreign 
exchange, taxation, non-cash depreciation and amortization charges, and non-cash decommissioning charges.

Operating Earnings
We believe that operating earnings, as reported in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings, is a useful measure of our 
income  because  it  gives  us,  and  our  investors,  an  indication  of  the  results  of  our  principal  business  activities  before 
consideration of how our activities are financed and excluding the impact of foreign exchange and taxation.

Funds Provided by Operations
We believe that funds provided by operations, as reported in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow, is a useful measure 
because  it  gives  us,  and  our  investors,  an  indication  of  the  funds  our  principal  business  activities  generated  prior  to 
consideration of working capital, which is primarily made up of highly liquid balances.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report 

5

 
About Precision

Management’s 
Discussion and 
Analysis

1

Precision Drilling Corporation provides onshore drilling, completion and production services to exploration and production 
companies in the oil and natural gas industry.

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, we are Canada’s largest oilfield services company and one of the largest in 
the U.S. We also have operations in Mexico and the Middle East.

Our shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the symbol PD, and on the New York Stock Exchange, under the 
symbol PDS.

Strength and Flexibility
From our founding as a private drilling contractor in the 1950s, Precision Drilling has grown to become one of the most 
active drillers in North America.

   our High Performance, High Value operating model drives efficiency and quality of service
   size and scale provide higher margins and better service capabilities
   liquidity allows us to take advantage of business cycle opportunities
   capital structure provides long-term stability and flexibility

Vision
Our vision is to be recognized as the High Performance, High Value  provider  of services for  global energy exploration 
and development. 

Strategic Priorities
1.   Execute our High Performance, High Value strategy – Invest in Precision’s physical and human capital infrastructure 
to  advance  field  level  professional  development,  provide  industry  leading  service  to  customers  and  promote  safe 
operations. Continue to measure and benchmark performance with a view to exceeding the high standards we set.

2.   Leverage our scale in operations – Utilize established systems to promote consistent and reliable service and to 

improve operating efficiencies across all geographies and service lines.

3.   Execute on existing organic growth opportunities – Deliver new-build and upgraded rigs to customer contracts, 
expand  international  activity  in  existing  operating  regions  and  grow  our  Canadian  LNG  drilling  leadership  position.  
Be a recognized leader in the integrated directional drilling transformation.

4.  Increase returns for our investors.

6  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 
 
 
 
Two Business Segments
We operate our business in two segments, supported by vertically integrated business support systems. 

Precision Drilling Corporation

Completion and Production Services
(cid:127) Canada and U.S.
   – Service rigs, snubbing and coil tubing
   – Equipment rentals
   – Camps, catering and water systems

Contract Drilling Services
(cid:127) Drilling rig operations
   – Canada
   – U.S.
   – International
(cid:127) Directional drilling operations
   – Canada
   – U.S.

Business support systems
(cid:127) Sales and
   marketing

(cid:127) Procurement
   and distribution

(cid:127) Manufacturing

(cid:127) Equipment
   maintenance
   and certification

(cid:127) Engineering

Corporate support
(cid:127) Governance

(cid:127) Information
   systems

(cid:127) Health, safety
   and environment

(cid:127) Human
   resources

(cid:127) Finance

(cid:127) Enterprise risk 
   management

2013 Adjusted EBITDA by Operating Segment

2013 Revenue by Region

Contract
Drilling
Services
91%

Completion 
and Production 
Services
9%

International

7%

Canada

49%

U.S.

44%

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report 

7

 
CONTRACT DRILLING SERVICES
We provide onshore drilling services to exploration and production companies in the oil and natural gas industry, operating 
in the U.S., Canada and internationally.

We are the second largest land drilling contractor in North America, servicing approximately 23% of the active land drilling 
market in Canada and 5% of the active U.S. land drilling market. We also have an international presence with operations 
in Mexico and the Middle East. 

At December 31, 2013, our Contract Drilling Services segment consisted of:

   327 land drilling rigs, including:

– 187 in Canada
– 127 in the U.S.
– 8 in Mexico
– 3 in Saudi Arabia
– 2 in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq

   capacity for approximately 88 concurrent directional drilling jobs in Canada and the U.S.
   engineering, manufacturing and repair services primarily for Precision’s operations
   centralized procurement, inventory and distribution of consumable supplies primarily for our Canadian, U.S. and 

Mexican operations.

Drilling Rigs at December 31, 2013

Horsepower

Tier 1

Tier 2

PSST

Total

< 1000

1000-1500

>1500

96

63

15

174

101

21

4

126

3

19

5

27

Geographic location

Canada

U.S.

International

Tier 1

Tier 2

PSST

Total

110

62

15

187

87

31

9

127

3

10

–

13

Total

200

103

24

327

Total

200

103

24

327

Contract Drilling 
Revenue 

Contract Drilling    
Adjusted EBITDA

$ Millions

$2,000

$1,500

$1,000

$500

0

$ Millions

$800

$600

$400

$200

0

Contract Drilling 
Utilization Days

Utilization Days

80,000

60,000

40,000

20,000

0

2009 2010

2011

2012

2013

2009 2010

2011

2012

2013

2009 2010

2011

2012

2013

Note: 2009 was prepared under previous Canadian 
          generally accepted accounting principles

8  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPLETION AND PRODUCTION SERVICES
We  provide  completion  and  workover  services  and  ancillary  services  and  equipment  rentals  to  oil  and  natural  gas 
exploration and production companies primarily in Canada, with a growing presence in the U.S.

Service rigs and snubbing units each serve about 18% of the market for these services in Canada. 

At December 31, 2013, our Completion and Production Services segment consisted of:

   191 well completion and workover service rigs, including:

– 184 in Canada
– 7 in the U.S.

   19 snubbing units, including: 

– 17 in Canada 
– 2 in the U.S.

   12 coil tubing units, including: 

– 4 in Canada 
– 8 in the U.S.

   approximately 3,800 oilfield rental items including surface storage, small-flow wastewater treatment, power generation, 

and solids control equipment primarily in Canada

   235 wellsite accommodation units in Canada and 67 in the U.S.
   50 drilling camps and three base camps in Canada and two drilling camps and one base camp in the U.S.
   10 large-flow wastewater treatment units, 24 pump houses and seven potable water production units in Canada.

Well Servicing Fleet as at December 31 

Type of Service Rig

Singles:

  Freestanding mobile

Doubles:

  Mobile

  Freestanding mobile

  Skid

Slants:

  Freestanding

Total service rigs

Snubbing units

Coil tubing units

Total service rigs, snubbing units  
  and coil tubing units

Horsepower

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

150-400

250-550

200-550

300-860

250-400

94

28

30

30

18

200

20

–

220

94

25

35

28

18

200

20

–

220

90

19

40

22

18

189

18

–

207

90

19

40

22

19

190

19

5

214

90

19

40

22

20

191

19

12

222

Completion and Production 
Revenue

Completion and Production 
Adjusted EBITDA

Completion and Production 
Service Rig Hours

$ Millions

$400

$300

$200

$100

0

$ Millions

$125

$100

$75

$50

$25

0

Hours

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

0

2009 2010

2011

2012

2013

2009 2010

2011

2012

2013

2009 2010

2011

2012

2013

Note: 2009 was prepared under previous Canadian 
          generally accepted accounting principles

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report 

9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2013 Highlights and Outlook

Management’s 
Discussion and 
Analysis

2

Adjusted EBITDA and funds provided by operations are additional GAAP measures. See page 5 for more information.

Financial Highlights

Year ended December 31 
(thousands of dollars, except where noted)

% increase/

2013

(decrease) 

2012

% increase/
(decrease)

2,029,977

638,833

31.5%

191,150

428,086

461,973

282,145

141,132
112,527

(13,372)

522,432

(0.5)

(4.8)

265.1

(32.6)

(22.9)

(52.7)

8.5
(20.6)

(57.4)

(37.6)

2,040,741

670,792

32.9%

52,360

635,286

598,812

596,194

130,094
141,769

(31,423)

836,634

4.6

(3.5)

(72.9)

19.2

1.1

30.9

(13.2)
16.9

96.6

17.8

–

(100.0)

25

(100.0)

92,886

0.69

0.66

0.21

263.2

266.7

320.0

0.19

0.18

0.05

(72.9)

(73.1)

n/m

0.70

0.67

–

2011

1,951,027

695,064

35.6%

193,477

532,772

592,388

455,302

149,811
121,244

(15,983)

710,374

% increase/
(decrease)

36.5

59.8

344.4

74.0

46.6

539.7

174.0
142.3

30.4

334.1

n/m

337.5

346.7

–

% increase/

2013

(decrease) 

327

1.9

30,530

30,268

3,555

222

283,576

(5.6)

(12.5)

70.4

3.7

(3.8)

2012

321

32,352

34,597

2,086

214

294,681

% increase/

(decrease) 

(4.7)

(14.8)

(8.7)

197.2

3.4

(7.2)

2011

337

37,970

37,887

702

207

317,418

% increase/

(decrease) 

(5.1)

21.8

16.8

16.6

(5.9)

7.9

Revenue

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA % of revenue

Net earnings

Cash provided by operations

Funds provided by operations

Investing activities

  Capital spending

  Expansion 

  Upgrade 

  Maintenance and infrastructure 

  Proceeds on sale

  Net capital spending
  Business acquisitions (net of cash  

  acquired)

Earnings per share ($)

  Basic

  Diluted

Dividends per share ($)

n/m – calculation not meaningful.

Operating Highlights

Year ended December 31

Contract drilling rig fleet

Drilling rig utilization days

  Canada

  U.S.

International

Service rig fleet

Service rig operating hours

10  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Position and Ratios

Year ended December 31  
(thousands of dollars, except ratios)

Working capital

Working capital ratio

Long-term debt

Total long-term financial liabilities

Total assets

Enterprise value1

Long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity

Long-term debt to cash provided by operations

Long-term debt to enterprise value

2013

305,783

1.9

1,323,268

1,355,535

4,579,123

3,919,763

0.36

3.09

0.34

2012

278,021

1.7

1,218,796

1,245,290

4,300,263

3,213,406

0.36

1.92

0.38

2011

610,429

2.4

1,239,616

1,267,040

4,427,874

3,528,046

0.37

2.33

0.35

1 Share price multiplied by the number of shares outstanding plus long-term debt minus working capital. See page 40 for more information. 

2013 OVERVIEW
Net earnings in 2013 were $191 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, compared to $52 million or $0.18 per diluted share in 
2012. The 2012 results include the impact of charges associated with asset decommissioning and an impairment charge 
to the goodwill attributable to our Canadian directional drilling operations.

Revenue in 2013 was $2,030 million, 1% lower than 2012, mainly due to lower utilization days in North America, although 
this loss was partially offset by improved drilling rig revenue per day in both Canada and the United States and growth in 
international operations. Contract Drilling Services revenue was down less than 1%, while revenue from Completion and 
Production Services was down 1%. Our international drilling activity increased 70% with an average of 10 rigs working in 
2013 compared to six in 2012. 

Adjusted EBITDA in 2013 was $639 million, 5% lower than 2012. Our adjusted EBITDA margin was 31%, compared to 
33% in 2012. The decrease in adjusted EBITDA margin was mainly the result of reduced margin in the Completion and 
Production  Services  segment.  Lower  activity,  costs  associated  with  starting  up  in  the  United  States  and  fixed  costs  all 
contributed  to  lower  margin  in  our  Completion  and  Production  Services  segment.  EBITDA  margin  for  the  year  in  our 
Contract Drilling Services segment was 38%, in line with the prior year. Our portfolio of term customer contracts, a scalable 
operating cost structure, and economies achieved through vertical integration of the supply chain all help us manage our 
adjusted EBITDA margin.

North  American  industry  activity  was  down  from  the  prior  year  as  a  result  of  volatile  oil  and  natural  gas  prices,  oil 
transportation bottlenecks resulting in regional oil price discounts, record inventory levels resulting in depressed natural 
gas prices, and general global economic uncertainty persisting for much of the year.

In the fourth quarter of 2013, we increased our quarterly dividend to $0.06 per common share.

Outlook

Contracts
Our strong portfolio of term customer contracts provides a base level of activity and revenue and, as of March 7, 2014, 
we had term contracts in place for an average of 101 rigs: 51 in Canada, 43 in the United States and seven internationally 
for 2014. In Canada, term contracted rigs normally  generate 250 utilization days  per rig year because  of the seasonal 
nature of wellsite access. In most regions in the United States and internationally, term contracts normally generate 365 
utilization days per rig year. In 2013, approximately 58% of our total contract drilling revenue was generated from rigs under 
term contract.

Pricing, Demand and Utilization
The demand for energy has been rising with the improvement in the global economic situation, and per capita energy 
consumption has increased in many countries. These demand fundamentals, along with the challenges of maintaining or 
growing global supply, have supported stronger oil prices since 2009.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  11

 
Natural gas prices, however, have been depressed, reaching 10-year lows in 2012 before recovering slightly in 2013 to 
average US$3.73 per MMBtu at Henry Hub. Lower natural gas prices have persisted due to increased production from 
unconventional resource development, higher than average storage levels, and the lack of an export market from North 
America. Despite the industry-wide decline in natural gas drilling activity, production remained stable and kept prices low.

Natural gas demand largely depends on the weather. Moderate North American winter temperatures in 2011 and 2012 
hampered overall demand, but colder weather at the end of 2013 resulted in near-term reduction of inventories and caused 
spot prices to rise. Other demand drivers, however, such as natural gas fired power generation, industrial applications 
and transport, have shown positive growth over the past several years driven by a preference for natural gas over coal, 
favourable regulation and lower prices. As well, the growing potential of liquefied natural gas (LNG) export development in 
both Canada and the U.S. could serve as a catalyst for natural gas directed drilling activity over the medium to long term. 

Industry wide, drilling utilization has declined year-over-year in North America; however, demand for higher specification 
Tier 1 drilling assets has remained strong, supporting improved dayrates charged to customers. We have deployed 69 
new-build Tier 1 Super Series drilling rigs since the beginning of 2010. As at March 7, 2014 we had a total fleet of 203 Tier 1 
drilling rigs, and we have additional upgradable rigs within our fleet, which we believe favourably positions us in the market 
for premium drilling rigs.

The oil rig count at March 7, 2014 was 8% higher in the U.S. than it was a year ago, and 14% lower in Canada. The overall 
North American land oil directed rig count on March 7, 2014 was more than five times higher than it was on March 6, 
2009, supported by unconventional oil and liquids-rich natural gas drilling in plays such as Bakken, Cardium, Montney, 
Duvernay, Eagle Ford, Granite Wash, Niobrara and Permian. As exploration and production companies continue to improve 
unconventional oil drilling and completion techniques, we expect that the favourable economics that our customers realize 
will  drive  additional  investment  capital  toward  these  unconventional  plays,  supporting  continued  drilling  activity,  and 
especially demand for Tier 1 rigs.

International
We currently have 13 rigs in international locations, in Mexico and the Middle East, and expect our active rig count to grow 
over the next two quarters as two new-build drilling rigs on long-term contract for the Kuwait market are delivered in the 
second quarter. Additionally, we see potential for additional rigs going to work in Mexico in 2014 and potential rig additions 
to our Middle East fleet. 

Upgrading the Fleet
We and some of our competitors have been upgrading the drilling rig fleet by building new rigs and upgrading existing 
rigs. We believe this ‘retooling’ of the industry-wide fleet has made Tier 3 rigs virtually obsolete in North America. In the 
fourth quarter of 2012, we decommissioned 42 Tier 3 rigs and 10 Tier 2 rigs from our fleet, exiting the Tier 3 contract drilling 
business. Our focus on the Tier 1 and Tier 2 market is aligned with our corporate strategy, customer relationships and 
competitive position.

Capital Spending
We expect capital spending in 2014 to be approximately $582 million ($545 million in the Contract Drilling Services segment 
and $37 million in the Completion and Production Services segment): 

   $268 million for expansion capital, which includes:

–  six new-build rigs for the Canadian market and two for the U.S.
– one new-build rig that will only be completed once a firm customer contract is secured
– the costs to complete two new-build rigs going to Kuwait
– new equipment in our Completion and Production Services segment and 
– long-lead items. 

   $119  million  for  upgrade  capital  for  15  to  19  upgrades,  four  of  which  represent  the  completion  of  the  2013  rig 

upgrade program 

   $195 million for sustaining and infrastructure expenditures, which is based on currently anticipated activity levels, and 
includes the cost to consolidate and upgrade our operations facility in Nisku, Alberta. The Nisku facility will support Canadian 
operations for several decades. The portion of the 2014 budget allocated to this facility is approximately $30 million.

12  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
i

%
n
g
r
a
M

50

40

30

20

10

0

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Revenue and 
Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

Adjusted EBITDA

Revenue

Source: Precision Drilling 

Funds From Operations

Note: 2009 was prepared under 
previous Canadian GAAP

2,500

2,000

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

m
$

1,500

1,000

500

0

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

s
n
o

i
l
l
i

M
$

Source: Precision Drilling

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Drilling Utilization Days

80,000

60,000

s
y
a
D

40,000

20,000

0

International

USA

Canada

Source: Precision Drilling

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  13

 
 
 
 
Understanding our Business Drivers

Management’s 
Discussion and 
Analysis

3

THE ENERGY INDUSTRY
Precision operates in the energy services business, which is an inherently challenging cyclical industry. Customer demand 
depends on the end price for their products: crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids.

We  depend  on  oil  and  natural  gas  exploration  and  production  companies  to  contract  our  services  as  part  of  their 
development activities. The economics of their business are dictated by the current and expected future margin between 
their finding and development costs and the eventual market price for the commodities they produce.

Commodity Prices
Our customers’ cash flow to fund exploration and development is dependent on commodity prices: higher prices increase 
cash flow and funding. 

Oil can be transported relatively easily, so it is generally priced in a global market that is influenced by an array of economic 
and political factors. Oil prices moved lower during the economic crisis of 2008, but have increased since the beginning of 
2009 as supply and demand fundamentals have tightened. 

Natural gas and natural gas liquids continue to be priced regionally. In 2013, natural gas prices remained at depressed 
levels for most of the year as supplies of unconventional natural gas, particularly in North America, are keeping markets 
well supplied. The onset of colder weather late in 2013 and early 2014 increased demand for natural gas and caused 
spot prices to rise at the beginning of 2014. Overall, natural gas prices remain depressed compared to oil, supporting the 
projected growth in worldwide natural gas consumption. 

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

l

e
r
r
a
b
/
$
S
U

Jan-10

Jan-11

Jan-12

Jan-13

Jan-14

WTI Oil Prices and 
Henry Hub Natural 
Gas Prices

Henry Hub Natural Gas Prices

West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) 
Oil Prices

Source: Precision Drilling 

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

t

u
B
M
M
/
$
S
U

0
Jan-09

14  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

New Technology 
Technological advancements in fracturing, stimulation and horizontal drilling have brought about a shift in development 
from conventional to unconventional natural gas and oil reservoirs. This is giving companies cost-effective access to more 
complex wells in North America, in existing basins and in new basins that haven’t been economic in the past. 

The  following  chart  shows  the  consistent  trend  away  from  vertical  wells  to  more  demanding  directional/horizontal  well 
programs, which require higher capacity equipment and greater technical expertise for drilling. These trends are driving the 
demand for high performing drilling rigs, which garner premium contract rates.

Rigs Drilling 
Directional/Horizontal 
Wells in Canada

Precision’s capabilities are 

demonstrated by the high 

proportion of rigs drilling 

complex wells.

Precision Canada Active Land Rigs

Canada Industry Excluding Precision

Source: Whelby Data

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

s

l
l

e
W

l

t

a
n
o
z
i
r
o
H

/
l
a
n
o

i
t

c
e
r
i

D

f

t

o
e
g
a
n
e
c
r
e
P

0
Jan-09

Jan-10

Jan-11

Jan-12

Jan-13

Jan-14

These  technical  innovations  have  been  a  major  factor  in  the  increase  in  natural  gas  production  in  the  U.S.,  which  is 
becoming  less  reliant  on  Canada  as  a  source  of  natural  gas.  Natural  gas  production  in  Canada  has  been  declining 
because of lower natural gas directed drilling due to pricing pressure and Canada’s lack of an export market other than 
the U.S. 

U.S. Lower 48 Production

80

70

60

50

)
d
/
f
c
B

(

s
a
G

l

a
r
u
a
N

t

U.S. Lower 48 Natural Gas Production

U.S. Crude Oil Production

Source: Energy Information Administration

40
Jan-09

Jan-10

Jan-11

Jan-12

Jan-13

Jan-14

8

7

6

5

4

l

)
d
/
s
b
b
M
M

(

l
i

O
e
d
u
r
C

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  15

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Canadian Production

18

)
d
/
f
c
B

(

s
a
G

l

a
r
u
a
N

t

16

14

Canadian Natural Gas Production

Canadian Crude Oil Production

Source: Energy Information Administration
and First Energy Capital

12
Jan-09

Jan-10

Jan-11

Jan-12

Jan-13

Jan-14

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

l

)
d
/
s
b
b
M
M

(

l
i

O
e
d
u
r
C

Drilling Activity
The graphs below show that, since 2010, drilling activity in the U.S. and Canada has been shifting from natural gas to oil. 
The Canadian drilling rig activity graph also shows how Canadian drilling activity fluctuates with the seasons, a market 
dynamic that in general is not present in the U.S. 

U.S. Drilling Rig Activity

1,600

i

g
n
k
r
o
W
s
g
R

i

1,200

800

400

0
Jan-09

Jan-10

Jan-11

Jan-12

Jan-13

Jan-14

Natural Gas Rigs

Crude Oil Rigs

Source: Baker Hughes, Inc.

Canadian Drilling Rig Activity

600

i

g
n
k
r
o
W
s
g
R

i

400

200

0
Jan-09

Jan-10

Jan-11

Jan-12

Jan-13

Jan-14

Natural Gas Rigs

Crude Oil Rigs

Source: Baker Hughes, Inc.

16  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A COMPETITIVE OPERATING MODEL
The contract drilling business is highly competitive, with numerous industry participants. We compete for long-term drilling 
contracts that are often awarded based on a competitive bid process. 

We believe potential customers focus on pricing and rig availability when selecting a drilling contractor, but also consider 
many other things, including drilling capabilities and condition of rigs, quality of rig crews, breadth of service, safety record 
and adaptability, among others.

Providing  High  Performance,  High  Value  services  to  our  customers  is  the  core  of  our  competitive  strategy.  We  deliver 
High Performance by employing passionate people supported by superior systems and equipment designed to maximize 
productivity and reduce risks. We create High Value by operating safely, lowering customer risks and costs, developing 
people, generating financial growth, and attracting investment.

Operating Efficiency
We keep customer well costs down by maximizing the efficiency of operations in several ways:
  using innovative and advanced drilling technology that’s efficient and reduces costs
  having equipment that’s geographically dispersed, reliable and well maintained 
  monitoring and maintaining our equipment to minimize mechanical downtime
  effectively managing operations to keep non-productive time to a minimum
   compensating our executive and eligible employees based on performance against safety, operational, employee 

retention and financial measures.

Efficient, Cost-Reducing Technology
We focus on providing efficient, cost-reducing drilling technology. Design innovations and technology improvements, such 
as multi-well pad capability and mobility between wells, capture incremental time savings during the drilling process. 

The versatile Precision Super Single design features technical innovations in safety and drilling efficiency for drilling slant 
or directional wells on single or multiple well pad locations in shallow to medium depth well applications. Precision Super 
Single rigs use extended length tubulars, an integrated top drive, innovative unitization to facilitate quick moves between 
well locations, a small footprint to minimize environmental impact, and enhanced safety features such as automated pipe 
handling and remotely operated torque wrenches.

Triple rigs have greater hoisting capacity and are used in deeper exploration and development drilling. Our Super Triple 
electric rigs (ST-1200, ST-1500 and ST-3000) are designed to keep the load count as low as possible using widely available 
conventional rig moving equipment. Power capabilities are a major design criterion for the new Super Triple rigs. Drilling 
productivity and reliability with AC power drive systems provides added precision and measurability, while a computerized 
electronic auto driller feature precisely controls weight, rotation and torque on the drill bit. These rigs use extended length 
drill pipe and have an integrated top drive, automated pipe handling with iron roughnecks, and automated control. 

Broad Geographic Footprint
Geographic proximity and fleet versatility make us a comprehensive provider of High Performance, High Value services 
to our customers. Our large diverse fleet of rigs is strategically deployed across the most active drilling regions in North 
America, including all the major unconventional oil and natural gas basins. 

Managing Downtime
Reliable and well-maintained equipment minimizes downtime and non-productive time during operations. 

We  manage  mechanical  downtime  through  preventative  maintenance  programs,  detailed  inspection  processes,  an 
extensive fleet of strategically located spare equipment, and an in-house supply chain.

We  minimize  non-productive  time  (move,  rig-up  and  rig-out  time)  by  utilizing  walking  and  skidding  systems,  reducing 
the number of move loads per rig, having lighter move loads, and using mechanized equipment for safer and quicker rig 
component connections.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  17

 
 
 
 
 
 
Tracking Our Results
We unitize key financial information per day and per hour, and compare these measures to established benchmarks and 
past performance. We evaluate the relative strength of our financial position by monitoring our working capital, debt ratios, 
and returns on capital employed. We track industry rig utilization statistics to evaluate our performance against competitors. 
We link incentive compensation for our senior team to returns generated compared to established benchmarks. 

We  reward  executives  and  eligible  employees  through  incentive  compensation  plans  for  performance  against  the 
following measures:

   Safety  performance  –  total  recordable  incident  frequency  per  200,000  man-hours.  Measured  against  prior  year 

performance and current year industry performance in Canada and the U.S.

   Operational  performance  –  rig  down  time  for  repair  as  measured  by  time  not  billed  to  the  customer.  Measured 

against predetermined target of available billable time.

   Key field employee retention – senior field employee retention rates. Measured against predetermined target of retention.
   Financial performance – return on capital employed calculated as a percentage of pre-tax operating earnings divided 

by total assets less current liabilities. Measured against predetermined target percentage.

   Investment returns – total shareholder return performance against an industry peer group, including dividends, over 

a three year period. Measured against predetermined competitors in the established peer group.

Top Tier Service 
We pride ourselves on providing quality equipment operated by experienced and well trained crews. We also strive to align 
our capabilities with evolving technical requirements associated with more complex well bore programs. 

High Performance Rig Fleet
Our fleet of drilling rigs is well positioned to address the unconventional drilling programs of our customers. The vast majority 
of our drilling rigs have been designed or significantly upgraded to drill horizontal wells. With a breadth of horsepower 
types and drilling depth capabilities, our large fleet can address every type of onshore unconventional oil and natural gas 
drilling in North America.

In 2013, we high-graded our drilling rig fleet by:
   adding seven Tier 1 new-build drilling rigs
   upgrading 19 drilling rigs – about a quarter of these were Tier upgrades.

As at December 31, 2013, 93% of our 327 drilling rigs were Tier 1 or Tier 2 rigs. 

Tier 1 – 200 drilling rigs

Rigs are better suited to meet the 
challenges of complex customer 
requirements for resource  
exploitation in North American  
shale and unconventional plays

High performance Super Series rigs, innovative in design, capable of drilling directionally or horizontally, 
highly mobile (move with pad walking or skidding systems or require fewer trucking loads)

Features
 highly mechanized tubular handling equipment
 integrated top drive or top drive adaptability
  advanced AC, silicone controlled rectifier (SCR) and mechanical power distribution and control efficiencies 
 electronic or hydraulic control of the majority of operating parameters
 specialized drilling tubulars
 high-capacity mud pumps 
 majority use Range III drill pipe

Tier 2 – 103 drilling rigs

High performance rigs, capable of drilling directionally or horizontally, generally less mobile than Tier 1 rigs

High performance rigs with new 
equipment and modifications  
to improve performance and  
enhance directional and  
horizontal drilling capability

PSST (Precision seasonal, 
stratigraphic and turnkey)  
– 24 drilling rigs

Typically, conventional mechanical 
rigs with no automation and lower 
pumping capacity

Features
 some mechanization of tubular handling equipment
 top drive adaptability
 SCR or mechanical type power systems
 increased hookload and or racking capabilities
 upgraded power generating, control systems and other major components
 high-capacity mud pumps

Acceptable level of performance for certain drilling requirements but would require major equipment 
upgrades to meet the criteria of a Tier 2 or Tier 1 rig

  Other than 24 rigs retained for seasonal, stratification and turnkey drilling work, we have exited the Tier 3 

market. We believe that developments in the land drilling industry have made the Tier 3 rigs virtually 
obsolete in North America.

18  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our service rigs provide completion, workover, abandonment, well maintenance, high pressure operations and critical sour 
gas well work, and well re-entry preparation across the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, Texas and the northern U.S. 
Service rigs are supported by three field locations in Alberta, two in Saskatchewan, and one in each of Manitoba, British 
Columbia, North Dakota, Texas, and Pennsylvania.

Snubbing units complement traditional natural gas well servicing by allowing customers to work on wells while they are 
pressurized and production has been suspended. We have two kinds of snubbing units: rig-assist and self-contained. 
Self-contained  units  do  not  require  a  service  rig  on  site  and  are  capable  of  snubbing  and  performing  many  other  well 
servicing procedures.

Coil tubing units have the ability to service horizontal wells by pushing the tubing rather than relying on gravity. Coil tubing 
often works more effectively in the unconventional horizontal wells that are becoming more common. We began using our 
first coil tubing unit in the first quarter of 2012 and by the end of 2013 we had 12 units operating. 

Ancillary Equipment and Services
An  inventory  of  equipment  (portable  top  drives,  loaders,  boilers,  tubulars  and  well  control  equipment)  supports  our 
fleet  of  drilling  and  service  rigs.  We  also  maintain  an  inventory  of  key  rig  components  to  minimize  downtime  due  to 
equipment failure.

We benefit from internal services for equipment certifications and component manufacturing provided by Rostel Industries 
and for standardization and distribution of consumable oilfield products through Columbia Oilfield Supply in Canada and 
Precision Supply in the U.S. 

Precision Rentals supplies customers with an inventory of specialized equipment and wellsite accommodations. Precision 
Camp Services supplies meals and provides accommodation for crews at remote oilfield worksites. Terra Water Systems 
plays an essential role in providing water treatment services as well as potable water production plants for Precision Camp 
Services and other camp facilities.

Systematic Maintenance
We consistently reinvest capital to sustain existing property, plant and equipment. Also we match equipment repair and 
maintenance expenses to activity levels under our maintenance and certification programs. 

We use computer systems to track key preventative maintenance indicators for major rig components, record equipment 
performance history, schedule equipment certifications, reduce downtime, and better manage our assets. 

We have a continuous maintenance program for essential elements, such as tubulars and engines.

Upgrade Opportunities
We leverage our internal manufacturing and repair capabilities and inventory of quality rigs to address market demand 
through upgraded drilling and service rigs. For drilling rigs, the upgrade is typically performed at the request of a customer 
and includes a term contract. The upgrade may result in a change in tier classification.

People
Having  an  experienced,  high  performance  crew  is  a  competitive  strength  and  highly  valued  by  our  customers.  There 
are often shortages of industry manpower  in peak operating periods. We rely heavily on  our  safety record, investment 
in  employee  development,  and  reputation  to  attract  and  retain  employees.  Our  people  strategies  focus  on  initiatives 
that provide a safe and productive work environment, opportunity for advancement, and added wage security. We have 
centralized personnel, orientation, and training programs in Canada. In the U.S., these functions are managed to align 
with regional labour and customer service requirements. In 2008, we launched Toughnecks (www.toughnecks.com), our 
highly successful field recruiting program.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  19

 
Systems
Our fully integrated, enterprise-wide reporting system has improved business performance through real-time access to 
information across all functional areas. All of our divisions operate on a common integrated system using standardized 
business processes across finance, payroll, equipment maintenance, procurement, and inventory control functions.

We  continue  to  invest  in  information  systems  that  provide  competitive  advantages.  Electronic  links  between  field  and 
financial systems provide accuracy and timely processing. This repository of rig data improves response time to customer 
inquiries.  Rig  manufacturing  projects  also  benefit  from  scheduling  and  budgeting  tools  as  economies  of  scale  can  be 
identified and leveraged as construction demands increase.

Safe Operations
Safety, environmental stewardship and employee wellness are critical for us and for our customers and are the foundation 
of our culture. 

Safety performance is a fundamental contributor to operating performance and the financial results we generate for our 
shareholders.  Target  Zero  –  our  safety  vision  for  eliminating  workplace  incidents  –  is  a  core  belief  that  all  injuries  can 
be  prevented.  We  track  safety  using  an  industry  standard  recordable  frequency  statistic  that  benchmarks  successes 
and isolates areas for improvement. We have taken it to another level by tracking and measuring all injuries, regardless 
of severity, because they are leading indicators of the potential for a more serious incident. In 2013, 252 of our drilling 
rigs and 208 of our service rigs achieved Target Zero. We continue to embrace technological advancements that make 
operations safer. 

Together with our customers, we are continuously looking for opportunities to reduce our consumption of non-renewable 
resources and reduce our environmental footprint. We use technology to minimize our impact on the environment, including: 

   heat recovery and distribution systems
  power generation and distribution
  fuel management
  fuel type
  noise reduction
  recycling of used materials 
  use of recycled materials
  efficient equipment designs
  spill containment.

20  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY
Precision’s vision is to be recognized as the High Performance, High Value provider of services for global energy exploration 
and development.

We work toward this vision by defining and measuring our results against strategic priorities we establish at the beginning 
of every year. 

Strategic Priorities

2013 Results

Plans for 2014

Execute our High Performance,  
High Value strategy
Continue to drive execution excellence in our 
people, internal systems and infrastructure. 

Improved safety performance in both 
operating segments in 2013, matching the 
best results in our history.

Began construction of our Nisku Centre.

Support our world class safety, training and 
development programs.

Upgrade and consolidate our Nisku 
operations and leverage our investments 
in our Houston and Red Deer Technology 
Centres. 

Execute on existing organic  
growth opportunities 
Remain poised to seize growth opportunities, 
leveraging our balance sheet strength and 
flexibility.

Deliver new-build rigs to the North American 
market and upgrade existing drilling rigs 
to higher specification assets on customer 
contracts.

Grow High Performance, High Value service 
lines for unconventional field development, 
such as integrated directional drilling, coil 
tubing and rentals. 

Build our brand
Uphold our reputation and market breadth 
in North America while strengthening 
our presence in select oilfield markets 
internationally.

Delivered seven new-build Super Series 
rigs to customers on term contracts and 
upgraded 19 existing drilling rigs to higher 
specification assets under term contracts.

Expanded international operations with rig 
additions to Mexico and the Middle East.

Expanded service lines in Completion and 
Production Services by adding higher end 
rental offerings and expanding our coil tubing 
business. Expanded penetration into northern 
U.S. markets.

Delivered strong Canadian and U.S. 
dayrates throughout 2013 and exceeded 
employee retention goals across all targeted 
skill positions.

Increased recognition from U.S. and 
international investors while retaining strong 
support from Canadian base.

Invest in our physical and human capital 
infrastructure to advance field level 
professional development, provide industry 
leading service to customers and demand 
safe operations.

Leverage our scale of operations and utilize 
established systems to promote consistent 
and reliable service. 

Increase returns for our investors.

Deliver new-build and upgraded drilling rigs 
to customer contracts, expand international 
activity in existing locations and grow 
our LNG drilling leadership position. Be 
a recognized leader in the integrated 
directional drilling transformation. Grow 
our U.S. presence in Completion and 
Production Services.

Uphold our reputation and market breadth in 
North America while improving our visibility in 
select oilfield markets internationally.

Our corporate and competitive growth strategies are designed to optimize resource allocation and differentiate us from the 
competition, generating value for investors. 

We  see  opportunities  for  growth  in  our  Contract  Drilling  Services  land  drilling  rig  fleet  both  in  North  America  and 
internationally.  Unconventional  drilling  is  the  primary  opportunity  in  the  North  American  marketplace.  Unconventional 
resource development requires advanced Tier 1 drilling rigs and other highly developed services that facilitate the drilling 
of reliable, predictable and repeatable horizontal wells. 

The completion and production work associated with unconventional wells provides the most profitable growth opportunities 
for Completion and Production Services.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  21

 
RISKS TO OUR BUSINESS
Our key business risks are summarized below. You’ll find more information and other risks to our business in our annual 
information form, which is on file with the Canadian securities commissions on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and with the 
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR (www.sec.gov).

Price of Oil and Natural Gas
We sell our services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies. Macroeconomic and geopolitical factors 
associated with oil and natural gas supply and demand are the primary factors driving pricing and profitability in the oilfield 
services industry. Generally, we experience high demand for our services when commodity prices are relatively high and 
the opposite is true when commodity prices are low. The volatility of crude oil and natural gas prices accounts for much of 
the cyclical nature of the energy services business.

The markets for oil and natural gas are separate and distinct. Oil is a global commodity with a vast distribution network, 
although the differential between benchmarks such as West Texas Intermediate and European Brent crude oil can fluctuate. 
As in all markets, when supply, demand and other market factors change, so can the spreads between benchmarks. The 
most economical way to transport natural gas is in its gaseous state by pipeline, and the natural gas market depends on 
pipeline infrastructure and regional supply and demand. However, recent developments in the transportation of liquefied 
natural gas in ocean-going tanker ships have introduced an element of globalization to the natural gas market.

We try to manage this risk by keeping our cost structure as variable as we can while still being able to maintain the level of 
service our customers require.

Weather Patterns
Seasonal weather patterns in Canada and the northern U.S. affect activity in the oilfield services industry. During the spring 
months, wet weather and the spring thaw make the ground unstable so municipalities and counties and provincial and 
state transportation departments enforce road bans that restrict the movement of rigs and other heavy equipment. This 
reduces activity and highlights the importance of the location of our equipment prior to the imposition of the road bans. The 
timing and length of road bans depend on weather conditions leading to the spring thaw and during the thawing period. 

Additionally, certain oil and natural gas producing areas are located in parts of western Canada that are only accessible 
during the winter months because the ground surrounding or containing the drilling sites in these areas consists of terrain 
known as muskeg. Rigs and other necessary equipment cannot cross this terrain to reach the drilling site until the muskeg 
freezes. Moreover, once the rigs and other equipment have been moved to a drilling site, they may become stranded or 
be unable to move to another site if the muskeg thaws unexpectedly. Our business results depend partly on how long the 
winter drilling season lasts.

Competition
Our business results and the strength of our financial position are affected by our ability to strategically manage our capital 
expenditure  program  in  a  manner  consistent  with  industry  cycles  and  fluctuations  in  the  demand  for  contract  drilling 
services. If we do not effectively manage our capital expenditures or respond to market signals relating to the supply or 
demand for contract drilling and oilfield services, it could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, operations and 
financial condition.

Periods  of  high  demand  often  lead  to  higher  capital  expenditures  on  drilling  rigs  and  other  oilfield  services  equipment. 
The number of drilling rigs competing for work in markets where we operate has increased as the industry adds new and 
upgraded rigs. We expect new or newer rigs to continue to enter markets where we operate. The industry supply of drilling 
rigs may exceed actual demand because of the relatively long life span of oilfield services equipment as well as the typically 
long lead time required from when a decision is made to upgrade or build new equipment to when the equipment is placed 
into service. Excess supply resulting from industry-wide capital expenditures could lead to lower demand for term drilling 
contracts  and  for  our  equipment  and  services.  The  additional  supply  of  drilling  rigs  has  intensified  price  competition  in 
the past and could continue to do so, possibly leading to lower rates in the oilfield services industry generally and lower 
utilization of existing rigs. If any of these factors materialize, it would have an adverse effect on our revenues, cash flows, 
earnings and asset valuation.

22  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Technology
Complex drilling programs for the exploration and development of conventional and unconventional oil and natural gas 
reserves demand high performance drilling rigs. The ability of drilling rig service providers to meet this demand depends 
on continuous improvement of existing rig technology, such as drive systems, control systems, automation, mud systems 
and top drives, to improve drilling efficiency. Our ability to deliver equipment and services that meet customer demand 
is  critical  to  our  continued  success.  We  have  an  experienced  internal  engineering  department  that  works  closely  with 
operations and marketing on equipment design and improvements. We cannot assure, however, that our rig technology 
will continue to meet the needs of our customers, especially as rigs age and technology advances, or that competitors 
won’t develop technological improvements that are more advantageous, timely or cost effective. 

Employees and Suppliers

Finding and Keeping Employees
Our success depends on our ability to continue to employ and retain skilled technical personnel and qualified rig personnel; 
if we are unable to, it could have a material adverse effect on our operations. We may not be able to find enough skilled 
labour to meet our needs, and this could limit growth. We may also have difficulty finding enough skilled and unskilled 
labour in the future if demand for our services increases. Shortages of qualified personnel have occurred in the past during 
periods of high demand. The demand for qualified rig personnel generally increases with stronger demand for land drilling 
services and as new and refurbished rigs are brought into service. Increased demand typically leads to higher wages that 
may or may not be reflected in any increases in service rates.

We continually monitor crew availability. To retain and attract quality staff, we focus on providing a safe and productive work 
environment, opportunity for advancement, and added wage security. 

Relying on Suppliers
We  source  certain  key  rig  components,  raw  materials,  equipment  and  component  parts  from  a  variety  of  suppliers  in 
Canada, the U.S. and overseas. We also outsource some or all construction services for drilling and service rigs, including 
new-build rigs, as part of our capital expenditure program. 

To manage this risk, we maintain relationships with several key suppliers and contractors and place advance orders for 
components that have long lead times. We also have an inventory of key components, materials, equipment and parts. 

We may, however, experience cost increases, delays in delivery due to the strong activity or financial hardship of suppliers 
or contractors, or other unforeseen circumstances relating to third parties. If our current or alternate suppliers are unable 
to deliver the necessary components, materials, equipment, parts and services we require for our businesses, including 
for the construction of new-build drilling rigs, it can delay service to our customers and have a material adverse effect on 
our revenues, cash flows and earnings.

Health, Safety and the Environment
We  are  subject  to  various  environmental,  health  and  safety  laws,  rules,  legislation  and  guidelines,  which  can  impose 
material liability, increase our costs, or lead to lower demand for our services.

Standards for accident prevention in the oil and natural gas industry are governed by service company safety policies and 
procedures, accepted industry safety practices, customer-specific safety requirements, and health and safety legislation. 
Safety  is  a  key  factor  that  customers  consider  when  selecting  an  oilfield  service  company.  A  decline  in  our  safety 
performance could result in lower demand for services, and this could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, 
cash flows and earnings. 

Our  operations  are  affected  by  numerous  laws,  regulations  and  guidelines  relating  to  spills,  releases,  emissions,  and 
discharges  of  hazardous  substances  or  other  waste  materials  into  the  environment.  These  may  require  removal  or 
remediation  of  pollutants  or  contaminants,  and  can  impose  civil  and  criminal  penalties  for  violations.  Some  of  these 
apply to our operations and authorize the recovery of natural resource damages by the government, injunctive relief, and 
the  imposition  of  stop,  control,  remediation  and  abandonment  orders.  In  addition,  our  land  drilling  operations  may  be 
conducted in or near ecologically sensitive areas, such as wetlands, which are subject to special protective measures, and 
this may expose us to additional operating costs and liabilities for noncompliance with certain laws. Some environmental 

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  23

 
laws and regulations may impose strict and, in certain cases joint and several, liability. This means that in some situations 
we could be exposed to liability as a result of conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred, or conditions caused by prior 
operators or other third parties, including any liability related to offsite treatment or disposal facilities. The costs arising from 
compliance with these laws, regulations and guidelines may be material.

We maintain liability insurance, including insurance for certain environmental claims, but coverage is limited, and some of 
our policies exclude coverage for damages resulting from environmental contamination. We cannot assure that insurance 
will continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, that the possible types of liabilities that we may incur 
will be covered by the insurance, or that the dollar amount of the liabilities will not exceed our policy limits. Even a partially 
uninsured claim, if successful and of sufficient magnitude, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results 
of operations and prospects.

The issue of energy and the environment has created intense public debate in Canada, the U.S. and around the world 
in  recent  years,  and  it  is  likely  to  continue  to  be  a  focus  area  for  the  foreseeable  future,  which  could  potentially  have 
a  significant  impact  on  all  aspects  of  the  economy.  The  trend  in  environmental  regulation  has  been  to  impose  more 
restrictions and limitations on activities that may impact the environment. Any regulatory changes that impose additional 
environmental restrictions or requirements on us, or our customers, could increase our operating costs and potentially 
lead to lower demand for our services and have an adverse effect on us. For example, there is growing concern about 
the apparent connection between the burning of fossil fuels and climate change. Laws, regulations or treaties concerning 
climate change or greenhouse gas emissions can have an adverse impact on the demand for oil and natural gas, which 
could have a material adverse effect on us. 

Governments in Canada and the U.S. are also considering more stringent regulation or restriction of hydraulic fracturing, 
a technology used by some of our customers that involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure 
into rock formations to stimulate oil and natural gas production. This could have a negative impact on the exploration of 
unconventional energy resources, which are only commercially viable with the use of hydraulic fracturing. Laws relating 
to hydraulic fracturing are in various stages of development at levels of governments in markets where we operate. The 
outcome of these developments and their effect on the regulatory landscape and the contract drilling industry is uncertain.

Financial 

Credit Market Conditions
The ability to make scheduled debt repayments, refinance debt obligations, or access financing depends on our financial 
condition  and  operating  performance,  which  may  be  affected  by  prevailing  economic  and  competitive  conditions  and 
certain financial, business and other factors beyond our control. Volatility in the credit markets can increase costs associated 
with debt instruments due to increased spreads over relevant interest rate benchmarks, or affect our ability to access those 
markets or the ability of third parties we wish to do business with. We may be unable to maintain sufficient cash flow from 
operating activities to allow us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our debt.

In  addition,  if  there  is  continued  or  future  volatility  or  uncertainty  in  the  capital  markets,  access  to  financing  may  be 
uncertain, and this can have an adverse effect on the industry and our business, including future operating results. Our 
customers may curtail their drilling programs, which could result in reduced dayrates, lower demand for drilling rigs, well 
service rigs, directional drilling, turnkey jobs, and other wellsite services, or lower equipment utilization. In addition, certain 
customers may be unable to pay suppliers, including us, if they are unable to access the capital markets to fund their 
business operations.

Access to Additional Financing
We will need sufficient cash flows in the future to service and repay our debt. Our ability to generate cash in the future is 
affected to some extent by general economic, financial, competitive and other factors that may be beyond our control. If 
we need to borrow funds in the future to service our debt, our ability will depend on covenants in the secured facility, the 
2019 Notes, the 2020 Notes, the 2021 Notes, and other debt agreements we have in the future, and on our credit ratings. 
We may not be able to access sufficient amounts under the secured facility or from the capital markets in the future to pay 
our obligations as they mature or to fund other liquidity requirements. If we are not able to borrow a sufficient amount, or 
generate enough cash flow from operations to service and repay our debt, we will need to refinance our debt or we will be 
in default, and we could be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures or dispose of material assets. 

24  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

We may not be able to refinance or arrange alternative measures on favourable terms or at all. If we are unable to service, 
repay or refinance our debt, it could have a negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

We regularly assess our credit policies and capital structure, and have enough liquidity to meet our needs. See page 36 
for information about our liquidity.

Foreign Exchange
Our U.S. and international operations have revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than 
the Canadian dollar (mostly in U.S. dollars and currencies that are pegged to the U.S. dollar). This means that changes in 
currency exchange rates affect our income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash flow.

   Translation into Canadian dollars – When preparing our consolidated financial statements, we translate the financial 
statements for foreign operations that don’t have a Canadian dollar functional currency into Canadian dollars. We 
translate  assets  and  liabilities  at  exchange  rates  in  effect  at  the  balance  sheet  date.  We  translate  revenues  and 
expenses using average exchange rates for the month of the transaction. We initially recognize gains or losses from 
these translation adjustments in other comprehensive income, and reclassify them from equity to net earnings on 
disposal or partial disposal of the foreign operation. Changes in currency exchange rates could materially increase 
or decrease our foreign currency-denominated net assets, which would increase or decrease shareholders’ equity. 
Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the amount of revenues and expenses we record for our U.S. and 
international operations, which will increase or decrease our net earnings. If the Canadian dollar strengthens against 
the U.S. dollar, the net earnings we record in Canadian dollars for our international operations will be lower. 

   Transaction Exposure – Some of our long-term debt is denominated in U.S. dollars. We have designated our U.S. 
dollar denominated unsecured senior notes (the 2020 Notes and the 2021 Notes) as a hedge against the net asset 
position of our U.S. operations. We convert the debt at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet dates and 
include the resulting gains or losses in the statement of comprehensive income. If the Canadian dollar strengthens 
against the U.S. dollar, we will incur a foreign exchange gain from the translation of this debt. Most of our international 
operations are transacted in U.S. dollars or U.S. dollar-pegged currencies. Transactions for our Canadian operations 
are mainly in Canadian dollars, but we occasionally buy goods and supplies for our Canadian operations using U.S. 
dollars. However, U.S. dollar denominated transactions and foreign exchange exposure in our Canadian operations 
would not typically have a material impact on our financial results.

Liabilities from Prior Reorganizations 
We have retained all liabilities of our predecessor companies, including liabilities relating to corporate and income tax matters.

International Operations
We conduct some of our business in Mexico and the Middle East. Our growth plans contemplate establishing operations in other 
foreign countries, including countries where the political and economic systems may be less stable than in Canada or the U.S. 

Our  international  operations  are  subject  to  risks  normally  associated  with  conducting  business  in  foreign  countries, 
including among others:

   an uncertain political and economic environment
   the  loss  of  revenue,  property  and  equipment  as  a  result  of  expropriation,  confiscation,  nationalization,  contract 

deprivation and force majeure

   war, terrorist acts or threats, civil insurrection, and geopolitical and other political risks 
   fluctuations in foreign currency and exchange controls
   restrictions on the repatriation of income or capital
   increases in duties, taxes and governmental royalties
   renegotiation of contracts with governmental entities
   changes in laws and policies governing operations of foreign-based companies
   restrictions under anti-corruption and anti-bribery legislation in Canada, the U.S. and other countries
   trade restrictions or embargoes imposed by the U.S. or other countries.

If there is a dispute relating to our international operations, we may be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of foreign courts 
or may not be able to subject foreign persons to the jurisdiction of a court in Canada or the U.S.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2013 Results

Management’s 
Discussion and 
Analysis

4

Adjusted EBITDA and operating earnings are additional GAAP measures. See page 5 for more information.

Consolidated Statements of Earnings Summary

Year ended December 31 (thousands of dollars)

2013

2012

2011

1,719,910

323,353

(13,286)

2,029,977

653,664

61,032

(75,863)

638,833

333,159

–

305,674

–

(9,112)

93,248

221,538

30,388

191,150

1,725,240

326,079

(10,578)

2,040,741

649,281

93,554

(72,043)

670,792

307,525

192,469

170,798

52,539

3,753

86,829

27,677

(24,683)

52,360

1,632,037

330,225

(11,235)

1,951,027

665,389

104,252

(74,577)

695,064

251,483

114,893

328,688

–

(23,674)

111,578

240,784

47,307

193,477

2013

2012

2011

1,002,199

1,053,966

1,071,526

901,246

137,681

(11,149)

936,113

64,017

(13,355)

866,776

22,994

(10,269)

2,029,977

2,040,741

1,951,027

2,082,958

2,006,519

489,646

4,579,123

2,119,891

1,913,810

266,562

4,300,263

2,252,084

2,027,676

148,114

4,427,874

Revenue

  Contract Drilling Services

  Completion and Production Services

Inter-segment elimination

Adjusted EBITDA

  Contract Drilling Services

  Completion and Production Services

  Corporate and other

Depreciation and amortization

Loss on asset decommissioning

Operating earnings

Impairment of goodwill

Foreign exchange

Finance charges

Earning before income taxes

Income taxes

Net earnings

Results by Geographic Segment

Year ended December 31 (thousands of dollars)

Revenue

  Canada

  U.S.

International

Inter-segment elimination

Total assets

  Canada

  U.S.

International

26  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 
 
 
 
2013 Compared to 2012
Net earnings in 2013 were $191 million or $0.66 per diluted share, compared to $52 million or $0.18 per diluted share 
in 2012. For 2012, net earnings and net earnings per diluted share include the impact of charges associated with asset 
decommissioning and an impairment charge to the goodwill attributable to our Canadian directional drilling operations.

Revenue was $2,030 million, 1% lower than 2012. Improved pricing in Canada and increased activity internationally were 
offset by lower activity levels in both the Contract Drilling Services and Completion and Production Services segments. 

Adjusted EBITDA in 2013 was $639 million, 5% lower than 2012. Lower activity levels were partially offset by higher average 
pricing  in  both  operating  segments  due  to  changes  in  product  mix.  Activity,  as  measured  by  drilling  utilization  days, 
dropped 6% in Canada and 13% in the U.S. compared to 2012 but increased 70% internationally.

The volatile global environment and low natural gas prices in much of 2013 reduced utilization for us and for the industry 
in general.

Average Oil and Natural Gas Prices

Oil 

2013

2012

2011

  West Texas Intermediate (per barrel)

US$98.02

US$94.13

US$95.02

Natural gas

  Canada

  AECO (per MMBtu)

  U.S.

  Henry Hub (per MMBtu)

$3.18

$2.39

$3.62

US$3.73

US$2.75

US$3.98

Key Statistics
There were 10,903 wells drilled in western Canada in 2013, 1% more than the 10,753 drilled in 2012. Despite the increases, 
total industry drilling operating days was 3% lower than 2012, at 120,043. Average industry drilling operating days per well 
was 11.0 compared to 11.6 in 2012. Average depth of a well increased 7%. The decrease in days per well while average 
depth increased reflects the use of top tier rigs and greater industry experience with unconventional drilling.

Approximately 35,700 wells were started onshore in the U.S., 3% less than the approximately 36,800 wells started there 
in 2012. 

Fleet
We and many of our competitors have been in the process of upgrading the drilling rig fleet by building new rigs and 
upgrading existing ones. In 2013, we added 7 new-build drilling rigs and upgraded another 19. In the fourth quarter of 
2012, we decommissioned 42 Tier 3 drilling rigs and 10 Tier 2 rigs from our fleet and recorded an impairment charge of 
$192 million. In the fourth quarter of 2011, we recorded an impairment charge of $115 million related to the decommissioning 
of 36 drilling rigs and 13 well servicing rigs. We have exited the Tier 3 contract drilling business but retained 24 drilling rigs 
for seasonal, stratification and turnkey drilling work (the PSST rigs). Our focus on the Tier 1 and Tier 2 market is aligned 
with our corporate strategy, customer relationships and competitive position.

Goodwill
Under IFRS, we are required to assess the carrying value of cash-generating units that contain goodwill every year. Goodwill 
in  2013  remains  unchanged  except  for  foreign  currency  translation.  We  recognized  a  $53  million  goodwill  impairment 
charge in 2012 (the goodwill attributable to our Canadian directional drilling operations), because of the outlook for natural 
gas pricing and the reduction in natural gas drilling in Canada. 

Foreign Exchange
We recognized a foreign exchange gain of $9 million because the Canadian dollar weakened in value against the U.S. 
dollar and this affected the net U.S. dollar denominated monetary position in our Canadian dollar-based companies.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  27

 
 
 
Finance Charges
Finance charges were $93 million, an increase of $6 million compared with 2012 primarily due to the increase in average 
outstanding debt in Canadian dollars. 

Income Taxes
Income taxes were $30 million, $55 million higher than in 2012 mainly because operating earnings were higher.

In June 2013, a wholly owned subsidiary of Precision lost a tax appeal in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice related 
to a reassessment of Ontario income tax for the subsidiary’s 2001 thru 2004 taxation years. Precision has appealed the 
decision to the Ontario Court of Appeal and we expect this appeal to be heard in 2014. Despite the decision in the Superior 
Court, management believes it is more likely than not that Precision will prevail on appeal. Should Precision lose on appeal, 
approximately $55 million of the long-term income tax recoverable related to this issue would be expensed.

2012 Compared to 2011
Net earnings in 2012 were $52 million or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to $193 million or $0.67 per diluted share 
in 2011. Revenue was $2,041 million, 5% higher than 2011. Net earnings and net earnings per diluted share include the 
impact of charges associated with asset decommissioning and an impairment charge to the goodwill attributable to our 
Canadian directional drilling operations.

Adjusted EBITDA in 2012 was $671 million, 3% lower than 2011. Lower activity levels were partially offset by improved 
pricing in both operating segments. Activity, as measured by drilling utilization days, dropped 15% in Canada and 9% in 
the U.S. compared to 2011.

The volatile global environment and lower natural gas prices in much of 2012 reduced utilization for us and for the industry 
in general.

Key Statistics
There were 10,753 wells drilled in western Canada in 2012, 9% fewer than the 11,832 drilled in 2011. Approximately 38,600 
wells were started onshore in the U.S., 2% more than the approximately 37,800 wells started there in 2011. 

In Canada, total industry drilling operating days were 14% lower than 2011, at 124,319. Average industry drilling operating 
days per well was 11.6 compared to 12.2 in 2011. Average depth of a well increased 2%. The decrease in days per well 
while average depth increased reflects the use of top tier rigs and greater industry experience with unconventional drilling.

Foreign Exchange
We recognized a foreign exchange loss of $4 million because the Canadian dollar strengthened in value against the U.S. 
dollar and this affected the net U.S. dollar denominated monetary position in our Canadian dollar-based companies.

Finance Charges
Finance charges were $87 million, $25 million lower than 2011. In 2011, we incurred a $27 million charge for the make-whole 
premium  from  the  refinancing  of  a  previously  outstanding  debt,  and  the  interest  expense  associated  with  Canadian 
income tax settlements. These were offset by higher interest costs from a higher average long-term debt balance and a 
non-recurring gain we recognized in 2011.

Income Taxes
Income taxes were $72 million lower than in 2011 mainly because operating results were lower.

28  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

CONTRACT DRILLING SERVICES

Financial Results
Adjusted EBITDA and operating earnings are additional GAAP measures. See page 5 for more information.

Year ended December 31  
(thousands of dollars, except where noted)

Revenue

Expenses

  Operating

  General and administrative

Adjusted EBITDA

Depreciation and amortization

Loss on asset decommissioning

Operating earnings

2013

1,719,910

1,019,156

47,090
653,664

292,217

–

361,447

% of 
revenue

59.3

2.7
38.0

17.0

–

21.0

2012

1,725,240

1,036,553

39,406
649,281

271,993

192,469

184,819

% of
revenue

60.1

2.3
37.6

15.8

11.1

10.7

2011

1,632,037

931,062

35,586
665,389

219,194

113,366

332,829

% of
revenue

57.0

2.2
40.8

13.4

7.0

20.4

2013 Compared to 2012
Revenue from Contract Drilling Services was $1,720 million, slightly lower than 2012, mainly due to lower utilization days 
in North America, partially offset by higher drilling rig revenue per day in both Canada and the U.S. and growth in our 
international drilling operations. 

Operating  expenses  were  59%  of  revenue,  compared  to  60%  in  2012,  mainly  because  of  improved  results  from  our 
international drilling business. Operating expenses per day were 3% higher in Canada and 1% lower in the U.S. mainly 
because of higher crew labour-related costs offset in the U.S. by lower turnkey activity. General and administrative expense 
was higher because of the growth in our international business.

Operating earnings were $361 million, 96% higher than 2012, and equated to 21% of revenue compared to 11% in 2012. 
Included in 2012 was a loss on asset decommissioning charge of $192 million on the decommissioning of 52 drilling rigs 
in the fourth quarter.

Capital expenditures in 2013 were $447 million:

   $208 million – to expand the underlying asset base
  $141 million – to upgrade existing equipment 
  $98 million – on maintenance and infrastructure. 

Most of the expansion capital was for our rig build program; seven of these were completed and placed into service by 
December 31, 2013.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  29

 
 
 
 
Operating Statistics

Year ended December 31

Number of drilling rigs (year-end)

Drilling utilization days (operating and moving)

  Canada

  U.S.

International

Drilling revenue per utilization day

  Canada (Cdn$)

  U.S.(US$)

Drilling statistics (Canadian operations only)

  Wells drilled

  Average days per well

  Metres drilled (hundreds)

  Average metres per well

2013

327

30,530

30,268

3,555

22,108

23,575

3,211

8.4

5,576

1,736

% increase/
 (decrease)

1.9

(5.6)

(12.5)

70.4

5.1

(0.5)

4.1

(10.6)

6.6

2.4

2012

321

32,352

34,597

2,086

21,030

23,696

3,085

9.4

5,233

1,696

% increase/
(decrease)

(4.7)

(14.8)

(8.7)

197.2

14.0

9.0

(13.5)

(1.1)

(8.5)

5.8

2011

337

37,970

37,887

702

18,442

21,744

3,566

9.5

5,717

1,603

% increase/
(decrease)

(5.1)

21.8

16.8

16.6

14.3

14.7

11.6

8.0

11.7

0.0

Canadian Drilling
Revenue from Canadian drilling was down $5 million or 1% from 2012. Drilling rig activity, as measured by utilization days, 
was down 6%.

In 2013, the industry drilled 10,903 wells in western Canada, 1% more than in 2012. Industry operating days decreased 3% 
to 120,043. These were the result of lower activity as customer demand for oil and liquids-rich natural gas related drilling 
activity declined.

Adjusted EBITDA was $334 million, in line with $332 million in 2012, as higher pricing offset the decline in drilling activity. 

Depreciation expense for the year was $5 million lower than 2012 because of lower utilization of our rigs and a recognized 
loss on sale of assets in 2012. 

Drilling Statistics – Canada
In 2013, we completed two new-build rigs and decommissioned one, bringing our Canadian 2013 year-end net rig count 
to 187 (up by one).

The industry drilling rig fleet decreased slightly – there were approximately 819 rigs at the end of 2013 compared to 822 at 
the end of 2012. Our operating day utilization was 39% (2012 – 40%), compared to industry utilization of 40% (2012 – 42%).

Our average dayrates in Canada increased 5% in 2013 because we had a favourable rig mix and demand for our Tier 1 
rigs was strong.

U.S. Drilling
Revenue from U.S. drilling was lower than 2012 by US$106 million or 13%. Drilling rig activity, as measured by utilization 
days, was down 13%. 

Adjusted EBITDA was US$270 million, 12% lower than US$308 million in 2012, mainly because of lower industry activity 
due to weak natural gas economics. 

Depreciation expense for the year was $21 million lower than 2012 because of lower utilization of our drilling rigs and higher 
losses on sale of assets in 2012. 

Drilling Statistics – U.S.
In 2013, we completed five new-build rigs, and transferred five rigs to our international fleet, leaving our U.S. year-end net 
rig count unchanged at 127. In 2013, we averaged 83 rigs working, a 13% decrease from 2012.

Our average dayrates in the U.S. decreased 1% in 2013 because we had fewer average rigs working turnkey jobs offset by 
a better rig mix as demand for our Tier 1 rigs was strong. We also added new-build Tier 1 rigs and upgraded rigs to the fleet.

30  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 
Drilling Statistics – U.S.

Average number of active land rigs for quarters ended:

  March 31

  June 30

  September 30

  December 31

Annual average

1 Source: Baker Hughes

2013

2012

Precision

Industry1

Precision

Industry1

81

80

81

90

83

1,706

1,710

1,709

1,697

1,705

104

97

90

87

95

1,947

1,924

1,855

1,759

1,871

COMPLETION AND PRODUCTION SERVICES

Financial Results
Adjusted EBITDA and operating earnings are additional GAAP measures. See page 5 for more information.

Year ended December 31  
(thousands of dollars, except where noted)

Revenue

Expenses

  Operating

  General and administrative

Adjusted EBITDA

Depreciation and amortization

Loss on asset decommissioning

Operating earnings

2013

323,353

242,768

19,553
61,032

32,630

–

28,402

% of 
revenue

75.1

6.0
18.9

10.1

8.8

2012

326,079

217,326

15,199
93,554

30,758

– 

62,796

% of
revenue

66.6

4.7
28.7

9.4

–

19.3

2011

330,225

211,195

14,778
104,252

25,598

1,527

77,127

% of
revenue

64.0

4.5
31.6

7.8

0.5

23.4

Revenue from Completion and Production Services was $323 million in 2013, 1% lower than 2012, mainly because industry 
activity was lower; customers reduced their spending on production activity as natural gas prices remained weak. Reduced 
activity was partially offset by higher average day rates due to product mix and expansion of our services into the U.S.

Operating earnings were $28 million in 2013, 55% lower than 2012, and equated to 9% of revenue compared to 19% in 
2012 as service rig activity was down in 2013 and rental equipment saw less activity. 

Operating expenses were 75% of revenue, 8 percentage points higher than 2012, mainly because of lower equipment 
utilization, which increased daily or hourly operating costs associated with fixed operating costs, and higher crew wages 
starting in the fourth quarter. 

Depreciation expense for the year was $2 million higher than 2012 mainly because of depreciation on equipment purchases 
in 2012 and 2013.

Capital expenditures were $83 million:

  $74 million – to expand the underlying asset base
  $9 million – on maintenance and infrastructure.

Revenue from Precision Well Servicing was $189 million, 14% lower than 2012, because operating activity was down 14%. 

Revenue from Precision Rentals was $39 million, 26% lower than 2012. Activity was lower because drilling, well servicing, 
and frac-related activity was down. Precision Rentals expanded from three major product lines (surface equipment, wellsite 
accommodations, and tubular equipment) to also provide power generation equipment, solids control equipment, and 
WaterDams (containment rings). 

Revenue from Precision Camp Services was $33 million, 5% higher than 2012, because there were more base camp days. 
Precision operated three base camps and 50 drill camps during 2013. 

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  31

 
 
 
Operating Results

Year ended December 31

Number of service rigs (end of year)1

Service rig operating hours2

Revenue per operating hour2

2013

222

283,576

854

% increase/
 (decrease)

3.7

(3.8)

14.8

2012

214

294,681

744

% increase/
(decrease)

3.4

(7.2)

8.1

2011

207

317,418

688

% increase/
(decrease)

(5.9)

7.9

8.0

1 Now includes snubbing services. Comparative numbers have been restated to reflect this change.
2 Prior year comparatives have been changed to include U.S. based service rig activity.

In 2013, we added one coil tubing unit in Canada and six in the U.S. In addition, we moved two service rigs from Canada 
to the U.S., added one service rig to Canada and moved one snubbing unit from the U.S. to Canada. We also added rental 
equipment as we continue to expand our North American footprint. 

Service rig rates increased 15% as we provided higher-end services and crew wage increases were passed through to 
customers. Our service rig hours decreased 4% although higher rig rates and our U.S. expansion partially offset market 
activity declines.

CORPORATE AND OTHER 

Financial Results
Adjusted EBITDA is an additional GAAP measure. See page 5 for more information.

Year ended December 31 (thousands of dollars)

2013

2012

2011

Revenue

Expenses

  Operating

  General and administrative

Adjusted EBITDA

Depreciation and amortization

Operating earnings (loss)

–

–

75,863

(75,863)

8,312

(84,175)

–

–

72,043

(72,043)

4,774

(76,817)

–

–

74,577

(74,577)

6,691

(81,268)

Our corporate segment has support functions that provide assistance to our other business segments. It includes costs 
incurred in corporate groups in both Canada and the U.S. 

Corporate and other expenses were $76 million in 2013, $4 million more than 2012, mainly related to costs resulting from 
international growth. In 2013, corporate general and administrative costs were 3.7% of consolidated revenue compared to 
3.5% in 2012 and 3.8% in 2011.

32  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS
Adjusted EBITDA and funds provided by operations are additional GAAP measures. See page 5 for more information.

2013 – Quarters Ended 
(thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

March 31  

June 30  

September 30  

December 31

Revenue

Adjusted EBITDA

Net earnings (loss)

  Per basic share

  Per diluted share

Funds provided by operations

Cash provided by operations

Dividends per share

595,720

215,181

93,313

0.34

0.33

144,682

62,948

0.05

378,898

88,248

473

0.00

0.00

33,791

182,345

0.05

488,450

137,660

29,443

0.11

0.10

127,684

88,341

0.05

566,909

197,744

67,921

0.24

0.24

155,816

94,452

0.06

2012 – Quarters Ended 
(thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

March 31  

June 30  

September 30  

December 31

Revenue

Adjusted EBITDA

Net earnings (loss)

  Per basic share

  Per diluted share

Funds provided by operations

Cash provided by operations

Dividends per share

640,066

245,574

111,081

0.40

0.39

247,739

162,440

–

381,966

97,192

18,261

0.07

0.06

62,373

275,346

–

484,761

151,000

39,357

0.14

0.14

146,124

61,183

–

533,948

177,026

(116,339)

(0.42)

(0.42)

142,576

136,317

0.05

Seasonality
The Canadian drilling industry is affected by weather patterns. Activity peaks in the winter, in the fourth and first quarters. 
In the spring, wet weather and the spring thaw make the ground unstable. Government road bans restrict the movement 
of rigs and other heavy equipment, reducing activity in the second quarter. This leads to quarterly fluctuations in operating 
results and working capital requirements. 

Fourth Quarter 2013 Compared to Fourth Quarter 2012
We had net earnings in the fourth quarter of $68 million or $0.24 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $116 million or 
$0.42 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2012. In the fourth quarter of 2012, we recognized charges associated with 
asset decommissioning and a goodwill impairment that, combined, reduced net earnings by $179 million and net earnings 
per diluted share by $0.63 compared to the fourth quarter of 2013.

Revenue was $33 million higher in the fourth quarter of 2013 than the fourth quarter of 2012, mainly because of higher 
international and U.S. drilling activity and higher pricing in Canadian contract drilling partially offset by lower turnkey activity 
in the U.S. 

Adjusted EBITDA was $21 million higher in the fourth quarter of 2013 than the fourth quarter of 2012 mainly because of 
increases in international activity and U.S. contract drilling activity, and lower costs in U.S. contract drilling.

Our adjusted EBITDA margin was 35% in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to 33% in the fourth quarter of 2012. The 
increase in EBITDA margin was mainly due to improved profitability in international and U.S. contract drilling operations 
and new-build and upgraded rigs that we have deployed over the past few years partially offset by weaker demand for our 
completion and production services. 

Operating costs were higher because of increased activity internationally and in contract drilling in the U.S. As a percentage 
of revenue, operating costs were 59% in the fourth quarter of 2013 and 61% in the same quarter of 2012. Our portfolio of 
term customer contracts, a highly variable operating cost structure, and economies achieved through vertical integration 
of the supply chain all help us manage our adjusted EBITDA margin. 

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  33

 
 
 
Fourth quarter drilling rig utilization days (drilling days plus move days) in Canada were 8,201 in 2013, in line with 2012. 
Drilling  rig  utilization  days  in  the  U.S.  were  8,258  this  quarter,  3%  higher  than  the  fourth  quarter  of  2012  as  a  result  of 
an  improvement  in  market  share  as  we  were  able  to  put  more  rigs  to  work  in  a  period  when  industry  land  drilling  rigs 
declined 4%.

The majority of activity was in oil and liquids-rich natural gas related plays. We averaged a total of 190 rigs working in the 
quarter (89 in Canada, 90 in the U.S., and 11 internationally), compared to an average of 175 rigs in the third quarter of 
2013 and 185 rigs in the fourth quarter of 2012. 

Our North America service rig activity in the fourth quarter was 7% lower than the fourth quarter of 2012 (71,981 operating 
hours compared to 77,234 hours in the fourth quarter of 2012).

Contract Drilling Services
Revenue and adjusted EBITDA from Contract Drilling Services were both up in the fourth quarter compared to the fourth 
quarter of 2012: revenue was $484 million, 7% higher than the fourth quarter of 2012 and adjusted EBITDA was $200 million, 
16% higher than the fourth quarter of 2012. These results were mainly because of higher drilling rig activity in international 
and the U.S. and higher average rates per day in Canada partially offset by lower turnkey activity in the U.S.

Operating results for our international operations improved as we averaged 11 rigs working compared to eight in the prior 
year comparative quarter. Drilling utilization days in our international operations for the quarter were 1,052 days, 43% higher 
than the fourth quarter of 2012.

Drilling  rig  utilization  days  in  Canada  (drilling  days  plus  move  days)  during  the  fourth  quarter  of  2013  were  8,201,  a 
decrease of 1% compared to 2012 while drilling rig utilization days in the U.S. were 8,258, or 3% higher than the same 
quarter of 2012. The increase in U.S. activity was primarily due to strong demand for Tier 1 assets and resulted in market 
share gains by Precision during the second half of the year. The majority of our North America activity came from oil and 
liquids-rich natural gas related plays.

In Canada, we generated 44% of utilization days in the fourth quarter from rigs under term contract, compared to 41% in 
the fourth quarter of 2012. In the U.S., we generated 62% of utilization days from rigs under term contract as compared to 
64% in the fourth quarter of 2012. At the end of the quarter, we had 57 drilling rigs working under term contracts in Canada, 
58 in the U.S. and 10 internationally.

Operating costs were 56% of revenue for the fourth quarter of 2013 (2012 – 60%). On a per utilization day basis, operating 
costs  for  the  drilling  rig  division  in  Canada  were  above  the  prior  year  primarily  because  of  an  increase  in  crew  wage 
expense. In the U.S., operating costs for the quarter on a per day basis were down from the fourth quarter of 2012 as a 
result of proportionately lower turnkey activity and cost savings from operational efficiencies. Labour rate increases are 
typically recovered through higher dayrates.

Depreciation expense in the quarter was 2% higher than the prior year due to an increase in drilling activity and a greater 
proportion of operating days from our Tier 1 drilling rigs. In 2012, we decommissioned 52 rigs in the fourth quarter (22 in 
Canada and 30 in the U.S.) and recorded an impairment charge of $192 million. 

We  use  the  unit-of-production  method  of  calculating  depreciation  for  our  contract  drilling  operations  except  for  certain 
PSST and directional drilling equipment, where we use the straight-line method.

Completion and Production Services
Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2013, from Completion and Production Services was $85 million in-line with the prior year 
while adjusted EBITDA was $16 million, down 27% from the prior year, as weaker demand in the Canadian market offset 
the expansion of services in the U.S. Activity in Canadian well servicing was down 16% but was offset by a 158% increase 
in U.S. well servicing activity and higher average hourly rates in both Canada and the U.S.

34  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Well servicing activity in the fourth quarter was 7% lower than the fourth quarter of 2012, as lower customer demand in 
Canada more than offset our growing U.S. presence. Approximately 83% of the fourth quarter service rig activity was oil 
related. Our rental division activity in the fourth quarter was lower than the fourth quarter of 2012 mainly due to the excess 
amount of surface storage capacity in Western Canada. 

Average service rig revenue per operating hour in the fourth quarter was $878, or $83 higher than the fourth quarter of 2012. 
The increase was primarily the result of increased coil tubing operations in 2013, which operate at higher rates.

Operating costs as a percentage of revenue increased to 76% in the fourth quarter of 2013, from 70% in the fourth quarter 
of 2012. Operating costs per service rig operating hour were higher than in the fourth quarter of 2012 mainly because of 
the increase in costs associated with the new coil tubing operations and fixed costs spread over a lower activity base.

Depreciation  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  2013  was  7%  lower  than  the  fourth  quarter  of  2012  because  of  lower  equipment 
utilization and losses on disposal realized in the fourth quarter of 2012. We use the straight-line method of calculating 
depreciation for our completion and production business lines, except for the well servicing division, where we use the 
unit-of-production method.

Consolidated
General and administrative expenses were $34 million in the fourth quarter, $4 million higher than the fourth quarter of 
2012 because of the year to date recording of incentive compensation liabilities, which are tied to the price of our common 
shares and our annual operating results.

Net finance charges were $23 million in the fourth quarter, $1 million higher than the fourth quarter of 2012, mainly because 
of the increase in average outstanding debt stated in Canadian dollars.

Capital expenditures were $123 million in the fourth quarter compared to $187 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. Spending 
in the fourth quarter of 2013 included:

  $54 million – to expand the underlying asset base
  $30 million – to upgrade existing equipment 
  $39 million – on maintenance and infrastructure. 

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  35

 
 
 
 
Financial Condition

Management’s 
Discussion and 
Analysis

5

The oilfield services business is inherently cyclical. To manage this, we focus on maintaining a strong balance sheet so 
we have the financial flexibility we need to continue to manage our growth and cash flows, no matter where we are in the 
business cycle.

We apply a disciplined approach to managing and tracking the results of our operations to keep costs down. We maintain 
a scalable cost structure so we can be responsive to changing competition and market demand. And we invest in our fleet 
to make sure we remain competitive. Our maintenance capital expenditures are rightly governed by and highly responsive 
to activity levels with additional cost savings leverage provided through our internal manufacturing and supply divisions. 
Term contracts on expansion capital for new-build rig programs help provide more certainty of future revenues and return 
on our capital investments.

Liquidity
As at December 31, 2013, our liquidity was supported by a cash balance of $81 million, a senior secured credit facility 
of US$850 million, operating facilities totalling approximately $55 million, and a US$25 million secured facility for letters 
of credit. 

At December 31, 2013, including letters of credit, we had approximately $1,394 million (2012 – $1,290 million) outstanding 
under our secured and unsecured credit facilities and $23 million in unamortized debt issue costs. Our secured facility 
includes  financial  ratio  covenants  that  are  tested  quarterly.  We  are  compliant  with  these  covenants  and  expect  to 
remain compliant. 

We ended 2013 with a long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity ratio of 0.36 (compared to 0.36 in 2012) and a ratio of 
long-term debt to cash provided by operations of 3.09 (compared to 1.92 in 2012). 

The current blended cash interest cost of our debt is about 6.5%.

Ratios and Key Financial Indicators
We evaluate the relative strength of our financial position by monitoring our working capital, debt ratios and liquidity.

We  also  monitor  returns  on  capital,  and  we  link  our  executives’  incentive  compensation  to  the  returns  we  generate 
compared to our peers.

36  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Financial Position and Ratios

At December 31 (thousands of dollars, except ratios)

Working capital

Working capital ratio

Long-term debt 

Total long-term financial liabilities

Total assets

Enterprise value (see table on page 40)

Long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity 

Long-term debt to cash provided by operations 

Long-term debt to adjusted EBITDA

Long-term debt to enterprise value 

2013

305,783

1.9

1,323,268

1,355,535

4,579,123

3,919,763

0.36

3.09

2.07

0.34

2012

278,021

1.7

1,218,796

1,245,290

4,300,263

3,213,406

0.36

1.92

1.82

0.38

2011

610,429

2.4

1,239,616

1,267,040

4,427,874

3,528,046

0.37

2.33

1.78

0.35

Credit Rating
Credit ratings affect our ability to obtain short and long-term financing, the cost of this financing, and our ability to engage 
in certain business activities cost-effectively.

Corporate credit rating

Senior secured bank credit facility rating

Senior unsecured credit rating

Moody’s  

Ba1

S&P

BB+

Not rated  

Not rated

Ba1

BB

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
To maintain and grow our business, we invest in both growth and sustaining capital. We base expansion capital decisions 
on return on capital employed and payback, and we mitigate the risk that we may not be able to fully recover our capital 
by requiring two to five year term contracts for new-build rigs. 

We base our maintenance capital decisions on actual activity levels, using key financial indicators that we express as per 
operating day or per operating hour. Sourcing internally (through our manufacturing and supply divisions) helps keep our 
maintenance capital costs as low as possible.

Foreign Exchange Risk
Our U.S. and international operations have revenue, expenses, assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than 
the Canadian dollar (mostly in U.S. dollars and currencies that are pegged to the U.S. dollar). This means that changes 
in currency exchange rates affect our income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash flow. We manage this risk 
by matching the currency of our debt obligations with the currency of cash flows generated by the operations that the 
debt supports. 

Interest Rate Risk
We minimize interest rate risk by staggering long-term debt maturities.

Hedge of Investments in U.S. Operations
We have designated our U.S. dollar denominated long-term debt as a hedge of our investment in our operations in the 
U.S. We recognize the effective amount of this hedge (net of tax) in other comprehensive income. We recognize ineffective 
amounts (if any) in earnings.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SOURCES AND USES OF CASH

At December 31 (thousands of dollars)

Cash from operations

Cash used in investing

Deficit

Cash (used in) from financing

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

Net cash generated (used)

2013

428,086

(526,535)

(98,449)

21,517

4,770

(72,162)

2012

635,286

(930,121)

(294,835)

(14,899)

(4,974)

(314,708)

2011

532,772

(715,462)

(182,690)

366,887

26,448

210,645

Cash from Operations
In 2013, we generated cash from operations of $428 million compared to $635 million in 2012. The reduction is primarily 
the result of higher income taxes paid in 2013 and lower operating results than 2012.

Investing Activity
We made growth and sustaining capital investments of $536 million in 2013:

  $282 million in expansion capital 
  $141 million in upgrade capital 
  $113 million in maintenance and infrastructure capital.

The $536 million in capital expenditures in 2013 was split between segments:

  $447 million in Contract Drilling Services 
  $83 million in Completion and Production Services
  $6 million in Corporate and Other.

Expansion and upgrade capital includes the cost of long-lead items purchased for our capital inventory, such as top drives, 
drill pipe, control systems, engines and other items we can use to complete new-build projects or upgrade our rigs in North 
America and internationally.

Financing Activity
As at December 31, 2013, we had drawn US$28 million on our senior secured revolving facility, which in prior years had 
only been used for letters of credit. No other changes, with the exception of foreign exchange translation, were made to 
our net borrowings in 2013. 

Effective  August  30,  2012,  our  senior  secured  facility  was  increased  from  US$550  million  to  US$850  million  and  the 
US$100 million accordion feature was increased to US$250 million, allowing the facility to be increased to US$1,100 million 
with additional lender commitments. The term was extended to five years and several negative covenants were relaxed.

Also on August 30, 2012, our operating facility with Royal Bank of Canada was increased from $25 million to $40 million 
and it remained undrawn as at March 7, 2014, except for $17 million in outstanding letters of credit. Our operating facility 
of US$15 million with Wells Fargo remained undrawn as at March 7, 2014. Effective September 27, 2012, we entered into 
a new US$25 million demand facility for letters of credit with HSBC Canada and as at March 7, 2014, US$24.8 million 
was available.

38  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt 
At December 31, 2013, we had approximately $987 million in secured facilities, and $1,347 million in senior unsecured 
notes (maturing in 2019, 2020 and 2021). 

Amount

Availability

Used for

Maturity

Senior facility (secured)

US$850 million
(extendible, revolving term credit facility 
with US$250 million accordion feature)

Drawn US$28 million and 
US$29 million in outstanding 
letters of credit

General corporate purposes

November 17, 2018

Operating facilities (secured)

$40 million

Undrawn, except $17 million in 
outstanding letters of credit

Letters of credit and general 
corporate purposes

US$15 million

Undrawn

Short term working capital 
requirements

Demand letter of credit facility (secured)

US$25 million

Undrawn, except $0.2 million in 
outstanding letters of credit

Letters of credit 

Senior notes (unsecured)

$200 million

US$650 million

US$400 million

Fully drawn

Fully drawn 

Fully drawn 

Debt repayment

Debt repayment and general 
corporate purposes

March 15, 2019

November 15, 2020

Capital expenditures and general 
corporate purposes

December 15, 2021

Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations include both financial obligations (long-term debt and interest) and non-financial obligations 
(new-build rig commitments, operating leases, and equity-based compensation for key executives and officers).

The table below shows the amounts of these obligations and when payments are due for each.

At December 31, 2013  
(thousands of dollars)

Long-term

Interest on long-term debt

Rig construction

Operating leases

Contractual incentive plans1

Contingent purchase consideration

Total

Less than  
1 year

–

87,176

150,624

16,833

14,952

28,133

297,718

Payments due (by period)

1-3 years

4-5 years

–

174,352

–

25,434

29,788

–

229,574

29,781

174,263

–

15,824

–

–

More than  
5 years

1,316,780

170,394

–

15,714

–

–

Total

1,346,561

606,185

150,624

73,805

44,740

28,133

219,868

1,501,888

2,250,048

1  Includes amounts we have not yet accrued but are likely to pay at the end of the contract term. Our long-term incentive plans compensate officers and key employees through cash 

payments when their awards vest. Equity-based compensation amounts are shown based on a share price of $9.83 at December 31, 2013.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  39

 
CAPITAL STRUCTURE

Shares outstanding

Deferred shares outstanding

Warrants outstanding

Share options outstanding

March 7,  
2014

December 31, 
2013

December 31, 
2012

December 31, 
2011

291,979,671

291,979,671

276,475,770

276,081,797

221,112

–

221,112

–

9,515,278

8,074,694

335,946

15,000,000

6,413,777

417,495

15,000,000

5,154,123

You can find more information about our capital structure in our annual information form, available online on our website 
as well as on SEDAR and EDGAR.

Common Shares
Our articles of amalgamation allow us to issue an unlimited number of common shares. 

In the fourth quarter of 2012, our Board of Directors approved the introduction of an annualized dividend of $0.20 per 
common  share,  payable  quarterly.  In  the  fourth  quarter  of  2013,  our  Board  of  Directors  approved  an  increase  in  the 
quarterly dividend payment to $0.06 per common share.

Warrants
During December 2013, all of our 15,000,000 outstanding warrants were exercised providing proceeds of $48 million. The 
warrants were issued on April 22, 2009, under a private placement. Each warrant was exercisable for one common share 
at a price of $3.22 per common share for five years from the date of issue. 

Preferred Shares
We can issue preferred shares in one or more series. The number of preferred shares that may be authorized for issue at 
any time cannot exceed more than half of the number of issued and outstanding common shares. We currently have no 
preferred shares issued.

Enterprise Value

(thousands of dollars, except shares outstanding and per share amounts)

Shares outstanding

Year-end share price on the TSX

Shares at market

Long-term debt

Less working capital

Enterprise value

December 31, 
2013

December 31, 
2012

December 31, 
2011

291,979,671

276,475,770

276,081,797

9.94

2,902,278

1,323,268

(305,783)

3,919,763

8.22

2,272,631

1,218,796

(278,021)

3,213,406

10.50

2,898,859

1,239,616

(610,429)

3,528,046

40  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management’s 
Discussion and 
Analysis

6

Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements
Because of the nature of our business, we are required to make estimates about the future that affect the reported amounts 
of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities. Estimates are based on our past 
experience, our best judgment and assumptions we think are reasonable. 

You’ll  find  all  of  our  significant  accounting  policies  in  Note  3  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements.  We  believe  the 
following are the most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, and are the most critical to how we report our financial 
position and results of operations:

  impairment of long-lived assets
  depreciation and amortization
  income taxes.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, which include property, plant and equipment, intangibles and goodwill, comprise the majority of our 
assets.  The  carrying  value  of  these  assets  is  periodically  reviewed  for  impairment  or  whenever  events  or  changes  in 
circumstances  indicate  that  their  carrying  amounts  may  not  be  recoverable.  For  property,  plant  and  equipment,  this 
requires us to forecast future cash flows to be derived from the utilization of these assets based on assumptions about 
future  business  conditions  and  technological  developments.  Significant,  unanticipated  changes  to  these  assumptions 
could require a provision for impairment in the future.

For goodwill, we conduct impairment tests annually in the fourth quarter or whenever there is a change in circumstance 
that indicates that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The recoverability of goodwill requires a calculation of the 
recoverable amount of the cash generating unit (CGU) or groups of CGUs to which goodwill has been allocated. A CGU 
is the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows 
from other assets or groups of assets. Judgment is required in the aggregation of assets into CGUs. The recoverability 
calculation  requires  an  estimation  of  the  future  cash  flows  from  the  CGU  or  group  of  CGUs  and  judgment  is  required 
in determining the appropriate discount rate. We use observable market data inputs to develop a discount rate that we 
believe approximates the discount rate from market participants. 

In deriving the underlying projected cash flows, assumptions must also be made about future drilling activity, margins and 
market conditions over the long-term life of the assets or CGUs. We cannot predict if an event that triggers impairment will 
occur, when it will occur or how it will occur or how it will affect reported asset amounts. Although estimates are reasonable 
and consistent with current conditions, internal planning and expected future operations, such estimations are subject to 
significant uncertainty and judgment. 

We performed an impairment test on the well servicing CGU at December 31, 2013 as described in note 6 to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements. This CGU has $89 million of goodwill allocated to it. An increase in the discount rate used by 1% 
would require an impairment charge being recognized on the goodwill assigned to the well servicing CGU.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  41

 
 
 
 
Depreciation and Amortization
Our property, plant and equipment and intangible assets are depreciated and amortized based on estimates of useful 
lives and salvage values. These estimates consider data and information from various sources including vendors, industry 
practice and our own historical experience and may change as more experience is gained, market conditions shift or new 
technological advancements are made.

Determination of which part of the drilling rig equipment represent significant cost relative to the entire rig and identifying 
the consumption patterns along with the useful lives of these significant parts, are matters of judgment. This determination 
can be complex and subject to differing interpretations and views, particularly when rig equipment comprises individual 
components for which different depreciation methods or rates are appropriate. 

Income Taxes 
Uncertainties  exist  with  respect  to  the  interpretation  of  complex  tax  regulations,  changes  in  tax  laws,  and  the  amount 
and timing of future taxable income. Differences arising between the actual results and the assumptions made, or future 
changes to such assumptions, could necessitate future adjustments to taxable income and expense already recorded. 
We establish provisions, based on reasonable estimates, for possible consequences of audits by the tax authorities of the 
respective countries in which we operate. The amount of such provisions is based on various factors, such as experience 
of previous tax audits and differing interpretations of tax regulations by the taxable entity and the responsible tax authority.

In June 2013 a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation lost a tax appeal in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice related 
to  a  reassessment  of  Ontario  income  tax  for  the  subsidiary’s  2001  through  2004  taxation  years.  The  Corporation  has 
appealed the decision to the Ontario Court of Appeal and expects this appeal to be heard in 2014. Despite the decision 
in the Superior Court, management believes it is more likely than not that the Corporation would prevail on appeal. Should 
the Corporation lose on appeal, approximately $55 million of the long-tern income tax recoverable related to this issue 
would be expensed.

Accounting Policies Adopted January 1, 2013 
Following are accounting policies Precision adopted with an initial application date of January 1, 2013: 

IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements 
IFRS 10 introduces a new control model that is applicable to all investees; among other things, it requires the consolidation 
of an investee if the Corporation controls the investee on the basis of de facto circumstances. 

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Corporation. The Corporation controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has 
rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power 
over the entity. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date 
that control commences until the date that control ceases.

IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements
Joint  arrangements  are  arrangements  of  which  the  Corporation  has  joint  control,  established  by  contracts  requiring 
unanimous consent for decisions about the activities that significantly affect the arrangements’ returns. Under IFRS 11, 
joint arrangements are classified as either joint operations or joint ventures depending on the Corporation’s rights to the 
assets and obligations for the liabilities of the arrangements. When making this assessment, the Corporation considers the 
structure of the arrangements, the legal form of any separate vehicles, the contractual terms of the arrangement and other 
facts and circumstances. Previously, the structure of the arrangement was the sole focus of classification. 

The Corporation has no joint arrangements under IFRS 11. 

42  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

IFRS 12 Disclosures of Interests in Other Entities
IFRS 12 sets out certain disclosures that are required relating to interests in subsidiaries, associates, joint arrangements 
and unconsolidated structured entities. The Corporation does not have any investments that are not consolidated nor has 
it entered into any joint arrangements or structured entities. 

The Corporation’s subsidiaries, as detailed in Note 25 to the consolidated financial statements, are all wholly owned. The 
determination of whether to consolidate these entities did not involve any significant judgments or assumptions. There 
are no significant restrictions on the ability of the Corporation to access or use the assets and settle the liabilities of the 
Corporation and its subsidiaries, except for customary limitations in the Corporation’s credit facility.

IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement
IFRS 13 defines fair value and sets out a single standard a framework for measuring fair value and the required disclosures 
about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer 
a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. 

IFRS 13 is applied prospectively to fair value measurements occurring on or after January 1, 2013. The additional disclosure 
requirements of IFRS 13 are also applied prospectively and have been presented, as relevant, in the 2013 interim and 
annual financial statements. 

Accounting Policies Not Yet Adopted

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (2010), IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (2009)
IFRS 9 (2009) introduces new requirements for the classification and measurement of financial assets. Under IFRS 9 (2009), 
financial assets are classified and measured based on the business model in which they are held and the characteristics 
of their contractual cash flows. IFRS 9 (2010) introduces additions relating to financial liabilities. The IASB currently has an 
active project to make limited amendments to the classification and measurement requirements of IFRS 9 and add new 
requirements to address the impairment of financial assets and hedge accounting. 

IFRS 9 (2010 and 2009) is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2015, with early adoption permitted. 
The Corporation is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its financial statements.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  43

 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Management’s 
Discussion and 
Analysis

7

Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Precision maintains internal control over financial reporting which is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding 
the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS.

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined 
in Rules 13a – 15(f) and 15d – 15(f) under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange 
Act) and under National Instrument 52-109 Certification of Disclosure in Issuers’ Annual and Interim Filings (NI 52-109).

Management,  including  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  (CEO)  and  the  Chief  Financial  Officer  (CFO),  has  conducted  an 
evaluation of Precision’s internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated 
Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

Based on management’s assessment as at December 31, 2013, management has concluded that Precision’s internal 
control over financial reporting is effective.

The  effectiveness  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of  December  31,  2013  was  audited  by  KPMG  LLP,  an 
independent  registered  public  accounting  firm,  as  stated  in  their  Report  of  Independent  Registered  Public  Accounting 
Firm, which is included in this 2013 Annual Report to Shareholders.

Due  to  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  is  not  intended  to  provide  absolute  assurance 
that  a  misstatement  of  Precision’s  financial  statements  would  be  prevented  or  detected.  Further,  the  evaluation  of  the 
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting was made as of a specific date, and continued effectiveness in 
future periods is subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Precision  maintains  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  designed  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  that  information 
required to be disclosed in Precision’s interim and annual filings is reviewed, recognized and disclosed accurately and in 
the appropriate time period.

An evaluation, as of December 31, 2013, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of Precision’s disclosure controls 
and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a – 15(e) and 15d – 15(e) under the Exchange Act and NI 52-109, was carried out 
by management, including the CEO and the CFO. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the 
design and operation of Precision’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required 
to be disclosed in the reports that Precision files or submits under the Exchange Act or Canadian securities legislation is 
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms therein.

It should be noted that while the CEO and CFO believe that Precision’s disclosure controls and procedures provide a 
reasonable level of assurance that they are effective, they do not expect that Precision’s disclosure controls and procedures 
will prevent all errors and fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived or operated, can provide only reasonable, 
not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.

44  Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Corporate Governance

Management’s 
Discussion and 
Analysis

8

At  Precision,  we  believe  that  a  strong  culture  of  corporate  governance  and  ethical  behaviour  in  decision-making  is 
fundamental to the way we do business. 

We have a strong board made up of directors with a history of achievement and an effective mix of skills, knowledge, and 
business experience. The directors oversee the conduct of our business, provide oversight, and support our future growth. 
They also monitor regulatory developments in Canada and the U.S. to keep abreast of developments in governance and 
enhance transparency of our corporate disclosure.

You can find more information about our approach to governance in our Management Information Circular, available on 
our website as well as on SEDAR and EDGAR.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  45

 
Management’s Report to the Shareholders

The accompanying consolidated financial statements and all information in this Annual Report are the responsibility of management. 
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with the accounting policies in the 
notes to the consolidated financial statements. When necessary, management has made informed judgments and estimates in 
accounting for transactions that were not complete at the balance sheet date. In the opinion of management, the consolidated 
financial statements have been prepared within acceptable limits of materiality, and are in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) appropriate in the circumstances. The financial information elsewhere in the Annual Report has been 
reviewed to ensure consistency with that in the consolidated financial statements.

Management  has  prepared  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  (MD&A).  The  MD&A  is  based  on  the  financial  results  of 
Precision Drilling Corporation (the Corporation) prepared in accordance with IFRS. The MD&A compares the audited financial results 
for the years ended December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2012 and the years ended December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2011. 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over the Corporation’s financial reporting 
and  is  supported  by  an  internal  audit  function  that  conducts  periodic  testing  of  these  controls.  Internal  control  over  financial 
reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation 
of consolidated financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with IFRS. Because of its inherent limitations, 
internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect  misstatements.  Therefore,  even  those  systems  determined 
to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, 
projections  of  any  evaluation  of  effectiveness  to  future  periods  are  subject  to  the  risk  that  controls  may  become  inadequate 
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Under  the  supervision  and  with  direction  from  our  principal  executive  officer  and  principal  financial  and  accounting  officer, 
management  conducted  an  evaluation  of  the  effectiveness  of  the  Corporation’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting. 
Management’s evaluation of internal control over financial reporting was based on the Internal Control – Integrated Framework 
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) (1992). Based on this evaluation, 
management concluded that the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2013. 
Also management determined that there were no material weaknesses in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting 
as of December 31, 2013.

KPMG  LLP  (KPMG),  an  independent  firm  of  Chartered  Accountants,  was  engaged,  as  approved  by  a  vote  of  shareholders 
at  the  Corporation’s  most  recent  annual  meeting,  to  audit  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  provide  an  independent 
professional opinion.

KPMG  completed  an  audit  of  the  design  and  effectiveness  of  the  Corporation’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of 
December 31, 2013, as stated in its report included herein, and expressed an unqualified opinion on the design and effectiveness 
of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013. 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which is comprised of five independent directors who are not employees of the 
Corporation, provides oversight to the financial reporting process. Integral to this process is the Audit Committee’s review and 
discussion with management and KPMG of the quarterly and annual financial statements and reports prior to their respective 
release. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing and discussing with management and KPMG major issues as to 
the adequacy of the Corporation’s internal controls. KPMG has unrestricted access to the Audit Committee to discuss its audit 
and related matters. The consolidated financial statements have been approved by the Board of Directors of Precision Drilling 
Corporation and its Audit Committee.

Kevin A. Neveu 
President and 
Chief Executive Officer 
Precision Drilling Corporation 

Robert J. McNally 
Executive Vice President and 
Chief Financial Officer 
Precision Drilling Corporation

March 7, 2014 

March 7, 2014

46  Consolidated Financial Statements

Independent Auditors’ Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Precision Drilling Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Precision Drilling Corporation (the Corporation), which 
comprise the consolidated statements of financial position as at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the consolidated 
statements of earnings, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flow for the years then ended, and notes, comprising 
a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

Management’s Responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance 
with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and for such internal 
control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditors’ Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our 
audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting 
Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the 
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial 
statements. The procedures selected depend on our judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement 
of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, we consider internal 
control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit 
procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies 
used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the 
consolidated financial statements.

We  believe  that  the  audit  evidence  we  have  obtained  in  our  audits  is  sufficient  and  appropriate  to  provide  a  basis  for  our 
audit opinion.

Opinion
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the 
Corporation as at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, and its consolidated financial performance and its consolidated 
cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International 
Accounting Standards Board.

Other Matter
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), 
the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on the criteria established in Internal 
Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) 
(1992), and our report dated March 7, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal 
control over financial reporting.

Chartered Accountants 
Calgary, Canada

March 7, 2014

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  47

 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Precision Drilling Corporation
We have audited Precision Drilling Corporation’s (the Corporation) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 
2013,  based  on  the  criteria  established  in  Internal  Control  –  Integrated  Framework  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring 
Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission  (COSO)  (1992).  The  Corporation’s  management  is  responsible  for  maintaining 
effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  and  for  its  assessment  of  the  effectiveness  of  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report to the Shareholders. Our responsibility is to express an opinion 
on the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 
Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether  effective  internal 
control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal 
control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and 
operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures 
as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

An entity’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability 
of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted 
accounting principles. An entity’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain 
to  the  maintenance  of  records  that,  in  reasonable  detail,  accurately  and  fairly  reflect  the  transactions  and  dispositions  of  the 
assets  of  the  entity;  (2)  provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are  recorded  as  necessary  to  permit  preparation  of 
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the entity 
are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the entity; and (3) provide reasonable 
assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the entity’s assets that could 
have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because  of  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect  misstatements.  Also, 
projections  of  any  evaluation  of  effectiveness  to  future  periods  are  subject  to  the  risk  that  controls  may  become  inadequate 
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In  our  opinion,  the  Corporation  maintained,  in  all  material  respects,  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of 
December 31, 2013, based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of 
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) (1992).

We  also  have  audited,  in  accordance  with  Canadian  generally  accepted  auditing  standards  and  the  standards  of  the  Public 
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of the Corporation as of December 31, 
2013 and December 31, 2012, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flow for the years 
then ended, and our report dated March 7, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

Chartered Accountants 
Calgary, Canada

March 7, 2014

48  Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position 

(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)

ASSETS

Current assets:

  Cash

  Accounts receivable

Inventory

Total current assets

Non-current assets:

Income tax recoverable

  Property, plant and equipment

Intangibles

  Goodwill

Total non-current assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Current liabilities:

December 31,
2013

December 31,
2012

$

80,606

$

549,697

12,378

642,681

58,435

3,561,734

3,917

312,356

152,768

509,547

13,787

676,102

64,579

3,242,929

6,101

310,552

3,936,442

3,624,161

$

4,579,123

$

4,300,263

(Note 23)

(Note 4)

(Note 5)

(Note 6)

  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(Note 23)

$

332,838

$

333,893

Income tax payable

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities:

  Share based compensation

  Provisions and other

  Long-term debt

  Deferred tax liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Shareholders’ equity:

  Shareholders’ capital

  Contributed surplus

  Retained earnings (deficit)

(Note 8)

(Note 9)

(Note 10)

(Note 11)

4,060

336,898

14,431

17,836

1,323,268

487,347

1,842,882

64,188

398,081

8,676

17,818

1,218,796

485,592

1,730,882

(Note 12)

2,305,227

2,251,982

29,175

88,416

(23,475)

24,474

(44,621)

(60,535)

2,399,343

2,171,300

$

4,579,123

$

4,300,263

  Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(Note 13)

Total shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Approved by the Board of Directors:

Allen R. Hagerman 
Director 

Patrick M. Murray 
Director

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Earnings 

Years ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)

Revenue

Expenses:

  Operating

  General and administrative

Earnings before income taxes, finance charges, foreign  

  exchange, impairment of goodwill, loss on asset  

  decommissioning and depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization

Loss on asset decommissioning

Operating earnings

Impairment of goodwill

Foreign exchange

Finances charges

Earnings before tax 

Income taxes:

  Current

  Deferred

Net earnings 

Earnings per share:

  Basic

  Diluted

(Note 23)

(Note 23)

(Note 4)

(Note 14)

(Note 11)

(Note 18)

2013

2012

$

2,029,977

$

2,040,741

1,248,637

142,507

1,243,301

126,648

638,833

333,159

–

305,674

–

(9,112)

93,248

221,538

45,017

(14,629)

30,388

191,150

0.69

0.66

$

$

$

$

$

$

670,792

307,525

192,469

170,798

52,539

3,753

86,829

27,677

70,576

(95,259)

(24,683)

52,360

0.19

0.18

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income 

Years ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)

Net earnings 

Unrealized gain (loss) on translation of assets and liabilities  

  of operations denominated in foreign currency

Foreign exchange gain (loss) on net investment hedge  

  with U.S. denominated debt, net of tax

Comprehensive income

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

2013

2012

$

191,150

$

52,360

109,195

(32,878)

(72,135)

$

228,210

$

23,205

42,687

50  Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow 

Years ended December 31,
(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)

Cash provided by (used in):

Operations:

  Net earnings 

  Adjustments for:

  Long-term compensation plans

  Depreciation and amortization

  Loss on asset decommissioning

Impairment of goodwill

  Foreign exchange

  Finance charges

Income taxes

  Other

Income taxes paid

Income taxes recovered

Interest paid

Interest received

Funds provided by operations

Changes in non-cash working capital balances

(Note 23)

Investments:

  Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

  Purchase of property, plant and equipment

  Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment

  Changes in income tax recoverable

(Note 19)

(Note 4)

  Changes in non-cash working capital balances

(Note 23)

Financing:

  Debt issue costs

  Debt facility amendment costs 

  Dividends paid

Increase in long-term debt

Issuance of common shares on the exercise of options

Issuance of common shares on the exercise of warrants

(Note 12)

(Note 12)

(Note 12)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

2013

2012

$

191,150

$

52,360

20,708

333,159

–

–

(9,216)

93,248

30,388

(3,754)

(109,326)

3,761

(89,156)

1,011

461,973

(33,887)

428,086

–

(535,804)

13,372

6,144

(10,247)

(526,535)

(883)

–

(58,113)

29,781

2,432

48,300

21,517

4,770

(72,162)

152,768

$

80,606

$

19,350

307,525

192,469

52,539

4,403

86,829

(24,683)

1,018

(10,403)

721

(85,251)

1,935

598,812

36,474

635,286

(25)

(868,057)

31,423

–

(93,462)

(930,121)

(2,855)

(149)

(13,821)

–

1,926

–

(14,899)

(4,974)

(314,708)

467,476

152,768

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity 

(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)

Balance at January 1, 2013

Net earnings for the period

Other comprehensive income for  

the period

Dividends

Shareholders’ 
capital

Contributed 
surplus

Accumulated 
other 
comprehensive 
loss (Note 13)

Retained 
earnings 
(deficit)

Total equity

$ 2,251,982

$

24,474

$

(60,535)

$

(44,621)

$ 2,171,300

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

191,150

191,150

37,060

–

–

–

–

–

–

(58,113)

–

–

–

–

37,060

(58,113)

2,432

207

48,300

7,007

Share options exercised

(Note 12)

3,707

(1,275)

Shares issued on redemption of  

  non-management directors’ DSUs

Warrants exercised

Share based compensation expense

(Note 8)

1,238

48,300

–

(1,031)

–

7,007

Balance at December 31, 2013

$ 2,305,227

$

29,175

$

(23,475)

$

88,416

$ 2,399,343

Shareholders’ 
capital

Contributed 
surplus

Accumulated 
other 
comprehensive 
loss (Note 13)

Deficit

Total equity

$ 2,248,217

$

18,396

$

(50,862)

$

(83,160)

$ 2,132,591

(Stated in thousands of Canadian dollars)

Balance at January 1, 2012

Net earnings for the period

Other comprehensive loss for  

the period

Dividends

–

–

–

–

–

–

Share options exercised

(Note 12)

3,050

(1,124)

Shares issued on redemption of  

  non-management directors’ DSUs

Shares issued on waiver of right to  

  dissent by dissenting unitholder

Share based compensation expense

(Note 8)

706

(706)

9

–

(3)

7,911

–

52,360

52,360

(9,673)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(13,821)

–

–

–

–

(9,673)

(13,821)

1,926

–

6

7,911

Balance at December 31, 2012

$ 2,251,982

$

24,474

$

(60,535)

$

(44,621)

$ 2,171,300

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

52  Consolidated Financial Statements

 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts are stated in thousands of Canadian dollars except share numbers and per share amounts)

NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS 

Precision Drilling Corporation (Precision or the Corporation) is incorporated under the laws of the Province of Alberta, Canada  
and  is  a  provider  of  contract  drilling  and  completion  and  production  services  primarily  to  oil  and  natural  gas  exploration  and 
production companies in Canada, the United States and certain international locations. The address of the registered office is 
800, 525 – 8th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 1G1. 

NOTE 2. BASIS OF PREPARATION

(a) Statement of Compliance
These  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards 
(IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). 

These consolidated financial statements were authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on March 7, 2014.

(b) Basis of Measurement
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the historical cost basis except as detailed in the Corporation’s 
accounting policies in Note 3 and are presented in thousands of Canadian dollars.

(c) Use of Estimates and Judgments
The  preparation  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and  judgments  that  affect 
the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingencies. These estimates and 
judgments  are  based  on  historical  experience  and  on  various  other  assumptions  that  are  believed  to  be  reasonable  under 
the  circumstances.  The  estimation  of  anticipated  future  events  involves  uncertainty  and,  consequently,  the  estimates  used  in 
preparation of the consolidated financial statements may change as future events unfold, more experience is acquired or the 
Corporation’s  operating  environment  changes.  Significant  estimates  and  judgments  used  in  the  preparation  of  the  financial 
statements are described in Note 3.

NOTE 3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

(a) Basis of Consolidation
These  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the  accounts  of  the  Corporation  and  all  of  its  subsidiaries  and  partnerships 
substantially all of which are wholly-owned. The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same period as the 
parent entity, using consistent accounting policies. All significant intercompany balances, transactions and any unrealized gains 
and losses arising from intercompany transactions, have been eliminated. 

Subsidiaries  are  entities  controlled  by  the  Corporation.  Control  exists  when  Precision  has  the  power  to  govern  the  financial 
and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. In assessing control, potential voting rights that 
currently are exercisable are taken into account. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial 
statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.

Precision does not hold investments in any companies where it exerts significant influence and does not hold interests in any 
special-purpose entities.

The acquisition method is used to account for acquisitions of subsidiaries and assets that meet the definition of a business under 
IFRS. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred 
or assumed at the date of exchange. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business 
combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair 
value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired is recorded as goodwill. If the cost of acquisition is 
less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognized immediately in the statement of 
earnings. Transaction costs, other than those associated with the issuance of debt or equity securities, that the Corporation incurs 
in connection with a business combination are expensed as incurred.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  53

 
(b) Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less. 

(c) Inventory 
Inventory is primarily comprised of operating supplies and is carried at the lower of average cost, being the cost to acquire the 
inventory, and net realizable value. Inventory is charged to operating expenses as items are sold or consumed at the amount of 
the average cost of the item. 

(d) Property, Plant and Equipment 
Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. 

Cost  includes  an  expenditure  that  is  directly  attributable  to  the  acquisition  of  the  asset.  The  cost  of  self-constructed  assets 
includes the cost of materials and direct labour, any other costs directly attributable to bringing the assets to a working condition 
for their intended use and borrowing costs on qualifying assets.

The cost of replacing a part of an item of property, plant and equipment is recognized in the carrying amount of the item if it is 
probable that the future economic benefits embodied within the part will flow to the Corporation, and its cost can be measured 
reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognized. The costs of the day-to-day servicing of property, plant and 
equipment (repair and maintenance) are recognized in profit or loss as incurred.

Property, plant, and equipment are depreciated as follows:

Expected Life

Salvage Value

Basis of Depreciation

Drilling rig equipment: 

  – Power & Tubulars

  – Dynamic 

  – Structural

1,700 utilization days

3,400 utilization days

5,000 utilization days

Seasonal, stratification and turnkey  
  drilling equipment 

4 years

Service rig equipment 

24,000 service hours

Drilling rig spare equipment 

Service rig spare equipment

Rental equipment

Other equipment

Light duty vehicles

Heavy duty vehicles

Buildings

up to 15 years

up to 15 years

10 to 15 years

3 to 10 years

4 years

7 to 10 years

10 to 20 years

–

–

20%

0 to 20%

20%

–

–

0 to 25%

–

–

–

–

unit-of-production

unit-of-production

unit-of-production

straight-line

unit-of-production

straight-line

straight-line

straight-line

straight-line

straight-line

straight-line

straight-line

Assets that are depreciated on a unit-of-production method that have less than 60 utilization days (drilling rig equipment) or 600 
service hours (service rig equipment) in a rolling 12 month period are deemed to be idle and are depreciated at a rate of five 
utilization days or 50 service hours per month until the asset exceeds the utilization threshold. 

Gains  and  losses  on  disposal  of  an  item  of  property,  plant  and  equipment  are  determined  by  comparing  the  proceeds  from 
disposal with the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment, and are recognized in the statements of earnings. 

The  estimated  useful  lives,  residual  values  and  methods  or  depreciation  are  reviewed  annually,  and  adjusted  prospectively  if 
appropriate.

(e) Intangibles
Intangible assets that are acquired by the Corporation with finite lives are initially recorded at estimated fair value and subsequently 
measured at cost less accumulated amortization and any accumulated impairment losses. 

Subsequent  expenditures  are  capitalized  only  when  it  increases  the  future  economic  benefits  of  the  specific  asset  to  which 
it relates.

54  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Amortization is recognized in profit and loss using the straight-line method based over the estimated useful lives of the respective 
assets as follows:

Customer relationships 
Patents 
Brand  

1 to 5 years
10 years
1 to 5 years

The estimated useful lives and methods of amortization are reviewed annually, and adjusted prospectively if appropriate.

(f) Goodwill 
Goodwill is the amount that results when the purchase price of an acquired business exceeds the sum of the amounts allocated 
to the assets acquired, less liabilities assumed, based on their fair values. 

If the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired exceeds the fair value of the consideration, Precision reassesses whether 
it has correctly identified and measured the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If that excess remains after reassessment, 
Precision recognizes the resulting gain in profit or loss on the acquisition date.

After initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. For the purpose of impairment 
testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, attributed to the cash generating unit or groups 
of cash generating units that are expected to benefit and as identified in the business combination.

(g) Impairment

(i) Financial Assets
A financial asset not carried at fair value through profit or loss is assessed at each reporting date to determine whether there 
is any objective evidence that it is impaired. A financial asset is tested for impairment if objective evidence indicates that one 
or more events have had a negative effect on the estimated future cash flows of that asset.

Objective evidence that  financial assets  are  impaired can include default or delinquency by a debtor, restructuring of an 
amount due to the Corporation on terms that the Corporation would not consider otherwise, and indications that a debtor will 
enter bankruptcy. Precision considers evidence of impairment for receivables at both a specific asset and collective level. All 
individually significant receivables are assessed for specific impairment. All significant receivables found not to be specifically 
impaired are then collectively assessed for impairment by grouping together receivables with similar risk characteristics.

An impairment loss in respect of a financial asset measured at amortized cost is calculated as the difference between its 
carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the original effective interest rate.

Individually significant financial assets are tested for impairment on an individual basis. The remaining financial assets are 
assessed collectively in groups that share similar credit risk characteristics.

All impairment losses are recognized in profit or loss. 

An impairment loss is reversed if the reversal can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment loss was 
recognized. For financial assets measured at amortized cost the reversal is recognized in profit or loss. 

(ii) Non-Financial Assets 
The carrying amounts of the Corporation’s non-financial assets, other than inventories and deferred tax assets, are reviewed 
at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, then the 
asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. For goodwill and other intangible assets that have indefinite lives or that are not yet 
available for use an impairment test is completed at the same time each year. 

For  the  purpose  of  impairment  testing,  assets  are  grouped  together  into  the  smallest  group  of  assets  that  generates 
cash inflows from continuing use that are largely independent of the cash inflows of other assets or groups of assets (the 
cash-generating unit or CGU). The recoverable amount of an asset or a CGU is the greater of its value in use and its fair 
value less costs to sell. 

In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount 
rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. Value in use 
is  generally  computed  by  reference  to  the  present  value  of  the  future  cash  flows  expected  to  be  derived  from  the  cash 
generating unit.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  55

 
An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of an asset or its CGU exceeds its estimated recoverable amount. 
Impairment losses are recognized in profit or loss. Impairment losses recognized in respect of CGUs are allocated first to 
reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the CGU and then to reduce the carrying amounts of the other assets 
in the CGU on a pro rata basis.

An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed. In respect of other assets, impairment losses recognized in prior 
years are assessed at each reporting date for any indications that the loss has decreased or no longer exists. An impairment 
loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have 
been determined, net of depreciation or amortization, if no impairment loss had been recognized.

(h) Borrowing Costs
Interest  and  borrowing  costs  that  are  directly  attributable  to  the  acquisition,  construction  or  production  of  assets  that  take  a 
substantial period of time to prepare for their intended use are capitalized as part of the cost of those assets. Capitalization ceases 
during any extended period of suspension of construction or when substantially all activities necessary to prepare the asset for 
its intended use are complete.

All other interest and borrowing costs are recognized in earnings in the period in which they are incurred.

(i) Income Taxes 
Income tax expense is recognized in net earnings except to the extent that it relates to items recognized directly in equity, in which 
case it is recognized in equity.

Current  tax  is  the  expected  tax  payable  or  receivable  on  the  taxable  earnings  or  loss  for  the  year,  using  tax  rates  enacted  or 
substantively enacted at the reporting date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.

Deferred tax is recognized using the liability method, providing for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets 
and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. Deferred tax is not recognized on 
the initial recognition of assets or liabilities in a transaction that is not a business combination. In addition, deferred tax is not 
recognized for taxable temporary differences arising on the initial recognition of goodwill. Deferred tax is measured at the tax 
rates that are expected to be applied to temporary differences when they reverse, based on the laws that have been enacted or 
substantively enacted at the reporting date. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized 
in net earnings in the period that includes the date of enactment or substantive enactment. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are 
offset if there is a legally enforceable right to offset and they relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority on the same taxable 
entity, or on different tax entities that are expected to settle current tax liabilities and assets on a net basis or their tax assets and 
liabilities will be realized simultaneously.

A deferred tax asset is recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the 
temporary difference can be utilized. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that 
it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realized.

(j) Revenue Recognition 
The Corporation’s services are generally sold based on service orders or contracts with a customer that include fixed or determinable 
prices based on daily, hourly or job rates. Customer contract terms do not include provisions for significant post-service delivery 
obligations. Revenue is recognized when services and equipment rentals are rendered and only when collectability is reasonably 
assured. The Corporation also provides services under turnkey contracts whereby it drills a well to an agreed upon depth under 
specified conditions for a fixed price, regardless of the time required or the problems encountered in drilling the well. Revenue 
from turnkey drilling contracts is recognized using the percentage-of-completion method based on costs incurred to date and 
estimated total contract costs. Anticipated losses, if any, on uncompleted contracts are recorded at the time the estimated costs 
exceed the contract revenue.

(k) Employee Benefit Plans 
Precision sponsors various defined contribution retirement plans for its employees. The Corporation’s contributions to defined 
contribution plans are expensed as employees earn the entitlement.

56  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(l) Provisions 
Provisions are recognized when the Corporation has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, when it 
is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and when a reliable 
estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. 

The amount recognized as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the end 
of the reporting period, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where a provision is measured 
using the cash flows estimated to settle the present obligation, its carrying amount is the present value of those cash flows.

(m) Share Based Incentive Compensation Plans 
The Corporation has established several cash settled share based incentive compensation plans for officers, non-management 
directors  and  other  eligible  employees.  The  fair  values  as  estimated  by  management  of  the  amounts  payable  to  eligible 
participants under these plans are recognized as an expense with a corresponding increase in liabilities over the period that the 
participants become unconditionally entitled to payment. The recorded liability is re-measured at the end of each reporting period 
until settlement with the resultant change to the fair value of the liability recognized in net earnings for the period. When the plans 
are settled, the cash paid reduces the outstanding liability.

Prior to January 1, 2012 the Corporation had an equity settled deferred share unit plan whereby non-management directors of 
Precision could elect to receive all or a portion of their compensation in fully-vested deferred share units. Compensation expense 
was recognized based on the fair value price of the Corporation’s shares at the date of grant with a corresponding increase to 
contributed  surplus.  Upon  redemption  of  the  deferred  share  units  into  common  shares,  the  amount  previously  recognized  in 
contributed surplus is recorded as an increase to shareholders’ capital. The Corporation continues to have obligations under 
this plan.

A share option plan has been established for certain eligible employees. Under this plan the fair value of share purchase options is 
calculated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and that value is recorded as compensation expense 
over the grant’s vesting period with an offsetting credit to contributed surplus. A forfeiture rate is estimated on the grant date and 
is adjusted to reflect the actual number of options that vest. Upon exercise of the equity purchase option, the associated amount 
is reclassified from contributed surplus to shareholders’ capital. Consideration paid by employees upon exercise of the equity 
purchase options is credited to shareholders’ capital. 

(n) Foreign Currency Translation 
Transactions of the Corporation’s individual entities are recorded in the currency of the primary economic environment in which 
it operates (its functional currency). Transactions in currencies other than the entities’ functional currency are translated at rates 
in effect at the time of the transaction. At each period end, monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the prevailing period 
end rates. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated. Gains and 
losses are included in net earnings except for gains and losses on translation of long-term debt designated as a hedge of foreign 
operations, which are deferred and included in accumulated other comprehensive income.

For  the  purpose  of  preparing  the  Corporation’s  consolidated  financial  statements,  the  financial  statements  of  each  foreign 
operation that does not have a Canadian dollar functional currency are translated into Canadian dollars. Assets and liabilities 
are  translated  at  exchange  rates  in  effect  at  the  balance  sheet  date.  Revenues  and  expenses  are  translated  using  average 
exchange  rates  for  the  month  of  the  respective  transaction.  Gains  or  losses  resulting  from  these  translation  adjustments  are 
recognized initially in other comprehensive income and reclassified from equity to net earnings on disposal or partial disposal of 
the foreign operation.

(o) Per Share Amounts 
Basic per share amounts are calculated using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted per 
share amounts are calculated by using the treasury stock method for equity based compensation arrangements. The treasury 
stock method assumes that any proceeds obtained on exercise of equity based compensation arrangements would be used to 
purchase common shares at the average market price during the period. The weighted average number of shares outstanding 
is  then  adjusted  by  the  difference  between  the  number  of  shares  issued  from  the  exercise  of  equity  based  compensation 
arrangements and shares repurchased from the related proceeds.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  57

 
(p) Financial Instruments 

(i) Non-Derivative Financial Assets
Financial assets are classified as either fair value through profit and loss, loans and receivables, held to maturity or available 
for sale. Financial liabilities are classified as either fair value through profit and loss or other financial liabilities. Non-derivative 
financial  instruments  are  recognized  initially  at  fair  value  plus,  for  instruments  not  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss,  any 
directly attributable transaction costs. Transaction costs attributable to fair value through profit or loss items are expensed 
as incurred. Subsequent to initial recognition non-derivative financial instruments are measured based on their classification.

Accounts receivable are classified as “loans and receivables”. After their initial fair value measurement, they are measured 
at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. For the Corporation, the measured amount generally corresponds 
to historical cost.

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities and long-term debt are classified as “other financial liabilities”. After their initial fair 
value measurement, they are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. For the Corporation, the 
measured amount generally corresponds to historical cost.

(ii) Derivative Financial Instruments
The Corporation may enter into certain financial derivative contracts in order to manage the exposure to market risks from 
fluctuations in interest rates or exchange rates. These instruments are not used for trading or speculative purposes. Precision 
has  not  designated  its  financial  derivative  contracts  as  effective  accounting  hedges,  and  thus  has  not  applied  hedge 
accounting,  even  though  it  considers  certain  financial  contracts  to  be  economic  hedges.  As  a  result,  financial  derivative 
contracts are classified as fair value through profit or loss and are recorded on the balance sheet at estimated fair value. 
Transaction costs are recognized in profit or loss when incurred.

Derivatives  embedded  in  other  instruments  or  host  contracts  are  separated  from  the  host  contract  and  accounted  for 
separately when their economic characteristics and risks are not closely related to the host contract. Embedded derivatives 
are recorded on the balance sheet at estimated fair value and changes in the fair value are recognized in earnings.

(q) Hedge Accounting 
The Corporation utilizes foreign currency long-term debt to hedge its exposure to changes in the carrying values of the Corporation’s 
net investment in certain foreign operations as a result of changes in foreign exchange rates.

To be accounted for as a hedge, the foreign currency long-term debt must be designated and documented as a hedge, and 
must be effective at inception and on an ongoing basis. The documentation defines the relationship between the foreign currency 
long-term debt and the net investment in the foreign operations, as well as the Corporation’s risk management objective and 
strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction. The Corporation formally assesses, both at inception and on an ongoing basis 
whether the changes in fair value of the foreign currency long-term debt is highly effective in offsetting changes in fair value of the 
net investment in the foreign operations. The portion of gains or losses on the hedging item that is determined to be an effective 
hedge is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax, and is limited to the translation gain or loss on the net investment, 
while the ineffective portion is recorded in earnings. If the hedging relationship is terminated or ceases to be effective, hedge 
accounting is not applied to subsequent gains or losses. The amounts recognized in other comprehensive income are reclassified 
to net earnings when corresponding exchange gains or losses arising from the translation of the foreign operation are recorded 
in net earnings.

58  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(r) Critical Accounting Judgments

(i) Depreciation and Amortization
Precision’s property, plant and equipment and its intangible assets are depreciated and amortized based on estimates of 
useful lives and salvage values. These estimates consider data and information from various sources including vendors, 
industry practice and Precision’s own historical experience and may change as more experience is gained, market conditions 
shift or new technological advancements are made.

Determination of which part of the drilling rig equipment represent significant cost relative to the entire rig and identifying 
the consumption patterns along with the useful lives of these significant parts, are matters of judgment. This determination 
can  be  complex  and  subject  to  differing  interpretations  and  views,  particularly  when  rig  equipment  comprises  individual 
components for which different depreciation methods or rates are appropriate.

(ii) Income Taxes
Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation of complex tax regulations, changes in tax laws, and the amount and 
timing of future taxable income. Differences arising between the actual results and the assumptions made, or future changes 
to such assumptions, could necessitate future adjustments to taxable income and expense already recorded. The Corporation 
establishes provisions, based on reasonable estimates, for possible consequences of audits by the tax authorities of the 
respective countries in which it operates. The amount of such provisions is based on various factors, such as experience 
of previous tax audits and differing interpretations of tax regulations by the taxable entity and the responsible tax authority.

In June 2013 a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation lost a tax appeal in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice related 
to a reassessment of Ontario income tax for the subsidiary’s 2001 thru 2004 taxation years. The Corporation has appealed 
the decision to the Ontario Court of Appeal and expects this appeal to be heard in 2014. Despite the decision in the Superior 
Court, management believes it is more likely than not that the Corporation would prevail on appeal. Should the Corporation 
lose on appeal, approximately $55 million of the long-tern income tax recoverable related to this issue would be expensed.

(s) Critical Accounting Assumptions and Estimates

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived  assets,  which  include  property,  plant  and  equipment,  intangibles  and  goodwill,  comprise  the  majority  of 
Precision’s assets. The carrying value of these assets is periodically reviewed for impairment or whenever events or changes 
in  circumstances  indicate  that  their  carrying  amounts  may  not  be  recoverable.  For  property,  plant  and  equipment,  this 
requires  Precision  to  forecast  future  cash  flows  to  be  derived  from  the  utilization  of  these  assets  based  on  assumptions 
about future business conditions and technological developments. Significant, unanticipated changes to these assumptions 
could require a provision for impairment in the future.

For  goodwill,  we  conduct  impairment  tests  annually  in  the  fourth  quarter  or  whenever  there  is  change  in  circumstance 
that  indicates  that  the  carrying  value  may  not  be  recoverable.  The  recoverability  of  goodwill  requires  a  calculation  of  the 
recoverable amount of the CGU or groups of CGUs to which goodwill has been allocated. A CGU is the smallest identifiable 
group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of 
assets. Judgment is required in the aggregation of assets into CGUs. The recoverability calculation requires an estimation 
of the future cash flows from the CGU or group of CGUs and judgment is required in determining the appropriate discount 
rate. We use observable market data inputs to develop a discount rate that we believe approximates the discount rate from 
market participants. 

In deriving the underlying projected cash flows, assumptions must also be made about future drilling activity, margins and 
market conditions over the long-term life of the assets or CGUs. Precision cannot predict if an event that triggers impairment 
will occur, when it will occur or how it will occur or how it will affect reported asset amounts. Although estimates are reasonable 
and consistent with current conditions, internal planning and expected future operations, such estimations are subject to 
significant uncertainty and judgment. 

We performed an impairment test on the well servicing CGU at December 31, 2013 as described in note 6. This CGU has 
$89 million of goodwill allocated to it. An increase in the discount rate used by 1% would require an impairment charge being 
recognized on the goodwill assigned to the well servicing CGU.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  59

 
(t) Accounting Policies Adopted January 1, 2013
The  Corporation  adopted  IFRS  10  Consolidated  Financial  Statements,  IFRS  11  Joint  Arrangements,  IFRS  12  Disclosures  of 
Interests  in  Other  Entities,  as  well  as  the  consequential  amendments  to  IAS  28  Investments  in  Associates  and  Joint  Ventures 
(2011) and IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement, with a date of initial application of January 1, 2013.

The  adoption  of  these  standards  on  January  1,  2013  had  no  impact  on  the  amounts  recorded  in  the  Corporation’s  financial 
statements. 

(i) IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements 
IFRS 10 introduces a new control model that is applicable to all investees; among other things, it requires the consolidation 
of an investee if the Corporation controls the investee on the basis of de facto circumstances. 

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Corporation. The Corporation controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights 
to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the 
entity. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that control 
commences until the date that control ceases.

(ii) IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements
Joint  arrangements  are  arrangements  of  which  the  Corporation  has  joint  control,  established  by  contracts  requiring 
unanimous consent for decisions about the activities that significantly affect the arrangements’ returns. Under IFRS 11, joint 
arrangements are classified as either joint operations or joint ventures depending on the Corporation’s rights to the assets 
and obligations for the liabilities of the arrangements. When making this assessment, the Corporation considers the structure 
of the arrangements, the legal form of any separate vehicles, the contractual terms of the arrangement and other facts and 
circumstances. Previously, the structure of the arrangement was the sole focus of classification. 

The Corporation has no joint arrangements under IFRS 11.

(iii) IFRS 12 Disclosures of Interests in Other Entities
IFRS 12 sets out certain disclosures that are required relating to interests in subsidiaries, associates, joint arrangements 
and unconsolidated structured entities. The Corporation does not have any investments that are not consolidated nor has it 
entered into any joint arrangements or structured entities. 

The Corporation’s subsidiaries, as detailed in Note 25, are all wholly owned. The determination of whether to consolidate 
these entities did not involve any significant judgments or assumptions. There are no significant restrictions on the ability 
of the Corporation to access or use the assets, and settle the liabilities of the Corporation and its subsidiaries except for 
customary limitations in the Corporation’s credit facility.

(iv) IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement
IFRS 13 defines fair value and sets out a single standard a framework for measuring fair value and the required disclosures 
about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a 
liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. 

IFRS 13 is applied prospectively to fair value measurements occurring on or after January 1, 2013. The additional disclosure 
requirements of IFRS 13 are also applied prospectively and have been presented, as relevant, in the 2013 interim and annual 
financial statements. 

(u) Accounting Policies not yet Adopted

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (2010), IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (2009)
IFRS 9 (2009) introduces new requirements for the classification and measurement of financial assets. Under IFRS 9 (2009), 
financial assets are classified and measured based on the business model in which they are held and the characteristics 
of their contractual cash flows. IFRS 9 (2010) introduces additions relating to financial liabilities. The IASB currently has an 
active project to make limited amendments to the classification and measurement requirements of IFRS 9 and add new 
requirements to address the impairment of financial assets and hedge accounting. 

IFRS 9 (2010 and 2009) is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2015, with early adoption permitted. 
The Corporation is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its financial statements.

60  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 4. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 

Cost

Accumulated depreciation

Rig equipment

Rental equipment

Other equipment

Vehicles

Buildings

Assets under construction

Land

Cost

2013

2012

$

$

$

5,260,263

(1,698,529)

3,561,734

3,033,159

108,453

78,670

42,993

49,506

219,433

29,520

$

$

$

4,608,381

(1,365,452)

3,242,929

2,819,491

91,351

78,358

40,759

50,585

133,791

28,594

$

3,561,734 

$

3,242,929 

Rig 
Equipment

Rental
Equipment

Other 
Equipment

Vehicles

Buildings

Assets 
Under 
Construction

Land

Total

December 31, 2011

  $  3,441,052   $  112,707   $  142,563   $ 

28,051   $ 

48,082   $  336,605   $ 

20,658   $  4,129,718

  Additions

  Disposals

256,661    

17,068    

18,330    

32,994    

21,998    

512,139    

8,867    

868,057

(26,796)    

(920)    

(8,311)    

(2,267)    

(971)    

(38,405)    

(857)    

(78,527)

  Asset decommissioning    

(262,192)    

–    

–    

–    

–    

–    

–    

(262,192)

  Reclassifications

619,351    

24,530    

19,144    

4,959    

2,295    

(670,279)    

–    

–    

(71)    

–    

–    

–    

–    

–    

–

(71)

  Removal of fully  

  depreciated assets

  Effect of foreign  

 currency exchange 
differences

(41,333)    

(1,034)    

(18)    

(541)    

665    

(6,269)    

(74)    

(48,604)

December 31, 2012

    3,986,743     

152,351     

171,637    

63,196     

72,069    

133,791    

28,594     4,608,381

  Additions

  Disposals

143,252    

6,346    

1,651    

3,588    

(52,659)    

(1,126)    

(2,971)    

(5,324)    

–    

–    

–    

380,788    

179    

535,804

  Reclassifications

270,615    

10,508    

14,141    

4,900    

825    

(300,989)    

–    

–    

(62,080)

–

  Effect of foreign  

 currency exchange 
differences

163,445    

1,866    

936    

3,251    

2,070    

5,843    

747    

178,158

December 31, 2013

  $ 4,511,396   $  169,945    $  185,394   $ 

69,611   $ 

74,964   $  219,433   $ 

29,520   $ 5,260,263

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  61

 
   
   
   
 
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
Accumulated Depreciation

Rig 
Equipment

Rental
Equipment

Other 
Equipment

Vehicles

Buildings

Assets 
Under 
Construction

Land

Total

December 31, 2011

  $  1,008,185   $ 

54,118   $ 

87,358   $ 

17,812   $ 

19,949   $ 

–   $ 

–   $  1,187,422

  Depreciation expense

274,129    

7,901    

14,280    

6,917    

2,341    

  Disposals

(35,697)    

(785)    

(8,213)    

(2,132)    

(884)    

  Asset decommissioning    

(69,723)    

–    

  Reclassifications

60    

(156)    

–    

646    

–    

16    

–    

(566)    

  Removal of fully  

  depreciated assets

  Effect of foreign  

 currency exchange 
differences

–    

–    

(71)    

–    

–    

(9,702)    

(78)    

(721)    

(176)    

644    

December 31, 2012

    1,167,252    

61,000    

93,279    

22,437    

21,484    

  Depreciation expense

295,807    

9,695    

15,518    

8,299    

3,774    

  Disposals

(43,423)    

(1,007)    

(2,937)    

(5,069)    

8,314    

(8,557)    

273    

(20)    

–    

(10)    

  Reclassifications

  Effect of foreign  

 currency exchange 
differences

December 31, 2013

  $ 1,478,237   $ 

61,492   $  106,724   $ 

26,618   $ 

25,458   $ 

50,287    

361    

591    

971    

210    

–    

–    

–    

–    

–    

–    

–     

–    

–    

–    

–    

–    

–    

–    

–    

305,568

(47,711)

(69,723)

–

(71)

–    

(10,033)

–      1,365,452

–    

–    

–    

333,093

(52,436)

–

–    

–   $ 

–    

52,420

–   $ 1,698,529

In  2012,  the  Corporation  incurred  a  $192.5  million  loss  on  the  decommissioning  of  certain  drilling  rigs.  The  assets  were 
decommissioned due to the inefficient nature of the assets and the high cost to maintain. The charge was allocated fully to the 
Contract Drilling Services segment. 

During 2012, the Corporation reviewed the remaining economic lives of certain drilling rigs and determined that, due to current 
market conditions, the lives of these rigs should be reduced to four years and depreciation be charged on a straight-line basis to 
their estimated salvage value. The effect of this change was to increase depreciation expense by $21.3 million in 2012. 

62  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   
   
   
 
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
NOTE 5. INTANGIBLES 

Cost

Accumulated amortization

Customer relationships

Patents and brands

Loan commitment fees related to revolving credit facility

Cost

December 31, 2011

  Business acquisitions

  Additions

  Effect of foreign currency exchange differences

  Removal of fully amortized assets

December 31, 2012

  Business acquisitions

  Additions

  Effect of foreign currency exchange differences

  Removal of fully amortized assets

2013

12,221

(8,304)

3,917

616

16

3,285

3,917

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

Customer 
Relationships

Patents and
Brands

Loan 
 Commitment 
Fees

$

4,600

$

420

$

4,905

$

–

–

(25)

4,575 

–

–

78

(1,128)

–

–

(8)

(359)

53 

–

–

–

–

–

2,855

–

–

7,760 

12,388 

–

883

–

–

–

883

78

(1,128)

 2012

12,388

(6,287)

6,101

1,890

21

4,190

6,101

Total

9,925 

–

2,855

(33)

(359)

December 31, 2013

$

3,525 

$

53 

$

8,643 

$

12,221

Accumulated Amortization

Customer 
Relationships

Patents and
Brands

December 31, 2011

  Amortization expense

  Effect of foreign currency exchange differences

  Removal of fully amortized assets

December 31, 2012

  Amortization expense

  Effect of foreign currency exchange differences

  Removal of fully amortized assets

$

1,317

1,376

(8)

–

2,685 

1,294

58

(1,128)

$

302

$

96

(7)

(359)

32 

5

–

–

Loan 
Commitment  
Fees

$

1,835

1,735

–

–

3,570 

1,788

–

–

December 31, 2013

$

2,909 

$

37 

$

5,358 

$

Total

3,454

3,207

(15)

(359)

6,287 

3,087

58

(1,128)

8,304 

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  63

 
NOTE 6. GOODWILL 

Balance, December 31, 2011

  Business acquisitions

Impairment charge

  Exchange adjustment

Balance, December 31, 2012

  Exchange adjustment

Balance, December 31, 2013

$

363,646

25

(52,539)

(580)

310,552 

1,804

$

312,356

The  Corporation  performed  an  impairment  test  on  the  well  servicing  CGU  at  December  31,  2013.  This  CGU  has  $89  million 
of  goodwill  allocated  to  it.  The  cash  flow  projections  used  in  performing  the  impairment  test  were  based  on  future  expected 
outcomes  taking  into  account  past  experience  and  management  expectation  of  future  market  conditions.  No  terminal  value 
growth rate was used due to the finite lives of the underlying assets of the CGU. An increase in the discount rate used by 1% would 
require an impairment charge being recognized on the goodwill assigned to the well servicing CGU.

During 2012 the Corporation determined that the carrying value of the goodwill allocated to the Canadian directional drilling CGU 
exceeded its recoverable amount and recognized an impairment loss of $52.5 million. The recoverable amount was based on its 
value in use determined by discounting expected future cash flows to be generated from the continuing use of the assets within 
the CGU. 

Key assumptions used in the calculation of value in use included a discount rate of 15%, terminal value growth rate of nil % and 
average projected annual cash flow growth over the next four years of 40%. No terminal value growth rate was used due to the 
finite lives of the underlying assets of the CGU. Projected cash flow was based on future expected outcomes taking into account 
past  experience  and  management  expectation  of  future  market  conditions.  A  10%  change  in  the  key  assumptions  would  not 
change the amount of the impairment loss recognized.

NOTE 7. BANK INDEBTEDNESS 

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, Precision had available $40.0 million and US$15.0 million under secured operating facilities, 
and a secured US$25.0 million facility for the issuance of letters of credit and performance and bid bonds to support international 
operations. As at December 31, 2013 and 2012, no amounts had been drawn on any of the facilities. Availability of the $40.0 million 
and US$25.0 million facility were reduced by outstanding letters of credit in the amount of $17.3 million (2012 – $18.9 million) 
and US$0.2 million (2012 – US $nil), respectively. The facilities are primarily secured by charges on substantially all present and 
future  property  of  Precision  and  its  material  subsidiaries.  Advances  under  the  $40.0  million  facility  are  available  at  the  bank’s 
prime lending rate, U.S. base rate, U.S. LIBOR plus applicable margin, or Banker’s Acceptance plus applicable margin, or in 
combination, and under the US$15.0 million and US$25.0 million facilities at the bank’s prime lending rate. 

64  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
NOTE 8. SHARE BASED COMPENSATION PLANS 

Liability Classified Plans

Deferred 
Share Units

Restricted 
Share Units

Performance 
Share Units

Share 
Appreciation 
Rights

Non-
Management 
Directors’ DSUs

Total

December 31, 2011

  $ 

762

  $ 

12,529

  $ 

25,250

  $ 

1,693

  $ 

–

  $ 

40,234

Expensed (recovered) during the period

Payments

December 31, 2012

Expensed (recovered) during the period

Payments and redemptions

December 31, 2013

Current

Long-term

(44)

(718)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

  $ 

  $ 

  $ 

5,094

(7,938)

9,685

11,622

(7,769)

6,022

(17,494)

13,778

8,137

(8,953)

(1,195)

(1)

497

(251)

–

816

–

816

1,245

(207)

10,693

(26,151)

24,776

20,753

(16,929)

  $ 

13,538

  $ 

12,962

  $ 

246

  $ 

1,854

  $ 

28,600

  $ 

9,027

  $ 

4,896

  $ 

246

  $ 

–

  $ 

14,169

4,511

8,066

–

1,854

14,431

  $ 

13,538

  $ 

12,962

  $ 

246

  $ 

1,854

  $ 

28,600

(a) Restricted Share Units and Performance Share Units
Precision has two cash settled share based incentive plans for officers and other eligible employees. Under the Restricted Share 
Unit (RSU) incentive plan shares granted to eligible employees vest annually over a three year term. Vested shares are automatically 
paid out in cash at a value determined by the fair market value of the shares at the vesting date. Under the Performance Share Unit 
(PSU) incentive plan shares granted to eligible employees vest at the end of a three-year term. Vested shares are automatically 
paid out in cash in the first quarter following the vested term at a value determined by the fair market value of the shares at the 
vesting date and based on the number of performance shares held multiplied by a performance factor that ranges from zero to 
two times. The performance factor is based on Precision’s share price performance compared to a peer group over the three-year 
period. A summary of the RSUs and PSUs outstanding under these share based incentive plans is presented below:

December 31, 2011

  Granted

Issued as a result of cash dividends

  Redeemed

  Forfeitures

December 31, 2012

  Granted

Issued as a result of cash dividends

  Redeemed

  Forfeitures

December 31, 2013

RSUs 
Outstanding

1,836,830

1,117,850

11,566

(864,857)

(221,139)

1,880,250

1,295,739

51,113

(869,744)

(243,863)

PSUs 
Outstanding

2,129,508

802,000

11,972

(851,499)

(143,029)

1,948,952

1,258,650

54,623

(696,171)

(128,126)

2,113,495

2,437,928

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(b) Share Appreciation Rights
The  Corporation  has  a  U.S.  dollar  denominated  Share  Appreciation  Rights  (SAR)  plan  under  which  eligible  participants  were 
granted  SARs  that  entitle  the  rights  holder  to  receive  cash  payments  calculated  as  the  excess  of  the  market  price  over  the 
exercise price per share on the exercise date. The SARs vest over a period of 5 years and expire 10 years from the date of grant. 
At December 31, 2013, the intrinsic value of these awards was $7,000 (2012 – $nil).

Share Appreciation Rights

December 31, 2011

Exercised

Forfeited

December 31, 2012

Forfeited

December 31, 2013

Range of Exercise Prices (US$):

 $    9.26 – 11.99

 12.00 – 14.99

 15.00 – 17.38

 $    9.26 – 17.38

Outstanding

Range of  
Exercise Price 
(US$)

Weighted  
Average Exercise 
Price (US$)

705,688

$   9.26 – 17.92

$  14.83

(721)

9.26 –   9.59

(26,725)

678,242

(90,080)

 15.22 – 17.92

 9.26 – 17.38

 13.26 – 17.38

9.45

15.55

14.81

15.42

Exercisable

705,688

678,242

588,162

$  9.26 – 17.38

$  14.71

588,162

Total SARs Outstanding and Exercisable

Weighted  
Average Exercise  
Price (US$)

$            9.26

13.26

15.82

$          14.71

Weighted Average 
Remaining 
Contractual Life 
(Years)

1.23

1.10

3.43

2.71

Number

59,903

100,844

427,415

588,162

(c) Non-Management Directors 
Effective January 1, 2012, Precision instituted a new deferred share unit plan for non-management directors whereby fully vested 
deferred share units are granted quarterly based on an election by the non-management director to receive all or a portion of their 
compensation in deferred share units. These deferred share units are redeemable in cash or for an equal number of common 
shares upon the director’s retirement. The redemption of deferred share units in cash or common shares is solely at Precision’s 
discretion. Non-management directors can receive a lump sum payment or two separate payments any time up until December 15 
of the year following retirement. If the non-management director does not specify a redemption date, the deferred share units will 
be redeemed on a single date six months after retirement. The cash settlement amount is based on the weighted average trading 
price for Precision’s shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange for the five days immediately prior to payout. A summary of the DSUs 
outstanding under this share based incentive plan is presented below:

Deferred Share Units

January 1, 2011

  Granted

Issued as a result of cash dividends

December 31, 2012

  Granted

Issued as a result of cash dividends

  Redeemed

December 31, 2013

66  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Outstanding

–

101,535

429

101,964

105,338

2,836

(21,563)

188,575

 
 
Equity Settled Plans

(d) Non-Management Directors
Prior to January 1, 2012, Precision had a deferred share unit plan for non-management directors. Under the plan fully vested 
deferred share units were granted quarterly based on an election by the non-management director to receive all or a portion of 
their compensation in deferred share units. These deferred share units are redeemable into an equal number of common shares 
any time after the director’s retirement. A summary of this share based incentive plan is presented below:

Deferred Share Units

December 31, 2011

Issued as a result of cash dividends

  Redeemed

December 31, 2012

Issued as a result of cash dividends

  Redeemed

December 31, 2013

Outstanding

417,495

1,630

(83,179)

335,946

5,459

(120,293)

221,112

(e) Option Plan
The Corporation has a share option plan under which a combined total of 16,569,134 options to purchase common shares are 
reserved to be granted to employees. Of the amount reserved, 9,357,588 options have been granted. Under this plan, the exercise 
price of each option equals the fair market of the option at the date of grant determined by the weighted average trading price 
for the five days preceding the grant. The options are denominated in either Canadian or U.S. dollars, and vest over a period of 
three years from the date of grant as employees render continuous service to the Corporation and have a term of seven years.

A summary of the status of the equity incentive plan is presented below:

Canadian share options

December 31, 2011

  Granted

  Exercised

  Forfeitures

December 31, 2012

  Granted

  Exercised

  Forfeitures

Options 
Outstanding

Range of 
Exercise Prices

3,267,571

$

5.22 – 14.50

$

1,117,050

(237,545)

(133,279)

4,013,797

1,237,500

(172,158)

(178,253)

7.15 – 10.67

5.85 – 10.44

5.85 – 14.50

5.22 – 14.50

7.82 –   9.02

5.85 – 10.67

5.85 – 14.50

December 31, 2013

4,900,886

$

5.22 – 14.50

$

U.S. share options

December 31, 2011

  Granted

  Exercised

  Forfeitures

December 31, 2012

  Granted

  Exercised

  Forfeitures

Options 
Outstanding

Range of 
Exercise Prices 
(US$)

1,886,552

$

4.95 – 15.21

$

867,000

(72,409)

(281,163)

2,399,980

1,025,100

(189,887)

(61,385)

7.14 – 10.74

4.95 – 10.55

4.95 – 15.21

4.95 – 15.21

8.99 –   9.28

4.95 – 10.55

7.14 – 15.21

December 31, 2013

3,173,808

$

4.95 – 15.21

$

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise Price

8.45

10.60

6.01

10.27

9.13

8.99

7.43

9.77

9.14

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise Price
(US$)

8.61

10.58

6.94

9.84

9.23

9.00

5.89

10.82

9.32

Options 
Exercisable

1,008,305

1,846,603

2,676,865

Options 
Exercisable

396,188

935,035

1,438,335

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  67

 
 
 
The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for share options exercised in 2013 was $10.11 (2012 – $9.42) for the 
Canadian share options and US$9.90 (2012 – US$10.10) for the U.S. share options.

The range of exercise prices for options outstanding at December 31, 2013 is as follows:

Canadian share options

Total Options Outstanding

Exercisable Options

Range of Exercise Prices:

$  5.22 –   6.99

7.00 –   8.99

9.00 – 14.50

$  5.22 – 14.50

Number

706,438

981,297

3,213,151

Weighted  
Average  
Exercise Price

$                5.85 

8.53

10.04

4,900,886

$                9.14

Weighted Average 
Remaining 
Contractual Life 
(Years)

2.35

3.25

5.16

4.37

Number

706,438

942,662

1,027,765

Weighted  
Average  
Exercise Price

$                5.85 

8.56

10.62

2,676,865

$                8.64

U.S. share options

Total Options Outstanding

Exercisable Options

Weighted  
Average  
Exercise Price
(US$)

Weighted Average 
Remaining 
Contractual Life 
(Years)

Range of Exercise Prices (US$):

$  4.95 –   5.99

6.00 –   8.99

9.00 – 15.21

$  4.95 – 15.21

Number

188,872

1,606,533

1,378,403

$                4.95 

8.55

10.82

3,173,808

$                9.32

2.35

5.08

4.67

4.74

Weighted  
Average  
Exercise Price
(US$)

$                4.95

7.82

10.89

Number

188,872

581,195

668,268

1,438,335

$                8.87

The per option weighted average fair value of the share options granted during 2013 was $3.26 (2012 – $4.79) estimated on 
the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumption: average risk-free interest rate 1% 
(2012 – 1%), average expected life of four years (2012 – four years), expected forfeiture rate of 5% (2012 – 5%) and expected 
volatility  of  53%  (2012  –  59%).  Included  in  net  earnings  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2013  is  an  expense  of  $7.0  million  
(2012 – $7.9 million). 

68  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTE 9. PROVISIONS AND OTHER

Balance December 31, 2011

Expensed during the year

Payment of deductibles and uninsured claims

Effects of foreign currency exchange differences

Balance December 31, 2012

Expensed during the year

Payment of deductibles and uninsured claims

Effects of foreign currency exchange differences

Balance December 31, 2013

Current

Long-term

Workers’ 
Compensation

$

$

$

$

23,984

11,604

(8,436)

(551)

26,601

4,350

(8,546)

1,781

24,186

2012

8,783

17,818

26,601

2013

6,350

17,836

24,186

$

$

Precision maintains a provision for the deductible and uninsured portions of workers’ compensation and general liability claims. 
The amount accrued for the provision for losses incurred varies depending on the number and nature of the claims outstanding at 
the balance sheet dates. In addition, the accrual includes management’s estimate of the future cost to settle each claim such as 
future changes in the severity of the claim and increases in medical costs. Precision uses third parties to assist in developing the 
estimate of the ultimate costs to settle each claim, which is based on historical experience associated with the type of each claim 
and specific information related to each claim. The specific circumstances of each claim may change over time prior to settlement 
and, as a result, the estimates made as of the balance sheet dates may change.

NOTE 10. LONG-TERM DEBT 

Secured revolving credit facility

Unsecured senior notes:

  6.625% senior notes due 2020 (US$650.0 million)

  6.5% senior notes due 2021 (US$400.0 million)

  6.5% senior notes due 2019

Less net unamortized debt issue costs

2013

$

29,781

$

691,340

425,440

200,000

2012

–

646,685

397,960

200,000

1,346,561

1,244,645

(23,293)

(25,849)

$

1,323,268

$

1,218,796

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  69

 
(a) Secured Revolving Credit Facility
The secured revolving credit facility provides Precision with senior secured financing for general corporate purposes, including 
for  acquisitions,  of  up  to  US$850  million  with  a  provision  for  an  increase  in  the  facility  of  up  to  an  additional  US$250  million. 
The secured revolving credit facility is secured by charges on substantially all of Precision’s present and future assets and the 
present and future assets of its material U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries and, if necessary, in order to adhere to covenants under 
the  revolving  credit  facility,  on  certain  assets  of  certain  subsidiaries  organized  in  a  jurisdiction  outside  of  Canada  or  the  U.S. 
The secured revolving credit facility requires that Precision comply with certain financial covenants including leverage ratios of 
consolidated senior debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization as defined in the agreement (EBITDA) 
of less than 3:1 and consolidated total debt to EBITDA of less than 4:1 for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters; and 
a interest coverage ratio of greater than 2.75:1 for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters. As well the revolving credit 
facility  contains  certain  covenants  that  place  restrictions  on  Precision’s  ability  to  dispose  of  assets;  make  or  pay  dividends, 
share redemptions or other distributions; change its primary business; incur liens on assets; enter into mergers, consolidations 
or amalgamations; and enter into speculative swap agreements. At December 31, 2013, Precision was in compliance with the 
covenants of the revolving credit facility.

The revolving credit facility has a term of five years, with an annual option on Precision’s part to request that the lenders extend, 
at their discretion, the facility to a new maturity date not to exceed five years from the date of the extension request. The current 
maturity date of the revolving credit facility is November 17, 2018. 

Under  the  revolving  credit  facility  amounts  can  be  drawn  in  U.S.  dollars  and/or  Canadian  dollars  and  as  at  December  31, 
2013,  US$28.0  was  outstanding  (2012  –  $nil).  Up  to  US$200  million  of  the  revolving  credit  facility  is  available  for  letters  of 
credit  denominated  in  U.S  and/or  Canadian  dollars  and  as  at  December  31,  2013  outstanding  letters  of  credit  amounted  to 
US$28.6 million (2012 – US$26.8 million).

The interest rate on loans that are denominated in U.S. dollars is, at the option of Precision, either a margin over a U.S. base rate 
or a margin over LIBOR. The interest rate on loans denominated in Canadian dollars is, at the option of Precision, either a margin 
over the Canadian prime rate or a margin over the bankers’ acceptance rate; such margins will be based on the then applicable 
ratio of consolidated total debt to EBITDA.

(b) Unsecured Senior Notes
Precision has outstanding the following unsecured senior notes:

   US$650.0 million of 6.625% Senior Notes due 2020. These notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.625% per annum, and 

mature on November 15, 2020. Interest is payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year

   $200.0 million of 6.5% Senior Notes due 2019. These notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.5% per annum, and mature on 

March 15, 2019. Interest is payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year.

   US$400.0 million of 6.5% Senior Notes due 2021. These notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.5% per annum, and mature 

on December 15, 2021. Interest is payable semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 of each year.

The  6.625%  Senior  Notes  due  2020  and  the  6.5%  Senior  Notes  due  2019  are  unsecured,  ranking  equally  with  existing  and 
future senior unsecured indebtedness, and have been guaranteed by current and future U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries that 
guaranteed the revolving credit facility. These notes contain certain covenants that limit Precision’s ability and the ability of certain 
subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred stock; create liens; make restricted payments; create or permit 
to  exist  restrictions  on  the  ability  of  Precision  or  certain  subsidiaries  to  make  certain  payments  and  distributions;  engage  in 
amalgamations, mergers or consolidations; make certain dispositions and transfers of assets; and engage in transactions with 
affiliates.  If  the  notes  receive  an  investment  grade  rating  by  Standard  &  Poor’s  and  Moody’s  Investors  Service  and  Precision 
and its subsidiaries are not in default under the indenture governing the notes, then Precision will not be required to comply with 
particular covenants contained in the indenture. 

70  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The 6.5% Senior Notes due 2021 are unsecured, ranking equally with existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness, and 
have been guaranteed by current and future U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries that guaranteed the revolving credit facility. These 
notes contain certain covenants that limit Precision’s ability and the ability of certain subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness 
and issue preferred stock; create liens; make restricted payments; create or permit to exist restrictions on the ability of Precision 
or certain subsidiaries to make certain payments and distributions; engage in amalgamations, mergers or consolidations; make 
certain dispositions and transfers of assets; and engage in transactions with affiliates. If the notes receive an investment grade 
rating by Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s Investors Service and Precision and its subsidiaries are not in default under the indenture 
governing the notes, then Precision will not be required to comply with particular covenants contained in the indenture.

Prior to November 15, 2015, Precision may redeem the 6.625% Senior Notes due 2020 in whole or in part at 100.0% of their 
principal amount, plus accrued interest and the greater of 1.0% of the principal amount of the note to be redeemed and the excess, 
if any, of the present value of the November 15, 2015 redemption price plus required interest payments through November 15, 
2015  (calculated  using  the  United  States  Treasury  rate  plus  50  basis  points)  over  the  principal  amount  of  the  note.  As  well, 
Precision may redeem these notes in whole or in part at any time on or after November 15, 2015 and before November 15, 2018, 
at redemption prices ranging between 103.313% and 101.104% of their principal amount plus accrued interest. Any time on or 
after November 15, 2018 these notes can be redeemed for their principal amount plus accrued interest. Upon specified change 
of control events, each holder of a note will have the right to sell to Precision all or a portion of its notes at a purchase price in cash 
equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest to the date of purchase.

Prior to March 15, 2014, Precision may redeem up to 35% of the 6.5% Senior Notes due 2019 with the net proceeds of certain 
equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 106.5% of the principal amount plus accrued interest. Prior to March 15, 2015, 
Precision may redeem these notes in whole or in part at 100.0% of their principal amount, plus accrued interest and the greater 
of 1.0% of the principal amount of the note to be redeemed and the excess, if any, of the present value of the March 15, 2015 
redemption price plus required interest payments through March 15, 2015 (calculated using the Government of Canada rate plus 
100 basis points) over the principal amount of the note. As well, Precision may redeem these notes in whole or in part at any 
time on or after March 15, 2015 and before March 15, 2017, at redemption prices ranging between 103.250% and 101.6254% of 
their principal amount plus accrued interest. Any time on or after March 15, 2017 these notes can be redeemed for their principal 
amount plus accrued interest. Upon specified change of control events, each holder of a note will have the right to sell to Precision 
all or a portion of its notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest to the date 
of purchase.

Prior to December 15, 2014, Precision may redeem up to 35% of the 6.5% Senior Notes due 2021 with the net proceeds of certain 
equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 106.5% of the principal amount plus accrued interest. Prior to December 15, 2016, 
Precision may redeem these notes in whole or in part at 100.0% of their principal amount, plus accrued interest and the greater 
of 1.0% of the principal amount of the note to be redeemed and the excess, if any, of the present value of the December 15, 
2016 redemption price plus required interest payments through December 15, 2016 (calculated using the United States Treasury 
rate plus 50 basis points) over the principal amount of the note. As well, Precision may redeem these notes in whole or in part at 
any time on or after December 15, 2016 and before December 15, 2019, at redemption prices ranging between 103.250% and 
101.083% of their principal amount plus accrued interest. Any time on or after December 15, 2019 these notes can be redeemed 
for their principal amount plus accrued interest. Upon specified change of control events, each holder of a note will have the right 
to sell to Precision all or a portion of its notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued 
interest to the date of purchase.

Long-term debt obligations at December 31, 2013 will mature as follows:

2018

Thereafter

$

29,781

1,316,780

$

1,346,561

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  71

 
(c) Guarantor Disclosures
The following presents supplemental condensed consolidating financial information for the parent company, guarantor subsidiaries 
and the non-guarantor subsidiaries, respectively.

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Financial Position as at December 31, 2013

Parent

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Consolidating 
Adjustments

Total

Assets

  Cash 

  Other current assets

Intercompany receivables

Investments in subsidiaries

Income tax recoverable

  Property, plant and equipment

Intangibles

  Goodwill

Total assets

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

  Current liabilities

Intercompany payables and debt

  Long-term debt

  Other long-term liabilities

Total liabilities

  Shareholders’ equity

$

27,160

$

23,039

$

30,407

$

3,592

424,178

5,904,795

–

56,501

3,286

–

6,419,512

40,624

2,442,373

1,323,268

263,410

4,069,675

2,349,837

$

$

456,574

2,342,467

69

–

3,261,610

631

312,356

6,396,746

240,052

202,986

–

262,308

705,346

5,691,400

$

$

–

3

$

80,606

562,075

101,906

74,795

(2,841,440)

–

(5,904,864)

58,435

243,858

–

–

–

(235)

–

–

$

$

$

$

509,401

$

(8,746,536)

56,222

$

–

196,081

(2,841,440)

–

(6,104)

246,199

263,202

–

–

(2,841,440)

(5,905,096)

–

–

58,435

3,561,734

3,917

312,356

4,579,123

336,898

–

1,323,268

519,614

2,179,780

2,399,343

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

6,419,512

$

6,396,746 

$

509,401

$

(8,746,536)

$

4,579,123

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Financial Position as at December 31, 2012

Parent

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Consolidating 
Adjustments

Total

Assets

  Cash

  Other current assets

Intercompany receivables

Investments in subsidiaries

Income tax recoverable

  Property, plant and equipment

Intangibles

  Goodwill

Total assets

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

  Current liabilities

Intercompany payables and debt

  Long-term debt

  Other long-term liabilities

Total liabilities

  Shareholders’ equity

$

114,709

$

15,709

$

22,350

$

9,238

394,112

5,412,168

9,441

57,939

4,190

–

6,001,797

103,383

2,200,650

1,218,796

245,377

3,768,206

2,233,591

$

$

465,695

2,082,616

3,099

–

3,043,239

1,911

310,552

5,922,821

264,788

185,855

–

273,547

724,190

5,198,631

$

$

–

3

$

152,768

523,334

48,398

65,279

(2,542,007)

–

(5,415,267)

55,138

142,104

–

–

–

(353)

–

–

$

$

$

$

333,269

$

(7,957,624)

29,910

$

–

155,502

(2,542,007)

–

(6,838)

178,574

154,695

–

–

(2,542,007)

(5,415,617)

–

–

64,579

3,242,929

6,101

310,552

4,300,263

398,081

–

1,218,796

512,086

2,128,963

2,171,300

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

6,001,797

$

5,922,821 

$

333,269

$

(7,957,624)

$

4,300,263

72  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Loss) for the Year ended December 31, 2013

Revenue

Operating expense

$

General and administrative expense

Earnings (loss) before income taxes,  
  finance charges, foreign exchange,  
  and depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization

Operating earnings (loss)

Foreign exchange

Finance charges

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

Earnings (loss) before tax

Income taxes

Net earnings (loss)

Parent

143

273

29,174

(29,304)

7,393

(36,697)

(3,356)

92,112

(360,468)

235,015

43,615

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Consolidating 
Adjustments

Total

$

1,912,750

$

137,681

$

(20,597) 

$

2,029,977 

1,148,786

101,407

120,175

11,926

662,557

309,939

352,618

(5,198)

1,141

–

356,675

(15,431)

5,580

15,576

(9,996)

(558)

(5)

–

(9,433)

2,204

(20,597)

1,248,637

–

–

251

(251)

–

–

360,468

(360,719)

–

142,507

638,833

333,159

305,674

(9,112)

93,248

–

221,538

30,388

$

191,400

$

372,106

$

(11,637)

$

(360,719)

$

191,150

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Loss) for the Year ended December 31, 2012

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Consolidating 
Adjustments

Total

$

1,986,590

$

64,779

$

(10,779) 

$

2,040,741 

$

Parent

151

82

27,246

1,173,157

94,014

80,841

5,388

Revenue

Operating expense

General and administrative expense

Earnings (loss) before income taxes,  
  finance charges, foreign exchange,  
impairment of goodwill, loss on  

  asset decommissioning and  
  depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization

Loss on asset decommissioning

Operating earnings (loss)

Impairment of goodwill

Foreign exchange

Finance charges

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

Earnings (loss) before tax

Income taxes

Net earnings (loss)

(27,177)

3,405

–

(30,582)

–

4,252

86,780

(196,489)

74,875

30,011

719,419

303,693

192,469

223,257

52,539

(189)

48

–

170,859

(49,342)

(21,450)

7,922

–

(29,372)

–

(310)

1

–

(29,063)

(5,352)

(10,779)

1,243,301

–

–

(7,495)

–

7,495

–

–

–

196,489

(188,994)

–

126,648

670,792

307,525

192,469

170,798

52,539

3,753

86,829

–

27,677

(24,683)

$

44,864

$

220,201

$

(23,711)

$

(188,994)

$

52,360

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  73

 
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Year ended December 31, 2013

Net earnings

Other comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss)

Parent

191,400

(72,135)

119,265

$

$

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Consolidating 
Adjustments

$

$

372,106

98,105

470,211

$

$

(11,637)

10,720

(917)

$

$

(360,719)

370

(360,349)

$

$

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Year ended December 31, 2012

Net earnings

Other comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss)

Parent

44,864

23,205

68,069

$

$

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Consolidating 
Adjustments

$

$

220,201

(30,899)

189,302

$

$

(23,711)

(1,934)

(25,645)

$

$

(188,994)

(45)

(189,039)

$

$

Total

191,150

37,060

228,210

Total

52,360

(9,673)

42,687

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flow for the Year ended December 31, 2013

Cash provided by (used in):

Operations

Investments

Financing

Effects of exchange rate changes on  
  cash and cash equivalents

Increase (decrease) in cash and  
  cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents,  
  beginning of year

Parent

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Consolidating 
Adjustments

Total

$

(207,558)

$

693,757

$

(58,113)

$

–

$

428,086

96,685

21,517

1,807

(87,549)

(458,810)

(229,688)

2,071

7,330

(68,951)

134,229

892

8,057

114,709

15,709

22,350

(95,459)

95,459

–

–

–

–

(526,535)

21,517

4,770

(72,162)

152,768

$

80,606

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

$

27,160

$

23,039

$

30,407

$

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flow for the Year ended December 31, 2012

Parent

Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries

Consolidating 
Adjustments

Total

$

(135,797)

$

775,145

$

(65,654)

$

61,592

$

635,286

(171,158)

(14,899)

(806,436)

41,996

(43,971)

111,040

91,444

(153,036)

Cash provided by (used in):

Operations

Investments

Financing

Effects of exchange rate changes on  
  cash and cash equivalents

Increase (decrease) in cash and  
  cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents,  
  beginning of year

(4,197)

(811)

(326,051)

 440,760

9,894

5,815

34

1,449

20,901

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

$

114,709

$

15,709

$

22,350

$

74  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(930,121)

(14,899)

(4,974)

(314,708)

467,476

$

152,768

–

–

–

–

NOTE 11. INCOME TAXES 

The  provision  for  income  taxes  differs  from  that  which  would  be  expected  by  applying  statutory  Canadian  income  tax  rates.  
A reconciliation of the difference at December 31 is as follows:

Earnings before income taxes 

Federal and provincial statutory rates

Tax at statutory rates 

Adjusted for the effect of:

  Non-deductible expenses 

  Non-taxable capital gains

Income taxed at lower rates

Impact of foreign tax rates

  Withholding taxes

  Taxes related to prior years

  Other

Income tax expense (recovery)

$

$

$

$

2013

221,538

25%

55,385

4,097

(626)

(31,118)

(5,957)

3,343

4,738

526

2012

27,677

25%

6,919

15,975

(546)

(30,191)

(26,559)

4,009

1,053

4,657

$

30,388

$

(24,683)

The net deferred tax liability is comprised of the tax effect of the following temporary differences:

Deferred income tax liability:

  Property, plant and equipment and intangibles

$

749,760

$

686,833

2013

2012

  Partnership deferrals

  Debt issue costs

  Other

Deferred income tax assets:

  Losses (expire from time to time up to 2033)

  Long-term incentive plan

  Other

Net deferred income tax liability

34,938

2,966

6,569

60,906

1,561

4,260

794,233

753,560

285,438

14,800

6,648

244,888

13,917

9,163

$

487,347

$

485,592

Included in the net deferred tax liability is $257.8 million (2012 – $242.6 million) of tax effected temporary differences related to 
the Corporation’s United States operations. As at December 31, 2013, the Corporation had unrecognized net deferred tax assets 
related to its foreign operations of $7.2 million (2012 – $5.9 million).

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  75

 
 
 
The movement in temporary differences is as follows:

Property, 
Plant and 
Equipment 
and 
Intangibles

Other 
Deferred 
Income Tax 
Liabilities

Partnership 
Deferrals

Losses

Debt Issue
Costs

Long-Term 
Incentive 
Plan

Other 
Deferred 
Income Tax 
Assets

Net 
Deferred 
Income Tax 
Liability

December 31, 2011

$  735,815

$  91,319

$ 

5,704

$ (221,982)

$ 

(2,568)

$  (13,026)

$ 

(7,472)

$  587,790

Recognized in net earnings

(37,034)

(30,413)

(1,413)

(27,784)

4,129

(1,058)

(1,686)

(95,259)

Effect of foreign currency  
  exchange differences

(11,948)

–

(31)

4,878

December 31, 2012

   686,833

60,906

4,260

   (244,888)

Recognized in net earnings

28,176

(25,968)

2,312

(22,968)

–

1,561

1,405

167

(5)

(6,939)

(13,917)

(9,163)

   485,592

(173)

2,587

(14,629)

Effect of foreign currency  
  exchange differences

34,751

–

(3)

(17,582)

–

(710)

(72)

16,384

December 31, 2013

$ 749,760

$  34,938

$ 

6,569

$ (285,438)

$ 

2,966

$  (14,800)

$ 

(6,648)

$ 487,347

On  December  31,  2013,  Precision  had  $30.9  million  (2012  –  $34.4  million)  of  unrecognized  tax  benefits  that,  if  recognized, 
would have a favourable impact on Precision’s effective income tax rate in future periods. Precision classifies interest accrued 
on unrecognized tax benefits and income tax penalties as income tax expense. Included in the unrecognized tax benefit, as at 
December 31, 2013 was interest and penalties of $10.1 million (2012 – $9.2 million).

Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits

Year ended December 31,

Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of year

Additions:

  Prior year’s tax positions

Reductions:

  Prior year’s tax positions

Unrecognized tax benefits, end of year

2013

2012

$

34,357

$

34,300

2,031

2,033

(5,458)

(1,976)

$

30,930

$

34,357

It  is  anticipated  that  approximately  $0.5  million  (2012  –  $0.6  million)  of  an  unrecognized  tax  position  that  relates  to  prior  year 
activities  will  be  realized  during  the  next  12  months.  Subject  to  the  results  of  audit  examinations  by  taxing  authorities  and/or 
legislative changes by taxing jurisdictions, Precision does not anticipate further adjustments of unrecognized tax positions during 
the next 12 months that would have a material impact on the financial statements of Precision.

76  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
NOTE 12. SHAREHOLDERS’ CAPITAL 

(a) Authorized  – unlimited number of voting common shares  

–  unlimited number of preferred shares, issuable in series, limited to an amount  

equal to one half of the issued and outstanding common shares

(b) Issued

Common shares

December 31, 2011

  Options exercised  – cash consideration 

– reclassification from contributed surplus 

Issued on redemption of non-management directors’ DSUs

Issued on waiver of right to dissent by dissenting unitholder

December 31, 2012

  Options exercised  – cash consideration 

– reclassification from contributed surplus 

Issued on redemption of non-management directors’ DSUs

Issued on exercise of warrants

December 31, 2013

Number

Amount

276,081,797

$

2,248,217

309,954

–

83,179

840

1,926

1,124

706

9

276,475,770

$

2,251,982

362,045

–

141,856

15,000,000

2,432

1,275

1,238

48,300

291,979,671

$

2,305,227

(c) Dividends
During 2013, the Corporation approved and paid dividends of $0.21 per common share (2012 – $0.05) for total payments of 
$58 million (2012 – $14 million). On February 12, 2014, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.06 per common share 
payable on March 14, 2014 to shareholders of record on February 27, 2014.

NOTE 13. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

December 31, 2011

Other comprehensive loss

December 31, 2012

Other comprehensive income

December 31, 2013

Unrealized 
Foreign Currency 
Translation Gains 
(Losses)

Foreign Exchange 
Gain (Loss) on Net 
Investment Hedge 

Accumulated 
Other 
Comprehensive 
Loss

$

(27,987)

$

(22,875)

$

(50,862)

(32,878)

(60,865) 

109,195

23,205

330 

(72,135)

(9,673)

(60,535) 

37,060

$

48,330 

$

(71,805) 

$

(23,475) 

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  77

 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
NOTE 14. FINANCE CHARGES

Interest:

  Long-term debt

  Other

Income

Amortization of debt issue costs

Debt amendment fees

Other

Finance charges

2013

2012

$

88,516 

$

85,113 

1,356

(967)

4,343

–

–

138

(1,933)

4,120

149

(758)

$

93,248

$

86,829

NOTE 15. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS 

The Corporation has a defined contribution pension plan covering a significant number of its employees. Under this plan, the 
Corporation matches individual contributions up to 5% of the employee’s eligible compensation. Total expense under the defined 
contribution plan in 2013 was $13.0 million (2012 – $11.1 million).

NOTE 16. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 

Compensation of Key Management Personnel
The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows:

Salaries and other benefits

Equity settled share based compensation

Cash settled share based compensation

$

2013

6,752

3,433

8,051

2012

6,988

3,257

4,872

18,236

$

15,117

$

$

Key management personnel are comprised of the directors and executive officers of the Corporation. Certain executive officers 
have entered into employment agreements with Precision that provide termination benefits of up to 24 months base salary plus 
up to two times targeted incentive compensation upon dismissal without cause.

78  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
NOTE 17. COMMITMENTS 

(a) Operating Lease Commitments
The Corporation has commitments under various operating lease agreements, primarily for vehicles and office space. Terms of 
the office leases run for a period of one to 10 years while the vehicle leases are typically for terms of between three and four years. 
Expected non-cancellable operating lease payments are as follows:

Less than one year

Between one and five years

Later than five years

2013

2012

16,833 

$

15,561 

41,258

15,714

41,898

23,161

73,805 

$

80,620 

$

$

Three of the leased properties was sublet by the Corporation. 

The following amounts were recognized as expenses in respect of operating leases in the consolidated statement of earnings:

Operating leases

Sub-lease recoveries

2013

19,578

(1,024)

18,554

$

$

2012

19,075

(583)

18,492

$

$

(b) Capital Commitments
At  December  31,  2013  the  Corporation  had  commitments  to  purchase  property,  plant  and  equipment  totaling  $178.8  million 
(2012 – $157.5 million). Payments of $178.8 million for these commitments are expected to be made in 2014.

NOTE 18. PER SHARE AMOUNTS 

The following tables reconcile the net earnings and weighted average shares outstanding used in computing basic and diluted 
earnings per share:

Net earnings – basic and diluted

(Stated in thousands)

Weighted average shares outstanding – basic

Effect of share warrants

Effect of stock options and other equity compensation plans

Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted

2013

2012

$

191,150

$

52,360

2013

277,583

9,327

971

2012

276,276

9,418

933

287,881

286,627

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  79

 
NOTE 19. BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS 

In 2012 a contingent liability from a previous acquisition was settled, resulting in a $758 thousand recovery in the statement of 
earnings and a $25 thousand increase to goodwill.

NOTE 20. SEGMENTED INFORMATION 

The Corporation operates primarily in Canada and the United States, in two industry segments; Contract Drilling Services and 
Completion  and  Production  Services.  Contract  Drilling  Services  includes  drilling  rigs,  directional  drilling,  procurement  and 
distribution  of  oilfield  supplies,  and  manufacture,  sale  and  repair  of  drilling  equipment.  Completion  and  Production  Services 
includes service rigs, snubbing units, coil tubing units, oilfield equipment rental, camp and catering services, and wastewater 
treatment units.

2013

Revenue

Operating earnings

Depreciation and amortization

Total assets

Goodwill

Capital expenditures

2012

Revenue

Operating earnings

Depreciation and amortization

Loss on asset decommissioning

Total assets

Goodwill

Capital expenditures*

* Excludes business acquisitions

Contract 
Drilling 
Services

Completion 
and 
Production 
Services

Corporate 
and Other

Inter-
Segment 
Eliminations

Total

$

1,719,910

$

323,353

$

–

$

(13,286)

$

2,029,977

361,447

292,217

3,837,919

200,217

446,566

Contract 
Drilling 
Services

28,402

32,630

590,992

112,139

83,470

Completion 
and 
Production 
Services

(84,175)

8,312

150,212

–

5,768

–

–

–

–

–

305,674

333,159

4,579,123

312,356

535,804

Corporate 
and Other

Inter-
Segment 
Eliminations

Total

$

1,725,240

$

326,079

$

–

$

(10,578)

$

2,040,741

184,819

271,993

192,469

3,495,604

198,413

750,763

62,796

30,758

–

551,893

112,139

109,202

(76,817)

4,774

–

252,766

–

8,092

–

–

–

–

–

–

170,798

307,525

192,469

4,300,263

310,552

868,057

The Corporation’s operations are carried on in the following geographic locations:

2013

Revenue

Total assets

2012

Revenue

Total assets

Canada

United States

International

Inter-
Segment 
Eliminations

Total

$

1,002,199

$

901,246

$

137,681

$

(11,149)

$

2,029,977

2,082,958

2,006,519

489,646

–

4,579,123

Canada

United States

International

Inter-
Segment 
Eliminations

Total

$

1,053,966

$

936,113

$

64,017

$

(13,355)

$

2,040,741

2,119,891

1,913,810

266,562

–

4,300,263

During the year ended December 31, 2013, no one individual customer accounted for more than 10% of the Corporation’s total 
revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2012 revenues from one customer of the Corporation’s Contract Drilling Services and 
Completion and Production Services segments accounted for $222.7 million of the Corporation’s total revenue.

80  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 21. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

Financial Risk Management
The Board of Directors is responsible for identifying the principal risks of Precision’s business and for ensuring the implementation 
of systems to manage these risks. With the assistance of senior management, who report to the Board of Directors on the risks of 
Precision’s business, the Board of Directors considers such risks and discusses the management of such risks on a regular basis.

Precision has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments:

(a) Credit Risk 
Accounts receivable includes balances from a large number of customers primarily operating in the oil and gas industry. The 
Corporation manages credit risk by assessing the creditworthiness of its customers before providing services and on an ongoing 
basis as well as monitoring the amount and age of balances outstanding. In some instances the Corporation will take additional 
measures to reduce credit risk including obtaining letters of credit and prepayments from customers. When indicators of credit 
problems appear the Corporation takes appropriate steps to reduce its exposure including negotiating with the customer, filing 
liens and entering into litigation. The Corporation views the credit risks on these amounts as normal for the industry. Precision’s 
most significant customer accounted for $19.6 million of the trade receivables amount at December 31, 2013 (2012 – $23.0 million).

The movement in the allowance for doubtful accounts during the year was as follows:

Balance at January 1

Impairment loss recognized

Amounts written off as uncollectible

Impairment loss reversed

Effect of movement in exchange rates

Balance at December 31

The ageing of trade receivables at December 31 was:

Not past due

Past due 0-30 days

Past due 31-120 days

Past due more than 120 days

2013

2012

$

12,187

$

12,179

325

(1,172)

(138)

501

348

(174)

–

(166)

$

11,703

$

12,187

2013

2012

Gross

Provision for 
Impairment

Gross

Provision for 
Impairment

$

177,141

$

98,529

28,897

21,584

–

–

–

11,703

$

197,194

$

100,217

27,861

15,016

$

326,151

$

11,703

$

340,288

$

–

–

–

12,187

12,187

(b) Interest Rate Risk 
As at December 31, 2013 and 2012, all of Precision’s long-term debt, with the exception of the secured revolving credit facility, 
bears fixed interest rates. As a result Precision is not exposed to significant fluctuations in interest expense as a result of changes 
in interest rates. Based on the debt outstanding at the end of the year, a 100 basis point change in interest rates would change 
the annual interest expense by $0.3 million (2012 – $nil).

(c) Foreign Currency Risk 
The Corporation is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations in relation to the working capital and long-term debt of its United 
States operations and certain long-term debt facilities of its Canadian operations. The Corporation has no significant exposures 
to foreign currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Corporation monitors its foreign currency exposure and attempts to minimize 
the impact by aligning appropriate levels of U.S. denominated debt with cash flows from U.S. based operations.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  81

 
The following financial instruments were denominated in U.S. dollars:

Cash

Accounts receivable

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Long-term liabilities, excluding long-term incentive plans

Net foreign currency exposure

Impact of $0.01 change in the U.S. dollar to Canadian dollar
  exchange rate on net earnings

Impact of $0.01 change in the U.S. dollar to Canadian dollar
  exchange rate on comprehensive income

2013

2012

Canadian 
Operations (1) 

U.S. 
Operations

Canadian 
Operations (1)

U.S. 
Operations

$

$

$

$

995

26

(13,385)

–

(12,364)

124

–

$

53,327 

$

39,693

$

61,515 

290,995

(180,626)

(16,770)

146,926 

– 

1,469

$

$

$

$

$

$

56

(13,028)

–

26,721

267

–

$

$

$

237,370

(184,593)

(17,909)

96,383 

– 

964

(1)  Excludes US$1,050 million of long-term debt that has been designated as a hedge of the Corporation’s net investment in certain self-sustaining foreign operations.

(d) Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk is the exposure of the Corporation to the risk of not being able to meet its financial obligations as they become due. 
The Corporation manages liquidity risk by monitoring and reviewing actual and forecasted cash flows to ensure there are available 
cash resources to meet these needs. The following are the contractual maturities of the Corporation’s financial liabilities as at 
December 31, 2013:

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Thereafter

Total

Long-term debt

$ 

– 

$ 

–

$ 

–

$ 

–

$ 

29,781

$ 1,316,780

$ 1,346,561

Interest on long-term debt (1)

Commitments

Total

87,176

    195,589

87,176

14,061

87,176

11,373

87,176

8,467

87,087

    170,394

    606,185

7,357

15,714

    252,561

$  282,765

$  101,237

$ 

98,549

$ 

95,643

$  124,225

$ 1,502,888

$ 2,205,307

(1)  Interest has been calculated based on debt balances, interest rates and foreign exchange rates in effect as at December 31, 2013 and excludes amortization of long-term debt 

issue costs.

Fair Values
The carrying value of cash, accounts receivable, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximates their fair value due to 
the relatively short period to maturity of the instruments. The fair value of the unsecured senior notes at December 31, 2013 was 
approximately $1,403 million (2012 – $1,330 million).

Financial assets and liabilities recorded or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated balance sheet are categorized based on 
the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. Hierarchical levels are based on the amount of 
subjectivity associated with the inputs in the fair determination and are as follows:

Level I—Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

Level II—Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level I) are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability 
through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument’s anticipated life.

Level III—Inputs reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability 
at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the 
inputs to the model.

The estimated fair value of unsecured senior notes is based on level II inputs. The fair value is estimated considering the risk free 
interest rates on government debt instruments of similar maturities, adjusted for estimated credit risk, industry risk and market 
risk premiums. 

82  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
NOTE 22. CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

The Corporation’s strategy is to carry a capital base to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence and to sustain future 
development of the business. The Corporation seeks to maintain a balance between the level of long-term debt and shareholders’ 
equity to ensure access to capital markets to fund growth and working capital given the cyclical nature of the oilfield services 
sector. The Corporation strives to maintain a conservative ratio of long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity. As at December 31, 
2013 and 2012 these ratios were as follows: 

Long-term debt

Shareholders’ equity

Total capitalization

Long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity ratio

$

$

2013

1,323,268

2,399,343

3,722,611

0.36

$

$

2012

1,218,796

2,171,300

3,390,096

0.36

As at December 31, 2013 liquidity remained sufficient as Precision had $80.6 million (2012 – $152.8 million) in cash and access 
to a US$850.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (2012 – US$850.0 million) and $82.5 million (2012 – $79.8 million) 
secured operating facilities. As at December 31, 2013, US$28 million (2012 – US $nil) was drawn on the US$850 million secured 
revolving  credit  facility  with  availability  further  reduced  by  US$28.6  million  (2012  –  US$26.8  million)  in  outstanding  letters  of 
credit. Availability of the $40 million and US$25 million secured operating facilities were reduced by outstanding letters of credit 
of  $17.3  million  (2012  –  $18.9  million)  and  US$0.2  million  (2012  –  US$  nil),  respectively.  There  was  no  amount  drawn  on  the 
US$15 million secured operating facility.

NOTE 23. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION 

Components of changes in non-cash working capital balances are as follows:

Accounts receivable

Inventory

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Pertaining to:

  Operations

Investments

The components of accounts receivable are as follows:

Trade

Accrued trade

Prepaids and other

2013

2012

(23,110) 

$

61,052 

1,658

(22,682)

(44,134) 

(33,887) 

(10,247) 

$

$

$

(6,707)

(111,333)

(56,988) 

36,474 

(93,462) 

$

$

$

$

2013

2012

$

314,448 

$

328,101 

152,768

82,481

125,035

56,411

$

549,697 

$

509,547 

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  83

 
 
The components of accounts payable and accrued liabilities are as follows:

Accounts payable

Accrued liabilities:

  Payroll

  Other

2013

2012

$

148,081 

$

146,234 

81,586

103,171

79,978

107,681

$

332,838 

$

333,893 

Precision  presents  expenses  in  the  consolidated  statement  of  earnings  by  function  with  the  exception  of  depreciation  and 
amortization and loss on asset decommissioning which are presented by nature. Operating expense and general and administrative 
expense would include $324.8 million and $8.3 million (2012 – $495.2 million and $4.8 million) respectively of depreciation and 
amortization and loss on asset decommissioning if the statements of earnings were presented purely by function. The following 
table presents operating and general and administrative expenses by nature:

Wages, salaries and benefits

Purchased materials, supplies and services

Share-based compensation

Allocated to:

  Operating expense

  General and administrative

2013

2012

$

773,901

$

795,243

589,394

27,849

1,391,144

1,248,637

142,507

1,391,144

$

$

$

556,103

18,603

1,369,949

1,243,301

126,648

1,369,949

$

$

$

NOTE 24. CONTINGENCIES AND GUARANTEES

The business and operations of the Corporation are complex and the Corporation has executed a number of significant financings, 
business combinations, acquisitions and dispositions over the course of its history. The computation of income taxes payable as 
a result of these transactions involves many complex factors as well as the Corporation’s interpretation of relevant tax legislation 
and regulations. The Corporation’s management believes that the provision for income tax is adequate and in accordance with 
IFRS and applicable legislation and regulations. However, there are tax filing positions that have been and can still be the subject 
of review by taxation authorities who may successfully challenge the Corporation’s interpretation of the applicable tax legislation 
and regulations, with the result that additional taxes could be payable by the Corporation and the amount owed, with estimated 
interest but without penalties, could be up to $58 million and is included in long-term income tax recoverable on the balance sheet. 

In June 2013 a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation lost a tax appeal in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice related to 
a  reassessment  of  Ontario  income  tax  for  the  subsidiary’s  2001  thru  2004  taxation  years.  The  Corporation  has  appealed  the 
decision to the Ontario Court of Appeal and expects this appeal to be heard in 2014. Despite the decision in the Superior Court, 
management believes it is more likely than not that the Corporation would prevail on appeal. Should the Corporation lose on 
appeal, approximately $55 million of the long-tern income tax recoverable related to this issue would be expensed.

The Corporation, through the performance of its services, product sales and business arrangements, is sometimes named as a 
defendant in litigation. The outcome of such claims against the Corporation is not determinable at this time; however, their ultimate 
resolution is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation. 

The Corporation has entered into agreements indemnifying certain parties primarily with respect to tax and specific third party 
claims associated with businesses sold by the Corporation. Due to the nature of the indemnifications, the maximum exposure 
under  these  agreements  cannot  be  estimated.  No  amounts  have  been  recorded  for  the  indemnities  as  the  Corporation’s 
obligations under them are not probable or estimable.

84  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 25. SUBSIDIARIES

Significant Subsidiaries

Precision Limited Partnership

Precision Drilling Canada Limited Partnership

Precision Diversified Oilfield Services Corp.

Precision Directional Services Ltd.

Precision Drilling (US) Corporation

Precision Drilling Company LP

Precision Completion & Production Services Ltd.

Precision Directional Services, Inc.

Grey Wolf Drilling Limited

Country of 
Incorporation

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

United States

United States

United States

United States

Cyprus

Ownership Interest

2013

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

2012

100 

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  85

 
Consolidated Statements of Earnings 

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009 (1)

$  2,029.9

$  2,040.7

$  1,951.0

$  1,429.7

$  1,197.4

1,248.6

1,243.3

1,131.0

142.5

126.6

124.9

886.8

108.0

434.9

210.1

–

224.8

–

692.2

98.2

407.0

138.0

82.1

186.9

–

695.1

251.5

114.9

328.7

–

(23.7)

(12.7)

(122.8)

111.6

240.8

47.3

193.5

211.3

26.2

(17.3)

43.5

147.4

162.3

0.6

161.7

638.8

333.1

–

305.7

–

(9.1)

93.3

221.5

30.3

191.2

670.8

307.5

192.5

170.8

52.5

3.8

86.8

27.7

(24.7)

52.4

$ 

$ 

0.69

0.66

$ 

$ 

0.19

0.18

$ 

$ 

0.70

0.67 

$ 

$ 

0.16

0.15

$ 

$ 

0.65

0.63

Years ended December 31,
(Stated in millions of Canadian dollars, except per unit/share amounts)

Revenue

Expenses:

  Operating

  General and administrative

Earnings before income taxes, finance charges, foreign exchange,  
impairment of goodwill, loss on asset decommissioning, and  

  depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA)

  Depreciation and amortization

  Loss on decommissioning

Operating earnings

Impairment of goodwill

Foreign exchange

Finance charges

Earnings before income taxes

Income taxes

Net earnings

Earnings per unit/share:

  Basic

  Diluted

(1)  2009 was prepared under previous Canadian GAAP.

86  Supplemental Information

 
 
Additional Selected Financial Information

Years ended December 31,
(Stated in millions of Canadian dollars, except per unit/share amounts)

Return on sales – % (2)

Return on assets – % (3)

Return on equity – % (4)

Working capital

Current ratio

PP&E and intangibles

Total assets

Long-term debt

Shareholders’ equity

Long-term debt to long-term debt plus equity

Interest coverage (5)

Net capital expenditures excluding business acquisitions

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA – % of revenue

Operating earnings

Operating earnings – % of revenue

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009 (1)

9.4

4.3

8.4

2.6

1.2

2.4

9.9

4.9

9.5

3.0

1.3

2.2

13.5

3.6

6.2

$ 

305.8

$ 

278.0

$ 

610.4

$ 

458.0

$ 

320.9

1.9

1.7

2.4

3.1

3.5

$  3,565.7

$  3,249.0

$  2,948.8

$  2,538.8

$  2,917.1

$  4,579.1

$  4,300.3

$  4,427.9

$  3,564.5

$  4,191.7

$  1,323.3

$  1,218.8

$  1,239.6

$ 

804.5

$ 

748.7

$  2,399.3

$  2,171.3

$  2,132.6

$  1,932.8

$  2,584.5

0.36

3.3

522.4

638.8

31.5

$ 

$ 

0.36

2.0

836.6

670.8

32.9

0.37

2.9

710.4

695.1

35.6

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

0.29

1.1

163.6

434.9

30.4

0.22

1.3

177.5

407.0

34.0

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

305.7

$ 

170.8

$ 

328.7

$ 

224.8

$ 

186.9

15.1

8.4

16.8

15.7

15.6

Cash flow from continuing operations

$ 

428.1

$ 

635.3

$ 

532.8

$ 

306.3

$ 

504.7

Cash flow from continuing operations per unit/share:

  Basic

  Diluted

Book value per unit/share (6)

Price earnings ratio (7)

$ 

$ 

$ 

1.54

1.49

8.22

$ 

$ 

$ 

2.30

2.22

7.85

$ 

$ 

$ 

1.93

1.85

7.72

$ 

$ 

$ 

1.11

1.07

7.01

$ 

$ 

$ 

2.02

1.94

9.38

14.41

43.26

15.00

41.74

11.77

Basic weighted average units/shares outstanding (000s)

277,583

276,276

275,899

275,655

249,925

(1) 2009 was prepared under previous Canadian GAAP.

(2) Return on sales was calculated by dividing earnings from continuing operations by total revenues.

(3) Return on assets was calculated by dividing net earnings by quarter average total assets.

(4) Return on equity was calculated by dividing net earnings by quarter average total shareholders’ equity.

(5) Interest coverage was calculated by dividing operating earnings by net interest expense.

(6) Book value per unit/share was calculated by dividing shareholders’ equity by shares outstanding.

(7) Price earnings ratio was calculated using year-end closing price divided by basic earnings per unit/share.

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  87

 
 
ACCOUNT QUESTIONS
Our transfer agent can help you 
with shareholder related services, 
including:
  change of address
 
 

lost share certificates
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person

  estate settlement.

Computershare Trust Company 
of Canada 
100 University Avenue, 
9th Floor, North Tower 
Toronto, Ontario, Canada 
M5J 2Y1 
Telephone: 1.800.564.6253 
(toll free in Canada and the United States)
1.514.982.7555 
(international direct dialing)
Email: service@computershare.com

Shareholder Information

STOCK EXCHANGE LISTINGS
Our shares are listed on the Toronto 
Stock Exchange under the trading 
symbol PD and on the New York 
Stock Exchange under the trading 
symbol PDS.

TRANSFER AGENT  
AND REGISTRAR
Computershare Trust Company  
of Canada
Calgary, Alberta

TRANSFER POINT
Computershare Trust Company NA
Denver, Colorado

2013 TRADING PROFILE

Toronto (TSX: PD)
High: $11.53
Low: $7.47
Close: $9.94
Volume Traded: 297,457,268

New York (NYSE: PDS)
High: US$11.21
Low: US$7.29
Close: US$9.37
Volume Traded: 288,801,100

ONLINE INFORMATION
To receive news releases by email, or 
to view this report online, please visit 
the Investor Relations section of our 
website at www.precisiondrilling.com.

You can find additional information 
about us, including our annual 
information form, 2013 annual report 
and management information circular, 
on our website as well as under our 
profile on the SEDAR website at 
www.sedar.com and on the EDGAR 
website at www.sec.gov.

PUBLISHED INFORMATION
Please contact us if you would like 
additional copies of this annual 
report, or copies of our 2013 annual 
information form as filed with the 
Canadian securities commissions 
and under Form 40-F with the 
U.S. Securities and Exchange 
Commission:

Investor Relations
Suite 800, 525 – 8th Avenue SW 
Calgary, Alberta, Canada 
T2P 1G1 
Telephone: 403.716.4500 

88  Shareholder Information

LEAD BANK
Royal Bank of Canada
Calgary, Alberta

AUDITORS
KPMG LLP
Calgary, Alberta

HEAD OFFICE
Suite 800, 525 – 8th Avenue SW 
Calgary, Alberta, Canada  
T2P 1G1 
Telephone: 403.716.4500 
Email: info@precisiondrilling.com
www.precisiondrilling.com 

Corporate Information

DIRECTORS
William T. Donovan1,2
North Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Brian J. Gibson1,2
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Allen R. Hagerman, FCA1,3
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Catherine Hughes2,3
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Stephen J. J. Letwin2,3
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Kevin O. Meyers2,3
Houston, Texas, USA

Patrick M. Murray1,3
Dallas, Texas, USA

Kevin A. Neveu
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Robert L. Phillips1,2,3
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

1.  Member of Audit Committee

2.   Member of Corporate Governance,  

Nominating and Risk Committee

3.   Member of Human Resources and  

Compensation Committee

OFFICERS
Kevin A. Neveu
President and 
Chief Executive Officer

Joanne L. Alexander
Senior Vice President, General 
Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Niels Espeland
President, International Operations

Douglas B. Evasiuk
Senior Vice President,
Sales and Marketing

Kenneth J. Haddad
Senior Vice President,
Business Development

Robert J. McNally
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Financial Officer

Darren J. Ruhr
Senior Vice President, 
Corporate Services

Gene C. Stahl
President, Drilling Operations

Douglas J. Strong
President, Completion and 
Production Services

Precision Drilling Corporation 2013 Annual Report  89

 
Precision Drilling Corporation 
Suite 800, 525 – 8th Avenue SW 
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 1G1 
Telephone: 403.716.4500 
Email: info@precisiondrilling.com
www.precisiondrilling.com 

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