BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES INC
S-1/A, 1997-10-30
OIL & GAS FIELD MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
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<PAGE>   1
 
   
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 30, 1997
    
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-34451
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------
   
                         PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 3
    
                                       TO
 
                                    FORM S-1
 
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                             ---------------------
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<C>                              <C>                              <C>
            DELAWARE
  (State or other jurisdiction                 1381                          73-1508021
      of incorporation or          (Primary Standard Industrial           (I.R.S. Employer
          organization)            Classification Code Number)          Identification No.)
</TABLE>
 
                     4005 NORTHWEST EXPRESSWAY, SUITE 550E
                         OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73116
                                 (405) 840-9550
              (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
       including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)
                             ---------------------
                                 JAMES E. BROWN
                     PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                     4005 NORTHWEST EXPRESSWAY, SUITE 550E
                         OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73116
                                 (405) 840-9550
                    (Name, address, including zip code, and
          telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                             ---------------------
                                   Copies to:
 
<TABLE>
<C>                                              <C>
                 DAVID G. MONK                               WILLIAM N. FINNEGAN, IV
             BAKER & BOTTS, L.L.P.                            ANDREWS & KURTH L.L.P.
                2001 ROSS AVENUE                          600 TRAVIS STREET, SUITE 4200
              DALLAS, TEXAS 75201                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
                 (214) 953-6500                                   (713) 220-4200
</TABLE>
 
                             ---------------------
     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
 
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box:  [ ]
 
     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering:  [ ]
- ------------------
 
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering:  [ ]
- ------------------
 
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering:  [ ]
- ------------------
 
     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box:  [ ]
                             ---------------------
 
   
     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
    
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
 
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
     MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
     BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
     THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
     SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
     UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
     OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
   
                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED OCTOBER 30, 1997
    
PROSPECTUS
          , 1997
 
                                9,200,000 SHARES
 
                   [BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC. LOGO]
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
   
     Of the 9,200,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common
Stock"), of Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc. ("Bayard" or the "Company")
offered hereby (the "Offering"), 4,000,000 shares are being sold by Bayard and
5,200,000 shares are being sold by certain stockholders of the Company (the
"Selling Stockholders"). The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from
the sale of shares of Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders pursuant to the
Offering. See "Use of Proceeds" and "Principal and Selling Stockholders."
    
 
     Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common
Stock. It is currently estimated that the initial offering price to the public
of the Common Stock will be between $20.00 and $22.00 per share. For information
relating to the factors considered in determining the initial offering price to
the public of the Common Stock, see "Underwriting."
 
     The Common Stock has been approved for listing on the American Stock
Exchange ("AMEX"), subject to official notice of issuance, under the symbol
"BDI."
 
      SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 11 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN
MATTERS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS.
 
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
   AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                               CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               PRICE           UNDERWRITING          PROCEEDS           PROCEEDS TO
                                              TO THE           DISCOUNTS AND          TO THE            THE SELLING
                                              PUBLIC          COMMISSIONS(1)        COMPANY(2)         STOCKHOLDERS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Per Share..............................          $                   $                   $                   $
Total(3)...............................          $                   $                   $                   $
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
(1) The Company and the Selling Stockholders have agreed to indemnify the
    Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
    Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). See
    "Underwriting."
   
(2) Before deducting expenses estimated at $1,200,000 which will be paid by the
    Company.
    
(3) The Company and certain of the Selling Stockholders have granted the
    Underwriters an option, exercisable within 30 days of the date hereof, to
    purchase up to 169,050 and 1,210,950 additional shares of Common Stock,
    respectively, at the Price to the Public less Underwriting Discounts and
    Commissions, solely to cover over-allotments, if any. If such option is
    exercised in full, the total Price to the Public, Underwriting Discounts and
    Commissions, Proceeds to the Company and Proceeds to the Selling
    Stockholders will be $          , $          , $          and $          ,
    respectively. See "Underwriting."
 
     The shares of Common Stock are being offered by the several Underwriters
when, as and if delivered to and accepted by the Underwriters against payment
therefor and subject to various prior conditions, including their right to
reject orders in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of share
certificates representing the Common Stock will be made in New York, New York on
or about             , 1997.
 
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
      SECURITIES CORPORATION
           LEHMAN BROTHERS
                      PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
                                 RAUSCHER PIERCE REFSNES, INC.
                                          RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.
<PAGE>   3
 
                          [MAP OF OPERATING LOCATIONS]
 
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THE OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS THAT
STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK.
SPECIFICALLY, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING
AND MAY BID FOR AND PURCHASE SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK IN THE OPEN MARKET. FOR
A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   4
 
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
   
     The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information and financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in
this Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, all information contained in this
Prospectus (i) assumes that the Underwriters' over-allotment option is not
exercised, (ii) reflects a two-for-one stock split effected by means of a stock
dividend to stockholders of record on August 22, 1997 and (iii) for the purposes
of operating data, fleet statistics, shares outstanding and, where specified,
operating results, gives pro forma effect to the October 16, 1997 acquisition
(the "Bonray Acquisition") of Bonray Drilling Corporation ("Bonray"), as
described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms "Bayard" and
the "Company" include Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc. and its predecessors
and subsidiaries.
    
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
   
     The Company is a leading provider of contract land drilling services to
major and independent oil and gas companies and operates the fifth largest land
drilling fleet in the United States. As of September 30, 1997, the Company's rig
fleet consisted of 54 rigs (including 13 rigs acquired in the Bonray
Acquisition), of which 48 were being marketed and six were to be refurbished and
expected to be placed in operation within the next 12 months. During the nine
months ended September 30, 1997, the Company experienced a utilization rate of
approximately 94% for its marketed rigs.
    
 
     The Company's fleet consists primarily of rigs capable of deep drilling
applications (well depths of 15,000 feet or greater). The Company believes that
deep rigs are in high demand due to improved deep drilling economics available
to domestic oil and gas companies. Deep drilling targets are more attractive to
oil and gas companies due to new technologies, including (i) three-dimensional
seismic techniques, (ii) increasingly accurate down hole measurement devices and
(iii) improved guidance systems and directional drilling motors for horizontal
and directional wells. Examples of currently active deep drilling areas include
the Tuscaloosa trend in Louisiana, the Pinnacle Reef trend in East Texas, the
Anadarko and Arkoma basins in Oklahoma and the Austin Chalk in Texas and
Louisiana.
 
     The Company's fleet includes 38 rigs capable of drilling to depths of
15,000 feet or greater, 25 of which are capable of drilling to depths of 20,000
feet or greater. Of these 38 rigs, 21 are diesel electric silicon controlled
rectifier ("SCR") rigs which offer operators superior control and efficiency,
particularly in deep, directional or horizontal applications. Of the five
largest domestic land drillers, the Company ranked first in average measured
depth per well drilled for the nine month period ended September 30, 1997.
 
   
     The Company's fleet is concentrated in its two core operating
regions -- the Mid-Continent region (which includes principally Oklahoma, North
Texas and the Texas Panhandle) and the Gulf Coast region of Texas and Louisiana.
At September 30, 1997, the Company had 35 rigs marketed in Oklahoma (including
11 of the rigs acquired in the Bonray Acquisition) and was the most active land
drilling contractor in the state. In 1996, 1,835 onshore wells were drilled in
Oklahoma, making it the third most active state for domestic onshore drilling.
The Company's rigs operating in the Mid-Continent region are generally capable
of drilling to depths of 10,000 feet or greater and are marketed by the Company
to meet the specific well depth and mobility needs of producers in that region.
At September 30, 1997, the Company had 13 rigs marketed in the Gulf Coast
region, including 11 diesel electric SCR rigs. This region is characterized by
significant drilling activity in deep, technically challenging formations for
which the Company's rigs are particularly well suited. The Company believes that
its high quality equipment, including diesel electric SCR rigs, powerful mud
pumps and high horsepower drawworks, gives the Company a competitive advantage
in attracting premium jobs with customers engaged in multi-well horizontal
drilling programs. In May 1997, one of the Company's rigs drilled a horizontal
well in the Gulf Coast region to a vertical depth of 18,700 feet before
initiating a horizontal lateral of 3,239 feet. The Company believes this to be
the deepest vertical depth at which a horizontal lateral has ever been
initiated.
    
 
     The Company was formed in December 1996 as the successor to Anadarko
Drilling Company ("Anadarko"), which owned ten rigs, including two rigs
requiring refurbishment. At the time of its formation,
                                        3
<PAGE>   5
 
the Company also purchased six rigs requiring refurbishment. Since that time,
the Company has aggressively pursued acquisitions of rigs and components, and
through October 16, 1997 had acquired 38 additional rigs (net of sales). Some of
these acquired rigs required refurbishment before the Company placed such rigs
in service. Many of the acquired and refurbished rigs were put into service in
May and June 1997, and therefore did not contribute significantly to operating
results through June 30, 1997. The Company expects these rigs to be operational
and to contribute to its profitability throughout the second half of 1997.
 
                               BUSINESS STRATEGY
 
     The Company believes that growth in earnings and cash flow can be achieved
by pursuing the following business strategy:
 
     Operating a Technologically Advanced Rig Fleet. The Company has assembled
its existing rig fleet, and will pursue further acquisitions, with the goal of
operating one of the most technologically sophisticated land drilling fleets in
the United States. Many of the Company's rigs include engines, pumps and
drilling mud systems that represent the best drilling technology available and
that the Company believes offer greater efficiencies for customers than many of
the rigs available from its competitors. For example, by deploying its diesel
electric SCR rigs with two or three high horsepower pumps and top drive drilling
systems in challenging deep and horizontal drilling situations, the Company
believes that it can reduce its customers' overall drilling costs, thus securing
and enhancing its relationships with some of the most active operators in the
domestic market. The Company is committed to making the capital investments
required to maintain, and in appropriate circumstances, increase the
technological sophistication and operational efficiencies of its fleet.
 
     Developing Deep Drilling Capabilities. The Company believes demand has been
particularly strong for rigs capable of drilling deeper, more complex wells,
including 1,500 horsepower and larger rigs, and has focused, and will continue
to focus, on acquiring rigs with these capabilities. Management believes that
demand and utilization rates for these types of rigs, particularly SCR rigs,
will remain higher than for rigs with lesser depth capacities due to their
greater operational flexibility and efficiency. At September 30, 1997, 70% of
the Company's rig fleet had deep drilling capability (15,000 feet or greater).
In the nine months ended September 30, 1997, the Company's average depth per
well drilled was 13,016 feet, compared to the national average of 7,100 feet.
 
     Focusing on Core Markets. The Company believes that its strong asset
position and operating expertise in the Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast regions
enable it to achieve operating efficiencies and to provide premium service to
its customers in these markets. The Company is the largest provider of drilling
rigs in Oklahoma and is among the largest operators of deep rigs in the onshore
Gulf Coast region.
 
     Developing and Maintaining Relationships with Strong Operators. In order to
maximize the utilization rate of its rig fleet and to minimize exposure to
market downturns, the Company seeks to maintain and build relationships with
operators committed to active domestic drilling programs. The Company's largest
current customers include Apache Corporation, Chesapeake Energy Corporation,
Enron Oil and Gas Company, Marathon Oil Company, Sonat Exploration Company and
Union Pacific Resources Corporation. Each of these companies was among the most
active onshore operators in the United States during the last three years.
During the six months ended June 30, 1997 (pro forma for the Consolidation
Transactions, as hereinafter defined), the three largest customers for the
Company's contract drilling services were Chesapeake Energy Corporation,
Marathon Oil Company and Sonat Exploration Company, which accounted for
approximately 22%, 10% and 6% of total revenues, respectively.
 
     Acquiring and Refurbishing Additional Rigs and Related Equipment. The
Company intends to continue acquiring additional rigs and related equipment,
including top drive drilling systems. Additionally, the Company has experience
in the acquisition of component parts from which rigs can be assembled or
refurbished and intends to continue to seek opportunities for the expansion and
enhancement of its rig fleet by such means. Since its formation and through
October 16, 1997, the Company has acquired 38 land rigs (net of sales) in eight
transactions. At June 30, 1997, after giving effect to the application of the
proceeds of the Offering, the Company would have had a total debt to total
capitalization ratio of 8.8% and cash of
                                        4
<PAGE>   6
 
$52.7 million, positioning the Company with the strong balance sheet needed to
be an active acquiror of rigs and components.
 
                    DOMESTIC LAND DRILLING INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
 
     The land drilling industry is experiencing higher utilization, increasing
day rates and improved financial performance as a result of a long-term decline
in the supply of rigs and increased demand for rigs attributable to improved oil
and gas industry fundamentals. Industry sources estimate that from its peak in
1982, the supply of domestic land rigs had fallen by 72% through October 1997 as
a result of normal attrition, cannibalization of components to refurbish rigs,
the inability of smaller competitors to raise capital needed to upgrade and
modernize rigs and the export of rigs to international markets. Greater demand
in the industry is evidenced by the increase in the active domestic land rig
count to 1,032 in September 1997 from 790 in September 1996, according to data
published by Baker Hughes Incorporated. The Company believes that the domestic
land drilling industry is currently experiencing utilization rates of
approximately 86% for actively marketed rigs. While these market conditions have
led to increasing day rates in the Company's core areas, the Company does not
believe that such rates have reached levels that would justify the construction
of new rigs.
 
     Beyond the diminished size of the rig fleet, the domestic land drilling
industry is also benefitting from improved fundamentals among domestic oil and
gas exploration and production companies. In particular, new technologies and
improved operating efficiencies have increased drilling success rates, lowered
finding costs and enhanced the industry's profitability recently as compared to
the late 1980's and early 1990's. In addition, the financial positions of many
domestic oil and gas companies, and their access to additional capital, have
improved in recent years, affording these companies the ability to fund
aggressive drilling programs. From 1992 to 1996, the total equity market
capitalization of 35 of the largest domestic exploration and production
companies grew from approximately $255 billion to approximately $465 billion and
their aggregate annual capital expenditures increased from $10.5 billion to
$16.5 billion. The Company believes that these improved industry fundamentals
have allowed oil and gas companies to maintain more consistently active drilling
programs, even in periods of lower commodity prices.
 
     Much of the new technology being employed in the oil and gas industry has
increased demand for rigs capable of drilling deeper wells efficiently and
accurately. For example, more sophisticated and longer life drilling motors and
measurement-while-drilling devices have made deep horizontal drilling less
expensive and more precise. Three-dimensional seismic techniques have also
increased the demand for deep rigs. This technology permits geoscientists to
develop a more complete understanding of deep, complex geology prior to drilling
a well. As shallower fields continue to deplete, oil and gas companies are
likely to continue to pursue deep drilling prospects to maintain or increase
their production levels. While demand for land rigs capable of drilling greater
than 15,000 feet has grown significantly, the supply of such rigs is limited,
contributing to rapid increases in day rates for rigs with these capabilities.
 
     Driven by expectations of improved economic returns and the fundamentals
discussed above, the domestic land drilling industry has experienced a period of
significant consolidation. In 1996, approximately 33% of the footage drilled in
the United States was drilled by only five contractors, down from 25 in 1993.
This consolidation is ongoing, and the Company believes that approximately 26
transactions involving the acquisition of approximately 404 domestic land rigs
have been announced from September 1996 through September 1997, including
acquisitions by the Company.
                                        5
<PAGE>   7
 
                           FORMATION AND ACQUISITIONS
 
     Formation Transactions. The Company was formed in December 1996 through a
series of affiliated entity transactions in which the Company became the
successor to Anadarko, the contract drilling subsidiary of privately held AnSon
Partners Limited Partnership (together with its affiliates, "APLP"). In
connection with the formation of the Company (i) APLP contributed ten drilling
rigs, including two rigs requiring refurbishment, for shares of Common Stock,
(ii) Roy T. Oliver and related entities and Energy Spectrum Partners LP ("Energy
Spectrum") exchanged six additional drilling rigs and cash, respectively, for
shares of Common Stock and (iii) Chesapeake Energy Corporation ("Chesapeake")
entered into drilling contracts with two-year terms for six of the Company's
rigs in consideration for an option to purchase shares of Common Stock
(together, the "Formation Transactions"). See "Business -- Formation and
Acquisitions." Since the Formation Transactions, the Company has enhanced its
original fleet through acquisitions and refurbishment of rigs as described
below.
 
     Trend Acquisition. In May 1997, the Company completed the acquisition of
Trend Drilling Co. ("Trend") for $18 million in cash and 250,000 shares of
Common Stock (the "Trend Acquisition"). Trend has operated a land drilling
business in the Mid-Continent region since 1976. Of the 14 rigs acquired from
Trend, three are diesel electric SCR rigs and seven have depth capacities of
15,000 feet or greater. The Company retained substantially all of Trend's
operating personnel.
 
     Ward Acquisition. Also in May 1997, the Company acquired the assets of Ward
Drilling Company, Inc. ("Ward") for $8 million in cash, 400,000 shares of Common
Stock and warrants to purchase an additional 200,000 shares of Common Stock (the
"Ward Acquisition"). Ward has operated a land drilling business in the
Mid-Continent region since 1981. In the Ward Acquisition, the Company acquired
six drilling rigs, including three rigs with depth capacities of 15,000 feet or
greater, further enhancing its presence in the Mid-Continent region. The Company
retained substantially all of Ward's operating personnel.
 
   
     Bonray Acquisition. In October 1997, the Company acquired Bonray for
3,015,000 shares of Common Stock. Bonray has operated a land drilling business
in the Mid-Continent region since 1980 and prior to its acquisition by the
Company was a wholly owned subsidiary of DLB Oil & Gas, Inc. ("DLB"). In the
Bonray Acquisition, the Company acquired 13 rigs, including seven rigs with
depth capacities of 15,000 feet or greater and two diesel electric SCR rigs. As
of September 30, 1997, 12 of Bonray's rigs were operating and under contract and
one was awaiting refurbishment. The Bonray Acquisition further strengthens the
Company's presence in the Mid-Continent region, making it the most active
driller in the Oklahoma market. The Company expects to retain substantially all
of Bonray's operating personnel.
    
 
     Individual Rig Acquisitions. In addition to the Trend, Ward and Bonray
Acquisitions, the Company has invested $5.5 million to acquire six rigs in five
transactions involving purchases of individual rigs or rig components (the
"Individual Rig Acquisitions" and, together with the Formation Transactions, the
Trend Acquisition, the Ward Acquisition and the Bonray Acquisition, the
"Consolidation Transactions").
 
     Refurbishment. The Consolidation Transactions included a number of rigs in
need of refurbishment. From January 1, 1997 through September 30, 1997, the
Company completed refurbishment of 12 rigs at an average cost of approximately
$2.6 million per rig (including drill pipe). These rigs were placed in service
at various dates between January and September 30, 1997. At September 30, 1997,
the Company had six additional rigs in various stages of refurbishment. The
Company expects to place three of such rigs in service during the fourth quarter
of 1997, two in the first quarter of 1998 and one in the second half of 1998.
The Company expects the cost to refurbish these six rigs to average
approximately $3.5 million per rig (including drill pipe).
 
     The Company's principal executive offices are located at 4005 Northwest
Expressway, Suite 550E, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73116, and its telephone number
at such offices is (405) 840-9550.
                                        6
<PAGE>   8
 
                             RIG FLEET INFORMATION
 
   
     The following table sets forth, as of September 30, 1997, certain
information with respect to the drilling rigs owned by the Company. This table
includes information for the 48 rigs marketed at September 30, 1997 (12 of which
were acquired in the Bonray Acquisition) and the six rigs to be refurbished and
expected to be placed in operation within the next 12 months (one of which was
acquired in the Bonray Acquisition). See "Business -- Drilling Equipment and
Supplies."
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  DEPTH CAPACITY (FEET)                    SCR    MECHANICAL    TOTAL
<S>                                                        <C>    <C>           <C>
GULF COAST REGION
  15,000 to 19,999.......................................   1          1          2
  20,000 or greater......................................  13          1         14
MID-CONTINENT REGION
  7,000 to 9,999.........................................   0          1          1
  10,000 to 14,999.......................................   0         15         15
  15,000 to 19,999.......................................   2          9         11
  20,000 or greater......................................   5          6         11
                                                           --         --         --
          TOTALS.........................................  21         33         54
                                                           ==         ==         ==
</TABLE>
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
   
     An investment in the Common Stock offered hereby involves a high degree of
risk. Significant risk factors that should be considered by prospective
investors include, but are not limited to, the following:
    
 
   
     - Inclusion in this Prospectus of forward looking information which may
prove inaccurate
    
   
     - Dependency on the oil and gas industry
    
   
     - Cyclical conditions in the contract drilling industry
    
   
     - Limited operating history of the Company
    
   
     - Risks inherent in the management of growth and an acquisition strategy
    
   
     - Current shortage of qualified and experienced labor
    
   
     - Competition
    
   
     - Concentration of the Company's customer base
    
   
     - Operating hazards and uninsured risks
    
   
     - Current shortage of drilling equipment and supplies
    
   
     - Capital requirements and liquidity
    
   
     - The Company's reliance on key personnel
    
   
     - Control by existing management and stockholders and the existence of a
       voting agreement among certain stockholders
    
   
     - Governmental regulation and environmental matters
    
   
     - Risks associated with footage and turnkey drilling
    
   
     - Absence of a prior public market for the Common Stock
    
   
     - Shares eligible for future sale
    
   
     - Dilution in the net tangible book value of shares of the Common Stock
    
   
     - Superior rights of preferred stock issuable by the Company
    
   
     - Effects of certain anti-takeover provisions applicable to the Company
    
 
   
See "Risk Factors" for a discussion of these matters.
    
                                        7
<PAGE>   9
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
Common Stock Offered:
  By the Company.............................  4,000,000 shares
  By the Selling Stockholders................  5,200,000 shares
          Total..............................  9,200,000 shares
Common Stock to be Outstanding
  after the Offering.........................  17,947,000 shares(1)
Use of Proceeds..............................  The net proceeds to the Company from the
                                               Offering will be used for the repayment of
                                               indebtedness, the modification and upgrade of
                                               drilling rigs and other general corporate
                                               purposes, including acquisitions of drilling
                                               rigs and related equipment (including top
                                               drives). The Company will not receive any of
                                               the proceeds from the sale of shares by the
                                               Selling Stockholders. See "Use of Proceeds."
AMEX Symbol..................................  "BDI"
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Does not include (i) 741,100 shares of Common Stock subject to issuance
    pursuant to outstanding options awarded under the Company's 1997 Stock
    Option and Stock Award Plan (the "Employee Stock Plan"), (ii) 60,000 shares
    of Common Stock subject to issuance pursuant to options to be granted
    contemporaneously with the consummation of the Offering under the Company's
    1997 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Director Stock Plan")
    or (iii) 412,000 shares of Common Stock subject to issuance pursuant to
    other outstanding warrants issued by the Company. See "Use of Proceeds,"
    "Management -- 1997 Stock Option and Stock Award Plan" and "Certain
    Relationships and Related Transactions." Further, this does not include
    shares of Common Stock that may be issued, solely at the option of the
    Company, to redeem outstanding Subordinated Notes (as defined in
    "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
    Operations"). See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions -- Certain
    Financing Arrangements -- Common Stock and Subordinated Notes."
                                        8
<PAGE>   10
 
                        SUMMARY HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA
                   CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
 
     The following table sets forth summary historical financial and operating
data for the Company for each of the years in the three year period ended
December 31, 1996, for the six months ended June 30, 1996 and 1997, and as of
December 31, 1996 and June 30, 1997. The financial results for the period ended
and as of June 30, 1997 include the results of the Company's consolidated
subsidiary, Trend, beginning May 1, 1997. The Company's historical results
reflect the operations of its predecessor, Anadarko. The consolidated financial
data for the six months ended June 30, 1996 and 1997 is derived from the
unaudited financial statements of the Company. In the opinion of management, the
financial data for the six months ended June 30, 1996 and 1997 reflects all
adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a
fair presentation of such data.
 
     The pro forma consolidated financial and operating data for the year ended
December 31, 1996 and the six months ended June 30, 1997 shown below give effect
to (i) the Consolidation Transactions (to the extent not already reflected in
the historical financial statements), (ii) the Chesapeake Transactions (as
described in "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions -- Chesapeake
Transactions"), (iii) the exercise by The CIT Group/Equipment Financing, Inc.
("CIT") of a warrant for 150,000 shares of Common Stock (the "CIT Exercise"),
and (iv) the Offering and the application of the net proceeds to the Company
therefrom as if they occurred on January 1, 1996 for purposes of operations data
and June 30, 1997 for purposes of balance sheet data. The following information
should be read together with Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations, the historical financial statements of
Bayard, Trend, Ward and Bonray, including the notes thereto, and the Pro Forma
Consolidated Financial Data, including the notes thereto, included elsewhere in
this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
                                       ----------------------------------------   ----------------------------------
                                        1994      1995       1996       1996         1996         1997       1997
                                                HISTORICAL            PRO FORMA         HISTORICAL         PRO FORMA
                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
                                                  (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE, RIG AND DAY RATE DATA)
<S>                                    <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>         <C>           <C>        <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Total revenues.......................  $ 9,910   $ 7,708   $  9,853    $47,952      $ 4,301     $ 15,107    $35,309
                                       -------   -------   --------    -------      -------     --------    -------
Operating expenses:
  Drilling and other.................    8,572     6,122      7,699     38,073        3,268       10,897     26,065
  Depreciation and amortization......    1,557       791      1,126      7,866          415        2,645      6,022
  General and administrative.........      786       880        658      3,636          323          734      2,057
                                       -------   -------   --------    -------      -------     --------    -------
        Total operating expenses.....   10,915     7,793      9,483     49,575        4,006       14,276     34,144
                                       -------   -------   --------    -------      -------     --------    -------
Operating income (loss)..............   (1,005)      (85)       370     (1,623)         295          831      1,165
Interest expense and financing
  cost...............................      (18)       (3)       (11)      (821)          --         (982)      (860)
Other income (expense)...............      366      (134)        71        601           36          119        139
                                       -------   -------   --------    -------      -------     --------    -------
Income (loss) before income taxes....     (657)     (222)       430     (1,843)         331          (32)       444
Income tax expense(1)................       --        --        163         --          126          (12)       169
                                       -------   -------   --------    -------      -------     --------    -------
Net income (loss)....................  $  (657)  $  (222)  $    267    $(1,843)     $   205     $    (20)   $   275
                                       =======   =======   ========    =======      =======     ========    =======
Earnings per share (primary and fully
  diluted)...........................                      $    .02    $  (.11)     $   .01     $      0    $   .02
                                                           ========    =======      =======     ========    =======
Weighted average shares outstanding
  (fully diluted)(2).................                        14,397     16,592       14,397       14,397     16,592
                                                           ========    =======      =======     ========    =======
CASH FLOWS:
  Operating activities...............  $   445   $   310   $   (462)                $   (70)    $  1,029
  Investing activities...............     (454)   (1,710)   (10,441)                 (3,142)     (59,265)
  Financing activities...............        9     1,400     15,866                   3,212      (53,513)
</TABLE>
 
                         (continued on following page)
                                        9
<PAGE>   11
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DECEMBER 31,
                                                                  1996             JUNE 30, 1997
                                                              ------------    -----------------------
                                                               HISTORICAL     HISTORICAL    PRO FORMA
                                                                          (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>             <C>           <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash and investments......................................    $ 4,963        $    970     $ 52,696
  Working capital (deficit), excluding current portion of
    long-term debt..........................................      4,974          (1,277)      51,634
  Property, plant and equipment, net........................     26,973          92,658      127,634
  Total assets..............................................     34,673         113,172      210,559
  Long-term debt, including current portion.................      7,000          48,371       16,009
  Total stockholders' equity(3).............................     26,251          44,813      165,062
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
                                           ----------------------------------------   ----------------------------------
                                            1994      1995       1996       1996         1996         1997       1997
                                                    HISTORICAL            PRO FORMA         HISTORICAL         PRO FORMA
                                                                                      (UNAUDITED)
                                                      (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE, RIG AND DAY RATE DATA)
<S>                                        <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>         <C>           <C>        <C>
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
  EBITDA(4)..............................  $   552   $   706   $  1,496    $ 6,243        $   710   $  3,476    $ 7,187
  Capital expenditures...................    1,183     2,088     10,578                     3,224     67,936
DRILLING RIG ACTIVITY DATA:
  Total rigs at end of period............        7         8         17         54              8         41         54
  Marketed rigs at end of period.........        7         8          8         34              8         34         46
  Average utilization rate of drilling
    rigs available for service(5)........       84%       86%        88%                       87%        97%
  Average dayrate(6).....................  $ 4,148   $ 4,298   $  4,731                   $ 4,550   $  5,450
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Income tax expense is presented on a pro forma basis (assuming a 38%
    statutory rate) for the year ended December 31, 1996 and for the six months
    ended June 30, 1996.
 
(2) Historical weighted average shares outstanding is calculated using the fully
    diluted shares outstanding through October 16, 1997 for the year ended
    December 31, 1996 and the six months ended June 30, 1996 and 1997. The pro
    forma shares outstanding reflect the sale of a sufficient number of shares
    in the Offering to retire certain indebtedness of the Company as described
    in "Use of Proceeds." See footnote (g) to "Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma
    Consolidated Financial Data."
 
(3) No dividends were declared through June 30, 1997. See "Dividend Policy."
 
(4) EBITDA represents operating income (loss) before depreciation and
    amortization. EBITDA is frequently used by securities analysts and is
    presented herein to provide additional information about the Company's
    operations. EBITDA is not a measurement presented in accordance with
    generally accepted accounting principles. EBITDA should not be considered in
    isolation or as a substitute for net income or cash flow data prepared in
    accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or as a measure of
    a company's profitability or liquidity.
 
(5) Rig utilization rates are calculated on a weighted average basis assuming
    365 days availability for all rigs available for service. Rigs acquired have
    been treated as added to the rig fleet as of the date of acquisition. Rigs
    under contract that generate revenues during moves between locations or
    during mobilization/ demobilization are also considered to be utilized. Rigs
    that are owned but not being marketed, including rigs being refurbished, are
    not considered in determining the utilization rate.
 
(6) Represents total contract drilling revenues (excluding mobilization, cost
    reimbursements and fuel), divided by the total number of days the Company's
    drilling rig fleet operated during the period, divided by the average number
    of rigs in operation.
                                       10
<PAGE>   12
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     An investment in the Common Stock offered hereby involves a high degree of
risk. Prospective investors should carefully consider and evaluate the following
factors relating to the Company and the Offering, together with the information
and financial data set forth elsewhere in this Prospectus, prior to purchasing
any shares of Common Stock in the Offering.
 
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION MAY PROVE INACCURATE
 
     This Prospectus contains forward-looking statements and information that
are based on the beliefs of the Company's management as well as assumptions made
by and information currently available to management. All statements other than
statements of historical fact included in this Prospectus are forward-looking
statements, including but not limited to statements identified by the words
"anticipate," "believe," "estimate" and "expect" and similar expressions. Such
statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events,
based on what it believes are reasonable assumptions; however, such statements
are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including but not
limited to the risk factors described in this Prospectus. Should one or more of
these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those in the forward-looking
statements. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking
statements and information.
 
DEPENDENCE ON OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
 
     The Company's revenues, cash flows and earnings are substantially dependent
upon, and affected by, the level of domestic oil and gas exploration and
development activity. Such activity and the resulting level of demand for
contract land drilling and related services are directly influenced by many
factors over which the Company has no control. Such factors include, among
others, the market prices of oil and gas, market expectations about future
prices, the volatility of such prices, the cost of producing and delivering oil
and gas, government regulations and trade restrictions, local and international
political and economic conditions, levels of production by, and other activities
of, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil and gas
producers, the development of alternate energy sources and the long-term effects
of worldwide energy conservation measures. Substantial uncertainty exists as to
the future level of oil and gas exploration and development activity. There can
be no assurance that the current level of oil and gas exploration and
development activity will be maintained or that demand for the Company's
contract drilling services will reflect the level of such activity.
 
CYCLICAL CONDITIONS
 
     Historically, the contract drilling industry has been cyclical, with
significant volatility in profitability and rig values. This industry
cyclicality has been due to changes in the level of domestic oil and gas
exploration and development activity and the available supply of drilling rigs.
The market for contract land drilling services has generally been depressed
since 1982, when oil and gas prices began to weaken following a period of
significant increase in new drilling rig capacity. Since that time and except
during occasional upturns, there have been substantially more drilling rigs
available than necessary to meet demand in most operating and geographic
segments of the domestic drilling industry, including the geographic areas in
which the Company operates.
 
     The contract drilling business is currently experiencing increased demand
for drilling services principally due to improved oil and gas drilling and
production economics and a continued reduction in the available supply of rigs
in the domestic land drilling market. Although the Company believes that
improved technologies and stable oil and gas prices have contributed to
increased activity in the exploration and production sector, there can be no
assurance that such factors will continue. In addition, ongoing movement or
reactivation of land drilling rigs (including the movement of rigs from outside
the United States into domestic markets) or new construction of drilling rigs
could increase rig supply and adversely affect contract drilling rates and
utilization levels. The Company cannot predict the future level of demand for
its contract drilling services, future conditions in the contract drilling
industry or future contract drilling rates.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   13
 
LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY
 
     The Company was founded in December 1996 as the successor to Anadarko,
which had operated as a contract land drilling rig service company since 1982 in
Oklahoma. Although Anadarko was owned by and provided drilling services to APLP
prior to December 1996, Anadarko had also provided drilling services to 23
different third party customers between 1982 and December 1996. Prior to
December 1996, however, the Company had not operated as an independent entity.
Although the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company had been
employed by Anadarko for 14 years and several other key employees of the Company
had been with Anadarko for extended periods, much of the Company's management
group has been assembled recently. Despite the extensive experience and
qualifications of many of the recently added individual managers, there can be
no assurance that the management group will be able to manage the stand-alone
entity as a cohesive team or to implement effectively the Company's business
strategy. The pro forma financial results presented herein include the operating
results of drilling rigs which were not under the Company's control and may not
be indicative of the Company's future operating results.
 
MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH; RISKS OF ACQUISITION STRATEGY
 
     The Company has experienced rapid and substantial growth since its
formation as a result of acquisitions. The Company anticipates the further
expansion of the Company's drilling fleet through additional acquisitions.
Certain risks are inherent in an acquisition strategy, such as increasing
leverage and debt service requirements and combining disparate company cultures,
which could adversely affect the Company's operating results. Continued growth
and the process of integrating such acquired businesses may involve unforeseen
difficulties and may require a disproportionate amount of management's attention
and the Company's financial and other resources. No assurance can be given that
the Company will be able to continue to identify suitable acquisition
opportunities, negotiate acceptable terms, obtain financing for acquisitions on
satisfactory terms or successfully acquire identified targets. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to successfully manage and integrate the
acquired businesses and assets into its existing operations or that it will be
able to successfully maintain the market share attributable to operable drilling
rigs acquired by the Company. If the Company is unable to manage its growth and
successfully integrate the acquired businesses into the Company's existing
operations, or if the Company encounters unexpected costs or liabilities in the
acquired businesses, the Company's results of operations or financial condition
could be materially adversely affected. See "Business -- Business Strategy."
 
     Competition in the market for drilling rigs has caused substantial
increases in the acquisition prices paid for rigs in recent months. Such
competition could adversely affect the Company's growth strategy if it is unable
to purchase additional drilling rigs or related equipment on favorable terms.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully
in the future for acquisitions of available drilling rigs or related equipment,
or that such competition will not have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED LABOR
 
     Increases in both onshore and offshore domestic oil and gas exploration and
production since 1995 and resultant increases in contract drilling activity have
created a shortage of qualified drilling rig personnel in the industry. If the
Company is unable to attract and retain sufficient qualified operating
personnel, its ability to market and operate its drilling rigs will be
restricted. In addition, labor shortages could result in wage increases, which
could reduce the Company's operating margins and have a material adverse effect
on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
 
COMPETITION
 
     The contract drilling industry is a highly competitive and fragmented
business characterized by high capital and maintenance costs. As a result, even
though the Company has the fifth largest active land drilling rig fleet in the
United States, the Company believes such fleet represents a market share of
approximately 6% of the domestic land drilling industry. Drilling contracts are
usually awarded through a competitive bid process
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   14
 
and, while the Company believes that operators consider factors such as quality
of service, type and location of equipment, or the ability to provide ancillary
services, price and rig availability are the primary factors in determining
which contractor is awarded a job. Certain of the Company's competitors have
greater financial and human resources than the Company, which may enable them to
better withstand periods of low rig utilization, to compete more effectively on
the basis of price and technology, to build new rigs or acquire existing rigs
and to provide rigs more quickly than the Company in periods of high rig
utilization.
 
CONCENTRATION OF CUSTOMER BASE
 
     During the six months ended June 30, 1997 (pro forma for the Consolidation
Transactions), the three largest customers for the Company's contract drilling
services were Chesapeake, Marathon Oil Company and Sonat Exploration Company,
which accounted for approximately 22%, 10% and 6% of total revenues,
respectively. Chesapeake recently announced that it was reducing its drilling
program in the Gulf Coast region, an area in which it utilizes a number of the
Company's rigs. While the Company does not currently expect its rigs operating
for Chesapeake to be affected, and believes that it could successfully remarket
any rigs that might be affected in the future, there can be no assurance that
Chesapeake or any of the Company's other principal customers will continue to
employ the Company's services or that the loss of any of such customers or
adverse developments affecting any of such customers would not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
 
OPERATING HAZARDS AND UNINSURED RISKS
 
     The Company's operations are subject to many hazards inherent in the land
drilling business, including, for example, blowouts, cratering, fires,
explosions, loss of well control, loss of hole, damaged or lost drill strings
and damage or loss from inclement weather. These hazards could cause personal
injury or death, serious damage to or destruction of property and equipment,
suspension of drilling operations, or substantial damage to the environment,
including damage to producing formations and surrounding areas. Generally,
drilling contracts provide for the division of responsibilities between a
drilling company and its customer, and the Company seeks to obtain
indemnification from its customers by contract for certain of these risks. To
the extent not transferred to customers by contract, the Company seeks
protection against certain of these risks through insurance. Although the
Company believes that it is adequately insured for public liability and property
damage to others and injury or death to persons in accordance with industry
standards with respect to its operations, no assurance can be given that such
insurance will be sufficient to protect the Company against liability for all
consequences of well disasters, personal injury, extensive fire damage or damage
to the environment. No assurance can be given that the Company will be able to
maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates it considers reasonable or
that any particular types of coverage will be available. The occurrence of
events, including any of the above-mentioned risks and hazards, that are not
fully insured or the failure of a customer to meet its indemnification
obligations could subject the Company to significant liability and could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of
operations. See "Business -- Operating Hazards and Insurance."
 
SHORTAGE OF DRILLING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
 
     There is a general shortage of certain drilling equipment and supplies used
in the Company's business and the Company believes these shortages may
intensify. Because, until recent years, the land drilling industry was
characterized by an oversupply of land rigs, rig manufacturers have generally
focused on the production of more expensive offshore rigs and rig equipment. As
a result, most rig manufacturers are not currently building new land rigs and
those manufacturers that are building new land rigs and components charge
premium prices (approximately $13 million for a new 2,000 horsepower rig) and
require that orders be placed at least 120 days in advance of requested
delivery. The limited availability of new rigs and equipment has caused land rig
owners and operators, including the Company, to maintain and enhance their
fleets primarily through acquisitions and refurbishments using previously
manufactured rig components and equipment. As the land drilling industry
continues to refurbish rigs using existing components and equipment, the
available supply of such components and equipment continues to deplete.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   15
 
     The Company requires a substantial amount of drill pipe in order to achieve
the drilling depths required by its customers. A shortage of drill pipe exists
in the contract drilling industry in the United States. This shortage has caused
the price of drill pipe to increase by more than 54% over the past 24 months and
has required orders for new drill pipe to be placed at least one year in advance
of expected use. The price increase and the delay in delivery has caused the
Company to increase capital expenditures for drill pipe in recent months by 110%
of its original budget. While the Company believes it currently has sufficient
drill pipe for its existing rigs (including those rigs in refurbishment), in the
event the shortage continues, the Company may be unable to obtain the drill pipe
required to expand its contract drilling operations.
 
CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND LIQUIDITY
 
     The oil and gas contract drilling industry is capital intensive. The
Company's cash flow from operations and the continued availability of credit are
subject to a number of variables, including the Company's utilization rate,
operating margins and ability to maintain costs and obtain contracts in a
competitive industry. There can be no assurance that the Company's cash flow
from operations, proceeds from the Offering and present borrowing capacity will
be sufficient to fund its anticipated capital expenditures and working capital
requirements. The Company may from time to time seek additional financing,
either in the form of bank borrowings, sales of the Company's debt or equity
securities or otherwise. Except with respect to the Offering and the Company's
loan agreements with its lenders, the Company has no agreements for any such
financing and there can be no assurance as to the availability or terms of any
such financing. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations -- Financial Condition and Liquidity." To the extent
the Company's capital resources and cash flow from operations are at any time
insufficient to fund its activities or repay its indebtedness as due, the
Company will need to raise additional funds through public or private financings
or additional borrowings. No assurance can be given as to the Company's ability
to obtain any such capital resources. If the Company is at any time not able to
obtain the necessary capital resources, its financial condition and results of
operations could be materially adversely affected. In the event that additional
funds are raised through the issuance of equity securities, the percentage
ownership of the Company's stockholders at that time would be diluted and, in
addition, such equity securities may have rights, preferences or privileges
senior to those of the Common Stock.
 
RELIANCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
 
     The success of the Company's business is highly dependent upon the
services, efforts and abilities of James E. Brown, the Company's President and
Chief Executive Officer and certain other officers and key employees,
particularly Edward S. Jacob, III, the Company's Executive Vice
President -- Operations & Marketing, David E. Grose, the Company's Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer, and Ron Tyson, the Company's Construction
Manager. The business of the Company could be materially and adversely affected
by the loss of any of these individuals. The Company does not maintain key man
life insurance on the lives of any of its executive officers or key employees.
The Company has employment agreements with Messrs. Brown, Jacob and Grose. See
"Management -- Executive Salaries and Employment Agreements."
 
CONTROL BY EXISTING MANAGEMENT AND STOCKHOLDERS; VOTING AGREEMENT AMONG CERTAIN
STOCKHOLDERS
 
     Following the completion of the Offering, the Company's directors,
executive officers and holders of more than 5% of the Common Stock will
beneficially own approximately 35.4% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(33.6% if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full). In
addition, holders of approximately 32.8% of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (31.1% if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full)
will be party to a stockholders and voting agreement (the "Stockholders and
Voting Agreement") with the Company that provides for, among other things, the
nomination of certain individuals for election to the Board of Directors of the
Company (the "Board"). Pursuant to the Stockholders and Voting Agreement, each
of APLP, Energy Spectrum and DLB will be entitled to nominate one person for
election to the Board, subject to maintaining certain ownership thresholds. Each
of APLP, Energy Spectrum, DLB, Carl B. Anderson, III, Continental Illinois
Property Company #3 and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
("DLJ") will be obligated to vote all of their shares of Common Stock for the
election of such nominees. Accordingly, if such stockholders were to act in
concert, they would be able to nominate up to three members of the Board and
exercise significant influence over the Company's affairs. The Stockholders
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   16
 
and Voting Agreement also requires that any transferee of stock from a party
thereto (other than sales into the public market) be bound by the terms thereof
as a condition precedent to such transfer. See "Principal and Selling
Stockholders" and "Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions -- Stockholders and Voting Agreement."
 
GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
 
     The domestic oil and gas industry is affected from time to time in varying
degrees by political developments and federal, state and local laws and
regulations. In particular, oil and gas production, operations and economics are
or have been affected by price controls, taxes and other laws relating to the
oil and gas industry, by changes in such laws and by changes in administrative
regulations. Except for the handling of solid wastes directly generated from the
operation and maintenance of the Company's drilling rigs, such as waste oils and
wash water, it is the Company's practice to require its customers to
contractually assume responsibility for compliance with environmental
regulations. However, the Company's operations are vulnerable to certain risks
arising from the numerous environmental health and safety laws and regulations.
These laws and regulations may restrict the types, quantities and concentration
of various substances that can be released into the environment in connection
with drilling activities, require reporting of the storage, use or release of
certain chemicals and hazardous substances, require removal or cleanup of
contamination under certain circumstances, and impose substantial civil
liabilities or criminal penalties. Environmental laws and regulations may impose
strict liability, rendering a person liable for environmental damage without
regard to negligence or fault, and could expose the Company to liability for the
conduct of, or conditions caused by, others, or for acts of the Company that
were in compliance with all applicable laws at the time such acts were
performed. Moreover, there has been a trend in recent years toward stricter
standards in environmental, health and safety legislation and regulation which
is likely to continue.
 
     The Company has made and will continue to make expenditures to comply with
governmental regulations, including environmental, health and safety
requirements. As part of the Bonray Acquisition, the Company acquired an
equipment yard which may require certain expenditures or remedial actions for
the removal or cleanup of contamination. In exchange for a $1 million cash
payment to the Company at closing, the Company did not require DLB to indemnify
the Company with respect to such expenditures or remedial actions. While the
Company has not yet had an opportunity to review whether and to what extent such
expenditures or remedial actions may be necessary or advisable, based on the
presently available information, the Company does not believe that such
expenditures will exceed $1 million. There can be no assurance, however, that
the Company will not incur material liability with respect to this property or
any of the Company's other properties or operations. The Company cannot predict
how existing laws and regulations may be interpreted by enforcement agencies or
court rulings, whether additional laws and regulations will be adopted, or the
effect such changes may have on the Company's business, financial condition or
results of operations. Because the requirements imposed by such laws and
regulations are subject to change, the Company is unable to forecast the
ultimate cost of compliance with such requirements. The modification of existing
laws and regulations or the adoption of new laws or regulations curtailing
exploratory or development drilling for oil and gas for economic, political,
environmental or other reasons could have a material adverse effect on the
Company by limiting drilling opportunities. See "Business -- Government
Regulation and Environmental Matters."
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH FOOTAGE AND TURNKEY DRILLING
 
     The Company in the past has performed drilling services under footage and
turnkey contracts and may enter into such arrangements in the future. Revenues
from footage contracts accounted for approximately 6% of total revenues during
the six months ended June 30, 1997 and the Company had no turnkey contracts
during such period. Under footage contracts, the Company is paid a fixed amount
for each foot drilled, regardless of the time required or the problems
encountered in drilling the well. Under turnkey drilling contracts, the Company
contracts to drill a well to an agreed depth under specified conditions for a
fixed price, regardless of the time required or the problems encountered in
drilling the well. In addition, the Company provides technical expertise and
engineering services, as well as most of the equipment required for the well,
and is compensated only when the contract terms have been satisfied. On a
turnkey well, the Company often subcontracts for related services and manages
the drilling process. The risks to the Company under footage
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   17
 
and turnkey contracts are substantially greater than under daywork contracts
because the Company assumes most of the risks associated with drilling
operations that in a daywork contract are generally assumed by the operator,
including risk of blowout, loss of hole, stuck drill pipe, machinery breakdowns,
abnormal drilling conditions and risks associated with subcontractors' services,
supplies, cost escalation and personnel. While the Company's current strategy is
to operate primarily under daywork contracts, management continually analyzes
market conditions, customer requirements, rig demand and the experience of its
personnel to determine how to most profitably contract its fleet. If the Company
were to encounter less favorable conditions within its industry, competitive
pressures and customer demands might require it to consider entering into a
larger number of footage and turnkey drilling contracts. Accordingly, there can
be no assurance that the Company will not suffer a loss that is not insured as a
result of entering into such contracts, and any such uninsured loss could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's financial position and results of
operations. See "Business -- Contract Drilling Operations."
 
ABSENCE OF A PRIOR PUBLIC MARKET FOR THE COMMON STOCK
 
     Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common
Stock. Although the Common Stock has been approved for listing on the AMEX,
subject to official notice of issuance, there can be no assurance that an active
public market for the Common Stock will develop or be sustained or that the
price at which the Common Stock will trade after the Offering will not be lower
than the initial public offering price. The initial public offering price of the
Common Stock in the Offering will be determined through negotiations between the
Company and the Representatives. See "Underwriting." Market prices for the
Common Stock following the Offering will be influenced by a number of factors,
including the depth and liquidity of the market for the Common Stock, investor
perceptions of the Company and general economic and other conditions.
 
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
     Future sales of shares of Common Stock by the Company or its existing
stockholders could adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock. Upon
completion of the Offering, the Company will have 17,947,000 shares of Common
Stock outstanding (18,116,050 shares if the Underwriters' over-allotment option
is exercised in full). Additionally, as of October 10, 1997, (i) options for the
purchase of 741,000 shares of Common Stock (including options for 300,000 shares
to be priced at the initial public offering price) had been granted to certain
employees of the Company pursuant to the Employee Stock Plan, (ii) options for
the purchase of 60,000 shares of Common Stock (all to be priced at the initial
public offering price) were subject to grant contemporaneously with the
consummation of the Offering to certain non-employee directors of the Company
pursuant to the Director Stock Plan and (iii) 412,000 shares of Common Stock
were subject to outstanding warrants issued by the Company. Except for the
options for 360,000 shares to be priced at the initial public offering price,
the exercise prices of these options and warrants are substantially lower than
the anticipated initial public offering price of the Common Stock. In addition,
certain outstanding Subordinated Notes are convertible, solely at the Company's
option, into shares of Common Stock. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital
Resources" and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions -- Certain
Financing Arrangements -- Common Stock and Subordinated Notes."
 
     The Company may in the future issue significant amounts of Common Stock or
options or warrants to acquire Common Stock under stock option plans or to
finance capital projects, including acquisitions of rigs and related equipment.
Of the outstanding shares, the 9,200,000 shares (10,580,000 shares if the
Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) to be sold in the
Offering will be freely tradeable without restrictions or further registration
under the Securities Act, except for shares purchased by an "affiliate" (as
defined in the Securities Act) of the Company. Following the expiration of the
lock-up agreements with the Underwriters, each of the Company's directors and
executive officers and each of its existing stockholders, who will hold upon
completion of the Offering an aggregate of approximately 48.7% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (41.6% if the Underwriters' over-allotment
option is exercised in full), may sell such shares subject to the requirements
of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or pursuant to the terms of a registration
rights agreement. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" and
"Shares
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   18
 
   
Eligible for Future Sale." The Company is also a party to two registration
rights agreements pursuant to which it has granted demand and piggyback
registration rights which, upon consummation of the Offering, will cover an
aggregate of 9,387,521 shares of Common Stock and Common Stock Equivalents. The
beneficiaries of these agreements include Chesapeake, Energy Spectrum, APLP, the
Oliver Companies and certain of their affiliates, Ward and certain of its
transferees, DLB, DLJ, Carl B. Anderson, III, a trust of which Harold G. Hamm is
trustee, James E. Brown, Edward S. Jacob, III and David E. Grose. The terms of
these agreements prohibit the exercise of such registration rights for a period
of 180 days following the date of the Offering, subject to certain exceptions,
including granting DLB the ability to distribute its shares of Common Stock to
its shareholders. Additionally, the Company intends to file registration
statements on Form S-8 covering the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant
to the Employee Stock Plan and the Director Stock Plan (collectively, the
"Company Stock Plans") within 180 days after completion of the Offering.
Accordingly, shares of Common Stock registered pursuant to the Company's
registration rights agreements or issued pursuant to the Company Stock Plans
will be available for sale in the public market without restriction or
limitation under the Securities Act, except for any shares held by an
"affiliate" of the Company. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any,
that future sales of shares, the issuance or exercise of options, warrants or
other securities convertible into Common Stock, or the availability of shares
for sale will have on the market price for Common Stock prevailing from time to
time. Sales of a substantial amount of Common Stock, or a perception that such
sales could occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of the
Common Stock and could impair the Company's ability to raise additional capital
through the sale of equity securities.
    
 
DILUTION
 
     Purchasers of the Common Stock in the Offering will experience immediate
and significant dilution in the net tangible book value of their shares. Based
on an initial public offering price of $21.00 per share, pro forma as of June
30, 1997, such dilution would have been equal to $11.80 per share with respect
to shares purchased pursuant to the Offering. See "Dilution."
 
SUPERIOR RIGHTS OF PREFERRED STOCK
 
     The Company is authorized to issue preferred stock. The Board, without
stockholder approval, may issue shares of the preferred stock with rights and
preferences adverse to the voting power or other rights of the holders of the
Common Stock. No preferred stock has been issued. See "Description of Capital
Stock -- Preferred Stock."
 
EFFECTS OF CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
 
     The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the
"Certificate") (i) contains a "fair price" provision, (ii) does not permit
stockholders to act by written consent, (iii) does not permit stockholders to
call special meetings of stockholders, (iv) requires certain procedures to be
followed and time periods to be met for any stockholder to propose matters to be
considered at annual meetings of stockholders, including nominating directors
for election at those meetings, (v) limits the ability of stockholders to
interfere with the power of the Board in other specified ways, (vi) requires
supermajority votes to amend any of the preceding provisions and (vii)
authorizes the Board to issue up to 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock without
stockholder approval and to set the rights, preferences, and other designations,
including voting rights, of those shares as the Board may determine. See
"Description of Capital Stock -- Certain Provisions of the Certificate and
Bylaws." These provisions, alone or in combination with each other, may
discourage, hinder, delay or prevent transactions involving actual or potential
changes of control of the Company, including transactions that otherwise could
involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices to holders of Common
Stock. The Company is also subject to provisions of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "DGCL") that may make some business combinations more
difficult. See "Description of Capital Stock -- Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute."
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   19
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     The net proceeds to be received by the Company from the Offering, after
deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated expenses of
the Offering (assuming an initial public offering price of $21.00 per share, the
mid-point of the range set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus), are
expected to be approximately $77.1 million.
 
     The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to (i) repay
all amounts outstanding under the revolving loan facility between Fleet Capital
Corporation ("Fleet") and the Company (the "Revolving Loan"), which amount was
$7.9 million at September 30, 1997 and which facility will remain available for
future use by the Company, (ii) redeem in full, through a cash payment of $17.4
million (assuming an offering price at the mid-point of the range set forth on
the cover page of this Prospectus), the Subordinated Notes of the Company held
by Chesapeake, (iii) repay 50% of the amount outstanding under the $30.5 million
term loan facility between the Company, CIT and Fleet (the "Term Loan"), which
amount was $28.5 million at September 30, 1997 and which may not be repaid until
January 1998, (iv) make a cash payment to CIT of $750,000 (assuming an offering
price at the mid-point of the range set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus) in connection with the CIT Exercise, (v) modify, upgrade and
refurbish drilling rigs and equipment currently owned by the Company at an
estimated cost of between $16 million and $18 million and (vi) fund working
capital and for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions of additional
drilling rigs and related equipment (including approximately $3.5 million for
the purchase of three top drives). See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital
Resources" and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions -- Chesapeake
Transactions." Pending such uses, the net proceeds will be invested in
short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.
 
     Amounts outstanding under the Revolving Loan bear interest based on Fleet's
prime rate and mature in April 2000. Amounts outstanding under the Term Loan
bear interest, at the election of the Company, at floating rates based upon
Chase Manhattan Bank's prime rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR")
and mature in March 2002. At September 30, 1997, the applicable interest rates
under the Revolving Loan and the Term Loan were 10% and 9.95%, respectively. The
Subordinated Notes to be redeemed from Chesapeake were issued by the Company in
May 1997 in an original principal amount of $18 million, mature on May 1, 2003
and bear interest at the option of the Company at either (i) 11% per annum,
payable in cash, or (ii) 12.875% per annum, payable in the form of additional
Subordinated Notes. See "Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions -- Certain Financing Arrangements."
 
     The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Common
Stock by the Selling Stockholders. See "Principal and Selling Stockholders."
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
     The Company currently intends to retain all available earnings generated by
its operations for the development and growth of its business and does not
anticipate paying any cash dividends on its Common Stock in the foreseeable
future. Future dividend policy will be made by the Board and will depend on a
number of factors, including the Company's earnings, capital requirements,
financial condition and business prospects and such other factors as the Board
may deem relevant. The payment of cash dividends on Common Stock is restricted
under the terms of the Term Loan and the Revolving Loan. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   20
 
                                    DILUTION
 
     The pro forma net tangible book value of the Company at June 30, 1997
(adjusted to reflect the issuance of shares pursuant to the Bonray Acquisition,
the Chesapeake Transactions and the CIT Exercise as if they occurred on June 30,
1997) was $92.6 million or $6.64 per share. After giving effect to the sale by
the Company of 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock in the Offering (at the
mid-point of the range set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus), the
adjusted net tangible book value of the Company at June 30, 1997 would have been
$165.1 million or $9.20 per share. This represents an immediate increase in net
tangible book value of $2.56 per share to the Company's existing stockholders
and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $11.80 per share to new
investors purchasing Common Stock in the Offering. The following table
illustrates the dilution to new investors purchasing shares in the Offering:
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>      <C>
Assumed initial public offering price per share.............           $21.00
  Pro forma net tangible book value per share at June 30,
     1997...................................................  $6.64
  Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable
     to new investors.......................................   2.56
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after the
  Offering..................................................             9.20
                                                                       ------
Dilution in net tangible book value per share to new
  investors.................................................           $11.80
                                                                       ======
</TABLE>
    
 
     The following table sets forth, at June 30, 1997 (adjusted to reflect the
issuance of shares pursuant to the Bonray Acquisition, the Chesapeake
Transactions and the CIT Exercise as if they occurred on June 30, 1997), the
differences in the number of shares purchased, the consideration paid and the
average price per share paid to the Company by the existing stockholders and by
investors purchasing shares of Common Stock in the Offering (assuming an initial
public offering price at the mid-point of the range set forth on the cover page
of this Prospectus, no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option and
before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering
expenses).
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          SHARES PURCHASED   TOTAL CONSIDERATION     AVERAGE
                                          ----------------   --------------------   PRICE PER
 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)    NUMBER   PERCENT    AMOUNT     PERCENT      SHARE
<S>                                       <C>      <C>       <C>         <C>        <C>
Existing stockholders(1)................  13,947     77.7%    $ 92,608      52.4%    $ 6.64
New investors(1)........................  4,000      22.3       84,000      47.6      21.00
                                          ------    -----     --------     -----
          Total.........................  17,947    100.0%    $176,608     100.0%
                                          ======    =====     ========     =====
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) The net effect of sales by the Selling Stockholders in the Offering will
    reduce the number of shares held by existing stockholders to 8,747,000 or
    49% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding after the
    Offering, and will increase the number of shares held by new investors to
    9,200,000 or 51% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
    after the Offering.
 
     The preceding tables exclude the effects of (i) 741,000 shares of Common
Stock subject to issuance pursuant to outstanding options awarded under the
Employee Stock Plan, (ii) 60,000 shares of Common Stock subject to issuance
pursuant to options to be granted contemporaneously with the consummation of the
Offering under the Director Stock Plan and (iii) 412,000 shares of Common Stock
subject to issuance pursuant to other outstanding warrants issued by the
Company. See "Management -- 1997 Stock Option and Stock Award Plan," "-- 1997
Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan" and "Certain Relationships and
Related Transactions." Further, these tables do not include shares of Common
Stock that may be issued, solely at the option of the Company, to redeem
outstanding Subordinated Notes for shares of Common Stock. See "Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions -- Certain Financing
Arrangements -- Common Stock and Subordinated Notes." If all of the outstanding
options and warrants were exercised immediately prior to completion of the
Offering, the immediate dilution in net tangible book value to new investors
purchasing Common Stock in the Offering would have been $12.39 per share instead
of $11.80 per share.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   21
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
     The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company at June
30, 1997 (i) on an historical basis and (ii) on an as adjusted basis after
giving effect to the issuance of shares pursuant to the Bonray Acquisition, the
Chesapeake Transactions and the CIT Exercise and the Offering and the
application of the net proceeds therefrom. The table should be read in
conjunction with "Use of Proceeds," "Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Data,"
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and related
notes included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    JUNE 30, 1997
                                                              -------------------------
                                                              HISTORICAL    AS ADJUSTED
                                                                   (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>           <C>
Cash and investments........................................   $   970       $ 52,696
                                                               =======       ========
 
Current portion of long-term debt...........................   $12,869       $  1,015
                                                               -------       --------
Long-term debt:
  Term Loan.................................................    18,894         12,954(1)
  Subordinated Notes........................................    16,608          2,040(1)
                                                               -------       --------
          Total long-term debt..............................    35,502         14,994
                                                               -------       --------
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per
     share; no shares outstanding...........................        --             --
  Common Stock, par value $.01 per
     share; 7,490,000 shares outstanding, historical; and
     17,947,000 shares outstanding as adjusted(2)...........        75            179
  Additional paid-in capital................................    44,792        167,198
  Accumulated deficit.......................................       (54)        (2,315)
                                                               -------       --------
          Total stockholders' equity........................    44,813        165,062
                                                               -------       --------
          Total capitalization..............................   $93,184       $181,071
                                                               =======       ========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the Offering
    to repay (i) all amounts outstanding under the Revolving Loan, (ii) the
    portion of the Subordinated Notes held by Chesapeake and (iii) 50% of the
    amount outstanding under the Term Loan. As of September 30, 1997, $7.9
    million was outstanding under the Revolving Loan, $18 million was
    outstanding under the Subordinated Notes held by Chesapeake and $28.5
    million was outstanding under the Term Loan. See "Use of Proceeds,"
    "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
    Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources" and "Certain Relationships
    and Related Transactions -- Chesapeake Transactions."
 
(2) Does not include (i) 741,000 shares of Common Stock subject to issuance
    pursuant to outstanding options awarded under the Employee Stock Plan, (ii)
    60,000 shares of Common Stock subject to issuance pursuant to options to be
    granted contemporaneously with the consummation of the Offering under the
    Director Stock Plan or (iii) 412,000 shares of Common Stock subject to
    issuance pursuant to outstanding warrants issued by the Company. See
    "Management -- 1997 Stock Option and Stock Award Plan," "-- 1997
    Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan" and "Certain Relationships and
    Related Transactions."
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   22
 
                     PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
     The following unaudited pro forma financial statements are derived from the
historical financial statements of Bayard, Trend, Ward and Bonray included
elsewhere in this Prospectus. The Pro Forma Combined Statements of Operations
for the six months ended June 30, 1997 and for the year ended December 31, 1996
reflect (a) in the column entitled "combined," (i) the Trend Acquisition
(acquired on May 1, 1997 and accounted for as a purchase), (ii) the Ward
Acquisition (acquired on May 30, 1997 and accounted for as a purchase), (iii)
the Bonray Acquisition (acquired on October 16, 1997 and accounted for as a
purchase) and (iv) the May Financing related to the Trend and Ward acquisitions
and (b) in the column entitled "as adjusted," the consummation of, and
application of proceeds from, the Offering as if it occurred on January 1, 1996.
The Pro Forma Balance Sheet at June 30, 1997 reflects the consummation of, and
application of proceeds from, the Chesapeake Transactions, the CIT Exercise, the
Bonray Acquisition and the Offering as if they had occurred on June 30, 1997.
The unaudited pro forma combined financial information should be read in
conjunction with the notes thereto and the historical financial statements of
Bayard, Trend, Ward and Bonray, including the notes thereto, which are included
elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
     The unaudited pro forma combined financial statements do not purport to be
indicative of the results of operations that would actually have occurred if the
transactions described had occurred as presented in such statements or that may
occur in the future. In addition, future results may vary significantly from the
results reflected in such statements due to general economic conditions, oil and
gas commodity prices, the demand and prices for contract drilling services,
changes in the number of rigs available for service, the Company's ability to
successfully integrate the operations of Trend, Ward and Bonray with its current
business and several other factors, many of which are beyond the Company's
control. See "Risk Factors."
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   23
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
              UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
                    (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           HISTORICAL                                     PRO FORMA
                            ----------------------------------------   -----------------------------------------------
                                                                       ACQUISITION               OFFERING        AS
                            BAYARD    TREND(A)   WARD(A)   BONRAY(A)   ADJUSTMENTS   COMBINED   ADJUSTMENTS   ADJUSTED
<S>                         <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>         <C>           <C>        <C>           <C>
 
REVENUES..................  $ 9,853   $15,692    $11,385    $11,022      $    --     $47,952      $   --      $47,952
                            -------   -------    -------    -------      -------     -------      ------      -------
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
  Drilling costs..........    7,653    11,752      9,891      8,731           --      38,027          --       38,027
  Depreciation and
     amortization.........    1,126     1,603        966      1,229        1,893(b)    7,866          --        7,866
                                                                           1,049(c)
  General and
     administrative.......      658     1,647        485        846                    3,636          --        3,636
  Other operating.........       46        --         --         --           --          46          --           46
                            -------   -------    -------    -------      -------     -------      ------      -------
          Total costs and
            expenses......    9,483    15,002     11,342     10,806        2,942      49,575          --       49,575
                            -------   -------    -------    -------      -------     -------      ------      -------
          Operating
            income........      370       690         43        216       (2,942)     (1,623)         --       (1,623)
                            -------   -------    -------    -------      -------     -------      ------      -------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Interest income.........       --         8         34         72           --         114          --          114
  Interest expense and
     financing costs......      (11)     (261)       (72)      (128)      (2,928)(d)  (3,400)      2,579(h)      (821)
  Gain (loss) on sale of
     assets...............       54     2,055          8        (29)      (1,738)(e)     350          --          350
  Other...................       17        53         67         --           --         137          --          137
                            -------   -------    -------    -------      -------     -------      ------      -------
          Total other
            income
            (expense).....       60     1,855         37        (85)      (4,666)     (2,799)      2,579         (220)
                            -------   -------    -------    -------      -------     -------      ------      -------
Income (loss) before
  taxes...................      430     2,545         80        131       (7,608)     (4,422)      2,579       (1,843)
Income tax expense
  (benefit)...............       17       981         --         10       (1,008)(f)      --          --           --
                            -------   -------    -------    -------      -------     -------      ------      -------
Net income (loss).........  $   413   $ 1,564    $    80    $   121      $(6,600)    $(4,422)     $2,579      $(1,843)
                            =======   =======    =======    =======      =======     =======      ======      =======
Earnings per share,
  primary and fully
  diluted.................  $  0.03                                                  $ (0.31)                 $ (0.11)
                            =======                                                  =======                  =======
Weighted average shares
  outstanding, primary and
  fully diluted(g)........   14,397                                                   14,397                   16,592
                            =======                                                  =======                  =======
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of these pro forma financial
                                  statements.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   24
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
              UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                         SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               HISTORICAL                                           PRO FORMA
                           ---------------------------------------------------   -----------------------------------------------
                             BAYARD      TREND(A)       WARD(A)     BONRAY(A)
                           SIX MONTHS   FOUR MONTHS   FIVE MONTHS   SIX MONTHS
                             ENDED         ENDED         ENDED        ENDED
                            JUNE 30,     APRIL 30,      MAY 31,      JUNE 30,    ACQUISITION               OFFERING        AS
                              1997         1997          1997          1997      ADJUSTMENTS   COMBINED   ADJUSTMENTS   ADJUSTED
<S>                        <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>        <C>           <C>
 
REVENUES.................   $15,107       $6,390        $4,957        $8,855       $    --     $35,309      $   --      $35,309
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
  Drilling costs.........    10,897        4,845         3,914         6,409            --      26,065          --       26,065
  Depreciation and
    amortization.........     2,645          627           413         1,047           765(b)    6,022          --        6,022
                                                                                       525(c)
  General and
    administrative.......       734          515           197           611            --       2,057          --        2,057
                            -------       ------        ------        ------       -------     -------      ------      -------
      Total costs and
         expenses........    14,276        5,987         4,524         8,067         1,290      34,144          --       34,144
                            -------       ------        ------        ------       -------     -------      ------      -------
      Operating income...       831          403           433           788        (1,290)      1,165          --        1,165
                            -------       ------        ------        ------       -------     -------      ------      -------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Interest income........        51           --            16            --            --          67          --           67
  Interest expense and
    financing costs......      (982)         (47)          (27)          (35)       (1,464)(d)  (2,555)      1,695(h)      (860)
  Gain (loss) on sale of
    assets...............        60           --            --            --            --          60          --           60
  Other..................         8           --            31           (27)           --          12          --           12
                            -------       ------        ------        ------       -------     -------      ------      -------
      Total other income
         (expense).......      (863)         (47)           20           (62)       (1,464)     (2,416)      1,695         (721)
                            -------       ------        ------        ------       -------     -------      ------      -------
Income (loss) before
  taxes..................       (32)         356           453           726        (2,754)     (1,251)      1,695          444
                            -------       ------        ------        ------       -------     -------      ------      -------
Income tax expense
  (benefit)..............       (12)         135            --           336          (459)(f)      --         169(i)       169
                            -------       ------        ------        ------       -------     -------      ------      -------
Net income (loss)........   $   (20)      $  221        $  453        $  390       $(2,295)    $(1,251)     $1,526      $   275
                            =======       ======        ======        ======       =======     =======      ======      =======
Earning per share,
  primary and fully
  diluted................   $   .00                                                            $  (.09)                 $   .02
                            =======                                                            =======                  =======
Weighted average shares
  outstanding, primary
  and fully diluted(g)...    14,937                                                             14,397                   16,592
                            =======                                                            =======                  =======
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of these pro forma financial
                                  statements.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   25
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                   UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
                              AS OF JUNE 30, 1997
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
                                     ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    HISTORICAL                   PRO FORMA
                                               --------------------    -----------------------------
                                               BAYARD(1)    BONRAY      ADJUSTMENTS      AS ADJUSTED
<S>                                            <C>          <C>        <C>               <C>
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and investments.......................   $    970    $   167       $ 51,559(j)     $ 52,696
  Accounts receivable........................     10,517      4,190                         14,707
  Other......................................        559        234                            793
                                                --------    -------       --------        --------
          Total current assets...............     12,046      4,591         51,559          68,196
Property & Equipment, net....................     92,658     18,243         16,733(k)      127,634
Goodwill, net................................      6,402         --          6,261(k)       12,663
Other........................................      2,066         --             --           2,066
                                                --------    -------       --------        --------
          Total assets.......................   $113,172    $22,834       $ 74,553        $210,559
                                                ========    =======       ========        ========
 
                                LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Accounts payable...........................   $  9,632    $ 1,435       $     --        $ 11,067
  Accrued liabilities........................      3,691      1,804             --           5,495
  Current portion of long-term debt..........     12,869        494        (12,348)(j)       1,015
                                                --------    -------       --------        --------
          Total current liabilities..........     26,192      3,733        (12,348)         17,577
                                                --------    -------       --------        --------
Long-term debt...............................     18,894         74         (6,014)(j)      12,954
                                                --------    -------       --------        --------
Subordinated Notes...........................     16,608         --        (14,568)(j)       2,040
                                                --------    -------       --------        --------
Deferred income tax liabilities..............      6,665      1,781          4,480(k)       12,926
                                                --------    -------       --------        --------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Common stock...............................         75        424             74(j)          179
                                                                              (394)(k)          --
  Additional paid-in capital.................     44,792     16,379         86,676(j)      167,198
                                                                            19,351(k)           --
  Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)....        (54)       443         (2,261)(j)      (2,315)
                                                                              (443)(k)          --
                                                --------    -------       --------        --------
          Total stockholders' equity.........     44,813     17,246        103,003         165,062
                                                --------    -------       --------        --------
          Total liabilities and stockholders'
            equity...........................   $113,172    $22,834       $ 74,553        $210,559
                                                ========    =======       ========        ========
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of these pro forma financial
                                  statements.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   26
 
            NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
                             (TABLES IN THOUSANDS)
 
(a)  Represents the results of operations for Ward, Trend and Bonray prior to
     their acquisition by Bayard. Operations subsequent to the date of purchase
     of each of Ward and Trend, May 1 and May 30, 1997, respectively, are
     included in the Bayard historical results.
 
(b)  To adjust depreciation expense on assets acquired in the Trend, Ward and
     Bonray Acquisitions using allocated purchase prices and based on estimated
     useful lives of 12 years calculated on a straight-line basis.
 
(c)  To record amortization of goodwill attributable to the Trend and Bonray
     Acquisitions over 12 years on a straight-line basis.
 
(d)  To reflect the addition of interest expense on an aggregate principal
     amount of $20.5 million of Subordinated Notes issued in the May Financing
     with an original issue discount of $4 million.
 
(e)  To eliminate the gain recognized by Trend on a rig sold to Bayard in
     December 1996, prior to the Trend Acquisition in May 1997.
 
(f)  To eliminate income tax expense recognized by Bayard, Trend and Bonray to
     conform to the Company's pro forma income tax position.
 
(g)  Calculations of weighted average shares outstanding are based upon the
     following:
 
<TABLE>
    <S>                                                           <C>
    Shares outstanding at June 30, 1997.........................   7,490
    Energy Spectrum warrant exercise............................      98
    Chesapeake Transactions.....................................   3,194
    CIT Exercise................................................     150
    Bonray Acquisition..........................................   3,015
                                                                  ------
    Shares to be outstanding immediately prior to Offering......  13,947
    Common Stock Equivalents (treasury stock method)............     450
                                                                  ------
    Historical and combined fully diluted shares outstanding....  14,397
    Shares issued in the Offering to the extent necessary to
      repay the Subordinated Notes, the Term Loan and the
      Revolving Loan............................................   2,195
                                                                  ------
    Pro forma shares outstanding................................  16,592
                                                                  ======
</TABLE>
 
(h)  To eliminate pro forma and historical interest expense based on the assumed
     repayment of debt as set forth in Note (j) as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               DECEMBER 31, 1996                      JUNE 30, 1997
                                       ---------------------------------    ---------------------------------
                                                  PERCENTAGE                           PERCENTAGE
                                       INCURRED    REPAID*     PRO FORMA    INCURRED    REPAID*     PRO FORMA
 <S>                                   <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>
      Revolving Loan (historical)....   $    0      100.0%      $    0       $   56      100.0%      $   56
      Term Loan (historical).........       22       50.0%          11          710       50.0%         355
      Subordinated Notes (pro
        forma).......................    2,928       87.7%       2,568        1,464       87.7%       1,284
                                        ------                  ------       ------                  ------
                                        $2,950                  $2,579       $2,230                  $1,695
                                        ======                  ======       ======                  ======
</TABLE>
 
     * Represents the percentage of debt to be repaid from proceeds of the
       Offering.
 
(i)   To record a provision for federal and state income tax at the statutory
      rate of 38%.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   27
 
(j)   To adjust for the Chesapeake Transactions and the CIT Exercise
      (collectively, the "Stockholder Exercises"), the Offering and the
      application of the net proceeds therefrom, as more completely described
      under the caption "Use of Proceeds" herein:
 
<TABLE>
    <S>                                                 <C>          <C>          <C>
    Net proceeds from the Offering.............................................   $77,120
    Stockholder Exercises......................................................    12,031
                                                                                  -------
                                                                                   89,151
                                                                                  -------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      BALANCE AT
                                                       JUNE 30,    PERCENTAGE
                                                         1997        REPAID
    <S>                                               <C>          <C>            <C>
    Less debt retired --
      Term Loan.....................................   $23,102        50.0%        11,551
      Revolving Loan................................     6,811       100.0%         6,811
      Subordinated Notes............................    16,608        87.7%(1)     14,568
                                                       -------                    -------
                                                       $46,521                     32,930
      Additional amount to be paid to Chesapeake upon debt
         retirement as a result of an assumed Offering price of $21.00 per
         share...............................................................       2,400
      Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt.....................       2,262(2)
                                                                                  -------
                                                                                   37,592
                                                                                  -------
      Net adjustment to cash.................................................     $51,559
                                                                                  =======
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
     (1) Represents repayment of Chesapeake's percentage of the Subordinated
         Notes ($18 million/ $20.52 million) as described under the caption "Use
         of Proceeds."
 
     (2) The Company estimates that the extraordinary loss from early
         extinguishment of the Subordinated Notes, when the notes are retired in
         November 1997, will be approximately $1.4 million instead of the $2.3
         million reflected in the table above due to the accrual of interest
         expense and amortization of original issue discount from July 1997
         through November 1997.
 
(k)  To reflect (i) the acquisition of Bonray and the issuance of 3,015,000
     shares of Common Stock at $11.86 per share based on the appraisals of the
     fair market value of the property and equipment acquired of $35 million,
     (ii) the allocation of the purchase price as shown below and (iii) deferred
     income taxes related to the book/tax differences in the basis of property
     and equipment:
 
<TABLE>
    <S>                                                           <C>
    Current assets..............................................  $ 4,591
    Property and equipment......................................   34,976
    Goodwill....................................................    6,261
    Current liabilities.........................................   (3,733)
    Long-term liabilities.......................................      (74)
    Deferred income tax.........................................   (6,261)
                                                                  -------
    Purchase price..............................................  $35,760
                                                                  =======
</TABLE>
 
(l)   On May 1, 1997, the Company completed the Trend Acquisition for $18
      million in cash and 250,000 shares of Common Stock, which equates to
      $10.64 per share based on the appraisals of the fair market value of the
      property and equipment acquired of $21.5 million. The Company incurred
      costs of approximately $307,000 in connection with this acquisition.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   28
 
     The Trend Acquisition was accounted for as a purchase. The following is an
     analysis of the allocation of the purchase price:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>
Current assets..............................................     $ 2,734
Property and equipment......................................      21,532
Goodwill....................................................       6,330
Current liabilities.........................................      (2,265)
Long-term liabilities.......................................      (1,340)
Deferred income tax liability...............................      (6,330)
                                                                 -------
Purchase price..............................................     $20,661
                                                                 =======
</TABLE>
 
     On May 30, 1997, pursuant to the Ward Acquisition, the Company acquired six
     drilling rigs for approximately $8 million in cash and 400,000 shares of
     Common Stock which equates to $8.95 per share based on the appraisal of the
     fair market value of the assets acquired of $11.9 million. The Company also
     issued warrants to purchase 200,000 shares of Common Stock at $10.00 per
     share. The warrant had an estimated fair market value of $294,000 at the
     agreement closing date and was recorded as an increase in property and
     equipment and additional paid in capital.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   29
 
               SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
 
     The historical financial data presented in the table below for and at the
end of each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 1996 are
derived from the financial statements of the Company and relate to the
operations of Anadarko, the predecessor of the Company, and include, generally,
the financial results of the operation of eight rigs.
 
     The financial statements for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and
1996 have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, independent certified public
accountants. The historical financial data presented in the table below for and
at the end of the six month periods ended June 30, 1997 and 1996 are derived
from the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company. In the
opinion of management of the Company, such unaudited consolidated condensed
financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring
adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial data for such
periods. The results for the six months ended June 30, 1997 are not necessarily
indicative of the results to be achieved for the full year.
 
     The data presented below should be read in conjunction with the Company's
consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in
this Prospectus and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations."
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                     YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                             JUNE 30,
                                    ----------------------------------------------------------   ------------------------
                                      1992        1993        1994        1995         1996         1996          1997
                                         (UNAUDITED)                                             (UNAUDITED)
                                                            (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                 <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  Revenues:
    Contract drilling.............  $   9,368   $   8,349   $   9,910   $   7,405   $    9,793    $   4,242    $   15,107
    Other.........................         --          --          --         303           60           59            --
                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------    ---------    ----------
        Total revenues............      9,368       8,349       9,910       7,708        9,853        4,301        15,107
                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------    ---------    ----------
  Operating expense:
    Drilling......................      7,835       7,690       8,572       6,075        7,653        3,268        10,897
    Depreciation, depletion and
      amortization................        988       1,374       1,557         791        1,126          415         2,645
    General and administrative....        651         819         786         880          658          323           734
    Other.........................         --          --          --          47           46           --            --
                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------    ---------    ----------
        Total operating costs.....      9,474       9,883      10,915       7,793        9,483        4,006        14,276
                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------    ---------    ----------
  Operating income (loss).........       (106)     (1,534)     (1,005)        (85)         370          295           831
                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------    ---------    ----------
  Other income and (expense):
    Interest expense and financing
      cost........................         (8)        (30)        (18)         (3)         (11)          --          (982)
    Interest income...............         --          --          --          --           --           --            51
    Gain (loss) on sale of
      assets......................         --          --         366        (131)          54           --            60
    Other income (expense)........         90          24          --          (3)          17           36             8
                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------    ---------    ----------
  Income (loss) before income
    taxes.........................        (24)     (1,540)       (657)       (222)         430          331           (32)
  Income tax expense(1)...........         --          --          --          --          163          126           (12)
                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------    ---------    ----------
  Net income (loss)...............  $     (24)  $  (1,540)  $    (657)  $    (222)  $      267    $     205    $      (20)
                                    =========   =========   =========   =========   ==========    =========    ==========
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share:
  Primary and fully diluted.......                                                  $      .02    $     .01    $      .00
                                                                                    ==========    =========    ==========
Weighted Average Shares
  Outstanding(2): (fully
  diluted)........................                                                      14,397       14,397        14,397
CASH FLOWS:
  Operating activities............  $    (786)  $     (51)  $     445   $     310   $     (462)   $     (70)   $    1,029
  Investing activities............     (1,352)     (1,671)       (454)     (1,710)     (10,441)      (3,142)      (59,265)
  Financing activities............      2,138       1,722           9       1,400       15,866        3,212        53,513
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Total assets....................  $   6,858   $   6,791   $   6,149   $   8,054   $   34,673    $  11,474    $  113,172
  Working capital (deficit),
    excluding current portion of
    long-term debt................        826         711         802          12        4,974          946        (1,277)
  Total long-term debt, including
    current portion...............        408         365          --          --        7,000           --        48,371
  Total stockholders' equity(3)...     (6,875)       (913)        (54)       (276)      26,251          206        44,813
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
  EBITDA(4).......................  $     882   $    (160)  $     552   $     706   $    1,496    $     710    $    3,476
  Capital expenditures............      1,352       1,671       1,183       2,088       10,578        3,224        66,117
</TABLE>
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   30
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                     YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                             JUNE 30,
                                    ----------------------------------------------------------   ------------------------
                                      1992        1993        1994        1995         1996         1996          1997
                                         (UNAUDITED)                                             (UNAUDITED)
                                                        (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RIG AND DAY RATE DATA)
<S>                                 <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>
DRILLING RIG ACTIVITY DATA
  (UNAUDITED):
  Total rigs at end of period.....          7           8           7           8           17            8            41
  Marketed rigs at end of
    period........................          7           8           7           8            8            8            34
  Average utilization rate of
    drilling rigs available for
    service(5)....................         77%         71%         84%         86%          88%          87%           97%
  Average revenues per day(6).....  $   4,020   $   4,332   $   4,148   $   4,298   $    4,731    $   4,550    $    5,450
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Income tax expense is presented on a pro forma basis (assuming a 38%
    statutory rate) for the year ended December 31, 1996 and for the six months
    ended June 30, 1996.
 
(2) Historical weighted average shares outstanding is calculated using the fully
    diluted shares outstanding through October 16, 1997 for the year ended
    December 31, 1996 and six months ended June 30, 1996 and 1997.
 
(3) No dividends were declared through June 30, 1997. See "Dividend Policy."
 
(4) EBITDA represents operating income (loss) before depreciation and
    amortization. EBITDA is frequently used by securities analysts and is
    presented herein to provide additional information about the Company's
    operations. EBITDA is not a measurement presented in accordance with
    generally accepted accounting principles. EBITDA should not be considered in
    isolation or as a substitute for net income or cash flow data prepared in
    accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or as a measure of
    a company's profitability or liquidity.
 
(5) Rig utilization rates are calculated on a weighted average basis assuming
    365 days availability for all rigs available for service. Rigs acquired have
    been treated as added to the rig fleet as of the date of acquisition. Rigs
    under contract that generate revenues during moves between locations or
    during mobilization/ demobilization are also considered to be utilized. Rigs
    that are owned but not being marketed, including rigs being refurbished, are
    not considered in determining the utilization rate.
 
(6) Represents total contract drilling revenues (excluding mobilization, cost
    reimbursements and fuel), divided by the total number of days the Company's
    drilling rig fleet operated during the period, divided by the average number
    of rigs in operation.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   31
 
                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the
Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and notes thereto included
elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
GENERAL
 
     The Company's operations have been and will be significantly affected by
the Consolidation Transactions which have transformed the Company from a
regional competitor with ten rigs in late 1996 to its current position of
operating the fifth largest land drilling fleet in the United States, with a
total of 54 rigs. The historical financial results presented herein include the
effects of the Formation Transactions (16 rigs), the Trend Acquisition (14
rigs), the Ward Acquisition (six rigs), the Bonray Acquisition (13 rigs) and the
Individual Rig Acquisitions (six rigs), only for the periods after such
transactions. In addition, the historical financial results include periods in
which a number of rigs were being refurbished and did not contribute to
revenues. Accordingly, the Company does not believe that the historical
statements of operations presented herein are necessarily indicative of the
Company's future operating results, particularly in light of the magnitude of
its recent acquisitions and rig refurbishment projects and the increased demand
and contract rates for drilling rigs in its core Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast
regions. See "Business -- Formation and Acquisitions."
 
     After giving effect to the above mentioned transactions, the Company's pro
forma revenues and operating loss for the year ended December 31, 1996, were $48
million and $1.6 million, respectively, compared to the Company's actual
revenues and operating income of $9.9 million and $370,000, respectively. The
Company's pro forma revenues and operating income for the six months ended June
30, 1997 were $35.3 million and $1.2 million, compared to the Company's actual
revenues and operating income for the period of $15.1 million and $831,000
respectively. These pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the
Company's future results. See "Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Data."
 
DOMESTIC LAND DRILLING INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
 
     Demand for the Company's contract land drilling services is substantially
dependent upon, and affected by, the level of domestic oil and gas exploration
and development activity. Industry sources estimate that from its peak in 1982,
the supply of domestic rigs has fallen by 72% through June 1996 as a result of
normal attrition, cannibalization of components to refurbish rigs, the inability
of smaller competitors to raise capital needed to upgrade and modernize rigs and
the export of rigs to international markets. As a result of these factors, the
contract land drilling industry has been cyclical with significant volatility in
profitability and rig values.
 
     The Company's operating margins are influenced by contract drilling rates,
operating costs and drilling rig utilization. The land drilling industry is
experiencing higher utilization, increasing day rates and improved financial
performance as a result of the long term decline in the supply of rigs and
increased demand for rigs attributable to improved oil and gas industry
fundamentals. In addition, the industry is experiencing a period of rapid
consolidation as larger, better-capitalized drilling companies have acquired
smaller operators. The convergence of land drilling rig supply and demand in its
core domestic markets, along with the acquisition and refurbishment of rigs, has
contributed to higher utilization, increasing day rates and improved financial
results for the Company in recent periods.
 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY
 
     Since December 1996, the Company has completed the Formation Transactions,
the Trend Acquisition, the Ward Acquisition, the Bonray Acquisition and the
Individual Rig Acquisitions. The Formation Transactions involved the issuance of
an aggregate of 5,600,000 shares of Common Stock to existing stockholders in
consideration for the contribution to the Company of 16 rigs and $10 million in
cash. At the
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   32
 
time of the Formation Transactions, the Company entered into a $24 million loan
facility with CIT, principally for the refurbishment of certain of the Company's
rigs. In May 1997, contemporaneously with the Trend Acquisition and in
anticipation of the Ward Acquisition, the Company completed a financing
transaction in which it (i) issued to Chesapeake and Energy Spectrum additional
shares of Common Stock, and two series of warrants together with subordinated
notes due May 1, 2003 (the "Subordinated Notes") for $28.5 million in cash and
(ii) increased the availability under its debt facilities from $24 million to
$40.5 million (collectively, the "May Financing"). In addition, the Company
obtained the right, exercisable solely at the Company's option at any time on or
prior to April 30, 1998, to require Chesapeake to provide an additional $3
million in cash in exchange for the issuance to Chesapeake of additional shares
of Common Stock, Subordinated Notes and warrants to purchase Common Stock. The
Company later waived this right in connection with the Chesapeake Transactions.
See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions -- Chesapeake Transactions."
 
     The Company's principal requirements for capital, in addition to the
funding of ongoing contract drilling operations, have been capital expenditures,
including the refurbishment of existing rigs and acquisitions. From December
1996 through June 30, 1997, the Company has spent $20 million on the Trend
Acquisition, $11.9 million on the Ward Acquisition, $5.5 million on the
Individual Rig Acquisitions and approximately $33 million on refurbishments and
other related equipment purchases, including drill pipe. As a result, the
Company's net property and equipment increased from $27 million at December 31,
1996 to $92.7 million at June 30, 1997. The Company's principal sources of
liquidity have been the issuance of Common Stock, warrants and the Subordinated
Notes, borrowings under the Term Loan and the Revolving Loan (collectively, the
"Loan Agreements").
 
     The following table summarizes the Company's balance sheet on an historical
basis as of December 31, 1996 and June 30, 1997 and on a pro forma basis as of
June 30, 1997, giving effect to the Bonray Acquisition, the Stockholder
Exercises and the Offering as if they occurred on June 30, 1997 (in thousands).
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          JUNE 30, 1997
                                                                     -----------------------
                                                DECEMBER 31, 1996    HISTORICAL    PRO FORMA
                                                                           (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                             <C>                  <C>           <C>
Working capital (deficit).....................       $ 4,027          $(14,146)    $ 50,619
Property and equipment, net...................        26,973            92,658      127,634
Other noncurrent assets.......................         1,652             8,468       14,729
                                                     -------          --------     --------
          Total...............................       $32,652          $ 86,980     $192,982
                                                     =======          ========     ========
Long-term debt, net of current maturities.....       $ 6,053          $ 35,502     $ 14,994
Other long-term liabilities...................           348             6,665       12,926
Stockholders' equity..........................        26,251            44,813      165,062
                                                     -------          --------     --------
          Total...............................       $32,652          $ 86,980     $192,982
                                                     =======          ========     ========
</TABLE>
 
     The most significant change in the Company's balance sheet from December
31, 1996 to June 30, 1997 was a $65.7 million increase in net property and
equipment. During this same period, long-term debt net of current maturities
increased by $29.4 million and stockholders' equity increased by $18.6 million.
These changes are a direct result of the acquisition and financing transactions
described above.
 
     From December 31, 1996 to June 30, 1997, the Company's working capital
position declined by $18.2 million to a deficit of $14.1 million. This decline
was primarily the result of an $11.9 million increase in current maturities of
long-term debt and a $4 million decrease in cash and investments, as the Company
continued to invest in rig acquisitions and the refurbishment of rigs. Pro forma
for the Chesapeake Transactions, the CIT Exercise, the Bonray Acquisition and
the Offering, the Company would have reported working capital of $50.6 million.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   33
 
  Operating Activities
 
     During the year ended December 31, 1996, the Company required $462,000 of
cash to fund operating activities. This was the result of $1.5 million of cash
provided by operations, partially offset by changes in working capital items
that required $2 million of cash. Cash required for changes in working capital
items included (i) increase in accounts receivable of $2.1 million, (ii)
increase in other assets totaling $185,000 and (iii) decrease of $383,000 in
accounts payable, which were partially offset by an increase of $663,000 of
other current liabilities.
 
     During the six months ended June 30, 1997, net cash provided from operating
activities totalled $1 million. The Company generated cash from operations of
$2.6 million and working capital changes utilized $1.6 million.
 
  Investing Activities
 
     During 1996, the Company invested $21.7 million in fixed assets, net of
asset sales. The major components of these expenditures were $10.4 million of
cash expenditures to acquire and refurbish five diesel electric SCR rigs and
$9.8 million of Common Stock issued to acquire rigs in the Formation
Transactions.
 
     During the six months ended June 30, 1997, the Company invested $67.5
million in fixed assets, including the Trend Acquisition, the Ward Acquisition
and the Individual Rig Acquisitions. Rig refurbishments consisted of $20.2
million, and $12.9 million was invested in drill pipe and other drilling related
equipment. The acquisitions of Trend and Ward were partially funded through the
issuance of Common Stock valued at $6.6 million.
 
  Financing Activities
 
     During 1996, the Company raised $15.9 million from financing activities.
The Company borrowed $7.0 million during the year under the Term Loan described
below. The Company also issued 3,600,000 shares of Common Stock for assets and
cash and made debt payments totaling $900,000 during the year.
 
     During the six months ended June 30, 1997, the Company obtained $53.5
million from financing activities, including net borrowings under the Loan
Agreements totaling $24.8 million, $8.2 million from the issuance of Common
Stock and $20.5 million from the issuance of the Subordinated Notes and the
associated warrants. The proceeds from these transactions were used to fund the
Company's working capital requirements and capital expenditures as discussed
above.
 
     Following is a summary of certain material terms of the Formation
Transactions, the Loan Agreements and the May Financing.
 
     Formation Transactions. The Company was formed in December 1996 through a
series of affiliated entity transactions in which the Company became successor
to Anadarko, the contract drilling subsidiary of privately held APLP. In
connection with the Formation Transactions (i) APLP contributed ten drilling
rigs in consideration for 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock, (ii) R.T. Oliver
Drilling, Inc. and Mike Mullen Energy Equipment Resource, Inc. and certain of
their affiliated companies (collectively, "the Oliver Companies") exchanged six
drilling rigs for 1,600,000 shares of Common Stock, (iii) Energy Spectrum
contributed $10 million in consideration for 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock
and (iv) Chesapeake entered into drilling contracts with two-year terms for six
of the Company's rigs in consideration for the grant by the Company of the
Chesapeake Option. See "Business -- Formation and Acquisitions."
 
     Loan Agreements. On December 10, 1996, the Company also entered into the
Term Loan. Subsequent to that date and in connection with the May Financing, the
Company increased the Term Loan from $24 million to $30.5 million. The Term Loan
provides the Company up to approximately $30.5 million of borrowing capacity for
the purchase of additional land drilling rigs, the refurbishment of such rigs
and equipment and for working capital purposes. The Company also entered into a
Revolving Loan with Fleet in
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   34
 
May 1997. The Revolving Loan provides for revolving credit loans of up to $10
million, and is being used for general corporate purposes. Amounts outstanding
under the Revolving Loan bear interest based on Fleet's prime rate plus 1.5%
(10.0% at June 30, 1997) and mature in April 2000. Amounts outstanding under the
Term Loan bear interest, at the election of the Company, at floating rates equal
to Chase Manhattan Bank's prime rate plus 2.0% or LIBOR plus 4.25% (9.94% at
June 30, 1997) and mature in March 2002. To date, loans under the Revolving Loan
and the Term Loan have been used for capital expenditures and working capital
requirements. The Loan Agreements are secured by substantially all of the assets
of the Company, including all drilling rigs, equipment and drilling contracts,
and contain customary restrictive covenants (including covenants restricting the
ability of the Company to pay dividends and encumber assets) and affirmative
covenants to maintain specified financial ratios.
 
     May Financing. In order to fund the Trend Acquisition and the Ward
Acquisition, on May 1, 1997, the Company completed the May Financing in which
the Company issued shares of Common Stock, Subordinated Notes and warrants to
purchase Common Stock to Chesapeake and Energy Spectrum in exchange for an
aggregate of $28.5 million in cash, as described below. In addition, the Company
modified the Term Loan and entered into the Revolving Loan as described above.
 
     In the May Financing, the Company issued 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock
to Chesapeake in consideration for $7 million in cash and 140,000 shares of
Common Stock to Energy Spectrum in consideration for $980,000 in cash.
Additionally, the Company issued Subordinated Notes due May 1, 2003 in the
original principal amounts of $18 million and $2.52 million (the "Subordinated
Notes") to Chesapeake and Energy Spectrum, respectively. The Subordinated Notes
bear interest at the Company's option at either (i) 11% per annum, payable in
cash, or (ii) 12.875% per annum, payable in the form of additional Subordinated
Notes, which interest is payable quarterly in arrears. The Subordinated Notes
are general unsecured subordinated obligations of the Company that are
subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future senior indebtedness
of the Company, pari passu with all existing and future subordinated
indebtedness of the Company and senior in right of payment to all future junior
subordinated indebtedness of the Company. Chesapeake and the Company have agreed
that, upon consummation of the Offering, the Company will redeem in full the $18
million principal amount of Subordinated Notes issued to Chesapeake in
consideration for the payment by the Company to Chesapeake of $15 million in
cash, subject to adjustment. See "Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions -- Chesapeake Transactions."
 
     In connection with the issuance of the Subordinated Notes, the Company
issued two series of detachable warrants (the "Warrants") for the purchase of
shares of Common Stock, designated as "Series A Warrants" and "Series B
Warrants." The Warrants are exercisable on or prior to May 1, 2003 at a price of
$0.01 per share in the case of the Series A Warrants and $7.50 per share in the
case of the Series B Warrants. In the May Financing, Chesapeake was issued
Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants representing the right to purchase
700,000 shares and 800,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively, and Energy
Spectrum was issued Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants representing the
right to purchase 98,000 shares and 112,000 shares of Common Stock,
respectively. On July 31, 1997, Energy Spectrum exercised in full its Series A
Warrants, but continues to hold all of the Series B Warrants issued to it. In
August 1997, Chesapeake agreed to the relinquishment and cancellation in full of
its Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants in connection with the Chesapeake
Transactions. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions -- Chesapeake
Transactions."
 
     Additional Chesapeake Financing. Additionally, in connection with the May
Financing, the Company obtained the right to require Chesapeake, on or before
April 30, 1998, to provide the Company with an additional $3 million in capital
through the purchase of (i) 120,000 shares of Common Stock for a purchase price
of $7.00 per share, (ii) additional Subordinated Notes in the aggregate
principal amount of $2.16 million, (iii) additional Series A Warrants
exercisable for 84,000 shares of Common Stock and (iv) additional Series B
Warrants exercisable for 96,000 shares of Common Stock. In August 1997, the
Company agreed to waive this right in connection with the Chesapeake
Transactions. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions -- Chesapeake
Transactions."
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   35
 
     The foregoing summaries of the material provisions of the Company's
principal financing agreements do not purport to be complete and are subject to,
and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the
related agreements, copies or forms of which have been filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
  Recent Events and Future Activities
 
     The Company believes that the balance of the proceeds from the Offering,
cash flow from operations and, to the extent required, borrowings under the Loan
Agreements will be sufficient to fund the Company's 1997 rig refurbishment
program and to meet its other anticipated capital requirements for 1997. Upon
consummation of the Offering and the application of the net proceeds therefrom,
as described under "Use of Proceeds," the Company will have $13.4 million of
borrowings outstanding under the Loan Agreements and $2.5 million of borrowings
outstanding under the Subordinated Notes, with an additional $10 million of
unused borrowing capacity, and cash or cash equivalents of $33 million.
 
     In October 1997, the Company acquired Bonray in consideration for the
issuance of 3,015,000 shares of Common Stock. See "Business -- Formation and
Acquisitions -- The Bonray Acquisition."
 
   
     The Company continues to actively review possible acquisition
opportunities. While the Company has no agreements to acquire additional
businesses or equipment, suitable opportunities may arise in the future. The
timing or success of any acquisition effort and the size of the associated
potential capital commitments cannot be predicted at this time. In addition,
there can be no assurance that adequate funding will be available on terms
satisfactory to the Company.
    
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     Comparison of Six Months Ended June 30, 1997 and 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
                                                             -------------------------
                                                                1996          1997
<S>                                                          <C>           <C>
Rig days worked(1).........................................         936          2,470
Average revenues per day(2)................................  $    4,532    $     6,116
 
Drilling revenues..........................................  $4,242,000    $15,107,000
Drilling costs(3)..........................................   3,268,000     10,897,000
                                                             ----------    -----------
Operating Margin...........................................  $  974,000    $ 4,210,000
                                                             ==========    ===========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Rig days worked represents the number of rigs being marketed by the Company
    multiplied by the number of days during which such rigs are being operated,
    mobilized, assembled or dismantled while under contract. Rig days are a
    common measurement of both utilization rates and fleet size.
 
(2) Represents total contract drilling revenues (including mobilization revenues
    and reimbursement for fuel and other costs) divided by the total number of
    rig days worked by the Company's drilling rig fleet marketed during the
    period.
 
(3) Drilling costs exclude depreciation and amortization and general and
    administrative expenses.
 
     Drilling revenues increased approximately $10.7 million, or 256% to $15.1
million for the six months ended June 30, 1997, from $4.2 million for the six
months ended June 30, 1996. Drilling revenues increased due to a 1,534 day, or
164%, increase in rig days worked, and a $1,584, or 34.9%, increase in the
average revenue per day. The increase in days worked was a result of an increase
in the average number of rigs owned and available for service. As of June 30,
1997, the Company had 34 rigs available for service. The increase in rigs
available for service was principally the result of the Consolidation
Transactions. Rig days worked consisted of 1,305 days worked in the Gulf Coast
region and 1,165 days worked in the Mid-Continent region.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   36
 
Increases in revenues per day were a result of the overall increase in demand
for land drilling rigs as reflected in the utilization rate increasing from 87%
to 97%.
 
     Drilling costs increased by approximately $7.6 million, or 233%, to $10.9
million for the six months ended June 30, 1997, as compared to $3.3 million for
the six months ended June 30, 1996. The increase in drilling operating expenses
was a direct result of the increase in the number of rigs owned and available
for service and the corresponding 1,534 day increase in the days worked.
 
     Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $2.2 million, or 537%,
to $2.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 1997 as compared to $415,000
for the six months ended June 30, 1996. The increase was primarily due to
additional depreciation associated with the Consolidation Transactions.
 
     General and administrative expense increased by $411,000, or 127%, to
$734,000 for the six months ended June 30, 1997, from $323,000 for the same
period of 1996 due primarily to increased payroll costs associated with new
management and increased corporate staff and increased legal fees due to the
Company's acquisition activities.
 
     Interest expense was $982,000 for the six months ended June 30, 1997. The
Company had no outstanding debt for the six months ended June 30, 1996.
 
     Other income decreased for the six months ended June 30, 1997 as compared
to the six months ended June 30, 1996.
 
     For the six months ended June 30, 1997, the income tax benefit was $12,000.
For the first six months of 1996 the Company was not a taxable entity.
 
     Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 1996 and 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     YEAR ENDED
                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ------------------------
                                                                 1995          1996
<S>                                                           <C>           <C>
Rig days worked(1)..........................................       1,489         2,029
Average revenues per day(2).................................  $    4,973    $    4,826
Drilling revenues...........................................  $7,405,000    $9,793,000
Drilling costs(3)...........................................   6,075,000     7,653,000
                                                              ----------    ----------
Operating Margin............................................  $1,330,000    $2,140,000
                                                              ==========    ==========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Rig days worked represents the number of rigs being marketed by the Company
    multiplied by the number of days during which such rigs are being operated,
    mobilized, assembled or dismantled while under contract. Rig days are a
    common measurement of both utilization rates and fleet size.
 
(2) Represents total contract drilling revenues (including mobilization revenues
    and reimbursement for fuel and other costs) divided by the total number of
    rig days worked by the Company's drilling rig fleet marketed during the
    period.
 
(3) Drilling costs exclude depreciation and amortization and general and
    administrative expenses.
 
     Drilling revenues increased approximately $2.4 million, or 32%, to $9.8
million for the year ended December 31, 1996 from $7.4 million for the year
ended December 31, 1995. This improvement was due to an increase in the number
of rig days worked offset by a decrease in the average revenue per day. Rig
utilization also improved from 86% to 88% in 1996, due to an overall improvement
in the contract drilling market.
 
     Drilling costs increased by $1.6 million, or 26%, to $7.7 million for the
year ended December 31, 1996, from $6.1 million for the year ended December 31,
1995. This increase was primarily due to increased utilization and, to a lesser
extent, increased direct labor costs.
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   37
 
     Depreciation and amortization expenses increased by $335,000, or 42%, to
$1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 1996 from $791,000 for the year
ended December 31, 1995. The increase in depreciation expense was primarily
attributable to acquisition and refurbishment costs.
 
     General and administrative expenses decreased by $222,000 to $658,000 for
the year ended December 31, 1996, from $880,000 for the year ended December 31,
1995, due to the discontinued allocation of expenses associated with the
predecessor company.
 
     Interest expense remained fairly constant for the year end December 31,
1996 primarily as a result of the outstanding debt level remaining fairly
constant. Interest rates during these periods remained relatively unchanged.
 
     Other income increased $197,000 from 1995 to 1996, primarily as a result of
a loss recorded in 1995 in connection with the sale of certain assets.
 
     The Company's income tax expense of $163,000 in 1996 was attributable to
the Company's profitable operations.
 
     The Company had net income of $267,000 in 1996 as compared to a net loss of
$222,000 in 1995. The Company's net loss in 1995 includes net losses from the
sale of assets, for which there was no similar transaction in 1996.
 
     Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 1995 and 1994
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     YEAR ENDED
                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ------------------------
                                                                 1994          1995
<S>                                                           <C>           <C>
Rig days worked(1)..........................................       2,047         1,489
Average revenues per day(2).................................  $    4,841    $    4,973
 
Drilling revenues...........................................  $9,910,000    $7,405,000
Drilling costs(3)...........................................   8,572,000     6,075,000
                                                              ----------    ----------
Operating Margin............................................  $1,338,000    $1,330,000
                                                              ==========    ==========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Rig days worked represents the number of rigs being marketed by the Company
    multiplied by the number of days. during which such rigs are being operated,
    mobilized, assembled or dismantled while under contract. Rig days are a
    common measurement of both utilization rates and fleet size.
 
(2) Represents total contract drilling revenues (including mobilization revenues
    and reimbursement for fuel and other costs) divided by the total number of
    rig days worked by the Company's drilling rig fleet marketed during the
    period.
 
(3) Drilling costs exclude depreciation and amortization and general and
    administrative expenses.
 
     Drilling revenues decreased $2.5 million, or 25%, to $7.4 million for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 from $9.9 million for the twelve months
ended December 31, 1994. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the
number of rig days worked, offset by an increase in rig utilization from 84% for
the year ended December 31, 1994 to 86% for the year ended December 31, 1995 and
an increase in average revenues per day from $4,841 during 1994 to $4,973 during
1995.
 
     Drilling costs decreased $2.5 million, or 29%, to $6.1 million for the year
ended December 31, 1995, from $8.6 million for the twelve months ended December
31, 1994. This decrease in costs was due to a decrease in the Company's rig days
worked.
 
     Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased $766,000, or 49%, to
$791,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995 from $1.6 million for the twelve
months ended December 31, 1994. This decrease was primarily due to a change in
the estimated remaining lives of the Company's drilling rigs and other related
 
                                       36
<PAGE>   38
 
drilling equipment. These changes were made to more closely approximate the
remaining useful lives of such assets.
 
     General and administrative expenses increased approximately $94,000 to
$880,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995 from $786,000 for the twelve
months ended December 31, 1994 primarily due to increased personnel costs.
 
     Interest expense remained fairly constant for the year ended December 31,
1995. Interest rates and borrowings outstanding during these periods remained
relatively unchanged.
 
     Other income decreased $500,000 from $366,000 in 1994 to a loss of $134,000
in 1995, primarily due to a loss on sale of assets for the year ended December
31, 1995 compared to a gain on sale of assets for the prior year.
 
     The Company had a net loss of $222,000 in 1995 as compared to a loss of
$657,000 for the year ended December 31, 1994.
 
INFLATION AND CHANGING PRICES
 
     Contract drilling revenues do not necessarily track the changes in general
inflation as they tend to respond to the level of activity on the part of the
oil and gas industry in combination with the supply of equipment and the number
of competing companies. Capital and operating costs are influenced to a larger
extent by specific price changes in the oil and gas industry and to a lesser
extent by changes in general inflation.
 
RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
 
     In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share" ("SFAS No.
128"). SFAS No. 128, which is effective for periods ending after December 15,
1997, including interim periods, simplifies the standards for computing earnings
per share and replaces the presentation of primary earnings per share with a
presentation of basic earnings per share. Initial adoption of this standard is
not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position or
results of operations. Early adoption is not permitted.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>   39
 
                                    BUSINESS
 
GENERAL
 
   
     The Company is a leading provider of contract land drilling services to
major and independent oil and gas companies and operates the fifth largest land
drilling fleet in the United States. As of September 30, 1997, the Company's rig
fleet consisted of 54 rigs (including 13 rigs acquired in the Bonray
Acquisition), of which 48 were being marketed and six were to be refurbished and
are expected to be placed in operation within the next 12 months. During the
nine months ended September 30, 1997, the Company experienced a utilization rate
of approximately 94% for its marketed rigs.
    
 
     The Company's fleet consists primarily of rigs capable of deep drilling
applications (well depths of 15,000 feet or greater). The Company believes that
deep rigs are and will continue to be in high demand due to improved deep
drilling economics available to domestic oil and gas companies. Deep drilling
targets are more attractive to oil and gas companies due to new technologies,
including (i) three-dimensional seismic techniques, (ii) increasingly accurate
down hole measurement devices and (iii) improved guidance systems and
directional drilling motors for horizontal and directional wells. Examples of
currently active deep drilling areas include the Tuscaloosa trend in Louisiana,
the Pinnacle Reef trend in East Texas, the Anadarko and Arkoma basins in
Oklahoma and the Austin Chalk in Texas and Louisiana.
 
     The Company's fleet includes 38 rigs capable of drilling to depths of
15,000 feet or greater, 25 of which are capable of drilling to depths of 20,000
feet or greater. Of these 38 rigs, 21 are diesel electric SCR rigs which offer
operators superior control and efficiency, particularly in deep, directional or
horizontal applications. Of the five largest domestic land drillers, the Company
ranked first in average measured depth per well drilled for the nine month
period ended September 30, 1997.
 
   
     The Company's fleet is concentrated in its two core operating
regions -- the Mid-Continent region (which includes principally Oklahoma, North
Texas and the Texas Panhandle) and the Gulf Coast region of Texas and Louisiana.
At September 30, 1997, the Company had 35 rigs marketed in Oklahoma (including
11 of the rigs acquired in the Bonray Acquisition) and was the most active land
drilling contractor in the state. In 1996, 1,835 onshore wells were drilled in
Oklahoma, making it the third most active state for domestic onshore drilling.
The Company's rigs operating in the Mid-Continent region are generally capable
of drilling to depths of 10,000 feet or greater and are marketed by the Company
to meet the specific well depth and mobility needs of producers in that region.
See "-- Drilling Equipment and Supplies." At September 30, 1997, the Company had
13 rigs marketed in the Gulf Coast region, including 11 diesel electric SCR
rigs. This region is characterized by significant drilling activity in deep,
technically challenging formations for which the Company's rigs are particularly
well suited. The Company believes that its high quality equipment, including
diesel electric SCR rigs, powerful mud pumps and high horsepower drawworks,
gives the Company a competitive advantage in attracting premium jobs with
customers engaged in multi-well horizontal drilling programs. In May 1997, one
of the Company's rigs drilled a horizontal well in the Gulf Coast region to a
vertical depth of 18,700 feet before initiating a horizontal lateral of 3,239
feet. The Company believes this to be the deepest vertical depth at which a
horizontal lateral has ever been initiated.
    
 
     The Company was formed in December 1996 as the successor to Anadarko, which
owned ten rigs, including two rigs requiring refurbishment. At the time of its
formation, the Company also purchased six rigs requiring refurbishment. See
"-- Formation and Acquisitions." Since that time, the Company has aggressively
pursued acquisitions of additional rigs and components and through October 16,
1997 had acquired 38 additional rigs (net of sales), 32 of which were acquired
in connection with the purchases of Trend, Ward and Bonray and the remaining six
of which were acquired pursuant to individual rig purchases. Some of these
acquired rigs required refurbishment before the Company placed such rigs in
service. Many of the acquired and refurbished rigs were put into service in May
and June 1997, and therefore did not contribute significantly to operating
results through June 30, 1997. The Company expects these rigs to be operational
and to contribute to its profitability throughout the second half of 1997.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>   40
 
BUSINESS STRATEGY
 
     The Company believes that growth in earnings and cash flow can be achieved
by pursuing the following business strategy:
 
     Operating a Technologically Advanced Rig Fleet. The Company has assembled
its existing rig fleet, and will pursue further acquisitions, with the goal of
operating one of the most technologically sophisticated land drilling fleets in
the United States. Many of the Company's rigs include engines, pumps and
drilling mud systems that represent the best drilling technology available and
that the Company believes offer greater efficiencies for customers than many of
the rigs available from its competitors. For example, by deploying its diesel
electric SCR rigs with two or three high horsepower pumps and top drive drilling
systems in challenging deep and horizontal drilling situations, the Company
believes that it can reduce its customers' overall drilling costs, thus securing
and enhancing its relationships with some of the most active operators in the
domestic market. The Company is committed to making the capital investments
required to maintain the technological sophistication and operational
efficiencies of its fleet.
 
     Developing Deep Drilling Capabilities. The Company believes demand has been
particularly strong for rigs capable of drilling deeper, more complex wells,
including 1,500 horsepower and larger rigs, and has focused, and will continue
to focus, on acquiring rigs with these capabilities. Management believes that
demand and utilization rates for these types of rigs, particularly SCR rigs,
will remain higher than for rigs with lesser depth capacities due to their
greater operational flexibility and efficiency. At September 30, 1997, 70% of
the Company's rig fleet (38 rigs) had deep drilling capability (15,000 feet or
greater). In the nine months ended September 30, 1997, the Company's average
depth per well drilled was 13,016 feet, compared to the national average of
7,100 feet.
 
     Focusing on Core Markets. The Company believes that its strong asset
position and operating expertise in the Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast regions
enable it to achieve operating efficiencies and to provide premium service to
its customers in these markets. The Company is the second largest provider of
drilling rigs in Oklahoma and is among the largest operators of deep rigs in the
onshore Gulf Coast region.
 
     Developing and Maintaining Relationships with Strong Operators. In order to
maximize the utilization rate of its rig fleet and to minimize exposure to
market downturns, the Company seeks to maintain and build relationships with
operators committed to active domestic drilling programs. The Company's largest
current customers include Apache Corporation, Chesapeake, Enron Oil and Gas
Company, Marathon Oil Company, Sonat Exploration Company and Union Pacific
Resources Corporation. Each of these companies was among the most active onshore
operators in the United States during the last three years. During the six
months ended June 30, 1997 (pro forma for the Consolidation Transactions), the
three largest customers for the Company's contract drilling services were
Chesapeake, Marathon Oil Company and Sonat Exploration Company, which accounted
for approximately 22%, 10% and 6% of total revenues, respectively. See "Risk
Factors  -- Concentration of Customer Base."
 
     Acquiring and Refurbishing Additional Rigs and Related Equipment. The
Company intends to continue acquiring additional rigs and related equipment,
including top drive drilling systems. Additionally, the Company has experience
in the acquisition of component parts from which rigs can be assembled or
refurbished and intends to continue to seek opportunities for the expansion and
enhancement of its rig fleet by such means. Since its formation and through
October 16, 1997, the Company has acquired 38 land rigs (net of sales) in eight
transactions. At June 30, 1997, after giving effect to the application of the
proceeds of the Offering, the Company would have had a total debt to total
capitalization ratio of 8.8% and cash of $52.7 million, positioning the Company
with the strong balance sheet needed to be an active acquiror of rigs and
components.
 
DOMESTIC LAND DRILLING INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
 
     The land drilling industry is experiencing higher utilization, increasing
day rates and improved financial performance as a result of a long-term decline
in the supply of rigs and increased demand for rigs attributable
 
                                       39
<PAGE>   41
 
to improved oil and gas industry fundamentals. Industry sources estimate that
from its peak in 1982, the supply of domestic land rigs had fallen by 72%
through October 1997 as a result of normal attrition, cannibalization of
components to refurbish rigs, the inability of smaller competitors to raise
capital needed to upgrade and modernize rigs and the export of rigs to
international markets. Greater demand in the industry is evidenced by the
increase in the active domestic land rig count to 1,032 in September 1997 from
790 in September 1996, according to data published by Baker Hughes Incorporated.
The Company believes that the domestic land drilling industry is currently
experiencing utilization rates of approximately 86% for actively marketed rigs.
While these market conditions have led to increasing day rates in the Company's
core areas, the Company does not believe that such rates have reached levels
that would justify the construction of new rigs.
 
     Beyond the diminished size of the rig fleet, the domestic land drilling
industry is also benefitting from improved fundamentals among domestic oil and
gas exploration and production companies. In particular, new technologies and
improved operating efficiencies have increased drilling success rates, lowered
finding costs and enhanced the industry's profitability recently as compared to
the late 1980's and early 1990's. In addition, the financial positions of many
domestic oil and gas companies, and their access to additional capital, have
improved in recent years, affording these companies the ability to fund
aggressive drilling programs. From 1992 to 1996, the total equity market
capitalization of 35 of the largest domestic exploration and production
companies grew from approximately $255 billion to approximately $465 billion and
their aggregate annual capital expenditures increased from $10.5 billion to
$16.5 billion. The Company believes that these improved industry fundamentals
have allowed oil and gas companies to maintain more consistently active drilling
programs, even in periods of lower commodity prices.
 
     Much of the new technology being employed in the oil and gas industry has
increased demand for rigs capable of drilling deeper wells efficiently and
accurately. For example, more sophisticated and, longer life drilling motors and
measurement-while-drilling devices have made deep horizontal drilling less
expensive and more precise. Three-dimensional seismic techniques have also
increased the demand for deep rigs. This technology permits geoscientists to
develop a more complete understanding of deep, complex geology prior to drilling
a well. As shallower fields continue to deplete, oil and gas companies are
likely to continue to pursue deep drilling prospects to maintain or increase
their production levels. While demand for land rigs capable of drilling greater
than 15,000 feet has grown significantly, the supply of such rigs is limited,
contributing to rapid increases in day rates for rigs with these capabilities.
 
     Driven by expectations of improved economic returns and the fundamentals
discussed above, the domestic land drilling industry has experienced a period of
significant consolidation. In 1996, approximately 33% of the footage drilled in
the United States was drilled by only five contractors, down from 25 in 1993.
This consolidation is ongoing, and the Company believes that approximately 26
transactions involving the acquisition of approximately 404 domestic land rigs
have been announced from September 1996 through September 1997, including
acquisitions by the Company.
 
FORMATION AND ACQUISITIONS
 
     Formation Transactions. The Company was formed in December 1996 through a
series of affiliated entity transactions in which the Company became the
successor to Anadarko, the contract drilling subsidiary of privately held APLP.
In connection with the Formation Transactions (i) APLP contributed ten drilling
rigs, including two rigs requiring refurbishment, for 2,000,000 shares of Common
Stock, (ii) the Oliver Companies exchanged six drilling rigs requiring
refurbishment for 1,600,000 shares of Common Stock and (iii) Energy Spectrum
acquired 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock for cash. Additionally, Chesapeake
entered into drilling contracts with two-year terms for six of the Company's
rigs in consideration for an option to purchase 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock
(the "Chesapeake Option").
 
     Since the Formation Transactions, the Company has enhanced its original
fleet through acquisitions and refurbishment of rigs as described below.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>   42
 
     Trend Acquisition. In May 1997, the Company completed the acquisition of
Trend for $18 million in cash and 250,000 shares of Common Stock. Trend has
operated a land drilling business in the Mid-Continent region since 1976. Trend
owned 14 rigs, including three diesel electric SCR rigs and six rigs with depth
capacities of 15,000 feet or greater. The Company retained substantially all of
Trend's operating personnel.
 
     Ward Acquisition. In May 1997, the Company acquired the assets of Ward for
$8 million in cash, 400,000 shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase an
additional 200,000 shares of Common Stock. Ward has operated a land drilling
business in the Mid-Continent region since 1981. In the Ward Acquisition, the
Company acquired six drilling rigs, including three rigs with depth capacities
of 15,000 feet or greater, further enhancing its presence in the Mid-Continent
region. The Company retained substantially all of Ward's operating personnel.
 
     Bonray Acquisition. In October 1997, the Company acquired Bonray for
3,015,000 shares of Common Stock. Bonray has operated a land drilling business
in the Mid-Continent region since 1980 and prior to its acquisition by the
Company was a wholly owned subsidiary of DLB. In the Bonray Acquisition, the
Company acquired 13 rigs, including seven rigs with depth capacities of 15,000
feet or greater and two diesel electric SCR rigs. As of September 30, 1997, 12
of Bonray's rigs were operating and under contract and one was awaiting
refurbishment. The Bonray Acquisition further strengthens the Company's presence
in the Mid-Continent region, making it the leading competitor in the Oklahoma
market. The Company expects to retain substantially all of Bonray's operating
personnel.
 
     Individual Rig Acquisitions. In addition to the Trend, Ward and Bonray
Acquisitions, the Company has invested $5.5 million to acquire six rigs in five
transactions involving purchases of individual rigs or rig components. In August
1997, the Company sold one rig. See "Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions -- Other Related Party Transactions and Arrangements."
 
     Refurbishment. The Consolidation Transactions included a number of rigs in
need of refurbishment. From January 1, 1997 through September 30, 1997, the
Company completed refurbishment of 12 rigs at an average cost of approximately
$2.6 million per rig (including drill pipe). These rigs were placed in service
at various dates between January and September 30, 1997. At September 30, 1997,
the Company had six additional rigs in various stages of refurbishment. The
Company expects to place three of such rigs in service during the fourth quarter
of 1997, two in the first quarter of 1998 and one in the second half of 1998.
The Company expects the cost to refurbish these six rigs to average
approximately $3.5 million per rig (including drill pipe).
 
DRILLING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
 
     A land drilling rig consists of various components, including engines,
drawworks, a derrick or mast, substructure, pumps to circulate drilling fluid,
blowout preventers, drill pipe and related equipment. The actual drilling
capacity of a rig may be more or less than its rated drilling capacity due to
numerous factors, including the length of its drill pipe and the drilling
conditions of any particular well. The intended well depth and the drill site
conditions determine the rig, drill pipe length and other equipment needed to
complete a well. The Company's rigs can be relocated to areas where demand, well
specifications and day rates allow for maximization of gross operating margins
and utilization. Generally, land rigs operate with crews of five to six persons.
 
     The Company's fleet includes 21 rigs that are diesel electric SCR rigs and
33 that are mechanical rigs. Mechanical rigs utilize diesel engines to produce
power that is transferred to drilling equipment, such as drawworks and pumps, by
way of a compound consisting of a series of chains, sprockets and pneumatic
clutches. SCR rigs employ diesel engines that generate alternating current
electricity which is converted and transferred into amps as alternating current
or direct current electricity, which in turn drives electric motors powering the
drilling equipment. The Company believes that SCR rigs offer a number of
advantages over mechanical rigs. SCR rigs enable flexible power distribution to
selected individual drilling equipment components, providing for more precise
drilling control and efficient operation. SCR rigs are also quieter and safer
because the diesel engines are typically located away from the rig floor and
well bore, allowing for better communication among rig crews. SCR rigs are also
more easily adapted to the use of top drive drilling systems
 
                                       41
<PAGE>   43
 
which are typically electrically powered. The Company has developed a fleet that
uses the advanced drilling technology of diesel electric SCR rigs to provide
greater efficiencies to its customers, especially in deep drilling, horizontal
and directional applications, and uses mechanical rigs primarily in areas such
as the Mid-Continent region where operators target shallower well depths and
require more frequent mobility.
 
     In addition to its SCR rigs, the Company has focused its acquisitions on
rigs with efficient and flexible drilling mud systems as well as high horsepower
drawworks and mud pumps, features which give the Company a competitive advantage
in attracting premium jobs with customers engaged in multi-well horizontal
drilling programs. The majority of the Company's rigs employ diesel engines
manufactured by Caterpillar, Inc. as the rigs' main power sources. The Company
believes that such engines are lighter and more fuel efficient than other
available engines, thus saving the Company and its customers money in terms of
lower trucking costs and reduced fuel consumption.
 
     Finally, the Company has begun equipping certain of its deep drilling rigs
with top drive drilling systems. Top drives provide the Company's customers with
greater control in transferring horsepower to the bit, precise orientation of
drilling tools while drilling complex directional wells, and reduced incidence
of stuck drill pipe in high risk areas. Moreover, top drives enable the
contractor to drill in 90 foot sections (as opposed to conventional 45 foot
sections), a capability which reduces connection time, and are safer for rig
employees and equipment during tubular handling operations and in well control
situations. Currently, the Company has two rigs equipped with top drives, has
two additional top drives on order and anticipates using a portion of the
proceeds of the Offering for the purchase of additional top drives.
 
                                   RIG FLEET
 
   
     The following table identifies certain information as of September 30, 1997
regarding the rigs owned and operated by the Company (including 13 rigs acquired
in the Bonray Acquisition).
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       DEPTH                                                        HORSEPOWER
RIG   CAPACITY                                      RIG       -----------------------        CURRENT           CURRENT
NO.    (FT.)               DRAWWORKS              TYPE(1)     DRAWWORKS(2)   TOTAL(3)        OPERATOR           STATUS
<C>   <C>        <S>                             <C>          <C>            <C>        <C>                  <C>
              GULF COAST REGION
21     30,000    Continental Emsco C-3           SCR             3,000        4,400     UPR                  Working
24     25,000    National 1320-UE                SCR             2,000        3,960                          Refurbishing
11     25,000    Mid Continent U-1220-EB         SCR             2,500        3,600     Chesapeake           Working
12     25,000    Mid Continent U-1220-EB         SCR             2,500        3,600     Chesapeake           Working
14     25,000    Mid Continent U-1220-EB         SCR             2,500        3,600     Chesapeake           Working
15     25,000    Mid Continent U-1220-EB         SCR             2,500        3,600     Chesapeake           Working
16     25,000    Mid Continent U-1220-EB(4)      SCR             2,500        3,600     Chesapeake           Working
17     25,000    Mid Continent U-1220-EB         SCR             2,500        3,600     UPR                  Working
18     25,000    Mid Continent U-1220-EB         SCR             2,500        3,600     Chesapeake           Working
23     25,000    Gardner Denver 1500-E           SCR             2,000        3,600                          Refurbishing
22     25,000    National 1320-UE (4)            SCR             2,000        3,300     Chesapeake           Working
40     25,000    National 1320-UE                SCR             2,000        3,300     UPR                  Working
20     20,000    Oilwell 840-E                   SCR             1,500        2,700     UPR                  Working
7      20,000    Mid Continent U-914-C           Mechanical      1,500        2,700     Oryx                 Working
4      18,000    Mid Continent U-712-A           Mechanical      1,200        2,700     Chesapeake           Working
39     16,000    Ideco E-900                     SCR               900        2,350                          Refurbishing
             MID-CONTINENT REGION
10     25,000    Mid Continent U-1220-EB         SCR             2,500        3,600     Apache               Working
63     25,000    Gardner Denver 1500-E           SCR             2,000        3,300     Pioneer              Working
46     25,000    BDW 1350                        Mechanical      2,000        2,900     Marathon             Working
60     25,000    National 1320-M                 Mechanical      2,000        2,700     SMR                  Working
52     25,000    National 1320-M                 Mechanical      2,000        2,700     Toklan               Working
</TABLE>
 
                                       42
<PAGE>   44
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       DEPTH                                                        HORSEPOWER
RIG   CAPACITY                                      RIG       -----------------------        CURRENT           CURRENT
NO.    (FT.)               DRAWWORKS              TYPE(1)     DRAWWORKS(2)   TOTAL(3)        OPERATOR           STATUS
<C>   <C>        <S>                             <C>          <C>            <C>        <C>                  <C>
35     20,000    National 110-UE                 SCR             1,500        3,300     Vastar               Working
59     20,000    Oilwell 860                     Mechanical      1,500        2,700     St. Mary Operating   Working
19     20,000    Continental EMSCO C-1           SCR             1,500        2,700     Burlington           Working
62     20,000    Mid Continent U914              SCR             1,500        2,700     Unit Petroleum       Working
36     20,000    National 110-M                  Mechanical      1,500        2,700     Sonat                Working
61     20,000    National 110-M                  Mechanical      1,500        2,700     Sanguine             Working
5      16,000    Gardner Denver 800              Mechanical      1,000        2,900     Anadarko             Working
31     16,000    Gardner Denver 800-E            SCR             1,000        2,200     Anadarko             Working
27     16,000    National 80-B                   Mechanical      1,000        1,650                          Refurbishing
8      16,000    National 80-B                   Mechanical      1,000        1,650     Chesapeake           Working
51     16,000    Oilwell 760                     Mechanical      1,000        1,650     Brigham              Working
47     16,000    Ideco H-900                     Mechanical        900        1,650                          Refurbishing
33     15,000    Brewster N-46                   Mechanical      1,000        2,000     Sonat                Working
34     15,000    Ideco E-900                     SCR               900        1,800     Sonat                Working
32     15,000    BDW 800 MI                      Mechanical      1,000        1,650     Sonat                Working
42     15,000    Gardner Denver 700              Mechanical        800        1,650     Seagull              Working
44     15,000    Gardner Denver 700              Mechanical        800        1,650     Enron                Working
26     14,000    National 610                    Mechanical        750        1,650     ONEOK                Working
41     14,000    Mid Continent U-36A             Mechanical        600        1,650     Enron                Working
38     13,000    Mid Continent U-36A             Mechanical        600        1,650     Texaco               Working
29     13,000    Continental Emsco D-2           Mechanical        750        1,450     National Energy      Working
                                                                                        Universal
9      12,000    Gardner Denver 500              Mechanical        650        2,250     Resources            Working
57     12,000    National 55                     Mechanical        550        2,000     St. Mary Operating   Working
53     12,000    Unit U-40                       Mechanical        850        1,650     Avalon               Working
58     12,000    Ideco 750                       Mechanical        750        1,650     Oryx                 Working
43     12,000    Superior 700                    Mechanical        650        1,450                          Available
45     12,000    Gardner Denver 500              Mechanical        650        1,450     Anadarko             Working
37     11,000    Gardner Denver 500              Mechanical        650        1,900                          Available
28     11,000    BDW 650                         Mechanical        650        1,350     National Energy      Working
56     10,000    Cooper LTD 750                  Mechanical        750        1,550     Kilpatrick           Working
30     10,000    Brewster N-42                   Mechanical        550        1,725     Cross Timbers        Working
54     10,000    National 50-A                   Mechanical        450          900                          Refurbishing
55      7,500    Cooper LTD 550                  Mechanical        550        1,400     Keener Oil           Working
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) "SCR" denotes a diesel electric silicon controlled rectifier rig.
    "Mechanical" denotes a mechanical rig powered by diesel engines.
 
(2) Drawworks horsepower represents the amount of input power required to
    achieve the maximum hoisting capability of the drawworks.
 
(3) Total horsepower represents the maximum horsepower produced by a rig's
    diesel engines for consumption by the drilling equipment.
 
(4) Rigs 16 and 22 in the Gulf Coast region are each equipped with National
    PS350/500 top drives.
 
     Drilling rigs and related equipment deteriorate over time unless they are
operated and maintained properly. The Company strives to keep its drilling rigs
well maintained and technologically competitive. An active maintenance program
during the life of a drilling rig permits the maintenance, replacement and
upgrading of its components on an individual basis. Over the life of a typical
drilling rig, major components, such as engines, pumps, drawworks and drill
pipe, are replaced or rebuilt on a periodic basis as required while other
components, such as the mast and substructure, can be utilized for extended
periods of time with proper maintenance.
 
     There is a general shortage of certain drilling equipment and supplies used
in the Company's business and the Company believes these shortages may
intensify. Because, until recent years, the land drilling industry was
characterized by an oversupply of land rigs, rig manufacturers have generally
focused on the production of more expensive offshore rigs and rig equipment. As
a result, most rig manufacturers are not currently building new land rigs and
those manufacturers that are building new land rigs and components charge
premium prices (approximately $13 million for a new 2,000 horsepower rig) and
require that orders be placed at least 120 days in advance of requested
delivery. The limited availability of new rigs and equipment has caused land rig
owners and operators, including the Company, to maintain and enhance their
fleets primarily through acquisitions and refurbishments using previously
manufactured rig components and equipment. As the land drilling industry
continues to refurbish rigs using existing components and equipment, the
available supply of
 
                                       43
<PAGE>   45
 
such components and equipment continues to deplete. Additionally, a shortage of
drill pipe in the contract drilling industry has caused the price of drill pipe
to increase by more than 54% over the past 24 months and has required orders for
new drill pipe to be placed at least one year in advance of expected use. The
Company has established arrangements to meet its current needs for certain
necessary drilling equipment and supplies, including drill pipe, on satisfactory
terms, but there can be no assurance that it will continue to be able to do so.
Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Company will not experience
shortages of, or material price increases in, drilling equipment and supplies,
including drill pipe, in the future. Any such shortages could delay and
adversely affect the Company's ability to refurbish its inventory rigs and
obtain contracts for its marketed rigs.
 
CONTRACT DRILLING OPERATIONS
 
     The Company's drilling rigs are employed under individual contracts which
extend either over a stated period of time or the time required to drill a well
or a number of wells. Drilling contracts are obtained through either a
competitive bidding process or as a result of direct negotiations with
customers. Terms of the Company's drilling contracts vary based on factors such
as the complexity and risk of operations, on-site drilling conditions, type of
equipment used and the anticipated duration of the work to be performed.
Contracts are typically entered into on a single well basis and obligate the
Company to pay certain operating expenses, including wages of drilling
personnel, maintenance expenses and costs for incidental rig supplies, equipment
and local office facilities. Contracts generally are subject to termination by
the customer on short notice, but are sometimes written on a firm basis for a
specified number of wells or years. The Company has ongoing relationships with a
number of customers that often engage a specific rig for the drilling of
consecutive wells.
 
     At September 30, 1997, all of the Company's marketed rigs were operating
under daywork contracts and one rig to be acquired in the Bonray Acquisition was
operating under a footage contract. The Company and its predecessors in the past
have performed drilling services under footage and turnkey contracts and the
Company may do so again in the future. Revenues from daywork contracts accounted
for approximately 96% of total drilling revenues (excluding mobilization
revenues) during the nine months ended September 30, 1997, with the remainder
from footage contracts.
 
     Daywork Contracts.  Under daywork contracts, the Company provides a
drilling rig with required personnel to the operator, who supervises the
drilling of the well. The Company is paid based on a negotiated fixed rate per
day while the rig is utilized. The rates for the Company's services depend on
market and competitive conditions, the nature of the operations to be performed,
the duration of the work, the equipment and services to be provided, the
geographic area involved and other variables. Lower rates may be paid when the
rig is in transit, or when drilling operations are interrupted or restricted by
equipment breakdowns, actions of the customer or adverse weather conditions or
other conditions beyond the control of the Company. In addition, daywork
contracts typically provide for a lump sum fee for the mobilization and
demobilization of the drilling rig. Daywork drilling contracts generally specify
the type of equipment to be used, the size of the hole and the depth of the
well. Under a daywork drilling contract, the customer bears a large portion of
out-of-pocket costs of drilling and the Company generally bears no part of the
usual capital risks associated with oil and gas exploration (such as time delays
for various reasons, including stuck drill pipe and blowouts).
 
     Footage and Turnkey Contracts.  Under footage contracts, the Company is
paid a fixed amount for each foot drilled, regardless of the time required or
the problems encountered in drilling the well. The Company pays more of the
out-of-pocket costs associated with footage contracts compared to daywork
contracts. Under turnkey contracts, the Company contracts to drill a well to an
agreed depth under specified conditions for a fixed price, regardless of the
time required or the problems encountered in drilling the well. The Company
provides technical expertise and engineering services, as well as most of the
equipment required for the well, and is compensated when the contract terms have
been satisfied. Turnkey contracts afford an opportunity to earn a higher return
than would normally be available on daywork or footage contracts if the contract
can be completed successfully without complications.
 
                                       44
<PAGE>   46
 
     The risks to the Company under footage and turnkey contracts are
substantially greater than under daywork contracts because the Company assumes
most of the risks associated with drilling operations generally assumed by the
operator in a daywork contract, including risk of blowout, loss of hole, lost or
damaged drill pipe, machinery breakdowns, abnormal drilling conditions and risks
associated with subcontractors' services, supplies, cost escalation and
personnel. See "Risk Factors -- Risks Associated with Footage and Turnkey
Drilling."
 
CUSTOMERS AND MARKETING
 
     The Company's customers include major oil companies and independent oil and
gas producers. During the six months ended June 30, 1997 (pro forma for the
Consolidation Transactions), the three largest customers for the Company's
contract drilling services were Chesapeake, Marathon Oil Company and Sonat
Exploration Company, which accounted for approximately 22%, 10% and 6% of total
revenues, respectively.
 
     In December 1996, Chesapeake and its operating subsidiary (collectively
referred to in this paragraph as "Chesapeake") entered into drilling contracts
(the "Chesapeake Drilling Agreements") with the Company pursuant to which
Chesapeake agreed to engage six of the Company's rigs for two-year terms. Each
of the Chesapeake Drilling Agreements provides that the Company will utilize a
specified rig to drill wells at locations and to well depths as directed by
Chesapeake. The Company is compensated on a daywork basis at rates that are
subject to annual upward adjustments, in November of each year, to approximately
$100 per day less than the average then-current market rates for the areas of
operation. In the event that the Company and Chesapeake are unable to agree on
the appropriate rate adjustment for a particular rig, the Company will have the
option to terminate the contract for such rig at the conclusion of operations at
the well then being drilled. The Company has the option to extend the Chesapeake
Drilling Agreements with respect to any two of the rigs for two additional years
on the same terms provided in the Chesapeake Drilling Agreements. Chesapeake has
the option to extend each of the other four individual drilling contracts for
two additional years on the same terms. Any of the Chesapeake Drilling
Agreements may be terminated by either party in the event of total loss,
destruction or major breakdown of the applicable rig. The Company believes that
the existence of the Chesapeake Drilling Agreements has enabled it to obtain
financing on more favorable terms than would otherwise have been available. See
"Certain Relationships and Related Transactions -- The Formation
Transactions -- Chesapeake Drilling Agreements."
 
     The Company enters into informal, nonbinding commitments with many of its
customers to provide drilling rigs for future periods at agreed upon rates plus
fuel and mobilization charges, if applicable, and escalation provisions. This
practice is customary in the land drilling business during times of tightening
rig supply. Although neither the Company nor the customer is legally required to
honor these commitments, the Company strives to satisfy such commitments in
order to maintain good customer relations.
 
     The Company's sales force consists of industry professionals with
significant land drilling sales experience who utilize industry contacts and
available public data to determine how to most appropriately market available
rigs.
 
COMPETITION
 
     The contract drilling industry is a highly competitive and fragmented
business characterized by high capital and maintenance costs. As a result, even
though the Company has the fifth largest active land drilling rig fleet in the
United States, the Company believes that such fleet represents a market share of
approximately 6% of the domestic land drilling industry. Drilling contracts are
usually awarded through a competitive bid process and, while the Company
believes that operators consider factors such as quality of service, type and
location of equipment, or the ability to provide ancillary services, price and
rig availability are the primary factors in determining which contractor is
awarded a job. Certain of the Company's competitors have greater financial and
human resources than the Company, which may enable them to better withstand
periods of low rig utilization, to compete more effectively on the basis of
price and technology, to build new rigs or acquire existing rigs and to provide
rigs more quickly than the Company in periods of high rig utilization.
 
                                       45
<PAGE>   47
 
     Competition in the market for drilling rigs has caused substantial
increases in the acquisition prices paid for rigs in recent months. Such
competition could adversely affect the Company's growth strategy if it is unable
to purchase additional drilling rigs or related equipment on favorable terms.
See "Risk Factors -- Competition" and "-- Management of Growth; Risks of
Acquisition Strategy."
 
OPERATING HAZARDS AND INSURANCE
 
     The Company's operations are subject to many hazards inherent in the land
drilling business, including, for example, blowouts, cratering, fires,
explosions, loss of well control, loss of hole, damaged or lost drill strings
and damage or loss from inclement weather. These hazards could cause personal
injury or death, serious damage to or destruction of property and equipment,
suspension of drilling operations, or substantial damage to the environment,
including damage to producing formations and surrounding areas. Generally, the
Company seeks to obtain indemnification from its customers by contract for
certain of these risks. To the extent not transferred to customers by contract,
the Company seeks protection against certain of these risks through insurance,
including property casualty insurance on its rigs and drilling equipment,
commercial general liability and commercial contract indemnity, commercial
umbrella and workers' compensation insurance.
 
     The Company's insurance coverage for property damage to its rigs and
drilling equipment is based on the Company's estimate of the cost of comparable
used equipment to replace the insured property. There is a deductible per
occurrence on rigs and equipment of $500,000.
 
     The Company's third party liability insurance coverage under the general
policy is $1 million per occurrence, with a self insured retention of $100,000
per occurrence. The commercial umbrella policy has a self insured retention of
$10,000 per occurrence with coverage of $5 million per occurrence. The Company
believes that it is adequately insured for public liability and property damage
to others with respect to its operations. However, such insurance may not be
sufficient to protect the Company against liability for all consequences of well
disasters, extensive fire damage or damage to the environment. See "Risk
Factors -- Operating Hazards and Uninsured Risks."
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
 
  General
 
     The Company's operations are affected from time to time in varying degrees
by political developments and federal, state and local laws and regulations. In
particular, oil and gas production, operations and economics are or have been
affected by price controls, taxes and other laws relating to the oil and gas
industry, by changes in such laws and by changes in administrative regulations.
Although significant capital expenditures may be required to comply with such
laws and regulations, to date, such compliance costs have not had a material
adverse effect on the earnings or competitive position of the Company. In
addition, the Company's operations are vulnerable to risks arising from the
numerous laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the
environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection.
 
  Environmental Regulation
 
     The Company's activities are subject to existing federal, state and local
laws and regulations governing environmental quality, pollution control and the
preservation of natural resources. Such laws and regulations concern, among
other things, air emissions, the containment, disposal and recycling of waste
materials, and reporting of the storage, use or release of certain chemicals or
hazardous substances. Numerous federal and state environmental laws regulate
drilling activities and impose liability for discharges of waste or spills,
including those in coastal areas. The Company has conducted drilling activities
in or near ecologically sensitive areas, such as wetlands and coastal
environments, which are subject to additional regulatory requirements. State and
federal legislation also provide special protections to animal and marine life
that could be affected by the Company's activities. In general, under various
applicable environmental programs, the Company may
 
                                       46
<PAGE>   48
 
potentially be subject to regulatory enforcement action in the form of
injunctions, cease and desist orders and administrative, civil and criminal
penalties for violations of environmental laws. The Company may also be subject
to liability for natural resource damages and other civil claims arising out of
a pollution event.
 
     Except for the handling of solid wastes directly generated from the
operation and maintenance of the Company's drilling rigs, such as waste oils and
wash water, it is the Company's practice to require its customers to
contractually assume responsibility for compliance with environmental
regulations. Laws and regulations protecting the environment have become more
stringent in recent years, and may, in certain circumstances, impose strict
liability, rendering a person liable for environmental damage without regard to
negligence or fault on the part of such person. Such laws and regulations may
expose the Company to liability for the conduct of or conditions caused by
others, or for acts of the Company which were in compliance with all applicable
laws at the time such acts were performed. The application of these requirements
or adoption of new requirements could have a material adverse effect on the
Company.
 
     Environmental regulations that affect the Company's customers also have an
indirect impact on the Company. Increasingly stringent environmental regulation
of the oil and gas industry has led to higher drilling costs and a more
difficult and lengthy well permitting process.
 
     The primary environmental statutory and regulatory programs that affect the
Company's operations include the following:
 
     Oil Pollution Act and Clean Water Act.  The Oil Pollution Act of 1990
("OPA") amends certain provisions of the federal Water Pollution Control Act of
1972, commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act ("CWA"), and other statutes as
they pertain to the prevention of and response to spills or discharges of
hazardous substances or oil into navigable waters. Under OPA, a person owning or
operating a facility or equipment (including land drilling equipment) from which
there is a discharge or threat of a discharge of oil into or upon navigable
waters and adjoining shorelines is liable, regardless of fault, as a
"responsible party" for removal costs and damages. Federal law imposes strict,
joint and several liability on facility owners for containment and clean-up
costs and certain other damages, including natural resource damages, arising
from a spill.
 
     The United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") is also
authorized to seek preliminary and permanent injunctive relief and, in certain
cases, criminal penalties and fines. State laws governing the control of water
pollution also provide varying civil and criminal penalties and liabilities in
the case of releases of petroleum or its derivatives into surface waters or into
the ground. In the event that a discharge occurs at a well site at which the
Company is conducting drilling or pressure pumping operations, the Company may
be exposed to claims that it is liable under the CWA or similar state laws.
 
     Certain of the Company's operations are also subject to EPA regulations,
including regulations that require the preparation and implementation of spill
prevention control and countermeasure ("SPCC") plans to address the possible
discharge of oil into navigable waters. Where so required, the Company has SPCC
plans in place.
 
     Superfund.  The Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act, as amended ("CERCLA"), also known as the "Superfund" Law, imposes
liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on
certain classes of persons with respect to the release of a "hazardous
substance" into the environment. These persons include (i) the current owner and
operator of a facility from which hazardous substances are released, (ii) owners
and operators of a facility at the time any hazardous substances were disposed,
(iii) generators of hazardous substances who arranged for the disposal or
treatment at or transportation to such facility of hazardous substances and (iv)
transporters of hazardous substances to disposal or treatment facilities
selected by them. The Company may be responsible under CERCLA for all or part of
the costs to clean up sites at which hazardous substances have been released. To
date, however, the Company has not been named a potentially responsible party
under CERCLA or any similar state Superfund laws.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>   49
 
     Hazardous Waste Disposal.  The Company's operations involve the generation
or handling of materials that may be classified as hazardous waste and subject
to the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and comparable state
statutes. The EPA and various state agencies have limited the disposal options
for certain hazardous and nonhazardous wastes and is considering the adoption of
stricter handling and disposal standards for nonhazardous wastes.
 
     As part of the Bonray Acquisition, the Company acquired an equipment yard
which may require certain expenditures or remedial actions for the removal or
cleanup of contamination. In exchange for a $1 million cash payment to the
Company at closing, the Company did not require DLB to indemnify the Company
with respect to such expenditures or remedial actions. While the Company has not
yet had an opportunity to review whether and to what extent such expenditures or
remedial actions may be necessary or advisable, based on the presently available
information, the Company does not believe that such expenditures will exceed $1
million. Management believes that the Company and its operations are in material
compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.
 
  Health and Safety Matters
 
     The Company's facilities and operations are also governed by laws and
regulations, including the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act ("OSHA"),
relating to worker health and workplace safety. As an example, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration has issued the Hazard Communication Standard
("HCS") requiring employers to identify the chemical hazards at their facilities
and to educate employees about these hazards. HCS applies to all private-sector
employers, including the oil and gas exploration and producing industry. HCS
requires that employers assess their chemical hazards, obtain and maintain
certain written descriptions of these hazards, develop a hazard communication
program and train employees to work safely with the chemicals on site. Failure
to comply with the requirements of the standard may result in administrative,
civil and criminal penalties. The Company believes that appropriate precautions
are taken to protect employees and others from harmful exposure to materials
handled and managed at its facilities and that it operates in substantial
compliance with all OSHA regulations. While it is not anticipated that the
Company will be required in the near future to expend material amounts by reason
of such health and safety laws and regulations, the Company is unable to predict
the ultimate cost of compliance with these changing regulations.
 
FACILITIES AND OTHER PROPERTY
 
     The Company leases approximately 7,500 square feet of office space for its
principal executive offices in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at a cost of
approximately $7,000 per month. In addition, the Company owns approximately ten
acres of land in El Reno, Oklahoma and five acres of land in Weatherford,
Oklahoma that it uses for rig storage and maintenance. The Company has
negotiated the lease of a facility in Houston, Texas that includes approximately
5,000 square feet of warehouse space and 1,300 square feet of office space. As
part of the Bonray Acquisition, the Company acquired approximately 40 acres of
land in Oklahoma City with facilities including 3,600 square feet of office
space, an 8,000 square foot repair shop and three warehouses. The Company
considers all of its facilities to be in good operating condition and adequate
for their present uses.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
     As of September 30, 1997, giving effect to the Bonray Acquisition, the
Company had approximately 910 employees, of which approximately 110 were
salaried and approximately 800 were employed on an hourly basis. None of the
Company's employees is represented by any collective bargaining unit. Management
believes that the Company's relationship with its employees is good.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>   50
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
     The Company is involved in litigation from time to time in the ordinary
course of its business. As of September 30, 1997, the Company was not a party in
any commercial litigation, but was involved in several workers' compensation
claims. Management does not believe that any litigation in which the Company
currently is involved, individually or in the aggregate, is material to the
Company's financial condition or results of operations.
 
                                       49
<PAGE>   51
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Company's
directors and executive officers, including their respective ages.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                NAME                   AGE                      POSITION
<S>                                    <C>   <C>
James E. Brown.......................   45   Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
                                               Executive Officer
Edward S. Jacob, III.................   45   Executive Vice President -- Operations &
                                             Marketing
David E. Grose.......................   45   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Carl B. Anderson, III................   42   Director
Merrill A. Miller, Jr................   47   Director
Sidney L. Tassin.....................   40   Director
Lew O. Ward..........................   67   Director
</TABLE>
 
     James E. Brown is Chairman of the Board and has served as President and
Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the Company since its formation in
1996. From 1992 until joining the Company in 1996, Mr. Brown served as President
of Anadarko Drilling Company, an Oklahoma general partnership and the
predecessor of the Company. From 1982 through 1992, Mr. Brown served as Chief
Financial Officer of AnSon Gas Corporation and its predecessor entities. From
1979 through 1982, Mr. Brown served as Vice President, Treasurer and Controller
of Blocker Energy Corporation. Prior thereto, Mr. Brown served as an accountant
in various positions with Arthur Andersen & Co.
 
     Edward S. Jacob, III has served as Executive Vice President -- Operations &
Marketing since April 1997 and prior thereto served as Vice President of
Operations and Marketing for the Company since its formation. From 1983 until
joining the Company, Mr. Jacob was employed by Helmerich & Payne International
Drilling Co., serving as U.S. Marketing Manager from 1990 through 1996. Mr.
Jacob is a Director of the International Association of Drilling Contractors
("IADC"), serving on its Contracts and Marketing Committee, and is a former IADC
Chapter Chairman.
 
     David E. Grose has served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
the Company since July 1997. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Grose was
affiliated with Alexander Energy Corporation from its inception in March 1980,
serving from 1987 through 1996 as a director and Vice President, Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer. In August 1996, National Energy Group acquired
Alexander Energy Corporation and Mr. Grose served as Vice President -- Finance
and Treasurer through February 1997.
 
     Carl B. Anderson, III has served as a director of the Company since its
formation in December 1996. Since 1994, Mr. Anderson has served as Managing
General Partner and Chief Executive Officer of APLP, a diversified energy
company and parent of Anadarko, the Company's predecessor. From 1978 through
1994, Mr. Anderson served in various capacities for APLP.
 
     Merrill A. Miller, Jr. has served as a director of the Company since
October 1997. Since February 1996, Mr. Miller has served in various capacities
for National-Oilwell, Inc., a publicly traded oilfield services company,
including President of its Products & Technology Group since May 1997, Vice
President and General Manager of Drilling Systems since July 1996 and Vice
President of Marketing, Drilling Systems from February 1996 through July 1996.
Prior thereto, Mr. Miller served in various capacities for Anadarko, the
Company's predecessor, from January 1995 through February 1996. From May 1980
through January 1995, Mr. Miller served in various capacities with Helmerich &
Payne International Drilling Co., including Vice President of U.S. Operations.
 
     Sidney L. Tassin has served as a director of the Company since its
formation in 1996. Since March 1996, Mr. Tassin has been the President of Energy
Spectrum Capital LP, the general partner of Energy Spectrum, an equity fund that
invests in the energy industry. From 1980 to 1994, Mr. Tassin was associated
with MESA
 
                                       50
<PAGE>   52
 
Inc., serving in various financial executive capacities, including Vice
President -- Finance from 1986 to 1988 and President of BTC Partners Inc., a
financial and strategic consultant to MESA Inc., from 1988 to 1994.
 
     Lew O. Ward has served as a director of the Company since May 1997. Since
1981, Mr. Ward has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ward
Petroleum Corporation, an independent oil and gas company founded by Mr. Ward.
Mr. Ward is a former Director and Area Vice President of the Independent
Petroleum Association of America ("IPAA") and currently serves as Chairman of
the IPAA.
 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
     Board Composition.  The Board is currently composed of five directors.
Following consummation of the Offering and pursuant to the Stockholders and
Voting Agreement, DLB will be entitled to nominate a sixth member of the Board.
Directors are elected for one-year terms at each annual meeting of stockholders.
Three of the Company's current directors were elected pursuant to the terms of
the Stockholders and Voting Agreement. See "Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions -- Stockholders and Voting Agreement."
 
     Board Committees. The Company has established two standing committees of
the Board: a Compensation Committee and an Audit Committee. The current members
of the Compensation Committee are Carl B. Anderson, III and Sidney L. Tassin.
The Compensation Committee recommends to the Board the base salaries and
incentive bonuses for the officers of the Company and is charged with
administering the Company Stock Plans. The current members of the Audit
Committee are Sidney L. Tassin and Lew O. Ward. The Audit Committee reviews the
functions of the Company's management and independent auditors pertaining to the
Company's financial statements and performs such other related duties and
functions as are deemed appropriate by the Audit Committee or the Board. The
Board does not have a standing nominating committee or other committee
performing similar functions.
 
     Director Compensation.  Directors who are also employees of the Company are
not compensated for service on the Board or on any committee of the Board. Under
the compensation policy to become effective upon consummation of the Offering,
non-employee directors will receive an annual retainer of $10,000. Additionally,
all directors of the Company are entitled to reimbursement for their reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses in connection with their travel to and attendance at
meetings of the Board or committees thereof. In October 1997, the Company
adopted the Director Stock Plan pursuant to which each non-employee director is
entitled to receive (i) upon the later of the consummation of the Offering and
such director's initial election to the Board, an option to purchase 15,000
shares of Common Stock and (ii) immediately following each annual meeting at
which such director is reelected to the Board, an option to purchase 5,000
shares of Common Stock. Such non-employee directors are also entitled under the
Director Stock Plan to elect to receive options to purchase Common Stock in lieu
of their annual cash retainer and to receive certain other stock option awards.
Directors who are also employees of the Company are not eligible to receive
awards under the Director Stock Plan. See "-- 1997 Non-Employee Directors' Stock
Option Plan."
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     Because the Company was formed in December 1996, total compensation awarded
to or earned by James E. Brown, the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, for the Company's last fiscal year included
$9,167 in salary, an option to purchase 200,000 shares of Common Stock and $900
in other compensation. No options to purchase Common Stock were exercised by Mr.
Brown at any time during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996. No executive
officer of the Company received salary and bonus in excess of $100,000 for
services rendered in all capacities during such fiscal year. For anticipated
executive compensation levels in 1997 and beyond, see "-- Executive Salaries and
Employment Agreements."
 
     On December 10, 1996, the Company granted Mr. Brown an option (the "1996
Brown Option") to purchase 200,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price
of $5 per share, becoming exercisable with respect to 20% of the underlying
shares each anniversary of the grant date. The option terminates as to any
unexercised portion on December 10, 2002. The potential realizable values of the
1996 Brown Option,
 
                                       51
<PAGE>   53
 
assuming that the market price of the Common Stock appreciates in value from $5
per share (the estimated market price of the Common Stock based upon the cash
price paid for shares of Common Stock by an independent third party in a
separate transaction consummated on the date of grant) through the end of the
option term at annualized rates of 5% and 10%, would be $340,096 and $771,561,
respectively. If the 1996 Brown Option was fully exercisable and exercised on
the date of the Offering, the realized value of the option would be $3.2
million, assuming an initial public offering price of $21.00 per share. The
Company did not grant any options to purchase Common Stock to any other
executive officer or other employee of the Company during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996. The Company has not granted any stock appreciation rights.
 
     The Company adopted the Employee Stock Plan in April 1997 and made the
terms thereof applicable to the 1996 Brown Option. Through October 16, 1997 and
including the 1996 Brown Option, the Company had granted to James E. Brown,
Edward S. Jacob, III, and David E. Grose options to purchase 200,000, 50,000 and
50,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively, at exercise prices of $5, $5 and
$10 per share, respectively. Additionally, the Company has granted to Mr. Brown
and Mr. Jacob, subject to the closing of the Offering, options to purchase
200,000 and 100,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively, at an exercise price
equal to the initial public offering price. None of such options has been
exercised, and all of such options remain outstanding, as of the date of this
Prospectus. Each of the option agreements relating to stock options granted
under the Employee Stock Plan provides for the vesting of 20% of the shares
subject to the option each year beginning on the first anniversary of the date
of grant. The option ceases to be exercisable on the earliest of (i) the sixth
anniversary of the date of grant, (ii) the date of the employee's voluntary
termination of employment with the Company or the Company's termination of the
employee's employment for Due Cause (as defined in the employee's employment
agreement) or (iii) the date that is 90 days after termination of the employee's
employment by means of retirement, disability or death. In the event of a Change
of Control (as defined in the Employee Stock Plan), the committee that is
charged with administering the Employee Stock Plan (the "Committee") may
accelerate the exercisability of the options or take certain other actions
provided in the Employee Stock Plan. See "-- 1997 Stock Option and Stock Award
Plan." The options are exercisable for cash, or in the Committee's discretion,
in an acceptable equivalent, by the assignment of shares of Common Stock owned
by the option holder or the surrender of another Incentive Award (as hereinafter
defined).
 
     The Company and James E. Brown are parties to a restricted stock award
agreement (the "Restricted Stock Award Agreement") pursuant to which Mr. Brown
purchased 100,000 shares (the "Restricted Shares") of Common Stock at a price of
$2.50 per share in February 1997. The Restricted Stock Award Agreement provides
for vesting of the Restricted Shares at a rate of 20% per year beginning on
December 10, 1997. Mr. Brown is required to remain continuously employed by the
Company through each vesting date for the applicable portion of the Restricted
Shares to vest and, prior to vesting, the Restricted Shares are not
transferable. In the event of termination of Mr. Brown's employment due to a
Change of Control (as defined in the Employee Stock Plan), all Restricted Shares
will vest immediately and all restrictions on transfer will terminate. If Mr.
Brown's employment with the Company terminates for any other reason, all
unvested Restricted Shares (the "Unvested Shares") will no longer be eligible
for vesting but, under certain circumstances, will be eligible for purchase by
the Company or Mr. Brown, as applicable. If Mr. Brown resigns or is terminated
by the Company for Due Cause (as defined in the Restricted Stock Award
Agreement), the Company may purchase the Unvested Shares from Mr. Brown for
$2.50 per share. If the Company elects not to purchase the Unvested Shares from
Mr. Brown, Mr. Brown will forfeit such Unvested Shares to the Company without
any payment therefor. If the Company terminates Mr. Brown's employment for any
reason other than Due Cause or if Mr. Brown's employment with the Company
terminates due to the death or disability of Mr. Brown, Mr. Brown may keep the
Unvested Shares by paying the Company an additional $5.00 per share. If Mr.
Brown elects not to make such additional payment, the Company may purchase the
Unvested Shares from Mr. Brown for $2.50 per share or allow Mr. Brown to keep
the Unvested Shares.
 
                                       52
<PAGE>   54
 
EXECUTIVE SALARIES AND EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
     The Company has entered into employment agreements with James E. Brown,
Edward S. Jacob, III and David E. Grose. The aggregate of the annual salaries
for all three executive officers (taken as a group) at the completion of the
Offering will be $375,000.
 
     Pursuant to an employment agreement dated December 10, 1996 (the "Brown
Agreement"), James E. Brown is employed as President of the Company and, if
elected by the Board, the Chairman of the Board. The Brown Agreement provides
that Mr. Brown will receive an annual salary of not less than $120,000, subject
to annual adjustment in the sole discretion of the Board based upon the
performance and accomplishments of Mr. Brown. Upon consummation of the Offering,
Mr. Brown's annual salary will be $140,000. If the Company's earnings before
deducting interest, taxes and depreciation during any full quarterly period
equal or exceed the greater of (i) $1.5 million or (ii) 5% of the sum of the
Company's stockholders' equity and long-term debt (averaged on a daily basis
throughout such quarterly period), then Mr. Brown will be eligible to receive a
quarterly bonus of $12,500. The Brown Agreement also provides for the grant of
non-transferrable options to purchase 200,000 shares of Common Stock at an
exercise price of $5 per share, which options are subject to vesting and other
restrictions provided in an option agreement. Pursuant to the Brown Agreement,
Mr. Brown purchased 100,000 shares of restricted Common Stock which are subject
to vesting in equal amounts annually over a five year period and other
restrictions provided in the agreement, including Mr. Brown's continued
employment with the Company and Mr. Brown's right, under certain circumstances,
to purchase unvested shares for $2.50 per share. See "-- Executive
Compensation." Mr. Brown is also entitled to reimbursement of reasonable
business expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties, as well as
certain fringe benefits. The initial term of the Brown Agreement expires on
November 30, 1998 and is subject to extension for additional one-year periods by
mutual consent of Mr. Brown and the Company. In the event Mr. Brown's employment
is terminated by Mr. Brown voluntarily or by the Company for due cause, Mr.
Brown has agreed, for a period of two years thereafter, not to take certain
actions in competition with the Company in the states of Oklahoma, Texas, New
Mexico, Louisiana or any other state in which the Company then owns, leases or
operates its assets. If, in the event of a Change of Control (as defined in the
Brown Agreement), Mr. Brown is terminated without due cause or Mr. Brown
voluntarily elects to terminate his employment for any reason, then Mr. Brown
will be entitled to continue to receive his base salary and other employee
benefits through the remaining term of the Brown Agreement and to receive a cash
payment in an amount equal to any earned but unpaid quarterly bonus for the
previous quarter.
 
     The Company has entered into employment agreements dated as of January 1,
1997 with Edward S. Jacob, III (the "Jacob Agreement") and July 16, 1997 with
David E. Grose (the "Grose Agreement" and collectively with the Jacob Agreement,
the "Executive Agreements"). Pursuant to the Executive Agreements, Mr. Jacob is
employed as Executive Vice President -- Operations & Marketing and Mr. Grose is
employed as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The Jacob Agreement
provides that Mr. Jacob will receive an annual salary of not less than $105,000
in 1997 and $115,000 in 1998, subject to annual adjustment in the sole
discretion of the Board based upon performance and accomplishments of Mr. Jacob.
Upon consummation of the Offering, Mr. Jacob's annual salary will be $130,000.
The Grose Agreement provides that Mr. Grose will receive an annual salary of not
less than $105,000, subject to annual adjustment in the sole discretion of the
Board based upon performance and accomplishments of Mr. Grose. If the Company's
earnings before deducting interest, taxes and depreciation during any full
quarterly period equal or exceed the greater of (i) $1.5 million or (ii) 5% of
the sum of the Company's stockholders' equity and long-term debt (averaged on a
daily basis throughout such quarterly period), then each of Messrs. Jacob and
Grose will be eligible to receive a quarterly bonus of $5,000. The Executive
Agreements also provide for the grant of non-transferrable options to purchase
50,000 shares of Common Stock to each of Messrs. Jacob and Grose at an exercise
price of $5 per share, for Mr. Jacob, and $10 per share, for Mr. Grose. Such
options were granted to Mr. Jacob on January 1, 1997 and to Mr. Grose on July
16, 1997 and are subject to vesting and other restrictions. Such options
generally become exercisable in equal annual amounts over five years. Each of
Messrs. Jacob and Grose are entitled to reimbursement of reasonable business
expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties, as well as certain
fringe benefits. The Jacob Agreement also provided for payment to Mr. Jacob of a
relocation allowance of $50,000, which was paid by the Company in January 1997.
The initial terms of the
 
                                       53
<PAGE>   55
 
Jacob Agreement and the Grose Agreement expire on December 31, 1998 and June 30,
1999, respectively, and are subject to extension for additional one-year periods
by mutual consent. Each of the Executive Agreements provides that if the
applicable executive officer's employment is terminated by the executive
voluntarily or by the Company for due cause, for a period of two years
thereafter, the executive will not take certain actions in competition with the
Company in the states of Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana or any other
state in which the Company then owns, leases or operates its assets. If, in the
event of a Change of Control (as defined in the Executive Agreement), the
executive is terminated without due cause or the executive voluntarily elects to
terminate his employment for any reason, then the executive will be entitled to
continue to receive his base salary and other employee benefits through the
remaining term of his Executive Agreement and to receive a cash payment in an
amount equal to any earned but unpaid quarterly bonus for the previous quarter.
 
1997 STOCK OPTION AND STOCK AWARD PLAN
 
     The description set forth below represents a summary of the principal terms
and conditions of the Employee Stock Plan and does not purport to be complete.
Such description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Employee Stock
Plan, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
  General
 
     Purpose. The Company adopted the Employee Stock Plan for the purposes of
strengthening the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to attract,
motivate and retain employees of superior capability and encouraging valued
employees to have a proprietary interest in the Company. To accomplish these
purposes, the Employee Stock Plan provides terms upon which certain eligible
employees of the Company and its subsidiaries may be granted stock options
("Options"), stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), restricted stock, performance
units, performance shares or phantom stock rights (collectively, "Incentive
Awards").
 
     Administration. The Employee Stock Plan is administered by a committee (the
"Committee") consisting of two or more non-employee members of the Board elected
to the Committee by a majority of the Board. Presently, the members of the
Committee are Carl B. Anderson, III and Sidney L. Tassin. Subject to the terms
of the Employee Stock Plan, the Committee has the ability to (i) determine,
among other things, which full-time employees (by individual or by class) are
eligible to receive Incentive Awards and the time or times at which Incentive
Awards are granted, (ii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock,
Options, SARs, restricted stock awards, performance units or shares or phantom
stock rights that will be subject to each Incentive Award and the terms and
provisions of each Incentive Award, (iii) interpret the Employee Stock Plan and
agreements thereunder, (iv) prescribe, amend and rescind any rules relating to
the Employee Stock Plan and (v) make all other determinations necessary for
Employee Stock Plan administration.
 
     Shares Subject to Employee Stock Plan. Initially, an aggregate of 1,600,000
shares of Common Stock (subject to certain adjustments) may be issued,
transferred or exercised pursuant to Incentive Awards under the Employee Stock
Plan. If the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock
increases, (other than any increase due to issuances of Common Stock in
connection with Incentive Awards under the Employee Stock Plan), then the number
of shares reserved under the Employee Stock Plan will be increased one time per
year, each January 1 during the existence of the plan, such that the number of
shares reserved and available for issuance under the Employee Stock Plan will
equal 10% of the total number of shares of issued and outstanding Common Stock.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, only a total of 400,000 of the original 1,600,000
shares of Common Stock reserved under the Employee Stock Plan may be issued,
transferred or exercised pursuant to incentive stock options ("ISOs") that
comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code under the Employee Stock
Plan, and the number of shares eligible for such treatment as ISOs shall not be
subject to annual adjustment. At the discretion of the Board or the Committee,
the shares of Common Stock delivered under the Employee Stock Plan may be made
available from (i) authorized but unissued
 
                                       54
<PAGE>   56
 
shares, (ii) treasury shares or (iii) previously issued but reacquired shares
(or through a combination thereof).
 
     Eligibility and Participation. The Employee Stock Plan authorizes the
Committee to designate, by individual or class, those persons who are eligible
to receive Incentive Awards under the Plan ("Participants"). Participants must
be employed on a full-time basis by the Company or its subsidiaries. Members of
the Board who are not officers or employees of the Company may not be
Participants.
 
  Incentive Awards
 
     Except to the extent that the Committee in a written agreement evidencing
an Incentive Award (an "Incentive Award Agreement") or the Employee Stock Plan
provides otherwise, Incentive Awards vest and become exercisable in equal
amounts on the first, second, third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of their
grant. For purposes of all Incentive Awards under the Employee Stock Plan, the
term "Fair Market Value" means the closing price per share of such Common Stock
on the principal stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is
traded or listed on the date of grant or other specified measuring date, or, if
there shall have been no such price so reported or listed on that date, on the
last preceding date on which a price was so reported or listed. If Common Stock
is not publicly traded, then "Fair Market Value" shall mean the value of a share
of Common Stock, as determined by the Committee, in the Committee's sole and
absolute discretion, at least annually. The Committee may utilize the services
of an independent third party in determining the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock for this purpose. The types of Incentive Awards that may be made under the
Employee Stock Plan are as follows:
 
     Options. Options are rights to purchase a specified number of shares of
Common Stock at a specified price. An Option granted pursuant to the Employee
Stock Plan may consist of either an ISO or a non-qualified stock option ("NQSO")
that does not comply with the requirements of section 422 of the Code. ISOs may
not be granted to any employee who owns or would own immediately after the grant
of such ISO, directly or indirectly, stock possessing more than 10% of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (unless at the time
of such grant, the incentive stock option price is at least 110% of fair market
value and such Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from
the date of grant). The exercise price for an ISO must be at least equal to fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant and the term of such
option cannot be greater than 10 years. The exercise price for a NQSO must be
equal to at least the greater of (i) the par value of the Common Stock or (ii)
50% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The
exercise price of an Option is payable in cash or an equivalent acceptable to
the Committee. At the discretion of the Committee, the exercise price for an
Option may be paid in Common Stock valued at fair market value on the exercise
date, another Incentive Award valued at fair market value, or a combination
thereof equal in value to the exercise price. Subject to the foregoing, the
exercise price and other terms and conditions relating to each Option are
determined by the Committee at the time of grant.
 
     Stock Appreciation Rights. SARs are rights to receive a payment, in cash or
Common Stock, equal to the excess of the fair market value of a specified number
of shares of Common Stock on the date of exercise over a specified strike price.
The Committee may grant SARs in connection with an Option (either at the time of
grant or at any time during the term of the Option) or without relation to an
Option. For SARs related to Options, the applicable strike price is the exercise
price of the related Stock Option and for SARs granted without relationship to
an Option, the applicable strike price is the fair market value of a share of
Common Stock on the date of grant of the SAR. Options related to SARs cease to
be exercisable when the SAR is exercised. Subject to certain exceptions, an SAR
granted in connection with an Option is exercisable at such time or times and
only to the extent that the related Option is exercisable, and may not be
disposed by the holder except to the extent that such related Option may be
disposed. The Committee may provide at the date of grant of an SAR for a limit
on the amount payable upon exercise of the SAR. Any such limitation must be
noted in the agreement evidencing the holder's SAR.
 
     Restricted Stock Awards. The Committee may grant shares of restricted stock
pursuant to the Employee Stock Plan. Shares of restricted stock may not be
disposed of until the restrictions are removed or expire, and
 
                                       55
<PAGE>   57
 
the Committee may impose other conditions on such shares as it may deem
advisable. The restrictions upon restricted stock awards lapse as determined by
the Committee, subject to certain other lapse provisions. Shares of restricted
stock may remain subject to certain restrictions as set forth in the restricted
stock agreement. Each restricted stock award may have a different restriction
period, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its
discretion, prospectively change the restriction period applicable to a
particular restricted stock award. Subject to certain provisions, the Committee
may, in its discretion, determine what rights, if any, a grantee of a restricted
stock award will have with respect to such stock, including the right to vote
the shares and receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with
respect thereto.
 
     Performance Awards. Performance units or performance shares (collectively,
"Performance Awards") may be granted under the Employee Stock Plan subject to
the attainment of one or more performance goals. Performance goals may relate to
any financial, production, sales or cost performance objectives determined by
the Committee at the beginning of a designated period. If minimum performance is
achieved or exceeded, the value of a Performance Award will be based on the
degree to which actual performance exceeds the preestablished minimum
performance standards. The Committee may, at any time, modify the performance
measures previously established for a Performance Award as it considers
appropriate and equitable. Payments with respect to Performance Awards are made
in cash or Common Stock valued at fair market value as of the close of the
applicable performance period (or a combination of both) in the discretion of
the Committee following the close of the applicable performance period.
 
     Phantom Stock Rights. Phantom stock rights entitle a holder, upon
conversion, to receive payment of cash or in shares of Common Stock valued at
fair market value on the date of conversion of the phantom stock right (or both)
in the discretion of the Committee. Upon conversion of a phantom stock right,
the Participant shall be entitled to receive payment of an amount determined by
multiplying (i) the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of
conversion, by (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock as to which such
phantom stock right has been converted. Any payment of shares of Common Stock
upon conversion of a phantom stock right may be made in shares of restricted
stock.
 
  Additional Provisions of the Employee Stock Plan
 
     Expiration of Incentive Awards and Effects of Employment Separation. Except
to the extent that the Committee provides otherwise in an Incentive Award
Agreement, Incentive Awards (whether or not vested) expire immediately or are
forfeited by the recipient upon termination of such recipient's employment with
the Company or any subsidiary employing such recipient for any reason other than
death, disability or retirement. Most, if not all, of the Incentive Award
Agreements provide that vested Incentive Awards are not forfeited if the
recipient is terminated for reasons other than Due Cause (as defined in the
Incentive Award Agreement). Upon death, retirement, or disability resulting in
the cessation of an employee's employment with the Company or its subsidiaries,
any unexercised Options or SARs or outstanding phantom stock rights terminate on
the date that is 90 days following the date of death, retirement or disability
(unless it expires by its terms on an earlier date). In the event of death,
disability or retirement, or other reasons that the Committee deems appropriate,
the Performance Awards will continue after the date of the applicable event for
such period of time as determined by the Committee, subject to the terms of the
Incentive Award Agreement or any other applicable agreement, but only to the
extent exercisable on the date of the applicable event.
 
     If a holder of a restricted stock award ceases to be an employee because of
retirement, death, permanent and total disability, or because of other reasons
as the Committee deems appropriate, the Committee may determine that
restrictions on all or some portion of the restricted stock award subject to
restrictions at the time of such employment termination will be deemed to have
lapsed. If an eligible employee who has purchased restricted stock under the
Employee Stock Plan terminates employment with the Company for any reason, then
all shares of restricted stock that have not previously vested will be
repurchased by the Company at the cost paid by such employee. In addition, upon
an eligible employee's termination of employment with the Company and all of its
subsidiaries for any reason (including by reason of death or disability), the
 
                                       56
<PAGE>   58
 
Company has the right to purchase from such employee all shares of Common Stock
awarded under the Employee Stock Plan on the terms and conditions set forth in
the applicable Incentive Award.
 
     Adjustment Provisions. The Employee Stock Plan provides that upon the
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, certain types of reorganizations,
mergers or consolidations, the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company, or a "change of control" (as defined in the Employee Stock Plan),
the Committee may determine (without stockholder approval), subject to the terms
of any applicable agreement evidencing an Incentive Award, that (i) all or some
Incentive Awards then outstanding under the Employee Stock Plan will be fully
vested and exercisable or convertible, as applicable, (ii) some or all
restrictions on restricted stock lapse immediately, or (iii) there will be a
substitution of new Incentive Awards by such successor employer corporation or a
parent or subsidiary company therefor, with appropriate adjustments as to the
number and kind of shares or units subject to such awards and prices. In
addition, in the event of a "change of control," the Committee may take certain
actions, without stockholder approval, including but not limited to (i)
acceleration of the exercise dates of any outstanding SARs or Options or
immediate vesting, (ii) acceleration of the restriction (lapse of forfeiture
provision) period of any restricted stock award, (iii) grants of SARs to holders
of outstanding Options, (iv) payment of cash to holders of Options in exchange
for the cancellation of their outstanding Options, (v) payment for outstanding
Performance Awards, (vi) acceleration of the conversion dates of outstanding
phantom stock rights, (vii) grants of new Incentive Awards or (viii) other
adjustments or amendments to outstanding Incentive Awards.
 
     Transfer of Incentive Awards. No Incentive Award and no right under the
Employee Stock Plan, contingent or otherwise, may be assigned, transferred or
otherwise disposed by a recipient other than pursuant to a court order, by will
or beneficiary designation, or pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution.
Pursuant to the Employee Stock Plan, so long as the Common Stock has not been
publicly traded for at least 90 days, any Common Stock obtained pursuant to an
Incentive Award will be subject to the Company's right of first purchase for the
price and upon the other terms provided in the Incentive Award agreement if the
holder of such shares intends to transfer them. In addition, upon an employee's
death, the Company has the right to purchase all or some of the Common Stock
that such employee obtained pursuant to an Incentive Award at its fair market
value within nine months of the employee's death.
 
     Amendment and Termination of the Employee Stock Plan. Subject to
stockholder approval where expressly required by law, the Board may amend,
suspend or terminate the Employee Stock Plan at any time. No amendment, unless
approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of voting stock
of the Company may (i) change the class of persons eligible to receive Incentive
Awards, (ii) materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants, (iii)
increase by more than 10% the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the
Employee Stock Plan (except for certain adjustments required by the Employee
Stock Plan) or (iv) transfer the administration of the Employee Stock Plan to
any person who is not a nonemployee director. Except as otherwise provided in
the Employee Stock Plan, the Committee may not, without the Participant's
consent, modify the terms and conditions of an Incentive Award. No amendment,
suspension, or termination of the Employee Stock Plan may, without the
Participant's consent, alter, terminate or impair any right or obligation under
any Incentive Award previously granted under the Employee Stock Plan. Unless
previously terminated, the Employee Stock Plan will terminate and no more
Incentive Awards may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the adoption of
the Employee Stock Plan by the Board. The Employee Stock Plan will continue in
effect with respect to Incentive Awards granted before termination of the
Employee Stock Plan and until such Incentive Awards have been settled,
terminated or forfeited.
 
   
1997 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
    
 
     The description set forth below represents a summary of the principal terms
and conditions of the Director Stock Plan and does not purport to be complete.
Such description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Director Stock
Plan, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
                                       57
<PAGE>   59
 
  General
 
     Purpose. The Company adopted the Director Stock Plan for the purposes of
strengthening the ability of the Company to attract and retain experienced and
knowledgeable independent individuals to act as non-employee directors of the
Company and encouraging such directors to have a proprietary interest in the
Company. To accomplish these purposes, the Director Stock Plan provides terms
upon which members of the Board who are not employees of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries ("non-employee directors") will be granted non-qualified
Options.
 
     Administration. The Director Stock Plan is administered by a committee (the
"Director Plan Committee") consisting of two or more non-employee directors
elected to the Committee by a majority of the Board. Currently, the members of
the Director Plan Committee are Carl B. Anderson, III and Sidney L. Tassin.
Subject to the terms of the Director Stock Plan, the Director Plan Committee has
the ability to (i) determine the terms and provisions of the agreements under
which Options are granted under the Director Stock Plan, (ii) to interpret the
Director Stock Plan and the agreements thereunder, (iii) to prescribe, amend and
rescind any rules relating to the Director Stock Plan and (iv) to make all other
determinations necessary for the administration of the Director Stock Plan. The
Director Plan Committee does not have discretion or authority to disregard or
change any of the terms and conditions under which Options are granted to non-
employee directors.
 
     Shares Subject to Director Stock Plan. Initially, an aggregate of 200,000
shares of Common Stock may be issued, transferred or exercised pursuant to
Options under the Director Stock Plan (the "Authorized Shares"). If the total
number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock increases after the
consummation of the Offering (other than any increase due to issuances of Common
Stock in connection with awards of Options under the Director Stock Plan), then
the number of Authorized Shares will automatically increase one time per year,
commencing January 1, 1998 and occurring each January 1 thereafter during the
existence of the Director Stock Plan, by a sufficient number of shares of Common
Stock such that the number of Authorized Shares reserved and available for
issuance under the Plan shall equal 1.2% of the total number of shares of issued
and outstanding Common Stock. At the discretion of the Board or the Director
Plan Committee, the shares of Common Stock delivered under the Director Stock
Plan may be made available from (i) authorized but unissued shares, (ii)
treasury shares or (iii) previously issued but reacquired shares (or through a
combination thereof).
 
     Eligibility and Participation. Each non-employee director is automatically
eligible to participate in the Director Stock Plan unless he does not retain the
annual retainer to which he is entitled for service on the Board. No
non-employee director may be issued an Option to acquire more than 15,000 shares
of Common Stock in any plan year.
 
  Options
 
     Automatic Initial and Annual Awards of Options. Upon the consummation of
the Offering, each person who is then a non-employee director will receive, and
thereafter on the date at which a person first becomes a non-employee director,
such non-employee director will receive, a one-time grant of an Option to
acquire 15,000 shares of Common Stock (an "Initial Award"). In each year
succeeding the year in which a non-employee director receives an Initial Award,
the non-employee director, if reelected to the Board, will be granted an
additional Option to acquire 5,000 shares of Common Stock (an "Annual Award").
Annual Awards will be made as of the date of the Company's regular annual
meeting of stockholders and will be immediately exercisable. No Option granted
as an Initial Award or Annual Award will be exercisable after the tenth
anniversary of the date of grant.
 
     Retainer Options. Under the Director Stock Plan, a non-employee director
may elect to receive, in lieu of any or all of the annual cash retainer he would
otherwise receive in cash during the succeeding plan year (currently $10,000
annually), Options for the purchase of a number of shares equal to the amount of
the annual retainer so forgone divided by the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the date of grant.
 
                                       58
<PAGE>   60
 
     Exercise Price. Each Option granted pursuant to the Director Stock Plan
will be exercisable at a per share price equal to the fair market value of a
share of Common Stock as of the date of grant. Such price may be paid in cash
or, in the discretion of the Director Plan Committee, by assigning to the
Company shares equal in value to the exercise price.
 
     Termination. Except to the extent the Director Plan Committee provides
otherwise in the agreement evidencing an Option under the Director Stock Plan,
all Options granted under the Director Stock Plan that are held by a
non-employee director will expire and be forfeited upon the date of resignation
or removal from the Board of such non-employee director, unless such resignation
or removal results from the death or permanent and total disability of the
director, or resignation upon the attainment of 65 years. Upon such death,
disability or resignation at age 65, such Options will remain exercisable and
effective for six months following the date of the event causing the
non-employee director to cease membership on the Board.
 
     Effect of Corporate Changes. In the event of certain significant corporate
changes, including (i) dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) a
reorganization, merger or consolidation (other than for purposes of
reincorporation in a different state) in which the Company is not the survivor,
(iii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (iv)
a Change of Control (as defined in the Director Stock Plan), subject to the
terms of any applicable agreement, the Director Plan Committee may, in its
discretion, without obtaining stockholder approval, take any one or more of the
following actions: (i) determine that all or some Options then outstanding will
be fully vested and exercisable, (ii) substitute new Options by a successor
employer with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares
subject to such awards and prices or (iii) cancel such Options and pay the
non-employee directors or their beneficiaries the difference between the
exercise price and the fair market value of the shares subject to the Option as
of the date of such corporate change.
 
STOCK OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     Certain of the directors and executive officers of the Company are
beneficial owners of shares of Common Stock. See "Principal and Selling
Stockholders."
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
     During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, the Company had no
compensation committee or other committee of the Board performing similar
functions and no executive officer of the Company participated in deliberations
of the Board concerning executive officer compensation. Decisions concerning
compensation of executive officers during 1996 were made by, and the Company's
Compensation Committee currently consists of, Carl B. Anderson, III and Sidney
L. Tassin, both of whom are nonemployee directors. See "-- Board of
Directors -- Board Committees." Mr. Anderson and Mr. Tassin each had direct or
indirect interests in certain transactions described in "Certain Relationships
and Related Transactions."
 
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS
 
     The Company has entered into Indemnification Agreements (the
"Indemnification Agreements") with its directors and certain of its officers
(the "Indemnitees"), a form of which has been filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. Under the terms of
the Indemnification Agreements, the Company is required to indemnify the
Indemnitees against certain liabilities arising out of their services for the
Company. The Indemnification Agreements require the Company to indemnify each
Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law and to advance certain
expenses incurred by an Indemnitee. The Indemnification Agreements provide
limitations on the Indemnitees' rights to indemnification in certain
circumstances. To the extent that indemnification provisions contained in the
Indemnification Agreements purport to include indemnification for liabilities
arising under the Securities Act, the Company has been informed that in the
opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), such
indemnification is contrary to public policy and is therefore unenforceable.
 
                                       59
<PAGE>   61
 
                       PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
 
     The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the Common Stock as of October 16, 1997 and as adjusted to reflect
the Offering by (i) each person known by the Company to own more than 5% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) each of the Company's directors, (iii)
each named executive officer, (iv) all executive officers and directors as a
group and (v) each Selling Stockholder. All persons listed have an address in
care of the Company's principal executive offices and have sole voting and
investment power with respect to their shares unless otherwise indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               SHARES OWNED                                      SHARES OWNED
                                          BEFORE THE OFFERING(1)                           AFTER THE OFFERING(1)(4)
          NAME AND ADDRESS             ----------------------------   SHARES TO BE SOLD    -------------------------
         OF BENEFICIAL OWNER            NUMBER        PERCENTAGE(2)   IN THE OFFERING(3)    NUMBER     PERCENTAGE(2)
<S>                                    <C>            <C>             <C>                  <C>         <C>
Chesapeake Energy Corporation
  P.O. Box 18496
  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73154......  4,194,000          30.1%           3,400,000          794,000        4.4%
DLB Oil & Gas, Inc.
  1601 Northwest Expressway, Suite
  700
  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118......  2,955,000(5)       21.2                   --        2,955,000       16.5
Energy Spectrum LLC
  5956 Sherry Lane, Suite 600
  Dallas, Texas 75225................  2,350,000(6)       16.7              772,669        1,577,331        8.7
Carl B. Anderson, III
  c/o AnSon Partners Limited
  Partnership
  4005 Northwest Expressway, Suite
  400E
  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73116......  2,000,000(7)       14.3              362,000        1,341,000        7.5
Mike Mullen
  c/o Mike Mullen Energy Equipment
  Resource, Inc.
  8411 Preston Road, Suite 730, LB2
  Dallas, Texas 75225................  1,250,000(8)        8.9              370,881          879,119        4.9
Roy T. Oliver
  c/o R.T. Oliver Drilling, Inc.
  6601 S.W. 29th Street
  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73179......  1,250,000(9)        8.9              370,881          879,119        4.9
Continental Illinois Property
  Corporation #3
  231 South LaSalle Street
  Chicago, Illinois 60697............    624,000(10)       4.5              312,000          312,000        1.7
Harold G. Hamm
  302 North Independence
  Enid, Oklahoma 73702...............    250,000(11)       1.8               77,267          172,733        1.0
The CIT Group/Equipment Financing,
  Inc.
  1211 Avenue of the Americas
  New York, New York 10036...........    150,000           1.1              150,000               --         --
A. Brad Curtis, II
  c/o Ward Petroleum Corporation
  502 South Fillmore Road
  Enid, Oklahoma 73703...............      1,000             *                  193              807          *
Richard R. Tozzi
  c/o Ward Petroleum Corporation
  502 South Fillmore Road
  Enid, Oklahoma 73703...............      5,800             *                  328            5,472          *
James E. Brown.......................    310,000(12)       2.2                   --          310,000        1.7
Edward S. Jacob, III.................         --(13)         *                   --               --          *
David E. Grose.......................         --(14)         *                   --               --          *
Merrill A. Miller, Jr.
  c/o National-Oilwell, Inc.
  5555 San Felipe
  Houston, Texas 77056...............         --            --                   --           15,000          *
Sidney L. Tassin
  c/o Energy Spectrum Partners LP
  5956 Sherry Lane, Suite 600
  Dallas, Texas 75225................  2,350,000(15)      16.7              772,669        1,592,331        8.8
</TABLE>
 
                                       60
<PAGE>   62
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               SHARES OWNED                                      SHARES OWNED
                                          BEFORE THE OFFERING(1)                           AFTER THE OFFERING(1)(4)
          NAME AND ADDRESS             ----------------------------   SHARES TO BE SOLD    -------------------------
         OF BENEFICIAL OWNER            NUMBER        PERCENTAGE(2)   IN THE OFFERING(3)    NUMBER     PERCENTAGE(2)
<S>                                    <C>            <C>             <C>                  <C>         <C>
</TABLE>
 
                                       61
<PAGE>   63
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               SHARES OWNED                                      SHARES OWNED
                                          BEFORE THE OFFERING(1)                           AFTER THE OFFERING(1)(4)
          NAME AND ADDRESS             ----------------------------   SHARES TO BE SOLD    -------------------------
         OF BENEFICIAL OWNER            NUMBER        PERCENTAGE(2)   IN THE OFFERING(3)    NUMBER     PERCENTAGE(2)
<S>                                    <C>            <C>             <C>                  <C>         <C>
Lew O. Ward
  c/o Ward Petroleum Corporation
  502 South Fillmore Road
  Enid, Oklahoma 73703...............    600,000(16)       4.2               67,183          488,338        2.7
All parties to the Stockholders and
  Voting Agreement (post-Offering) as
  a group(17)........................  7,365,000          52.4            1,134,669        5,933,331       32.8
All directors and executive officers
  as a group (7 persons).............  5,090,000(18)      35.6%           1,201,852        3,576,669       19.5%
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
  *  Less than 1%
 
 (1)  The information contained in this table with respect to beneficial
      ownership reflects "beneficial ownership" as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
      the Exchange Act. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by
      a person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of Common
      Stock subject to options or warrants held by that person that are
      exercisable on October 16, 1997 or become exercisable within 60 days
      following October 16, 1997 are deemed outstanding. However, such shares
      are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage
      ownership of any other person. All information with respect to the
      beneficial ownership of any stockholder has been furnished by such
      stockholder and, unless otherwise indicated, each stockholder has sole
      voting and investment power with respect to the shares listed as
      beneficially owned by such stockholder, subject to community property laws
      where applicable.
 
 (2)  Percentage of ownership is based on 13,947,000 shares of Common Stock
      outstanding before the Offering and 17,947,000 shares of Common Stock
      outstanding after the Offering, in each case including the 3,015,000
      shares of Common Stock to be issued by the Company upon consummation of
      the Bonray Acquisition.
 
 (3)  Assumes no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option. If the
      over-allotment option is exercised in full, then the following Selling
      Stockholders will sell the following number of additional shares of Common
      Stock: Chesapeake Energy Corporation -- 794,000; Energy Spectrum LLC --
      227,331; Carl B. Anderson, III -- 38,000; Mike Mullen -- 109,119; Roy T.
      Oliver -- 109,119; Harold G. Hamm -- 22,733; A. Brad Curtis, II -- 57;
      Richard R. Tozzi -- 97; Sidney L. Tassin -- 227,331; Lew O.
      Ward -- 19,767.
 
 (4)  Assumes no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option. If the
      Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full, after the
      Offering 18,116,050 shares of Common Stock will be outstanding and the
      Selling Stockholders will beneficially own the following number of shares
      which represent the percentage ownership indicated: Energy Spectrum
      LLC -- 1,350,000 (112,000 of such shares may be acquired in the next 60
      days upon the exercise of outstanding options), 7.4%; Carl B. Anderson,
      III -- 1,303,000 (Mr. Anderson has been granted an irrevocable voting
      proxy for 170,000 of these shares by Mr. Brown), 7.2%; Mike
      Mullen -- 770,000, 4.2%; Roy T. Oliver -- 770,000, 4.2%; Harold G.
      Hamm -- 150,000, less than 1%; A. Brad Curtis, II -- 750, less than 1%;
      Richard R. Tozzi -- 5,375, less than 1%; Sidney L. Tassin -- 1,365,000
      (112,000 of such shares may be acquired in the next 60 days upon the
      exercise of outstanding options), 7.4%; Lew O. Ward -- 468,725, 2.6%; all
      parties to the Stockholders and Voting Agreement
      (post-Offering) -- 5,668,000, 31.1%; all directors and executive officers
      as a group (7 persons) -- 3,291,725 shares, 17.8%. Other than the Selling
      Stockholders listed above and Chesapeake Energy Corporation, which will
      not own any shares of Common Stock if the Underwriters' over-allotment
      option is exercised in full, no other share numbers or percentages set
      forth in the above table will change as a result of the exercise of the
      Underwriters' over-allotment option.
 
 (5)  Represents shares of Common Stock issued to DLB in connection with the
      Bonray Acquisition, less 60,000 shares subsequently transferred by DLB to
      DLJ. Charles E. Davidson, Chairman of the Board of DLB, is the beneficial
      owner of a majority of the outstanding common stock of DLB and may be
 
                                       62
<PAGE>   64
 
      deemed to have beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock held by
      DLB. Mark Liddell and Michael Liddell, as executive officers and
      significant stockholders of DLB, also may be deemed to have beneficial
      ownership of these shares.
 
 (6)  Represents shares of Common Stock (including 112,000 shares of Common
      Stock that may be acquired within the next 60 days upon exercise of
      outstanding Series B Warrants) held of record by Energy Spectrum Partners
      LP, of which Energy Spectrum Capital LP is the sole general partner.
      Energy Spectrum LLC is the sole general partner of Energy Spectrum Capital
      LP and possesses sole voting and investment power with respect to such
      shares. Sidney L. Tassin, as President and a member of Energy Spectrum
      LLC, may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of these shares. Mr.
      Tassin disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
 
 (7)  Includes (i) 1,106,000 shares held of record by APLP, of which Mr.
      Anderson is managing general partner, (ii) 624,000 shares held of record
      by Continental Illinois Property Corporation #3 that are subject to voting
      rights retained by Mr. Anderson pursuant to an irrevocable proxy that will
      expire upon consummation of the Offering, (iii) 170,000 shares held of
      record by James E. Brown that are subject to voting rights retained by Mr.
      Anderson pursuant to an irrevocable proxy and (iv) 100,000 shares held of
      record and beneficially by Mr. Anderson.
 
 (8)  Includes (i) 480,000 shares held of record by Mullen-Oliver Partnership,
      Ltd., a limited partnership partially owned and indirectly controlled by
      Mr. Mullen, (ii) 400,000 shares held of record by Mr. Mullen, (iii)
      320,000 shares held of record by Grupo de Hercules, Ltd., a limited
      partnership partially owned and indirectly controlled by Mr. Mullen and
      (iv) 50,000 shares that may be acquired within the next 60 days upon the
      exercise of outstanding Warrants held by Mr. Mullen.
 
 (9)  Includes (i) 480,000 shares held of record by Mullen-Oliver Partnership,
      Ltd., a limited partnership partially owned and indirectly controlled by
      Mr. Oliver, (ii) 200,000 shares held of record by RR&T, Inc., a
      corporation owned and controlled by Mr. Oliver, (iii) 200,000 shares held
      of record by Oliver Family Trust, (iv) 320,000 shares held of record by
      Grupo de Hercules, Ltd., a limited partnership partially owned and
      indirectly controlled by Mr. Oliver and (v) 50,000 shares that may be
      acquired within the next 60 days upon the exercise of outstanding Warrants
      held by RR&T, Inc.
 
(10)  All shares held by Continental Illinois Property Corporation #3 are
      subject to voting rights retained by Carl B. Anderson, III pursuant to an
      irrevocable proxy that will expire upon completion of the Offering.
 
(11)  Harold G. Hamm holds all of all such shares as Trustee of the Harold G.
      Hamm Revocable Inter Vivos Trust dated April 23, 1984.
 
(12)  Includes (i) 100,000 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Brown which vest
      pro rata over five years starting on December 10, 1997 and are subject to
      certain restrictions on resale and provisions for the repurchase by the
      Company at a specified price and upon certain conditions, including
      termination of employment with the Company, (ii) 170,000 shares for which
      an irrevocable voting proxy has been granted to Carl B. Anderson, III and
      (iii) 40,000 shares subject to options granted pursuant to the Employee
      Stock Plan that vest within the next 60 days. Excludes options to purchase
      an aggregate of 360,000 shares held by Mr. Brown which were granted
      pursuant to the Employee Stock Plan, subject to vesting and other
      conditions contained in stock option agreements, none of which options are
      exercisable within the next 60 days.
 
(13)  Excludes options to purchase 150,000 shares held by Mr. Jacob which were
      granted pursuant to the Employee Stock Plan, subject to vesting and other
      conditions contained in stock option agreements. None of such options are
      exercisable within the next 60 days.
 
(14)  Excludes options to purchase 50,000 shares held by Mr. Grose which were
      granted pursuant to the Employee Stock Plan, subject to vesting and other
      conditions contained in a stock option agreement. None of such options are
      exercisable within the next 60 days.
 
(15)  Represents shares held of record by Energy Spectrum Partners LP and
      beneficially by Energy Spectrum LLC. Mr. Tassin, a director of the
      Company, is the President of Energy Spectrum LLC,
 
                                       63
<PAGE>   65
 
                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
   
     The following discussion identifies certain of the Company's relationships
and related transactions in which any founder, director or executive officer of
the Company, any person known to the Company to own of record or beneficially
over 5% of the Common Stock, or any member of the immediate family of any such
persons had, or has, a direct or indirect material interest. Chesapeake, DLB,
Energy Spectrum, APLP and the Oliver Companies are each record or beneficial
owners of over 5% of the Common Stock. APLP, Energy Spectrum, the Oliver
Companies and Chesapeake participated in the Formation Transactions as founders
of the Company. Three of the Company's former directors, Aubrey K. McClendon,
Tom L. Ward and Marcus C. Rowland, are stockholders, executive officers and/or
directors of Chesapeake. One of the Company's directors, Sidney L. Tassin, and
one of the Company's former directors, James W. Spann, are executive officers
and partners of the ultimate general partner of Energy Spectrum. Roy T. Oliver,
a former director of the Company, is a director, executive officer and
significant stockholder of certain of the Oliver Companies. Mike Mullen is a
director, executive officer and significant stockholder of certain of the Oliver
Companies. Prior to the Ward Acquisition, Lew O. Ward, a director of the
Company, was a director, executive officer and significant stockholder of Ward.
Carl B. Anderson, III, a director of the Company, and Robert E. Bell, a former
director of the Company, are directors, executive officers and holders of
substantial ownership interests in APLP (of which Anadarko is a subsidiary).
James E. Brown is a director and executive officer of the Company and, prior to
the formation of the Company, was a director and executive officer of Anadarko.
Edward S. Jacob, III and David E. Grose are each executive officers of the
Company. Each of such persons and entities has or had a direct or indirect
material interest in one or more of the arrangements and transactions described
below.
    
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENTS
 
   
     The Company and certain of its investors, including certain directors,
officers and significant stockholders, are party to a Registration Rights
Agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement") covering shares of Common Stock,
including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options,
warrants and other Company securities (collectively, "Common Stock
Equivalents"), owned by such investors (the "Registrable Securities"). The
Registration Rights Agreement applies to Registrable Securities owned by
Chesapeake, Energy Spectrum, APLP, the Oliver Companies and certain of their
affiliates, Ward and certain of its transferees, Carl B. Anderson, III, a trust
of which Harold G. Hamm is trustee, James E. Brown, Edward S. Jacob, III and
David E. Grose. After giving effect to the consummation of the Stockholder
Exercises and the Offering, 5,360,521 outstanding shares of Common Stock
(4,149,725 shares if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in
full) and 1,012,000 shares of Common Stock Equivalents (600,000 of which remain
subject to further vesting pursuant to the Employee Stock Plan) will be subject
to the Registration Rights Agreement. Additionally, any shares issued by the
Company upon conversion of the Subordinated Notes will be subject to the
Registration Rights Agreement. All of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby
by the Selling Stockholders are being registered pursuant to the terms of the
Registration Rights Agreement.
    
 
   
     The Registration Rights Agreement provides, among other things, that, at
any time after 180 days following the Offering (subject to customary "black-out"
periods) certain holders of Registrable Securities with a minimum aggregate
share value of at least $20 million may require the Company to effect the
registration under the Securities Act of the Registrable Securities owned by
such holders, subject to certain limitations. The Registration Rights Agreement
also provides certain "piggyback" registration rights to the holders of
Registrable Securities whenever the Company proposes to register an offering of
any of its capital stock under the Securities Act, subject to certain
exceptions, including pro rata reduction if, in the reasonable opinion of the
managing underwriter of the offering, such a reduction is necessary to prevent
an adverse effect on the marketability or offering price of all the securities
proposed to be offered in such offering.
    
 
                                       64
<PAGE>   66
 
     The Registration Rights Agreement contains customary provisions regarding
the payment of expenses by the Company and regarding mutual indemnification
agreements between the Company and the holders of Registrable Securities for
certain securities law violations.
 
     In connection with the Bonray Acquisition, the Company entered into a
registration rights agreement (the "DLB Registration Rights Agreement") for the
benefit of DLB and its financial advisor with respect to such transaction. The
DLB Registration Rights Agreement covers 3,015,000 shares of Common Stock issued
in the Bonray Acquisition. The DLB Registration Rights Agreement provides, among
other things, that, at any time (subject to customary "black-out" periods
following 120 days after the Offering) DLB may request the Company to register
the distribution of Common Stock to DLB's stockholders. In addition, at any time
after 180 days following the Offering, certain of DLB's stockholders together
with DLB's financial advisor holding Common Stock with a minimum aggregate value
of at least $20 million may require the Company to effect up to two
registrations under the Securities Act, subject to certain limitations. The DLB
Registration Rights Agreement also provides certain "piggyback" registration
rights to the holders of Registrable Securities whenever the Company proposes to
register an offering of any of its capital stock under the Securities Act,
subject to certain exceptions, including pro rata reduction if, in the
reasonable opinion of the managing underwriter of the offering, such a reduction
is necessary to prevent an adverse effect on the marketability or offering price
of all the securities proposed to be offered in such offering.
 
   
     The DLB Registration Rights Agreement requires the Company to pay expenses
associated with any registration of a distribution of Common Stock to DLB
stockholders. The beneficiaries of the DLB Registration Rights Agreement are
obligated to reimburse the Company in connection with the exercise of any other
demand registration. In addition, the DLB Registration Statement contains
customary provisions regarding mutual indemnification agreements between the
Company and the holders of Registrable Securities for certain securities law
violations.
    
 
     The foregoing summary of the principal provisions of the Company's
registration rights agreements does not purport to be complete and is subject
to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the
Registration Rights Agreement and the DLB Registration Rights Agreement, copies
of which have been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus is a part.
 
STOCKHOLDERS AND VOTING AGREEMENT
 
     The Company is party to a Stockholders and Voting Agreement ("Stockholders
and Voting Agreement") with DLB, Energy Spectrum, APLP, Carl B. Anderson, III
and DLJ (the "Bound Stockholders") that provides for certain agreements
regarding the corporate governance of the Company, transfer restrictions on
shares of Common Stock and Common Stock Equivalents, and other customary terms
and conditions. Immediately following the Offering, the parties to the
Stockholders and Voting Agreement will beneficially own 5,933,331 shares of
Common Stock, representing 32.8% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common
Stock (5,668,000 shares representing 31.1% if the Underwriters' over-allotment
option is exercised in full). The Stockholders and Voting Agreement will
terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Offering.
 
   
     Board Representation. The Stockholders and Voting Agreement provides that
the Board shall not consist of more than ten members. In addition, the
Stockholders and Voting Agreement provides that, upon the consummation of the
Offering, certain stockholders will have the right to designate a specified
number of persons to be nominated for election as directors. Upon effectiveness
of the Stockholders and Voting Agreement, each of Energy Spectrum, Anadarko and
DLB will have the right to designate one nominee for director as follows: (i)
Energy Spectrum will have the right to designate one nominee for director as
long as it owns at least (a) 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company,
(b) 50% in principal amount of the Subordinated Notes purchased by it in the May
Financing or (c) 600,000 shares of Common Stock, (ii) Anadarko will have the
right to designate one nominee for director as long as it owns at least (a) 5%
of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company or (b) 600,000 shares of Common
Stock, and (iii) DLB will have the right to designate one nominee for director
as long as it owns at least 5% of the outstanding Common
    
 
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<PAGE>   67
 
Stock of the Company. The Bound Stockholders are obligated to vote all of their
voting securities (including certain Common Stock Equivalents) of the Company
for these designees.
 
     Certain Transfer Restrictions. In accordance with the Stockholders and
Voting Agreement and in connection with the Offering, the Bound Stockholders
have agreed to a "lock-up" period of up to 180 days, during which such
stockholders will not transfer any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents
without the prior written consent of the Board, with any members of the Board
designated by such Bound Stockholder abstaining. Following completion of the
Offering, the Bound Stockholders have agreed that any such Bound Stockholder
holding 5% or more of the Common Stock (on a fully diluted basis) shall not,
subject to certain exceptions, transfer 5% or more of the Common Stock (on a
fully diluted basis) unless such Bound Stockholder has received the prior
written consent of the Board, with any member of the Board designated by such
Bound Stockholder abstaining.
 
     The foregoing summary of the material provisions of the Stockholders and
Voting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and
qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of such
agreement, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
CERTAIN ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO THE CONSOLIDATION TRANSACTIONS
 
  The Formation Transactions
 
     The Company was formed in December 1996 through a series of affiliated
entity transactions in which the Company became the successor to Anadarko, the
contract drilling subsidiary of privately held APLP. In connection with the
Formation Transactions (i) APLP contributed ten drilling rigs, including two
rigs requiring refurbishment, for 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock, (ii) the
Oliver Companies exchanged six drilling rigs requiring refurbishment for
1,600,000 shares of Common Stock and (iii) Energy Spectrum acquired 2,000,000
shares of Common Stock for $10 million. Additionally, Chesapeake entered into
drilling contracts with two-year terms for six of the Company's rigs in
consideration for the Chesapeake Option. See "Business -- Formation and
Acquisitions." In connection with the Formation Transactions, the ten rigs
acquired from APLP were valued at an aggregate of $10.8 million, the six rigs
acquired from the Oliver Companies were valued at an aggregate of $9.5 million
and the six Chesapeake Drilling Agreements were valued at an aggregate of $1.1
million. The valuations of the rigs acquired in the Formation Transactions from
APLP and the Oliver Companies, the values placed upon the Chesapeake Drilling
Agreements and the consideration to be received by each such founder were
determined and established through negotiations among representatives of APLP
and Anadarko (including Carl B. Anderson, III), Energy Spectrum (including
Sidney L. Tassin), the Oliver Companies (including Roy T. Oliver and Mike
Mullen) and Chesapeake (including Aubrey McClendon), taking into account the
then existing market values of available rigs, the anticipated costs to complete
the necessary refurbishment of the contributed rigs and the expected values of
revenues to be received by the Company from the Chesapeake Drilling Agreements.
 
     Three of the rigs acquired by the Company from APLP were acquired by APLP
within the two years prior to their contribution to the Company. APLP acquired
one rig in each of August, September and October 1996 for $1.3 million, $922,000
and $450,000, respectively. At the time of their contribution to the Company,
such rigs were valued on the books of the Company at $2.7 million. Four of the
rigs acquired by the Company from the Oliver Companies were acquired by the
contributing founder within the two years prior to their contribution to the
Company at an aggregate cost of $2.6 million. At the time of their contribution
to the Company, such rigs were valued on the books of the Company at $4.4
million.
 
     Chesapeake Option. Upon issuance by the Company, the Chesapeake Option
provided Chesapeake with the right to purchase up to 2,000,000 shares of Common
Stock from the Company at an exercise price of $6 per share. The Chesapeake
Option would have expired (i) as to 668,000 shares, on December 5, 2000 and (ii)
as to 1,332,000 shares, on December 5, 1998, subject to extension to December 5,
2000 if Chesapeake extends four of the Chesapeake Drilling Agreements for
additional two-year terms. In August 1997,
 
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<PAGE>   68
 
long as it owns at least 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company. The
Bound Stockholders are obligated to vote all of their voting securities
(including certain Common Stock Equivalents) of the Company for these designees.
 
     Certain Transfer Restrictions. In accordance with the Stockholders and
Voting Agreement and in connection with the Offering, the Bound Stockholders
have agreed to a "lock-up" period of up to 180 days, during which such
stockholders will not transfer any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents
without the prior written consent of the Board, with any members of the Board
designated by such Bound Stockholder abstaining. Following completion of the
Offering, the Bound Stockholders have agreed that any such Bound Stockholder
holding 5% or more of the Common Stock (on a fully diluted basis) shall not,
subject to certain exceptions, transfer 5% or more of the Common Stock (on a
fully diluted basis) unless such Bound Stockholder has received the prior
written consent of the Board, with any member of the Board designated by such
Bound Stockholder abstaining.
 
     The foregoing summary of the material provisions of the Stockholders and
Voting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and
qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of such
agreement, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
CERTAIN ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO THE CONSOLIDATION TRANSACTIONS
 
  The Formation Transactions
 
     The Company was formed in December 1996 through a series of affiliated
entity transactions in which the Company became the successor to Anadarko, the
contract drilling subsidiary of privately held APLP. In connection with the
Formation Transactions (i) APLP contributed ten drilling rigs, including two
rigs requiring refurbishment, for 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock, (ii) the
Oliver Companies exchanged six drilling rigs requiring refurbishment for
1,600,000 shares of Common Stock and (iii) Energy Spectrum acquired 2,000,000
shares of Common Stock for $10 million. Additionally, Chesapeake entered into
drilling contracts with two-year terms for six of the Company's rigs in
consideration for the Chesapeake Option. See "Business -- Formation and
Acquisitions." In connection with the Formation Transactions, the ten rigs
acquired from APLP were valued at an aggregate of $10.8 million, the six rigs
acquired from the Oliver Companies were valued at an aggregate of $9.5 million
and the six Chesapeake Drilling Agreements were valued at an aggregate of $1.1
million. The valuations of the rigs acquired in the Formation Transactions from
APLP and the Oliver Companies, the values placed upon the Chesapeake Drilling
Agreements and the consideration to be received by each such founder were
determined and established through negotiations among representatives of APLP
and Anadarko (including Carl B. Anderson, III), Energy Spectrum (including
Sidney L. Tassin), the Oliver Companies (including Roy T. Oliver and Mike
Mullen) and Chesapeake (including Aubrey McClendon), taking into account the
then existing market values of available rigs, the anticipated costs to complete
the necessary refurbishment of the contributed rigs and the expected values of
revenues to be received by the Company from the Chesapeake Drilling Agreements.
 
     Three of the rigs acquired by the Company from APLP were acquired by APLP
within the two years prior to their contribution to the Company. APLP acquired
one rig in each of August, September and October 1996 for $1.3 million, $922,000
and $450,000, respectively. At the time of their contribution to the Company,
such rigs were valued on the books of the Company at $2.7 million. Four of the
rigs acquired by the Company from the Oliver Companies were acquired by the
contributing founder within the two years prior to their contribution to the
Company at an aggregate cost of $2.6 million. At the time of their contribution
to the Company, such rigs were valued on the books of the Company at $4.4
million.
 
     Chesapeake Option. Upon issuance by the Company, the Chesapeake Option
provided Chesapeake with the right to purchase up to 2,000,000 shares of Common
Stock from the Company at an exercise price of $6 per share. The Chesapeake
Option would have expired (i) as to 668,000 shares, on December 5, 2000 and (ii)
as to 1,332,000 shares, on December 5, 1998, subject to extension to December 5,
2000 if Chesapeake extends four of the Chesapeake Drilling Agreements for
additional two-year terms. In August 1997,
 
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<PAGE>   69
 
Chesapeake relinquished the Chesapeake Option in connection with the Chesapeake
Transactions. See "-- Chesapeake Transactions."
 
     Chesapeake Drilling Agreements. In December 1996 in connection with the
Formation Transactions, Chesapeake and its operating subsidiary (collectively
referred to in this discussion as "Chesapeake") entered into the Chesapeake
Drilling Agreements with the Company pursuant to which Chesapeake agreed to
engage six of the Company's rigs for two-year terms. The Company has the option
to extend the Chesapeake Drilling Agreements with respect to any two of the rigs
for two additional years on the same terms provided in the Chesapeake Drilling
Agreements. Chesapeake has the option to extend each of the other four
Chesapeake Drilling Agreements for two additional years on the same terms.
 
     Each of the Chesapeake Drilling Agreements provides that the Company will
utilize a specified rig to drill wells at locations and to well depths as
directed by Chesapeake. The Company is compensated for each day that a rig is in
operation at specified rates. The day rates for three of the rigs are subject to
additional charges for each rig in which the actual cost of drill pipe exceeds
$20 per foot, unless standard day rates are adjusted upward by certain amounts
under the terms of the Chesapeake Drilling Agreements. Reduced day rates are
applicable when the rig is in transit, when the Company's crew is standing by
for directions from Chesapeake and during periods when normal operations are
suspended due to certain conditions outside the control of the parties, such as
inclement weather, labor strikes and inability to obtain fuel or materials.
Through July 31, 1997, the Company had recognized aggregate revenues of $6.2
million from the Chesapeake Drilling Agreements.
 
     The standard day rates are subject to upward, but not downward, adjustment
annually in November to the average then-current market rates for the areas of
operation, less $100 per day. The Company and Chesapeake are required to
consider such adjustment each November during the term of the particular
Chesapeake Drilling Agreement and if no agreement is timely reached as to the
appropriate rate adjustment, the Company will have the option to terminate the
contract for such rig at the conclusion of operations at the well then being
drilled. Any agreed rate adjustment will apply to wells spudded after each
December 1 that the contract remains in effect.
 
     The Company is also entitled to reimbursement of 110% of the costs of
material, equipment, work or services that are required to be furnished by
Chesapeake but are instead furnished by the Company at the request of
Chesapeake. The rates provided in the individual contracts will be revised to
reflect changes if certain costs such as labor, insurance and fuel vary by more
than 5% from such costs on the date the contract was entered into or any date
such rates are revised.
 
     Any of the Chesapeake Drilling Agreements may be terminated by either party
in the event of total loss, destruction or major breakdown of the applicable
rig. Unless so terminated, a lump sum demobilization fee of $10,000 will be
payable to the Company for each rig after the last well is drilled under the
applicable Chesapeake Drilling Agreement.
 
     In addition to the Chesapeake Drilling Agreements, between December 1996
and July 31, 1997, Chesapeake engaged five of the Company's rigs under short
term drilling contracts on standard daywork terms. The Company recognized
aggregate revenues of $3.4 million from such contracts over that period. The
Company recognized aggregate revenues of $9.6 million over that period from all
drilling contracts with Chesapeake.
 
     Oliver Companies' Put Rights. Also in connection with the Formation
Transactions, the Company granted the Oliver Companies a right, exercisable at
any time between June 2, 1998 and July 2, 1998 if the Company had not previously
completed an IPO (as defined in the Master Agreement providing for such right),
to require the Company to either (at the Company's option) (i) repurchase all
1,600,000 of the shares of Common Stock held by the Oliver Companies for an
aggregate purchase price of $12 million ($7.50 per share) in cash or (ii) issue
to the Oliver Companies an aggregate of 400,000 additional shares of Common
Stock. This right will terminate upon consummation of the Offering.
 
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<PAGE>   70
 
     Fees Paid to Energy Spectrum. In January 1997, the Company paid Energy
Spectrum Capital LP ("ESC"), the general partner of Energy Spectrum, a fee in
the amount of $300,000 in consideration for assistance provided by Energy
Spectrum in the structuring of the Formation Transactions and arrangement and
negotiation of external financing. The Company also reimbursed ESC for expenses
incurred in connection with the rendering of such services.
 
  The Ward Acquisition
 
     On May 31, 1997, the Company completed the Ward Acquisition involving the
acquisition by the Company of all of the issued and outstanding common units of
a subsidiary of Ward that held six drilling rigs in consideration for $8 million
in cash, 400,000 shares of Common Stock and a warrant (the "Ward Warrant") to
purchase up to 200,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $10 per
share. The Ward Warrant is exercisable at any time on or before the later of (i)
May 30, 2000 or (ii) one year after the completion of an initial public offering
of the Common Stock (which would be satisfied by the Offering), but no later
than June 1, 2003.
 
     In connection with the Ward Acquisition, the Company entered into an
agreement (the "Ward Transportation Agreement") with Geronimo Trucking Company
("Geronimo"), a company owned and controlled by Lew O. Ward, a director of the
Company. The Ward Transportation Agreement provides that the Company will have a
preferential right to engage Geronimo's trucking services for covered
transportation needs and that Geronimo will make its trucking services available
to the Company at rates that are competitive in the area. The Ward
Transportation Agreement also provides Geronimo with the preferential right to
perform trucking services contracted for by the Company for the movement of the
rigs acquired by the Company in the Ward Acquisition. The Company is obligated
to allow Geronimo to bid on any covered rig movement required by the Company and
to allow Geronimo the opportunity to match or better any bid received from a
third party. Unless earlier terminated by the parties, the Ward Transportation
Agreement is effective through May 2000. Through July 31, 1997, the Company paid
an aggregate of $71,000 under the Ward Transportation Agreement.
 
  The Bonray Acquisition
 
     In October 1997, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of Bonray from DLB in consideration for the issuance of 3,015,000
shares of Common Stock. In connection with the Bonray Acquisition, DLB obtained
certain rights to require the Company to effect the registration under the
Securities Act of the shares of Common Stock acquired by DLB in the Bonray
Acquisition. See "-- Registration Rights Agreements." Additionally, DLB is a
party to the Stockholders and Voting Agreement and following the Offering will
be entitled to designate one Board nominee as long as DLB owns at least 10% of
the Common Stock of the Company. See "-- Stockholders and Voting Agreement."
 
  Individual Rig Acquisitions
 
     In May 1997, the Company purchased from R.T. Oliver Drilling, Inc. two
drilling rigs for an aggregate purchase price consisting of $3.3 million in cash
and warrants (the "Oliver Warrants") for the purchase of an aggregate of 100,000
shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $8 per share. One of the Oliver
Warrants was issued to RR&T, Inc. and the other was issued to Mike Mullen. Each
of the Oliver Warrants expires on May 1, 2000 and is separately exercisable for
50,000 shares of Common Stock.
 
CERTAIN FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS
 
     On May 1, 1997, the Company completed a financing transaction (the "May
Financing") in which the Company issued shares of Common Stock, subordinated
notes and warrants to purchase Common Stock to certain significant stockholders
in exchange for an aggregate of $28.5 million in cash, as described below. The
following summary of terms of the May Financing does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its
 
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<PAGE>   71
 
entirety by reference to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of April
30, 1997, the Subordinated Notes, Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants,
copies or forms of which are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus is a part.
 
     Common Stock and Subordinated Notes. In the May Financing, the Company
issued 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock to Chesapeake in consideration for $7
million in cash and 140,000 shares of Common Stock to Energy Spectrum in
consideration for $980,000 in cash. Additionally, the Company issued
Subordinated Notes due May 1, 2003 in the original principal amounts of $18
million and $2.52 million (the "Subordinated Notes") to Chesapeake and Energy
Spectrum, respectively. The Subordinated Notes bear interest at the Company's
option at either (i) 11% per annum, payable in cash, or (ii) 12.875% per annum,
payable in the form of additional Subordinated Notes, which interest is payable
quarterly in arrears. On each quarterly interest payment date, the Company may
make an election as to the interest rate to be applied for the previous quarter.
The Subordinated Notes are redeemable, solely at the option of the Company, in
whole or in part, at any time at varying redemption prices. The Company must
offer to redeem the Subordinated Notes upon the occurrence of certain events
constituting a "Change of Control" (as defined in the Subordinated Notes) at a
redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption. The Subordinated
Notes are convertible into Common Stock at the option of the Company, in whole
or in part, in conjunction with a "Convertible Event" (as defined in the
Subordinated Notes), which includes certain underwritten public offerings
(including the Offering), mergers, consolidations and other business combination
transactions. The Subordinated Notes are general unsecured subordinated
obligations of the Company that are subordinated in right of payment to all
existing and future senior indebtedness of the Company, pari passu with all
existing and future subordinated indebtedness of the Company and senior in right
of payment to all future junior subordinated indebtedness of the Company. See
"Use of Proceeds." Chesapeake and the Company have agreed that, upon
consummation of the Offering, the Company will redeem in full the $18 million
principal amount of Subordinated Notes issued to Chesapeake in consideration for
the payment by the Company to Chesapeake of $15 million in cash, subject to
adjustment to a maximum of $18 million or a minimum of $12 million, based on the
price to public in the Offering. See "-- Chesapeake Transactions." In May 1997,
the Company paid Chesapeake a commitment fee of $250,000 in connection with the
funding of the Common Stock and Subordinated Notes in the May Financing.
 
     Warrants. In the May Financing, the Company also issued two series of
detachable warrants (the "Warrants") for the purchase of shares of Common Stock,
designated as "Series A Warrants" and "Series B Warrants." The Warrants are
exercisable on or prior to May 1, 2003 at a price of $0.01 per share in the case
of the Series A Warrants and $7.50 per share in the case of the Series B
Warrants. In the May Financing, Chesapeake was issued Series A Warrants and
Series B Warrants representing the right to purchase 700,000 shares and 800,000
shares of Common Stock, respectively, and Energy Spectrum was issued Series A
Warrants and Series B Warrants representing the right to purchase 98,000 shares
and 112,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively. The Warrants expire on May 1,
2003 and are exercisable (i) at any time with a cash payment or (ii) pursuant to
a cashless exercise at any time after the completion of a "Qualified IPO" (as
defined in the Warrants), which includes certain underwritten public offerings
(including the Offering), mergers, consolidations and other business combination
transactions. The exercise prices, as well as the number and kind of shares
issuable under the Warrants, are subject to adjustment upon the happening of
certain events described in the Warrants, including, the payment of in-kind
dividends or distributions and the subdivision, reclassification or
recapitalization of the Common Stock, whether in connection with a consolidation
or merger or otherwise. On July 31, 1997, Energy Spectrum exercised in full its
Series A Warrants. On the date hereof, Energy Spectrum holds all of the Series B
Warrants issued to it in the May Financing. In August 1997, Chesapeake
relinquished its Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants as part of the
Chesapeake Transactions. See "-- Chesapeake Transactions."
 
CHESAPEAKE TRANSACTIONS
 
     In August 1997, Chesapeake and the Company agreed to complete a series of
transactions (the "Chesapeake Transactions") pursuant to which the Company has
issued 3,194,000 shares of Common Stock
 
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<PAGE>   72
 
to Chesapeake in consideration for (i) $9 million in cash, (ii) the
relinquishment and cancellation of the Chesapeake Option and the Warrants issued
to Chesapeake in connection with the May Financing and (iii) the redemption in
full of the $18 million principal amount of Subordinated Notes held by
Chesapeake at a cash redemption price of $17.4 million (assuming an offering
price at the mid-point of the range set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus), subject to adjustment, to be paid from the proceeds of the
Offering. Also in connection with the Chesapeake Transactions, the Company
waived its right under the Securities Purchase Agreement to require Chesapeake
to purchase additional Common Stock, Warrants and Subordinated Notes for $3
million.
 
OTHER RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS
 
     Weatherford Storage Yard. In connection with the Formation Transactions,
Anadarko granted the Company a transferrable option, exercisable at any time
prior to June 30, 1998, to either purchase from Anadarko a storage yard located
in Weatherford, Oklahoma (the "Weatherford Storage Yard") for a price of $1,000
in cash or lease from Anadarko, for any period specified by the Company through
a date not later than December 31, 1999, the Weatherford Storage Yard for a
lease price of $100 per year. In August 1997, the Company acquired from Anadarko
approximately five acres of land also in Weatherford, Oklahoma, in consideration
for the relinquishment of the Company's option to acquire or lease the
Weatherford Storage Yard.
 
     Fees Paid to Energy Spectrum. In May 1997, the Company paid ESC a fee in
the amount of $220,000 for financial advisory and other services rendered to the
Company in connection with the valuation, negotiation and closing of the Trend
Acquisition, for assistance in the arrangement of alternative financing sources,
and for structuring, negotiating and closing the amended financing arrangements
with CIT and Fleet. The Company also reimbursed ESC for expenses incurred in
connection with the rendering of such services.
 
     Transactions with Affiliates of Roy T. Oliver. The Company has in the past
purchased drilling rig equipment from U.S. Rig & Equipment, Inc., an affiliate
of Roy T. Oliver, a former director of the Company and control person of certain
of the Oliver Companies. From December 1996 through July 31, 1997, the Company
paid U.S. Rig & Equipment, Inc. an aggregate of $1.3 million in connection with
such purchases. Additionally, in August 1997, the Company sold to an affiliate
of Mr. Oliver one rig acquired in the Trend Acquisition that did not meet the
Company's operational and technical standards. The Company believes that the
$500,000 price received by the Company in that sale is equivalent to the price
that would have been received from an unaffiliated third party.
 
     APLP Trucking Services. The Company has engaged affiliates of APLP for the
provision of trucking services related to the movement of the Company's rigs on
numerous occasions. From December 1996 through July 31, 1997, the Company paid
such affiliates of APLP an aggregate of $245,000 in consideration for such
trucking services.
 
     APLP Administrative Services. Since December 13, 1996, APLP has made
available to the Company certain of APLP's employees, office space and
administrative equipment, such as computer and telephone systems. In
consideration for such assistance, through June 30, 1997, the Company had
reimbursed APLP an aggregate of $135,000. APLP continues to provide certain
computer services to the Company.
 
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<PAGE>   73
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
AUTHORIZED AND OUTSTANDING CAPITAL STOCK
 
     The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 100,000,000 shares
of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 20,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Preferred Stock"). Upon the consummation of
the Offering, 17,947,000 shares of Common Stock (18,116,050 shares if the
Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) and no shares of
Preferred Stock will be outstanding. The following summary is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the Certificate and Bylaws, copies of which are filed
as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
     All shares of Common Stock issued in the Offering will be fully paid and
nonassessable. As of October 16, 1997, there were 13,947,000 shares of Common
Stock outstanding held of record by 30 stockholders. The holders of Common Stock
are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote
of common stockholders of the Company. The Common Stock does not have cumulative
voting rights in the election of directors. Shares of Common Stock have no
preemptive rights, conversion rights, redemption rights or sinking fund
provisions. The Common Stock is not subject to redemption by the Company.
 
     Subject to the rights of the holders of any class of capital stock of the
Company having any preference or priority over the Common Stock, the holders of
Common Stock are entitled to dividends in such amounts as may be declared by the
Board from time to time out of funds legally available for such payments and, in
the event of liquidation, to share ratably in any assets of the Company
remaining after payment in full of all creditors and provision for any
liquidation preferences on any outstanding preferred stock ranking prior to the
Common Stock.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
     The Certificate authorizes the Board, subject to limitations prescribed by
law, to provide for the issuance of up to 20,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock
in one or more series. The Board is authorized to establish the number of shares
to be included in any such series and to fix the designations, powers,
preferences and rights of the shares of each such series, and any
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.
 
     The Company believes that the ability of the Board to issue one or more
series of Preferred Stock will provide the Company with flexibility in
structuring possible future financings and acquisitions, and in meeting other
corporate needs which might arise from time to time. The authorized shares of
Preferred Stock, as well as shares of Common Stock, will be available for
issuance without further action by the Company's stockholders, unless such
action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or
automated quotation system on which the Company's securities may be listed or
traded. If the approval of the Company's stockholders is not required for the
issuance of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, the Board may determine
not to seek stockholder approval.
 
     Although the Board has no intention at the present time of doing so, it
could issue a series of Preferred Stock that may, depending on the terms of such
series, hinder, delay or prevent the completion of a merger, tender offer or
other takeover attempt. Among other things, the Board could issue a series of
Preferred Stock having terms that could discourage an acquisition attempt
through which an acquirer may be able to change the composition of the Board,
including a tender offer or other transaction that some, or a majority, of the
Company's stockholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which
stockholders might receive a premium for their stock over the then current
market price of such stock.
 
                                       72
<PAGE>   74
 
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
 
     The Board consists of directors who are elected for one-year terms at each
annual meeting of stockholders. Stockholders may remove a director only for
cause. In general, the Board, not the stockholders, has the right to appoint
persons to fill vacancies on the Board.
 
     The Certificate contains a "fair price" provision that requires the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the Company's voting stock
and the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the Company's voting stock not
owned, directly or indirectly, by a Company Related Person (hereinafter defined)
to approve any merger, consolidation, sale or lease of all or substantially all
of the Company's assets, or certain other transactions involving a Company
Related Person. For purposes of this fair price provision, a "Company Related
Person" is any person beneficially owning 10% or more of the voting power of the
outstanding capital stock of the Company who is a party to the transaction at
issue. The voting requirement is not applicable to certain transactions,
including those that are approved by the Company's Continuing Directors (as
defined in the Certificate) or that meet certain "fair price" criteria contained
in the Certificate.
 
     The Certificate further provides that stockholders may act only at annual
or special meetings of stockholders and not by written consent, that special
meetings of stockholders may be called only by the Board, and that only business
proposed by the Board may be considered at special meetings of stockholders.
 
     The Certificate also provides that the only business (including election of
directors) that may be considered at an annual meeting of stockholders, in
addition to business proposed (or persons nominated to be directors) by the
directors of the Company, is business proposed (or persons nominated to be
directors) by stockholders who comply with the notice and disclosure
requirements set forth in the Certificate. In general, the Certificate requires
that a stockholder give the Company notice of proposed business or nominations
no later than 60 days before the annual meeting of stockholders (meaning the
date on which the meeting is first scheduled and not postponements or
adjournments thereof) or (if later) ten days after the first public notice of
the annual meeting is sent to common stockholders. In general, the notice must
also contain information about the stockholder proposing the business or
nomination, his interest in the business, and (with respect to nominations for
director) information about the nominee of the nature ordinarily required to be
disclosed in public proxy solicitations. The stockholder also must submit a
notarized letter from each of his nominees stating the nominee's acceptance of
the nominations and indicating the nominee's intention to serve as director if
elected.
 
     The Certificate also restricts the ability of stockholders to interfere
with the powers of the Board in certain specified ways, including the
constitution and composition of committees and the election and removal of
officers.
 
     The Certificate provides that approval by the holders of at least 66 2/3%
of the outstanding voting stock of the Company is required to amend the
provisions of the Certificate discussed above and certain other provisions,
except that (i) approval by the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding
voting stock of the Company, together with approval by the holders of at least
66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock not owned, directly or indirectly, by
the Company Related Person, is required to amend the fair price provisions and
(ii) approval of the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding voting stock is
required to amend the provisions prohibiting stockholders from acting by written
consent.
 
DELAWARE ANTI-TAKEOVER STATUTE
 
     The Company is a Delaware corporation and is subject to Section 203 of the
DGCL. In general, Section 203 prevents an "interested stockholder" (defined
generally as a person owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the
Company) from engaging in a "business combination" (as defined in Section 203)
with the Company for three years following the date that person becomes an
interested stockholder unless (i) before that person became an interested
stockholder, the Board approved the transaction in which the interested
stockholder became an interested stockholder or approved the business
combination, (ii) upon completion of the transaction that resulted in the
interested stockholder's becoming an interested stockholder, the interested
stockholder owns at least 85% of the Company's voting stock outstanding
 
                                       73
<PAGE>   75
 
at the time the transaction commenced (excluding stock held by directors who are
also officers of the Company and by employee stock plans that do not provide
employees with the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject
to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer), or (iii) following
the transaction in which that person became an interested stockholder, the
business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at a meeting of
stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of
the outstanding voting stock of the Company not owned by the interested
stockholder.
 
     Under Section 203, these restrictions also do not apply to certain business
combinations proposed by an interested stockholder following the announcement or
notification of one of certain extraordinary transactions involving the Company
and a person who was not an interested stockholder during the previous three
years or who became an interested stockholder with the approval of a majority of
the Company's directors, if that extraordinary transaction is approved or not
opposed by a majority of the directors who were directors before any person
became an interested stockholder in the previous three years or who were
recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of
such directors then in office.
 
LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS; INDEMNIFICATION
 
     The Certificate provides, as authorized by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL,
that a director of the Company will not be personally liable to the Company or
any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director involving any act or omission of any such director, except that such
provisions do not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any
breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders,
(ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL,
as it now exists or hereafter may be amended, or (iv) for any transaction from
which the director derived an improper personal benefit. The Certificate also
provides that if the DGCL is amended after the date of filing of the Certificate
to authorize corporate action further limiting or eliminating the personal
liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Company, in
addition to the limitation on personal liability provided for already, shall be
limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended. Any repeal or
modification of such provision in the Certificate by the stockholders of the
Company will be effective prospective only, and will not adversely affect any
limitation on the personal liability of a director of the Company existing at
the time of such repeal or modification.
 
     The Certificate also provides for indemnification of directors to the
fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Such indemnification may be available for
liabilities arising in connection with this Offering. Insofar as indemnification
for liabilities under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers
or persons controlling the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the
Company has been informed that, in the opinion of the Commission, such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is therefore unenforceable. Pursuant to its Certificate, the Company may
indemnify its officers, employees, agents and other persons to the fullest
extent permitted by the DGCL. The Company's Bylaws obligate the Company, under
certain circumstances, to advance expenses to its directors and officers in
defending an action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification may be sought.
The Company has entered into Indemnification Agreements with certain of its
directors and officers. See "Management -- Indemnification Agreements."
 
     The Company's Bylaws also provide that the Company shall have the power to
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or who, while a director,
officer, employee or agent, is or was serving as a director, officer, trustee,
general partner, employee or agent of one of the Company's subsidiaries or, at
the request of the Company, of any other organization, against any liability
asserted against such person or incurred by such person in any such capacity,
where the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such
liability under the DGCL.
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
     Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A. will be the transfer agent and registrar for
the Common Stock.
 
                                       74
<PAGE>   76
 
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
     Upon completion of the Offering, the Company will have 17,947,000 shares of
Common Stock outstanding (18,116,050 shares if the Underwriters' over-allotment
option is exercised in full). Additionally, as of October 10, 1997, (i) options
for the purchase of 741,000 shares of Common Stock (including options for the
purchase of 300,000 shares to be priced at the initial public offering price)
had been granted to certain employees of the Company pursuant to the Employee
Stock Plan, (ii) options for the purchase of 60,000 shares of Common Stock (all
to be priced at the initial public offering price) were subject to grant
contemporaneously with the consummation of the Offering to certain non-employee
directors of the Company pursuant to the Director Stock Plan and (iii) 412,000
shares of Common Stock were subject to outstanding warrants issued by the
Company. Except for the options for the purchase of 360,000 shares to be priced
at the initial public offering price, the exercise prices of these options and
warrants are substantially lower than the anticipated initial public offering
price of the Common Stock. In addition, the Subordinated Notes are convertible,
solely at the Company's option, into shares of Common Stock. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources" and "Certain Relationship and
Related Transactions -- Certain Financing Arrangements -- Common Stock and
Subordinated Notes."
 
   
     Of the outstanding shares, the 9,200,000 shares of Common Stock (10,580,000
shares if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) sold in
the Offering will be freely tradeable in the public market without restriction
or limitation under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by an
"affiliate" (as defined in the Securities Act) of the Company. The shares of
Common Stock that continue to be held by the existing stockholders of the
Company after the Offering will constitute "restricted shares" for purposes of
Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and may not be sold by such persons other
than in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or
pursuant to an available exemption therefrom. The Company, its officers,
directors and the Selling Stockholders have agreed that they will not offer or
sell any shares of Common Stock for a period of 180 days after the date of this
Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives. See
"Underwriting." Following the expiration of the lock-up agreements with the
Underwriters, each of the Company's directors and executive officers and each of
its existing stockholders, who will hold upon completion of the Offering an
aggregate of approximately 49% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (42% if
the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), may sell such
shares subject to the requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or
pursuant to the terms of a registration rights agreement. See "Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions -- Registration Rights Agreement." The
Company is also a party to certain registration rights agreements pursuant to
which it has granted demand and piggyback registration rights which, upon
consummation of the Offering, will cover an aggregate of 9,387,521 shares of
Common Stock and Common Stock Equivalents. The beneficiaries of the agreements
include Chesapeake, Energy Spectrum, APLP, the Oliver Companies and certain of
their affiliates, Ward and certain of its transferees, DLB, DLJ, Carl B.
Anderson, III, a trust of which Harold G. Hamm is trustee, James E. Brown,
Edward S. Jacob, III and David E. Grose. The terms of these agreements prohibit
the exercise of such registration rights for a period of 180 days following the
date of the Offering, subject to certain exceptions, including DLB's ability to
distribute its shares of Common Stock to its shareholders. In addition, the
Company intends to file registration statements on Form S-8 covering the
issuance of shares of Common Stock registered pursuant to the Company's
registration rights agreements or pursuant to the Company Stock Plans within 180
days after completion of the Offering. Accordingly, shares of Common Stock
issued pursuant to the Company Stock Plans will be available for sale in the
public market without restriction or limitation under the Securities Act, except
for any shares held by an "affiliate" of the Company.
    
 
     In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, an "affiliate" of the
Company may sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not
exceed the greater of (i) 1% of the then outstanding shares of such class or
(ii) the average weekly trading volume on the AMEX during the four calendar
weeks preceding the date on which a notice of sale is filed with the Commission
with respect to the proposed sale. Sales under Rule 144 are subject to certain
restrictions relating to the manner of sale, notice and the availability of
current public information about the issuer. A person who has not been an
affiliate of the Company at any time during the 90 days preceding a sale, and
who has beneficially owned shares for at least two years (including the
 
                                       75
<PAGE>   77
 
holding period of any prior owner other than an affiliate), would be entitled to
sell such shares without regard to the volume limitations, manner of sale
provisions, notice or other requirements of Rule 144.
 
                                       76
<PAGE>   78
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     Subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Underwriting Agreement
(the "Underwriting Agreement"), each of the underwriters named below (the
"Underwriters"), for whom Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
("DLJ"), Lehman Brothers, Prudential Securities Incorporated, Rauscher Pierce
Refsnes, Inc. and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. are acting as representatives
(the "Representatives"), has severally agreed to purchase from the Company the
respective number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite its name below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              NUMBER OF
                        UNDERWRITERS                           SHARES
<S>                                                           <C>
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation.........
Lehman Brothers Inc.........................................
Prudential Securities Incorporated..........................
Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, Inc................................
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.............................
                                                              ---------
          Total.............................................  9,200,000
                                                              =========
</TABLE>
 
     The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the several
Underwriters to purchase and accept delivery of the shares of Common Stock
offered hereby are subject to approval of certain legal matters by counsel and
to certain other conditions. If any of the shares of Common Stock are purchased
by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, all such shares
(other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below) must be
so purchased. The offering price and underwriting discounts and commissions per
share for Common Stock sold by the Company and the Selling Stockholders are
identical.
 
     The Representatives have advised the Company that the Underwriters propose
to offer the shares of Common Stock to the public initially at the Price to the
Public set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus and to certain dealers at
such price less a concession not in excess of $          per share, and that the
Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may re-allow, a discount not in excess
of $          per share on sales to other dealers. After the Offering, the
offering price and the concessions and discounts to dealers may be changed by
the Representatives.
 
     The Company and certain of the Selling Stockholders have granted to the
Underwriters an option to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,380,000 additional
shares of Common Stock at the Price to the Public set forth on the cover page
hereof, less underwriting discounts and commissions, solely for the purpose of
covering over-allotments. Such option may be exercised at any time until 30 days
after the date of this Prospectus. To the extent that such option is exercised,
each Underwriter will be committed, subject to certain conditions, to purchase a
number of shares proportionate to such Underwriter's initial commitment as
indicated in the preceding table.
 
     The Company and the Selling Stockholders have agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act, or to contribute to payments that the Underwriters may be
required to make in respect thereof. Such indemnification provisions would
require the Company and the Selling Stockholders to hold the Underwriters
harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
judgments caused by any untrue statement contained in this Prospectus or by any
omission to state a material fact herein, except for untrue statements or
omissions based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished in
writing to the Company by such Underwriter expressly for use in this Prospectus,
and subject to certain other limitations.
 
     The Company, its executive officers and directors and the Selling
Stockholders have agreed with the Underwriters not to offer, sell, pledge,
contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise
transfer or dispose of directly or indirectly any shares of Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or
in any manner transfer all or a portion of the economic consequences associated
with the ownership of any Common Stock for a period of 180 days after the date
of the Prospectus without the prior written consent of DLJ and subject to
certain limited exceptions. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
 
                                       77
<PAGE>   79
 
     No action has been taken in any jurisdiction by the Company, the Selling
Stockholders or the Underwriters that would permit a public offering of the
Common Stock offered pursuant to the Offering in any jurisdiction where action
for that purpose is required, other than the United States. The distribution of
this Prospectus and the offering or sale of the shares of Common Stock offered
hereby in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Accordingly, the
shares of Common Stock offered hereby may not be offered or sold, directly or
indirectly, and neither this Prospectus nor any other offering material or
advertisements in connection with the Common Stock may be distributed or
published, in or from any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will
result in compliance with applicable rules and regulations of any such
jurisdiction. Such restrictions may be set out in applicable Prospectus
supplements. Persons into whose possession this Prospectus comes are required by
the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters to inform themselves
about and to observe any applicable restrictions. This Prospectus does not
constitute an offer of, or an invitation to subscribe for purchase of, any
shares of Common Stock and may not be used for the purpose of an offer to, or
solicitation by, anyone in any jurisdiction or in any circumstances in which
such offer or solicitation is not authorized or is unlawful.
 
     The Representatives have advised the Company that the Underwriters will not
confirm sales of shares of Common Stock to accounts over which they exercise
discretionary authority.
 
     Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common
Stock. The initial public offering price for the shares of Common Stock will be
negotiated among the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Representatives.
The factors to be considered in determining the initial public offering price of
the Common Stock, in addition to the prevailing market conditions, will be the
Company's historical performance, estimates of the business potential and
earnings prospects of the Company, an assessment of the Company's management and
the consideration of the above factors in relation to market valuation of
companies in related businesses.
 
     In connection with the Offering, the Underwriters may engage in
transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the
Common Stock. Specifically, the Underwriters may bid for and purchase shares of
Common Stock in the open market to cover syndicate short positions. In addition,
the Underwriters may bid for and purchase shares of Common Stock in the open
market to stabilize the price of the Common Stock. These activities may
stabilize or maintain the market price of the Common Stock above independent
market levels. The Underwriters are not required to engage in these activities
and may end these activities at any time.
 
     The Common Stock has been approved for listing on the AMEX, subject to
notice of official issuance, under the symbol "BDI."
 
     DLJ served as the financial advisor to DLB in connection with the Bonray
Acquisition and as compensation therefor received 60,000 shares of Common Stock,
a customary fee for a transaction of this type. The Company has granted DLJ
certain registration rights with respect to these shares. See "Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions -- Registration Rights Agreements."
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     The validity of the issuance of the shares of Common Stock offered by this
Prospectus will be passed upon for the Company by Baker & Botts, L.L.P., Dallas,
Texas. Certain legal matters in connection with the sale of the Common Stock
offered hereby will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Andrews & Kurth
L.L.P., Houston, Texas.
 
                         INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
     The financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 1994, 1995 and
1996 and for the fiscal years then ended included in this Prospectus and
elsewhere in the Registration Statement have been audited by
 
                                       78
<PAGE>   80
 
Grant Thornton LLP, independent public accountants, as stated in their reports
thereon appearing elsewhere herein, and are so included in reliance on such
reports given upon the authority of that firm as experts in auditing and
accounting. The financial statements of the Company as of June 30, 1997 and for
the six months then ended, the financial statements of Trend as of December 31,
1995 and 1996 and for the three fiscal years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and
1994, and the financial statements of Ward as of December 31, 1996 and for the
fiscal year then ended, included in this Prospectus and elsewhere in the
Registration Statement have been included herein in reliance on the report of
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., independent public accountants, given upon the
authority of that firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The financial
statements of Bonray as of December 31, 1996 and June 30, 1996 and for the
six-month period ended December 31, 1996 and years ended June 30, 1996 and 1995
included in this Prospectus and Registration Statement have been audited by
Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon
appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance on such report given
upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
     In preparation for its initial public offering, the Board appointed Coopers
& Lybrand L.L.P. as auditors for the Company's financial statements for the six
months ended June 30, 1997, and for the year ending December 31, 1997. During
the period Grant Thornton LLP was engaged by the Company and up to and including
March 7, 1997, the date of the Coopers & Lybrand engagement, there were no
disagreements with Grant Thornton LLP on any matter of accounting principles or
practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure and
there were no "reportable events" as the term is defined under the Securities
Act. The audit reports previously issued by Grant Thornton LLP with respect to
the Company's financial statements did not contain an adverse opinion or a
disclaimer of opinion, nor were such reports qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act with respect to the
shares of Common Stock offered by this Prospectus. This Prospectus constitutes a
part of the Registration Statement and does not contain all of the information
set forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted from
this Prospectus as permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission.
Statements made in this Prospectus regarding the contents of any contract,
agreement or other document are not necessarily complete. With respect to each
contract, agreement or other document filed with the Commission as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement, reference is made to the exhibit for further
information regarding the contents thereof, and each such statement is qualified
in its entirety by such reference. For further information regarding the Company
and the shares of Common Stock offered hereby, reference is made to the
Registration Statement, including the exhibits and schedules thereto.
 
     The Registration Statement, including the exhibits and schedules thereto,
are available for inspection at, and copies of such materials may be obtained at
prescribed rates from, the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at its principal offices located at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at its regional offices located at
Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago,
Illinois 60601 and 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. The
Commission also makes electronic filings publicly available on the Internet at
http://www.sec.gov and the Registration Statement, including the exhibits and
schedules thereto, may be inspected at such site.
 
     The Company is not currently subject to the informational requirements of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). As a
result of the Offering, the Company will become subject to the informational
requirements of the Exchange Act. The Company will fulfill its obligations with
respect to such requirements by filing periodic reports and other information
with the Commission. In addition, the Company intends to furnish to its
stockholders annual reports containing consolidated financial statements
examined by an independent public accounting firm.
 
                                       79
 
                           [INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
<PAGE>   81
 
                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              PAGE
<S>                                                           <C>
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BAYARD DRILLING
  TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants........   F-2
  Report of Independent Accountants.........................   F-3
  Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1995 and 1996 and six
     months ended June 30, 1997.............................   F-4
  Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31,
     1994, 1995 and 1996 and six months ended June 30, 1996
     and 1997...............................................   F-5
  Statements of Equity (Deficit) for the years ended
     December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 and six months ended
     June 30, 1997..........................................   F-6
  Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31,
     1994, 1995 and 1996 and six months ended June 30, 1996
     and 1997...............................................   F-7
  Notes to Financial Statements.............................   F-9
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF TREND DRILLING COMPANY
  Report of Independent Accountants.........................  F-21
  Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1995 and 1996 and as of
     April 30, 1997.........................................  F-22
  Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31,
     1994, 1995 and 1996 and four months ended April 30,
     1997 (unaudited).......................................  F-23
  Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years ended
     December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996.......................  F-24
  Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31,
     1994, 1995 and 1996 and four months ended April 30,
     1997 (unaudited).......................................  F-25
  Notes to the Financial Statements.........................  F-26
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF WARD DRILLING COMPANY, INC.
  Report of Independent Accountants.........................  F-30
  Balance Sheet as of December 31, 1996 and May 31, 1997....  F-31
  Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings for the
     year ended December 31, 1996 and five months ended May
     31, 1997 (unaudited)...................................  F-32
  Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31,
     1996 and five months ended May 31, 1997 (unaudited)....  F-33
  Notes to Financial Statements.............................  F-34
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION
  Report of Independent Auditors............................  F-37
  Balance Sheets as of June 30, 1997 (unaudited) and
     December 31, 1996......................................  F-38
  Statements of Operations and Accumulated Deficit for the
     six-month periods ended June 30, 1997 (unaudited) and
     December 31, 1996 and years ended June 30, 1996 and
     1995...................................................  F-39
  Statements of Cash Flows for the six-month periods ended
     June 30, 1997 (unaudited) and December 31, 1996 and
     years ended June 30, 1996 and 1995.....................  F-40
  Notes to Financial Statements.............................  F-41
</TABLE>
 
                                       F-1
<PAGE>   82
 
               REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
Board of Directors
Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc.
 
     We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Bayard Drilling
Technologies, Inc. (Note A), as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related
statements of operations, equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1996. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
     In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Bayard Drilling
Technologies, Inc., as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1996 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
                                            GRANT THORNTON LLP
 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
January 20, 1997
 
                                       F-2
<PAGE>   83
 
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
Board of Directors
Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc.
 
     We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Bayard Drilling
Technologies, Inc., as of June 30, 1997, and the related statements of
operations, equity (deficit), and cash flows for the six months ended June 30,
1997. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audit.
 
     We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audit provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
     In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Bayard Drilling
Technologies, Inc., as of June 30, 1997 and the results of its operations and
its cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 1997 in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
 
                                            COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
October 3, 1997
 
                                       F-3
<PAGE>   84
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
                                     ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                                              -----------------    JUNE 30,
                                                               1995      1996        1997
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>        <C>
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash......................................................  $   --    $ 4,963    $    240
  Restricted investments....................................      --         --         730
  Accounts receivable.......................................   1,692        286       5,993
  Accounts receivable -- affiliate..........................      --        798       4,524
  Other current assets......................................      19          1         559
                                                              ------    -------    --------
          Total current assets..............................   1,711      6,048      12,046
Property, plant and equipment, net..........................   6,343     26,973      92,658
Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization of $98............      --         --       6,402
Other assets................................................      --      1,652       2,066
                                                              ------    -------    --------
          Total assets......................................  $8,054    $34,673    $113,172
                                                              ======    =======    ========
 
                             LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (DEFICIT)
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Accounts payable..........................................  $1,219    $   409    $  8,794
  Accounts payable -- affiliate.............................      --         --         838
  Payable to affiliate......................................     433        412          --
  Accrued liabilities.......................................      47        253       3,691
  Current portion of long-term debt.........................      --        947      12,869
                                                              ------    -------    --------
          Total current liabilities.........................   1,699      2,021      26,192
                                                              ------    -------    --------
Payable to affiliate........................................   6,631         --          --
                                                              ------    -------    --------
Deferred income tax liabilities.............................      --        348       6,665
                                                              ------    -------    --------
Long-term debt, less current maturities.....................      --      6,053      18,894
                                                              ------    -------    --------
Subordinated notes..........................................      --         --      16,608
                                                              ------    -------    --------
 
Commitments and Contingencies
 
EQUITY (DEFICIT):
  Partners' deficit.........................................    (276)        --          --
  Stockholders' equity
     Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares
       authorized; none issued or outstanding...............      --         --          --
     Common stock, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares
       authorized; 5,600,000 shares issued and outstanding
       at December 31, 1996; 7,490,000 at June 30, 1997.....      --         56          75
  Additional paid-in capital (net of deferred compensation
     of $292 at June 30, 1997)..............................      --     26,229      44,792
  Accumulated deficit.......................................      --        (34)        (54)
                                                              ------    -------    --------
          Total equity (deficit)............................    (276)    26,251      44,813
                                                              ------    -------    --------
          Total liabilities and equity (deficit)............  $8,054    $34,673    $113,172
                                                              ======    =======    ========
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                       F-4
<PAGE>   85
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,           JUNE 30,
                                                  --------------------------   ---------------------
                                                   1994      1995     1996        1996        1997
                                                                               (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                               <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>           <C>
REVENUES:
  Drilling......................................  $ 7,842   $5,491   $ 8,995     $4,242      $ 7,029
  Drilling -- affiliate.........................    2,068    1,914       798         --        8,078
  Other.........................................       --      303        60         59           --
                                                  -------   ------   -------     ------      -------
     Total revenues.............................    9,910    7,708     9,853      4,301       15,107
                                                  -------   ------   -------     ------      -------
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
  Drilling......................................    8,572    6,075     7,653      3,268       10,897
  General and administrative....................      786      880       658        323          734
  Depreciation and amortization.................    1,557      791     1,126        415        2,645
  Other.........................................       --       47        46         --           --
                                                  -------   ------   -------     ------      -------
     Total costs and expenses...................   10,915    7,793     9,483      4,006       14,276
                                                  -------   ------   -------     ------      -------
     Operating income (loss)....................   (1,005)     (85)      370        295          831
                                                  -------   ------   -------     ------      -------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Interest expense..............................      (18)      (3)      (11)        --         (982)
  Interest income...............................       --       --        --         --           51
  Gain (loss) on sale of assets.................      366     (131)       54         --           60
  Other.........................................       --       (3)       17         36            8
                                                  -------   ------   -------     ------      -------
     Total other income (expense)...............      348     (137)       60         36         (863)
                                                  -------   ------   -------     ------      -------
Earnings (loss) before income taxes.............     (657)    (222)      430        331          (32)
Income tax provision (benefit) -- deferred......       --       --        17         --          (12)
                                                  -------   ------   -------     ------      -------
Net earnings (loss).............................  $  (657)  $ (222)  $   413     $  331      $   (20)
                                                  =======   ======   =======     ======      =======
Net earnings (loss) per share...................                                             $   .00
                                                                                             =======
PRO FORMA INFORMATION:
  Additional income tax expense.................       --       --       146        126
                                                  -------   ------   -------     ------
  Pro forma net earnings (loss).................  $  (657)  $ (222)  $   267     $  205
                                                  -------   ------   -------     ------
  Pro forma earnings per share..................  $  (.05)  $ (.02)  $   .02     $  .01
                                                  =======   ======   =======     ======
Weighted average common shares outstanding......   14,397   14,397    14,397     14,397       14,397
                                                  =======   ======   =======     ======      =======
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                       F-5
<PAGE>   86
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                         STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (DEFICIT)
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                                       ---------------------------------------------------
                                           PARTNERS             ADDITIONAL
                                            CAPITAL    COMMON    PAID-IN     DEFERRED   RETAINED
                                           (DEFICIT)   STOCK     CAPITAL       COST     EARNINGS    TOTAL
<S>                                        <C>         <C>      <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>
Balance at January 1, 1994...............   $  (912)    $ --     $    --      $  --       $ --     $    --
  Net loss...............................      (657)      --          --         --         --          --
  Capital contribution...................     1,515       --          --         --         --          --
                                            -------     ----     -------      -----       ----     -------
Balance at December 31, 1994.............       (54)      --          --         --         --          --
  Net loss...............................      (222)      --          --         --         --          --
                                            -------     ----     -------      -----       ----     -------
Balance at December 31, 1995.............      (276)      --          --         --         --          --
  Net earnings through date of corporate
     capitalization......................       447       --          --         --         --          --
  Net increase in equity arising from
     affiliate transactions..............     5,285       --          --         --         --          --
  Issuance of stock in corporate
     capitalization......................    (5,456)      20       5,436         --         --       5,456
  Sale of stock..........................        --       20       9,980         --         --      10,000
  Issuance of stock options and warrants
     for drilling agreements and debt....        --       --       1,319         --         --       1,319
  Issuance of stock and options for
     property and equipment..............        --       16       9,494         --         --       9,510
  Net loss from date of corporate
     capitalization to December 31,
     1996................................        --       --          --         --        (34)        (34)
                                            -------     ----     -------      -----       ----     -------
Balance at December 31, 1996.............        --       56      26,229         --        (34)     26,251
  Net earnings...........................        --       --          --         --        (20)        (20)
  Issuance of stock options to
     employees...........................        --       --          60        (59)        --           1
  Sale of stock..........................        --       12       8,218         --         --       8,230
  Issuance of stock options and
     warrants............................        --       --       4,023         --         --       4,023
  Executive compensation agreements......        --       --         250       (233)        --          17
  Issuance of stock for acquisitions.....        --        7       6,304         --         --       6,311
                                            -------     ----     -------      -----       ----     -------
Balance at June 30, 1997.................   $    --     $ 75     $45,084      $(292)      $(54)    $44,813
                                            =======     ====     =======      =====       ====     =======
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                       F-6
<PAGE>   87
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,             JUNE 30,
                                                         ----------------------------   ----------------------
                                                          1994      1995       1996        1996         1997
                                                                                        (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                      <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>           <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net earnings (loss)..................................  $  (657)  $  (222)  $    413   $       331   $    (20)
  Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net
    cash (used in) provided by operating activities --
    Depreciation and amortization......................    1,557       791      1,126           415      2,645
    (Gain) loss on sale of assets......................     (366)      131        (54)            0        (60)
    Compensation expense...............................       --        --         --            --         18
    Deferred income taxes (benefit)....................       --        --         17            --        (12)
    Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects of
      affiliate transactions --
      Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable.......      (96)      242     (2,059)         (556)    (5,707)
      (Increase) in accounts receivable from
         affiliate.....................................       --        --         --            --     (3,726)
      Decrease (increase) in other assets..............        2        (6)      (185)           13     (1,608)
      Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities.......     (101)     (237)       251            44      3,438
      Increase (decrease) in accounts payable..........      106      (389)      (383)         (324)     5,635
      Increase in accounts payable to affiliate........       --        --         --            --        838
      Increase (decrease) in payable to affiliate......       --        --        412             7       (412)
                                                         -------   -------   --------   -----------   --------
         Net cash (used in) provided by operating
           activities..................................      445       310       (462)          (70)     1,029
                                                         -------   -------   --------   -----------   --------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Acquisition of property and equipment................   (1,183)   (2,088)   (10,578)       (3,278)   (32,539)
  Acquisition of businesses............................       --        --         --            --    (26,056)
  Proceeds from sale of assets.........................      729       378        137           136         60
  Purchase of investments..............................       --        --         --            --       (730)
                                                         -------   -------   --------   -----------   --------
         Net cash used in investing activities.........     (454)   (1,710)   (10,441)       (3,142)   (59,265)
                                                         -------   -------   --------   -----------   --------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Payments made to affiliates..........................  (16,608)   (8,828)   (19,719)       (4,496)        --
  Advances received from affiliates....................   16,982    10,228     18,791         7,708         --
  Retirement of notes payable..........................     (365)       --         --            --         --
  Proceeds from borrowings.............................       --        --      7,000            --     41,044
  Proceeds from issuance of stock......................       --        --     10,000            --      8,230
  Debt issuance costs..................................       --        --       (206)           --
  Payments on long-term debt...........................       --        --         --            --     (2,572)
  Borrowings under line of credit......................       --        --         --            --      6,811
                                                         -------   -------   --------   -----------   --------
         Net cash provided by financing activities.....        9     1,400     15,866         3,212     53,513
                                                         -------   -------   --------   -----------   --------
Net change in cash.....................................       --        --      4,963            --     (4,723)
Cash at beginning of period............................       --        --         --            --      4,963
                                                         -------   -------   --------   -----------   --------
Cash at end of period..................................  $    --   $    --   $  4,963   $        --   $    240
                                                         =======   =======   ========   ===========   ========
Cash paid during the period for interest...............  $    20   $    --   $     --   $        --   $    653
Cash paid during the period for income taxes...........  $    --   $    --         --            --         --
                                                         =======   =======   ========   ===========   ========
</TABLE>
 
                                                                       Continued
 
                                       F-7
<PAGE>   88
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
Continued
 
Supplemental noncash activity:
 
     During 1994 certain affiliate payables were extinguished resulting in a
$1,515 capital contribution to the Company.
 
     During 1995 an affiliate transferred drilling equipment to the Company at
the affiliate's basis totaling $173, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,306,
which has been reflected as an increase in payable to affiliate. Additionally,
the Company acquired property and equipment through trade payables totaling
$1,180.
 
     During 1996 the Company acquired property and equipment totaling $9,841
through the issuance of stock and options and assumed a net deferred income tax
liability of $331. The Company acquired property and equipment through trade
payables and payables to affiliates totaling $1,390. The Company transferred
property and equipment totaling $29, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,254
to an affiliate which has been reflected as a decrease in payables to
affiliates. The Company issued stock options and warrants in exchange for
certain drilling agreements and debt. The stock options were valued at $1,100
and the warrants associated with the debt were valued at $219.
 
     Additionally in 1996, the Company transferred the following assets and
liabilities to affiliates which resulted in a net increase in equity at the time
of corporate capitalization, effective December 1, 1996.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                             <C>
Accounts receivable.........................................    $  2,667
Other assets................................................          17
Cash........................................................       9,252
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities....................      (1,799)
Payable to affiliates.......................................     (15,422)
                                                                --------
                                                                $ (5,285)
                                                                ========
</TABLE>
 
     During 1997 the Company acquired property and equipment through the
issuance of stock and options for $6,591 and through issuance of trade payables
of $2,750.
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                       F-8
<PAGE>   89
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
          INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 IS UNAUDITED
 
NOTE A -- NATURE OF OPERATIONS
 
     Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc. together with its predecessor, (the
"Company"), a Delaware corporation, is the successor to the drilling operations
of Anadarko Drilling Company ("Anadarko"), which began drilling operations in
1980. The Company provides land-based contract drilling services primarily to
independent oil and gas companies in the Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast regions of
the United States whose level of drilling activity is related to oil and gas
prices, among other factors.
 
     Beginning in October 1996, AnSon Partners Limited Partnership ("APLP")
initiated a series of transactions among its wholly owned affiliates, Anadarko,
a partnership, and Bayard Drilling Company ("BDC"), a corporation, and the
Company. These series of transactions resulted in the corporate capitalization
of the Company in December 1996 with net assets, primarily drilling rigs,
previously owned by Anadarko. Such transactions were accounted for as a
reorganization of entities under common control.
 
NOTE B -- SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
     The summary of significant accounting policies applied in the preparation
of the accompanying financial statements follows.
 
1. Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
 
     The financial statements and information for periods prior to December 1,
1996 represent those of the predecessor. The consolidated financial statements
for periods after December 31, 1996 include the accounts of the Company and its
wholly-owned subsidiaries, Trend Drilling Company ("Trend") and WD Equipment,
L.L.C. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been
eliminated.
 
2. Cash
 
     The Company considers all cash and investments with an original maturity of
90 days or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash in a bank
deposit account which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The
Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not
exposed to any significant credit risk on cash.
 
3. Investments
 
     Investments consist of certificates of deposits pledged to state insurance
departments and insurance companies to support payment of workers compensation
claims.
 
4. Concentration of Credit Risk
 
     The primary market for the Company's services are independent oil and gas
companies whose level of activities are related to, among other things, oil and
gas prices. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and
provides for potential credit losses when necessary. No allowance was required
at December 31, 1996 and 1995 or June 30, 1997. At June 30, 1997, approximately
71% of the Company's trade receivables and over 80% of total revenues were
derived from five customers.
 
                                       F-9
<PAGE>   90
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
          INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 IS UNAUDITED
 
5. Property and Equipment
 
     Property and equipment are stated at cost, reduced by provisions to
recognize economic impairment in value when management determines that such
impairment has occurred. Drilling equipment is depreciated using the declining
balance method over the estimated useful lives from five to twelve years. Other
property and equipment are depreciated on a declining balance basis over
estimated useful lives from three to ten years. Refurbishments and betterments
on drilling equipment are capitalized if such expenditures are significant and
extend the lives of the equipment. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as
incurred. When assets are sold, retired or disposed of, the cost and related
accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and the gain or loss
is recognized.
 
6. Revenue Recognition
 
     Revenues generated from the Company's dayrate drilling contracts are
recognized as services are performed. For all drilling contracts under which the
Company bears the risk of completion (such as footage and turnkey contracts)
revenues and expenses are recognized using the completed contracts method. When
estimates of projected revenues and expenses indicate a loss, the total
estimated loss is accrued.
 
7. Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share
 
     Earnings per common and equivalent shares is computed based on the weighted
average number of common and equivalent shares outstanding during the period.
Pro forma net earnings (loss) per share are presented to reflect the provision
for income taxes for periods Anadarko was a partnership. Pro forma net earnings
(loss) per share is computed by dividing the pro forma net earnings (loss) by
the weighted average number of shares of common stock and equivalent shares
outstanding during the period.
 
     Under guidelines issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, common
shares, options and warrants issued prior to a public offering at prices below
the initial offering price are treated as outstanding for all periods presented
(using the Treasury stock method) in computing net earnings (loss) per share.
 
8. Income Taxes
 
     Income taxes were not provided in the financial statements for earnings
attributable to Anadarko since the partners would pay income taxes or receive as
a deduction their distributive share of Anadarko's taxable income or loss. Pro
forma adjustments are reflected on the statement of operations to provide for
income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
109 at an effective rate of 38%.
 
     The Company uses the liability method of accounting for deferred income
taxes under SFAS No. 109, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are
recognized based upon differences between the financial statement and tax bases
of assets and liabilities using presently enacted tax rates. If it is more
likely that not some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be
realized, a valuation allowance is recognized.
 
9. Goodwill and Other Assets
 
     Goodwill related to the acquisition of Trend is being amortized over twelve
years. Amortization expense of $97,527 has been recognized as of June 30, 1997.
 
     Other assets consist of (i) organizational costs incurred for the
organization of Bayard, (ii) debt issuance costs incurred on the term loan
disclosed in Note G, and (iii) deferred contract costs related to options
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>   91
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
          INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 IS UNAUDITED
 
granted to a related party. Amortization expense for such other assets is
recognized over one to five years on a straight-line basis. $667,626 of
amortization expense has been recognized for the six months ended June 30, 1997
for these costs.
 
     On an ongoing basis, management reviews the valuation and amortization of
goodwill and other intangibles to determine possible impairment. The
recoverability of these assets is assessed by determining whether the
amortization can be recovered from undiscounted future cash flows.
 
10. Use of Estimates
 
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect certain reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period; accordingly actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
11. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
     The Company's financial instruments consist of cash and investments which
approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments, a
payable to an affiliate which approximates fair value due to the demand nature
of this obligation and a floating rate term loan which approximates fair value
because the interest rate adjusts to the market rate, and notes payable which
approximate fair value because the interest rates on these notes reflects the
borrowing terms currently available to the Company.
 
12. Interim Financial Statements and Disclosures
 
     In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim financial statements
for June 30, 1997 and 1996 and unaudited interim financial statement disclosures
subsequent to December 31, 1996 include all adjustments, consisting of normal
recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly the Company's financial position
as of June 30, 1997 and results of operations and cash flows for the six months
ended June 30, 1997 and 1996. Results for the period ended June 30, 1997 are not
necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire fiscal year.
 
13. Stock Based Compensation
 
     The Company applies APB Opinion 25 in accounting for its stock option
plans. Under this standard, compensation expense is only recognized for grants
of options which include an exercise price less than the market price of the
stock on the date of grant. Accordingly, based on the Company's grants for 1996
and for the six months ended June 30, 1997, the Company recognized $0 and
approximately $292,000 of deferred compensation and $0 and approximately $18,000
of compensation expense, respectively. For grants of options which include an
exercise price equal to or greater than the market price of the stock on the
date of grant, the Company has disclosed the pro forma effects of recording
compensation based on fair value in Note N to the financial statements as
allowed by Financial Accounting Standard No. 123 "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation."
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>   92
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
          INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 IS UNAUDITED
 
NOTE C -- ACQUISITIONS
 
     On May 1, 1997, the Company completed the acquisition of the common stock
of Trend ("Trend Acquisition") for $18 million in cash and 250,000 shares of
common stock which equates to $10.64 per share based on the appraisals of the
fair market value of the property and equipment acquired of $21,532,000. The
Company incurred costs of approximately $307,000 in connection with this
acquisition.
 
     The Trend Acquisition was accounted for as a purchase. The following is an
analysis of the allocation of the purchase price:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>
Current assets..............................................     $ 2,734
Property and equipment......................................      21,532
Goodwill....................................................       6,330
Current liabilities.........................................      (2,265)
Long-term liabilities.......................................      (1,340)
Deferred income tax liability...............................      (6,330)
                                                                 -------
Purchase price..............................................     $20,661
                                                                 =======
</TABLE>
 
     On May 30, 1997, the Company acquired WD Equipment, L.L.C. (which owned six
drilling rigs, but had no operations) from Ward Drilling Company, Inc. ("Ward
Acquisition") for approximately $8 million in cash and 400,000 shares of common
stock which equates to $8.95 per share based on the appraisal of the fair market
value of the assets acquired of $11,931,000. The Company also issued warrants to
purchase 200,000 shares of common stock at $10.00 per share. The warrant had an
estimated fair market value of $294,000 at the agreement closing date and was
recorded as an increase in property and equipment and additional paid in
capital.
 
     The following is the unaudited pro forma results of operations as if Trend
and Ward had been acquired January 1, 1996 (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          YEAR ENDED       SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                       DECEMBER 31, 1996    JUNE 30, 1997
<S>                                                    <C>                 <C>
Revenues.............................................       $36,930            $26,454
                                                            =======            =======
Net Loss.............................................       $(2,347)           $(1,305)
                                                            =======            =======
Loss per common share................................       $  (.16)           $  (.09)
                                                            =======            =======
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>   93
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
          INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 IS UNAUDITED
 
NOTE D -- PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
     Major classes of property and equipment consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              SIX MONTHS
                                                            DECEMBER 31,        ENDED
                                                          -----------------    JUNE 30,
                                                           1995      1996        1997
                                                                  (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                       <C>       <C>       <C>
Drilling rigs and components............................  $21,152   $42,303    $108,486
Automobiles, trucks, and trailers.......................    1,546       431       1,332
Buildings and property..................................       --        --         277
Furniture, fixtures, and other..........................       69         7         208
                                                          -------   -------    --------
                                                           22,767    42,741     110,303
  Less accumulated depreciation.........................   16,424    15,768      17,645
                                                          -------   -------    --------
                                                          $ 6,343   $26,973    $ 92,658
                                                          =======   =======    ========
</TABLE>
 
NOTE E -- CHANGE IN ESTIMATED LIVES
 
     Effective January 1, 1995, the Company changed the estimated remaining
lives of its drilling rigs and other related drilling equipment to 84 months
from remaining lives which ranged from 31 months to 113 months. The Company also
changed the estimated remaining life of drill collars from 20 months to 36
months. These changes were made to more closely approximate the remaining useful
lives of such assets. The effect of this change was to decrease the historical
net loss by approximately $539,000 and to reduce the pro forma net loss by
approximately $539,000 or $.05 per share (Note B(7)) for the year ended December
31, 1995.
 
     Effective January 1, 1996, the Company changed the estimated remaining
lives of certain drilling component equipment from 84 months to 120 months and
changed the estimated remaining life of drill collars and pipe from 36 months to
60 months. After review and study by the Company, the useful lives of drilling
rigs acquired after January 1, 1996 were changed from 84 months to 144 months.
These changes were made to more closely approximate the remaining useful lives
of such assets. The effect of these changes was to increase the historical net
earnings by approximately $405,000 and to increase pro forma net earnings by
approximately $251,000, net of pro forma income taxes of $154,000, or $.02 per
share (Note B(7)) for the year ended December 31, 1996.
 
NOTE F -- INCOME TAXES
 
     On October 28, 1996, Anadarko conveyed its operating assets to its
wholly-owned subsidiary, BDC, which caused a change in tax status of the
drilling operations from a partnership to a taxable corporation. A deferred tax
asset was recognized for the temporary differences which existed at the date of
conveyance together with a related valuation allowance. At December 31, 1996,
the Company has net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $418,000
which will expire in 2011 if unused.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>   94
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
          INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 IS UNAUDITED
 
     Components of net deferred income tax liabilities are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              OCTOBER 28,    DECEMBER 31,
                                                                 1996            1996
                                                                    (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>
Deferred tax assets (liabilities)
  Operating loss carryforwards..............................    $    --         $ 167
  Property and equipment....................................      1,818          (515)
  Total valuation allowance.................................     (1,818)           --
                                                                -------         -----
     Net deferred tax liabilities...........................    $    --         $(348)
                                                                =======         =====
</TABLE>
 
     The Company's effective income tax rate differed from the federal statutory
rate of 34% as follows for the years ended December 31: (in thousands)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1995        1996
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
Income tax expense (benefit) at federal statutory rate......  $    (75)   $     146
Income tax (expense) benefit attributable to individual
  partners..................................................        75         (129)
                                                              --------    ---------
                                                              $     --    $      17
                                                              ========    =========
</TABLE>
 
     The Company's valuation allowance on tax assets was established October 28,
1996 due to a change in taxable status and decreased $1,818,000 during the
period from October 28, 1996 to December 31, 1996. The Company was not a taxable
entity in 1995 and had no valuation allowance. Effective December 1, 1996, the
Company acquired assets with deferred tax liabilities of approximately $2
million in which the purchase price allocation resulted in the reduction of the
Company's tax asset valuation allowance of approximately $1,724,000.
 
NOTE G -- LONG-TERM DEBT AND SUBORDINATED NOTES
 
     Long-term debt at December 31, 1996 consisted of borrowings under loan
agreements (the "Loan Agreements") which provide for a term loan (the "Term
Loan") and a revolving loan (the "Revolving Loan"). The Term Loan of $7,000,000
bears interest at the Company's choice of LIBOR plus 4.25% (9.65% at December
31, 1996) or the prime rate of Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. and requires monthly
payments of principal and interest in amounts sufficient to repay borrowings at
maturity on March 31, 2002. The Loan Agreements permit borrowings to a maximum
of $20 million under the Term Loan if defined collateral provisions are met. The
loan is collateralized by drilling equipment.
 
     The Loan Agreements also permit borrowings up to $4 million under the
Revolving Loan through December 31, 1998 subject to a $2 million limitation if
the borrowings under the Term Loan exceed $17 million. Amounts advanced under
the Revolving Loan, if any, will be converted to a term loan on December 31,
1998 and will be repaid in monthly installments until maturity on January 31,
2002.
 
     Starting in 1997, the Loan Agreements require the maintenance of defined
collateral values, cash flow and liquidity ratios, financial reporting
requirements, and the maintenance of total liabilities to tangible net worth not
greater than 1.25 and imposes certain limitations on capital expenditures and
incurrence of additional debt.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>   95
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
          INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 IS UNAUDITED
 
     A December 31, 1996, the aggregate yearly maturities on long-term
obligations are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31
<S>                                                           <C>
     1997...................................................  $  947,000
     1998...................................................   1,240,000
     1999...................................................   1,365,000
     2000...................................................   1,503,000
     2001...................................................   1,654,000
     Thereafter.............................................     291,000
                                                              ----------
                                                              $7,000,000
                                                              ==========
</TABLE>
 
     In May 1997, the Company amended and increased the availability under the
Loan Agreements. The Term Loan provides the Company up to $30.5 million for the
purchase of additional land drilling rigs, the refurbishment of such rigs and
equipment and for working capital purposes. The Revolving Loan provides the
revolving credit loans of up to $10 million, $2 million of which is available
for the issuance of letters of credit, and which is being used for general
corporate purposes. Amounts outstanding under the Revolving Loan bear interest
based on Fleet National Bank's prime rate plus 1.5% (10% at June 30, 1997) and
mature in April 2000. Amounts outstanding under the Term Loan bear interest, at
the election of the Company, at floating rates equal to Chase Manhattan Bank's
prime rate plus 2.0% or LIBOR plus 4.25% (9.94% at June 30, 1997) and mature in
March 2002. The Loan Agreements are collateralized by substantially all of the
assets of the Company, including all drilling rigs, equipment and drilling
contracts, and contain customary restrictive covenants (including covenants
restricting the ability of the Company to pay dividends or encumber assets) and
an affirmative covenant to maintain Total Available Liquidity (as defined in the
Loan Agreements) of at least $4.5 million through December 31, 1997 and $3
million through December 31, 1998. Pursuant to the Loan Agreements, the Company
must maintain certain financial ratios, including a Cash Flow Coverage ratio (as
defined in the Loan Agreements) of at least 1.25 to 1 until December 1997, 1.5
to 1 in 1998 and 1.75 to 1 thereafter and a ratio of Total Liabilities (as
defined in the Loan Agreements) to Tangible Net Worth no greater than 1.25 to 1
in 1997 and 1 to 1 in 1998. Under the Loan Agreements the Company is obligated
to pay certain fees, including an annual commitment fee in an amount equal to
0.5% of the unused portion of the commitment.
 
     Additionally, the Company issued Subordinated Notes due May 1, 2003 in the
original principal amounts of $18 million and $2.52 million (the "Subordinated
Notes") to Chesapeake Energy Corporation ("Chesapeake") and Energy Spectrum
Partners LP ("Energy Spectrum"), respectively. The Subordinated Notes bear
interest at either (i) 11% per annum, payable in cash or (ii) 12.875% per annum,
payable in the form of additional Subordinated Notes, which interest is payable
quarterly in arrears. On each quarterly interest payment date, the Company may
make an election as to the interest rate to be applied for the previous quarter.
The Subordinated Notes are redeemable, solely at the option of the Company, in
whole or in part, at any time after May 31, 1998 at varying redemption prices.
The Company must offer to redeem the Subordinated Notes upon the occurrence of
certain events constituting a "Change of Control" (as defined in the
Subordinated Notes) at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount
thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of
redemption. The Subordinated Notes are convertible into Common Stock at the
option of the Company, in whole or in part, in conjunction with a "Convertible
Event" (as defined in the Subordinated Notes), which includes certain
underwritten public offerings (including the Offering), mergers, consolidations
and other business combination transactions. The Subordinated Notes are general
unsecured subordinated obligations of the Company that are subordinated in
rights of payment to all existing and future senior indebtedness of the Company,
pari passu with all existing and future subordinated
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>   96
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
          INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 IS UNAUDITED
 
indebtedness of the Company and senior in right of payment to all future junior
subordinated indebtedness of the Company.
 
NOTE H -- RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
     Before the corporate capitalization, Anson Gas Corporation served as the
managing general partner responsible for all management and operational
functions of the Company and charged the Company for such expenses. The Company
expensed approximately $198,000, $390,000 and $435,000 for such services
received in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
     Prior to December 31, 1996, the Company and its affiliates made advances to
each other from time to time which generally had no specific repayment terms.
The Company's payable to affiliate at December 31, 1995 was in the form of a
noninterest-bearing payable to APLP.
 
     The Company purchased drilling equipment and supplies from an affiliate
totaling $2,862,000, $779,000 and $904,000 in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
The Company also transferred drilling equipment to an affiliate at the Company's
basis totaling $29,000, net of accumulated depreciation, which resulted in a
decrease in payable to affiliate.
 
     An affiliate transferred drilling equipment to Anadarko at the affiliates
basis totaling $173,000, net of accumulated depreciation, during 1995 which has
been reflected as an increase in payable to affiliate.
 
     In December 1996, Anadarko granted the Company a transferrable option,
exercisable at any time prior to June 30, 1998, to either purchase from Anadarko
a storage yard located in Weatherford, Oklahoma (the "Weatherford Storage Yard")
for a price of $1,000 in cash or lease from Anadarko, for any period specified
by the Company through a date not later than December 31, 1999, the Weatherford
Storage Yard for a lease price of $100 per year. In August 1997, the Company
acquired from Anadarko approximately 5 acres of land also in Weatherford,
Oklahoma, in consideration for the relinquishment by the Company of the option
to acquire or lease the Weatherford Storage Yard.
 
     In May 1997, the Company paid Energy Spectrum a fee in the amount of
$220,000 for financial advisory and other services rendered to the Company in
connection with the completion of the Trend Acquisition, including the valuation
and negotiation of the Trend Acquisition and for assistance in the arrangement
of alternative financing sources and structuring, negotiating and closing the
amended financing arrangements with CIT and Fleet. The Company also reimbursed
Energy Spectrum for expenses incurred in connection with the rendering of such
services.
 
     The Company has in the past purchased rigs and related equipment from U.S.
Rig & Equipment, Inc., an affiliate of Roy T. Oliver, a director of the Company.
From January 1997 through June 30, 1997, the Company paid U.S. Rig & Equipment,
Inc. an aggregate of $1.3 million in connection with such purchases.
Additionally, in August 1997, the Company sold one of its rigs to an affiliate
of Mr. Oliver for $500,000. The Company believes that this sale price is
equivalent to the price that would have been received from an unaffiliated third
party.
 
     The Company has engaged affiliates of APLP for the provision of trucking
services related to the movement of the Company's rigs on numerous occasions.
From January 1997 through June 30, 1997, the Company paid such affiliates of
APLP an aggregate of $225,000 in consideration for such trucking services.
 
     Since December 13, 1996, APLP has made available to the Company certain of
APLP's employees, office space and administrative equipment, such as computer
and telephone systems. In consideration for such
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>   97
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
          INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 IS UNAUDITED
 
assistance, the Company had reimbursed APLP an aggregate of $135,000 as of June
30, 1997 and APLP continues to provide certain computer services to the Company.
 
     Accounts receivable at June 30, 1997 included $4.5 million of receivables
from affiliates. Accounts payable at June 30, 1997 included $838,000 owed to
affiliates. Interest expense at June 30, 1997 included $330,000 to affiliates.
 
NOTE I -- SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
 
     During the first six months of 1997, 51% of revenues was generated from an
affiliated customer and 10% of revenues was generated from an unaffiliated
customer. During 1996, sales to two customers were, respectively, 75% (inclusive
of $798,000 attributable to Chesapeake, which became an affiliate in December
1996) and 18% of drilling revenues. During 1995, sales to one customer totaled
36% of drilling revenue. During 1994, sales to two customers totaled 34% and 11%
of total drilling revenues.
 
NOTE J -- STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY AND OPTIONS
 
     In December 1996, the Company issued 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock to
Anadarko for the operating assets of BDC, Anadarko's subsidiary. Further, the
Company issued 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock to Energy Spectrum for $10
million cash. The Company also acquired six drilling rigs and related equipment
by the issuance of 1,600,000 shares of Common Stock and put options on the
Company's common stock. The drilling rigs were recorded in accordance with
appraisals of the estimated fair value of the assets acquired ($9,500) and the
net deferred income tax liability assumed. If the Company does not complete an
initial public stock offering prior to June 2, 1998, the holder of the options
has a thirty-day period in which to request that the Company purchase the
1,600,000 shares of Common Stock at $7.50 per share. The Company, at its option,
can either purchase the shares or issue 400,000 additional shares of Common
Stock to the holder. The estimated fair value of the put options are recorded as
additional contributed capital to the Company.
 
     The Company executed in December 1996 certain drilling agreements to supply
six drilling rigs to Chesapeake at rates equal to defined comparable market
rates but not less than $5,000 per day per rig. The Company granted the operator
an option to purchase 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock at $6 per share, subject
to performance of the operator under the drilling agreement. The estimated fair
value of the options of $1,100,000 was recorded as additional paid-in capital
and a deferred charge to be amortized over a twelve month period consistent with
the annual negotiations of contract terms.
 
     In February 1997, the Company sold 100,000 shares of Common Stock at $2.50
per share to the President of the Company, which are subject to the terms of a
Restricted Stock Award Agreement. Deferred compensation in the amount of
$250,000 was recorded related to this stock grant as the purchase price was
below the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock at the date of grant.
See Note N.
 
     On December 10, 1996, the Company granted the issuer of the Term Loan (Note
G) warrants to immediately purchase up to 290,000 shares of the Company's Common
Stock at $8 per share or up to 300,000 shares at $8 per share when total
outstanding Common Stock exceeds 6,000,000 shares. The warrants expire at the
earlier of December 13, 2001 or eighteen months after completion of the initial
public stock offering by the Company. The warrant holder can also elect to
receive in stock the excess of the stock market value over the warrant exercise
price. These warrants have an estimated fair value of $219,000, which has been
recorded as debt issue costs and is being amortized over the term of the loan.
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>   98
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
          INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 IS UNAUDITED
 
     The Company purchased during May 1997, two drilling rigs from U.S. Rig &
Equipment, Inc. for cash and granted options to purchase 100,000 shares of
Common Stock at $8 per share.
 
     In connection with the issuance of Subordinated Notes executed in May 1997,
the Company issued 1,140,000 shares of Common Stock at $7 per share.
Additionally, the Company issued two series of detachable Warrants, designated
as Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants. The Series A Warrants are
exercisable at a price of $.01 per share and the Series B Warrants are
exercisable at $7.50 per share. Both Warrants expire 72 months from issuance.
The Company issued Series A Warrants and Series B Warrants representing the
right to purchase 798,000 shares and 912,000 shares of Common Stock,
respectively. The fair market value of these warrants at the agreement closing
date was $6 million, $4,024,000 of which was attributable to the Subordinated
Notes. The warrant value applicable to the Subordinated Notes was allocated
between the Subordinated Notes and warrants and recorded as a discount to the
Subordinated Notes and additional paid in capital.
 
     In October, 1995 SFAS No. 123 "Accounting for Stock Based Compensation" was
issued. The statement required the computation of compensation expense for
stock, stock options and other equity instruments issued to employees based on
the fair value of the instrument at the date the instrument was granted. The
compensation is to be recorded as an expense in the financial statements or
alternatively, disclosed. The Company has elected to disclose such information.
 
     In June 1997, the Company granted options to employees to purchase 59,600
shares of Common Stock at $8 per share. Deferred compensation in the amount of
$59,600 was recorded related to these stock options as the exercise price was
below the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock at the date of grant.
See Note N. During 1996 and 1997, the Company issued stock options to three
executive officers pursuant to the 1997 Stock Option and Stock Award Plan to
purchase 200,000, 50,000 and 50,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively, at an
exercise price of $5, $5 and $10 per share, respectively. None of such options
has been exercised, and all of such options remain outstanding.
 
NOTE K -- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
     In December 1996, the Company entered into a drilling agreement whereby
Chesapeake agreed to engage six of the Company's rigs for two-year terms,
subject to annual negotiations. The Company has the option to extend the
agreement with respect to any two of the rigs for two additional years on the
same terms. Chesapeake has the option to extend each of the other four
individual drilling rigs for two additional years on the same terms. The
agreement provides standard day rates, subject to upward, but not downward,
adjustment annually to approximately $100 per day less than the average
then-current market rates for the areas of operation. This adjustment is
determined each November during the term of the agreement and becomes effective
for any wells spudded after December 1, while such agreement remains in effect.
If a timely agreement is not reached as to a rate adjustment, the Company will
have the option to terminate the contract for the respective rig at the
conclusion of operations for the related well being drilled.
 
     The Company has entered into two year employment agreements with three
executive officers, which provide for the payment of the remaining term of each
agreement upon a change of control. As of June 30, 1997, benefits under such
agreements, assuming a change of control, would aggregate approximately
$547,500.
 
     As of June 30, 1997, the Company had construction commitments totaling
approximately $3.5 million for five rigs in various stages of refurbishment.
 
     A shortage of drill pipe exists in the contract drilling industry in the
United States. This shortage has caused the price of drill pipe to increase
significantly over the past 24 months and has required orders for new
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>   99
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
          INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 IS UNAUDITED
 
drill pipe to be placed at least one year in advance of expected use. The price
increase and the delay in delivery has caused the Company to substantially
increase capital expenditures for drill pipe in recent months. In the event the
shortage continues, the Company may be unable to obtain the drill pipe required
to expand its contract drilling operations.
 
NOTE L -- SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
     In August 1997, the Company issued 3,149,000 shares of Common Stock to
Chesapeake for $9 million in cash and the relinquishment by Chesapeake of its
right to exercise the Chesapeake Option and the warrants issued to it in
connection with the May Financing (the "Chesapeake Transactions"). In connection
with the Chesapeake Transactions, the Company agreed that, simultaneously with
the Offering, the Company will redeem in full the $18 million principal amount
of Subordinated Notes held by Chesapeake at a cash redemption price of $15
million, subject to adjustment. The Company estimates a $1.4 million
extraordinary loss from early extinguishment of debt on the Subordinated Notes,
which estimate may change in connection with the adjustment. Also in connection
with the Chesapeake Transactions, the Company waived its right under the
Securities Purchase Agreement to require Chesapeake to purchase additional
Common Stock, Warrants and Subordinated Notes for $3 million.
 
     At the August 19, 1997 Board of Directors meeting, the number of authorized
shares of Common Stock was increased from 10,000,000 to 100,000,000 and the
number of authorized shares of preferred stock was increased from 2,000,000 to
20,000,000. Additionally, a two-for-one stock split effected as a stock dividend
on an August 22, 1997 record date was approved. All stock option data, per share
earnings and references to common stock have been restated to give effect to the
stock split.
 
     On July 31, 1997, Energy Spectrum exercised in full its Series A Warrants,
at a price of $0.01 per share, for 98,000 shares of Common Stock.
 
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS -- UNAUDITED
 
     On October 16, 1997, the Company acquired Bonray Drilling Corporation
("Bonray") for 3,015,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to certain working
capital adjustments. The acquisition will be accounted for as a purchase.
 
NOTE M -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
 
     The Company has a profit sharing plan for certain eligible employees who
have attained the age of 21 and completed at least one year of service.
Participants may contribute up to 20% of compensation for any plan year. The
Company's discretionary contribution is based on the participants total years of
service. The Company has made contributions of approximately $9,000 through June
30, 1997.
 
NOTE N -- BENEFIT AND COMPENSATION PLAN
 
     In April 1997, the Board of Directors approved the adoption of an Employee
Stock Plan ("the Plan") whereby 1,600,000 shares of Common Stock are authorized
for issuance under the Plan to officers and employees. The Plan permits the
issuance of qualified or nonqualified stock options, as well as granting of
certain other awards, including shares of restricted stock. Options granted
become vested at the rate of 20% per year one year after being granted, with the
options expiring six years from the original grant date. The exercise price for
options granted through June 30, 1997 was based on the Company's estimate of the
fair
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>   100
 
                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
          INFORMATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 IS UNAUDITED
 
market value on the date of the grant. Through June 30, 1997, 309,600 options
and 100,000 shares of restricted stock (denoted below) were issued under the
Plan, none of which were exercisable at June 30, 1997.
 
     Activity pertaining to the Plan is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             WEIGHTED
                                                              NUMBER OF      AVERAGE
                                                               SHARES     EXERCISE PRICE
                                                              ---------   --------------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
Outstanding at
  December 10, 1996.........................................        --        $  --
     Granted................................................   200,000         5.00
     Exercised..............................................        --           --
                                                               -------
Outstanding at
  January 1, 1997...........................................   200,000         5.00
     Granted................................................   209,600         4.66
     Exercised..............................................        --           --
                                                               -------
  June 30, 1997.............................................   409,600        $4.83
                                                               =======
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  WEIGHTED AVERAGE     FAIR MARKET
                            WEIGHTED AVERAGE                       FAIR VALUE OF         VALUE OF         DEFERRED
   EXERCISE     NUMBER OF      REMAINING       WEIGHTED AVERAGE   STOCK OPTIONS ON     COMMON STOCK     COMPENSATION
  PRICE RANGE    SHARES     CONTRACTUAL LIFE    EXERCISE PRICE     DATE OF GRANT     AT DATE OF GRANT       COST
  -----------   ---------   ----------------   ----------------   ----------------   ----------------   ------------
  <C>           <C>         <C>                <C>                <C>                <C>                <C>
     $2.50       100,000(1)          0              $2.50              $  --              $5.00           $233,000
      5.00       250,000          5.46               5.00               2.09               5.00                 --
      8.00        59,600          5.96               8.00               4.18               9.00             59,000
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Unvested restricted stock.
 
     The Company applies APB Opinion 25 in accounting for the Plan. Had
compensation been determined on the basis of fair value pursuant to FASB
Statement No. 123, net income and earnings per share would have been reduced as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DECEMBER 31,   JUNE 30,
                                                                  1996         1997
                                                              ------------   --------
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>
Net Income (In thousands):
  As reported...............................................       413          (20)
  Pro forma (net of effective tax of 38%)...................       407          (90)
Primary Earnings per Share, Primary and Fully Diluted:
  As reported...............................................       .03         (.00)
  Pro forma.................................................       .03         (.01)
</TABLE>
 
     The fair value of each option granted is estimated using the Black-Scholes
model. This model includes, among others, a variable of stock volatility. As the
Company is not yet public, the volatility used in the model was .40 based on
volatilities of a similar entity that is currently publicly traded. Dividend
yield was estimated to remain at zero with risk free interest rates ranging
between 5.72 and 6.31 percent. As there is no prior experience available to use
in estimating an expected life for the options, an average of the time between
the vesting and expiration dates of the options was used in determining the
expected lives of the options ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 years. Fair value of
options granted during 1997 and 1996 under the Plan were $415,990 and $354,590,
respectively.
 
                                      F-20
<PAGE>   101
 
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Board of Directors
Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc.
 
     We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Trend Drilling Company
as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of operations,
stockholder's equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 1996. These financial statements are the responsibility of
the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
 
     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
     In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respect, the financial position of Trend Drilling Company as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of its operations and its cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996, in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
                                            COOPERS & LYBRAND, L.L.P.
 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
April 28, 1997
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>   102
 
                             TREND DRILLING COMPANY
 
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
 
                                     ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           AS OF DECEMBER 31,
                                                        ------------------------        AS OF
                                                           1995          1996       APRIL 30, 1997
<S>                                                     <C>           <C>           <C>
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents...........................  $  448,857    $  570,873      $  149,352
  Accounts receivable.................................   2,398,231     3,474,043       2,544,526
  Other current assets................................      34,899        40,661          40,661
  Deferred tax asset..................................     175,593            --              --
                                                        ----------    ----------      ----------
          Total current assets........................   3,057,580     4,085,577       2,734,539
Property, plant and equipment, net....................   4,781,019     4,176,964       4,133,639
Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization of $60,000,
  $84,000 and $92,000, respectively...................      60,000        36,000          28,000
Deferred tax asset....................................     186,688       379,850         379,850
                                                        ----------    ----------      ----------
          Total assets................................  $8,085,287    $8,678,391      $7,276,028
                                                        ==========    ==========      ==========
 
                               LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Accounts payable....................................  $2,358,575    $1,424,415      $  583,405
  Accrued liabilities.................................     626,883     1,049,338         280,049
  Income taxes payable................................          --       986,834       1,157,103
  Current portion of long-term debt...................   1,457,976       415,445         232,394
  Deferred tax liability..............................          --        11,939          11,939
                                                        ----------    ----------      ----------
          Total current liabilities...................   4,443,434     3,887,971       2,264,890
                                                        ----------    ----------      ----------
Long-term debt........................................   1,755,437     1,339,992       1,339,992
                                                        ----------    ----------      ----------
 
Commitments and contingencies
 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Common stock, $1 par value, 25,000 shares
     authorized; 500 shares issued and outstanding....         500           500             500
  Additional paid-in capital..........................   2,483,880     2,483,880       2,483,880
  Retained earnings (accumulated deficit).............    (597,964)      966,048       1,186,766
                                                        ----------    ----------      ----------
          Stockholders' equity........................   1,886,416     3,450,428       3,671,146
                                                        ----------    ----------      ----------
          Total liabilities and stockholders'
            equity....................................  $8,085,287    $8,678,391      $7,276,028
                                                        ==========    ==========      ==========
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>   103
 
                             TREND DRILLING COMPANY
 
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                    -----------------------------------------    FOUR MONTHS ENDED
                                       1994           1995           1996         APRIL 30, 1997
                                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                 <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
REVENUES:
  Drilling contracts..............  $12,563,991    $12,283,649    $15,692,056       $6,389,703
                                    -----------    -----------    -----------       ----------
OPERATING EXPENSES:
  Drilling........................   10,070,842      9,218,081     11,752,135        4,844,669
  General and administrative......    1,415,842      1,878,347      1,647,330          514,937
  Depreciation and amortization...    1,077,292      1,344,835      1,602,832          627,350
                                    -----------    -----------    -----------       ----------
          Total operating
            expenses..............   12,563,976     12,441,263     15,002,297        5,986,956
                                    -----------    -----------    -----------       ----------
Operating income (loss)...........           15       (157,614)       689,759          402,747
                                    -----------    -----------    -----------       ----------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Interest expense................     (183,768)      (280,741)      (261,331)         (46,750)
  Interest income.................        5,880         17,380          8,035               --
  Other...........................      140,021         43,673         53,523               --
  Gain on disposition of
     equipment....................       71,366         42,573      2,055,230               --
                                    -----------    -----------    -----------       ----------
          Total other income
            (expense).............       33,499       (177,115)     1,855,457          (46,750)
                                    -----------    -----------    -----------       ----------
Income (loss) before income
  taxes...........................       33,514       (334,729)     2,545,216          355,997
Income tax benefit (expense)......      (17,177)       112,906       (981,204)        (135,279)
                                    -----------    -----------    -----------       ----------
Net Income (loss).................  $    16,337    $  (221,823)   $ 1,564,012       $  220,718
                                    ===========    ===========    ===========       ==========
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>   104
 
                             TREND DRILLING COMPANY
 
                       STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        RETAINED
                                                        CAPITAL IN      EARNINGS
                                              COMMON    EXCESS OF     (ACCUMULATED
                                              STOCK     PAR VALUE       DEFICIT)        TOTAL
<S>                                           <C>       <C>           <C>             <C>
Balance, December 31, 1993..................   $500     $2,483,880     $ (392,478)    $2,091,902
  Net income................................     --             --         16,337         16,337
                                               ----     ----------     ----------     ----------
Balance, December 31, 1994..................    500      2,483,880       (376,141)     2,108,239
  Net loss..................................     --             --       (221,823)      (221,823)
                                               ----     ----------     ----------     ----------
Balance, December 31, 1995..................    500      2,483,880       (597,964)     1,886,416
  Net income................................     --             --      1,564,012      1,564,012
                                               ----     ----------     ----------     ----------
Balance, December 31, 1996..................   $500     $2,483,880     $  966,048     $3,450,428
                                               ====     ==========     ==========     ==========
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
                                      F-24
<PAGE>   105
 
                             TREND DRILLING COMPANY
 
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                          ---------------------------------------   FOUR MONTHS ENDED
                                             1994          1995          1996        APRIL 30, 1997
                                                                                       (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                       <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income (loss).....................  $    16,337   $  (221,823)  $ 1,564,012      $  220,718
  Adjustments to reconcile net income
     (loss) to net cash provided by
     operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization......    1,077,292     1,344,836     1,602,832         627,350
     Gain on disposition of property,
       plant and equipment..............      (71,366)      (42,573)   (2,055,230)             --
     Deferred tax expense (benefit).....       17,177      (112,906)       (5,630)             --
     Change in assets and liabilities:
       Accounts receivable..............   (1,436,642)     (120,759)   (1,075,812)        929,517
       Prepaid expenses.................        2,867       (19,349)       (5,762)             --
       Accounts payable and accrued
          liabilities...................      903,866       929,719      (511,705)     (1,610,299)
       Income taxes payable.............           --            --       986,834         170,269
       Deferred revenue.................     (172,250)           --            --              --
                                          -----------   -----------   -----------      ----------
          Net cash provided by operating
            activities..................      337,281     1,757,145       499,539         337,555
                                          -----------   -----------   -----------      ----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Proceeds from the sale of equipment...      264,219        42,573     2,872,647              --
  Capital expenditures..................   (3,645,969)   (1,552,257)   (1,792,194)       (576,027)
                                          -----------   -----------   -----------      ----------
          Net cash provided by (used in)
            investing activities........   (3,381,750)   (1,509,684)    1,080,453        (576,027)
                                          -----------   -----------   -----------      ----------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Proceeds from issuance of debt........    3,000,000       850,000       775,000              --
  Principal payments under debt
     obligations........................     (299,809)     (658,104)   (2,232,976)       (183,049)
                                          -----------   -----------   -----------      ----------
          Net cash provided by (used in)
            financing activities........    2,700,191       191,896    (1,457,976)       (183,049)
                                          -----------   -----------   -----------      ----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
  equivalents...........................     (344,278)      439,357       122,016        (421,521)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of
  period................................      353,778         9,500       448,857         570,873
                                          -----------   -----------   -----------      ----------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of
  period................................  $     9,500   $   448,857   $   570,873      $  149,352
                                          ===========   ===========   ===========      ==========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW
  INFORMATION:
  Cash paid during the period for:
     Interest...........................  $   136,857   $   232,553   $   254,110      $   46,750
                                          ===========   ===========   ===========      ==========
     Income taxes.......................  $        --   $        --   $        --      $  275,000
                                          ===========   ===========   ===========      ==========
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
                                      F-25
<PAGE>   106
 
                             TREND DRILLING COMPANY
 
                       NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
   INFORMATION RELATING TO THE FOUR MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED
 
(A) NATURE OF OPERATIONS
 
     Trend Drilling Company (the "Company"), an Oklahoma corporation, began
operations in 1981. The Company provides contract drilling services in the
Mid-Continent region of the United States. The Company's customers are primarily
independent oil and gas companies.
 
     On February 13, 1997, the owner of the Company and sole stockholder,
entered into a stock purchase agreement (the "Agreement"), with Bayard Drilling
Technologies, Inc. ("Bayard") for the sale of the Company (the "Bayard
Acquisition"). The executed agreement states a purchase price of $18 million
plus shares of Bayard stock, adjusted for changes in working capital as of the
closing date compared to December 31, 1996.
 
(B) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNT POLICIES
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
     The Company recognizes revenue and expenses on dayrate contracts as the
drilling progresses (percentage-of-completion method). For footage and turnkey
contracts, the Company recognizes the revenue and expenses upon completion of
the well (completed-contract method).
 
     Revenue earned of $279,390, but not billed, is included in accounts
receivable at December 31, 1996.
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
     For purposes of the balance sheet, the Company considers cash equivalents
to be all instruments that had a remaining maturity of three months or less at
the date of purchase.
 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
     Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation of
property, plant and equipment is determined primarily on the straight-line
method over the estimated useful lives of the assets at the following rates:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              YEARS
<S>                                                           <C>
Buildings...................................................  15-39
Drilling rigs and related equipment.........................   5-14
Vehicles....................................................      5
Furniture and office equipment..............................   5-10
</TABLE>
 
     Upon retirement or disposal, the related cost and accumulated depreciation
are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in operations.
Repairs and maintenance, which extend the useful life of property, plant and
equipment, are capitalized.
 
GOODWILL
 
     The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired is
amortized on the straight-line method over five years. Amortization expense was
$24,000 for the years-ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994.
 
INCOME TAXES
 
     The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" ("SFAS No.
109"). Accordingly, deferred taxes are determined based on the difference
between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using
 
                                      F-26
<PAGE>   107
 
                             TREND DRILLING COMPANY
 
                 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
   INFORMATION RELATING TO THE FOUR MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED
 
the enacted tax rate in effect in the years in which the differences are
expected to reverse. Deferred tax expense represents the change in the deferred
tax liability balance.
 
CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK
 
     Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to
concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade receivables with oil
and natural gas companies. For the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 over
ninety-five percent of the Company's trade receivables were from ten or less
customers. These customers also represented 63%, 51% and 54% of total revenues
for 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
     At December 31, 1996 and 1995, the Company had deposits in domestic banks
in excess of federally insured limits of approximately $467,000 and $348,000,
respectively.
 
ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
 
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts for certain revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND DISCLOSURES
 
     In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim financial statements
for the period ended April 30, 1997 and unaudited interim financial statement
disclosures subsequent to December 31, 1996 include all adjustments, consisting
of normal recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly the Company's results
of operations for the four months ended April 30, 1997.
 
(C) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
     Property, plant and equipment consist of the following at December 31,
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               1995           1996
<S>                                                         <C>            <C>
Building..................................................  $   295,946    $   295,946
Drilling rigs and related equipment.......................   12,323,939     12,887,107
Vehicles..................................................      233,018        227,018
Furniture and office equipment............................      153,984        141,131
Leasehold costs...........................................           --          9,290
                                                            -----------    -----------
                                                             13,006,887     13,560,492
Less accumulated depreciation.............................    8,225,868      9,383,528
                                                            -----------    -----------
                                                            $ 4,781,019    $ 4,176,964
                                                            ===========    ===========
</TABLE>
 
(D) LONG-TERM DEBT
 
     Long-term debt consisted of the following at December 31,
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1995          1996
<S>                                                           <C>           <C>
Notes payable to banks......................................  $3,213,413    $1,755,437
Less current portion........................................   1,457,976       415,445
                                                              ----------    ----------
          Total long-term debt..............................  $1,755,437    $1,339,922
                                                              ==========    ==========
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-27
<PAGE>   108
 
                             TREND DRILLING COMPANY
 
                 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
   INFORMATION RELATING TO THE FOUR MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED
 
     On March 26, 1996, the Company entered into a term loan (the "Note") of
$3,098,058, which consolidated all of the Company's bank borrowings into one
term loan. At December 31, 1996, long-term debt consisted of borrowings under
this note of $1,755,437 which bears an interest rate at the prime rate, adjusted
quarterly (8.25% at December 31, 1996). The Note contains a subjective
acceleration clause which allows the lender to demand payment of the Note when
the lender, at its sole discretion, determines that the Note is impaired.
However, the Note has been classified based on the scheduled maturities in the
accompanying balance sheet as management does not believe such impairment has
occurred. The Note requires the maintenance of financial reporting requirements
and annual personal financial statements from the owner of the Company.
 
     The Note requires monthly payments of principal and interest in amounts
sufficient to repay borrowings at maturity on March 26, 2001. The Note is
collateralized by Accounts Receivable and Property, Plant and Equipment and is
personally guaranteed by the owner of the Company.
 
     At December 31, 1995, long-term debt consisted of borrowings under four
bank notes with an aggregate amount of $3,213,413 which bore interest at a rate
of 1% over prime (which was 8.75% on December 31, 1995).
 
     At December 31, 1996, the aggregate scheduled yearly maturities on
long-term obligations are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
<S>                                                           <C>
     1997...................................................  $  415,445
     1998...................................................     373,762
     1999...................................................     406,799
     2000...................................................     442,757
     2001...................................................     116,674
                                                              ----------
                                                              $1,755,437
                                                              ==========
</TABLE>
 
(E) INCOME TAXES
 
     Income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995
and 1996 is summarized as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      1994        1995         1996
<S>                                                 <C>         <C>          <C>
Current:
  Federal.........................................  $     --    $      --    $882,957
  State...........................................        --           --     103,877
Deferred:
  Federal.........................................    15,369     (101,021)     (5,037)
  State...........................................     1,808      (11,885)       (593)
                                                    --------    ---------    --------
                                                    $ 17,177    $(112,906)   $981,204
                                                    ========    =========    ========
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-28
<PAGE>   109
 
                             TREND DRILLING COMPANY
 
                 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
   INFORMATION RELATING TO THE FOUR MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED
 
     Total income tax expense (benefit) differs from the amount computed by
multiplying income (loss) before income taxes by the U.S. federal income tax
statutory rate. The reasons for this difference are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     1994        1995         1996
<S>                                                 <C>        <C>          <C>
Computed expected tax expense (benefit)...........  $11,394    $(113,807)   $ 865,373
State income taxes................................    1,340      (13,389)     101,808
Non-deductible business meals and entertainment
  expense.........................................    4,443       14,290       14,023
                                                    -------    ---------    ---------
                                                    $17,177    $(112,906)   $ 981,204
                                                    =======    =========    =========
</TABLE>
 
     The components of the deferred tax assets and (liabilities) consisted of
the following at December 31:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1995        1996
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
Deferred tax assets:
  Net operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards..........  $ 38,549    $     --
  Excess of book basis over tax basis of current
     liabilities............................................   112,054          --
  Excess of tax basis over book basis of current assets.....    24,990          --
  Depreciation of property, plant and equipment.............   190,488     383,650
Deferred tax liabilities:
  Excess of tax basis over book basis of current
     liabilities............................................        --     (11,939)
  Amortization of goodwill..................................    (3,800)     (3,800)
                                                              --------    --------
Net deferred tax asset......................................  $362,281    $367,911
                                                              ========    ========
</TABLE>
 
(F) RELATED PARTIES
 
     The Company has several affiliates in the oil and gas industry with which
the Company does business throughout the year. The type of transactions with
these related parties varies from the Company drilling wells for affiliates to
affiliates moving rigs from one well site to another, as well as receiving
certain administrative support for which the Company was not billed (i.e.,
computer support).
 
     As of December 31, 1996 and 1995, the Company had trade receivables with
related parties in the amount of $375,016 and $32,633, respectively, and trade
payables with related parties of $168,169 and $505,426, respectively.
 
     For the period ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 the Company had
revenues of $462,535, $917,743 and $1,422,658, respectively and expenses of
$2,121,975, $2,003,356 and $1,660,169, respectively, with related parties.
 
     The Company leases office space from an affiliate. For the years ended
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, the Company paid rent of approximately
$10,000.
 
     The Company has an agreement for 1997 to continue renting this office space
for approximately $1,000 per month.
 
(G) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
 
     The Company has a profit sharing plan ("the Plan") for certain eligible
employees who have attained the age of 21 and completed at least six months of
service. Participants may contribute up to 15% of compensation for any Plan
year. The Company's discretionary contribution is allocated to each
participant's account in the proportion which that participant's compensation
bears to the total compensation of all eligible participants. The Company made
contributions of approximately $130,000, $35,000 and $20,000 to the Plan in
1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
                                      F-29
<PAGE>   110
 
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Board of Directors
Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc.
 
     We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Ward Drilling Company,
Inc. as of December 31, 1996, and the related statement of operations and
retained earnings, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 1996. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
 
     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
     In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Ward Drilling Company as of
December 31, 1996, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the
year ended December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
 
                                            COOPERS & LYBRAND, L.L.P.
 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
August 22, 1997
 
                                      F-30
<PAGE>   111
 
                          WARD DRILLING COMPANY, INC.
 
                                 BALANCE SHEET
 
                                     ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DECEMBER 31,     MAY 31,
                                                                  1996           1997
<S>                                                           <C>             <C>
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash......................................................  $     7,038     $       --
  Accounts receivable.......................................    1,733,647      1,287,069
  Prepaids and other assets.................................      781,470        520,204
                                                              -----------     ----------
          Total current assets..............................    2,522,155      1,807,273
                                                              -----------     ----------
EQUIPMENT:
  Drilling equipment........................................   14,701,019     14,843,582
  Other equipment...........................................      444,606        448,918
  Other.....................................................      373,263        376,882
                                                              -----------     ----------
                                                               15,518,888     15,669,382
  Less accumulated depreciation.............................    8,569,372      8,509,445
                                                              -----------     ----------
     Net equipment..........................................    6,949,516      7,159,937
                                                              -----------     ----------
               Total assets.................................  $ 9,471,671     $8,967,210
                                                              ===========     ==========
                   LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Book overdraft............................................  $   118,765     $    5,295
  Accounts payable..........................................    1,246,022        383,329
  Accrued expenses..........................................      590,161        474,582
  Advances from affiliate and stockholder...................    3,265,480      3,899,629
                                                              -----------     ----------
          Total current liabilities.........................    5,220,428      4,762,835
                                                              -----------     ----------
Note payable to bank........................................      500,000             --
                                                              -----------     ----------
Commitments and contingencies
STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY:
  Common stock of $1 par value. Authorized 25,000 shares;
     issued and outstanding 1,000 shares....................        1,000          1,000
  Additional paid-in capital................................       99,014         99,014
  Retained earnings.........................................    3,651,229      4,104,361
                                                              -----------     ----------
          Total stockholder's equity........................    3,751,243      4,204,375
                                                              -----------     ----------
               Total liabilities and stockholder's equity...  $ 9,471,671     $8,967,210
                                                              ===========     ==========
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-31
<PAGE>   112
 
                          WARD DRILLING COMPANY, INC.
 
                 STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND RETAINED EARNINGS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DECEMBER 31,    FIVE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                  1996          MAY 31, 1997
                                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                           <C>             <C>
 
DRILLING REVENUES...........................................  $11,384,944        $4,956,971
                                                              -----------        ----------
OPERATING EXPENSES:
  Drilling..................................................    9,890,597         3,914,240
  Depreciation..............................................      966,328           413,249
  General and administrative................................      484,748           196,747
                                                              -----------        ----------
          Total operating expenses..........................   11,341,673         4,524,236
                                                              -----------        ----------
          Operating income..................................       43,271           432,735
                                                              -----------        ----------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Interest income...........................................       34,536            16,810
  Interest expense..........................................      (72,056)          (27,224)
  Gain on sale of assets....................................        7,895                --
  Miscellaneous income......................................       66,678            30,810
                                                              -----------        ----------
          Total other income................................       37,053            20,396
                                                              -----------        ----------
          Net income (loss).................................  $    80,324        $  453,131
                                                              ===========        ==========
 
Retained earnings at beginning of year......................  $ 3,570,905
                                                              ===========
 
Retained earnings at end of year............................  $ 3,651,229
                                                              ===========
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-32
<PAGE>   113
 
                          WARD DRILLING COMPANY, INC.
 
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DECEMBER 31,    FIVE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                  1996          MAY 31, 1997
                                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                           <C>             <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income (loss).........................................  $    80,324         $ 453,131
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
     provided by (used in) operating activities:
     Depreciation...........................................      966,328           413,249
     Gain on sale of assets.................................       (7,895)               --
     Change in assets and liabilities:
       (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable...........     (485,735)          446,578
       (Increase) decrease in prepaids and other assets.....     (330,577)          261,266
       Decrease in cost incurred or contracts in progress...      463,588                --
       Decrease in accounts payable.........................      (75,797)         (862,693)
       Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses..............      250,400          (115,579)
                                                              -----------         ---------
     Net cash provided by operating activities..............      860,636           595,952
                                                              -----------         ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Additions to property and equipment, including major
     repairs and betterments................................   (1,564,162)         (623,669)
  Proceeds from sale of assets..............................       21,034                --
                                                              -----------         ---------
     Net cash used in investing activities..................   (1,543,128)         (623,669)
                                                              -----------         ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Proceeds on revolving line of credit......................       50,000
  Payments on revolving line of credit......................           --          (500,000)
  Advances from affiliate and stockholder...................    1,301,282           634,149
  Payments to affiliates....................................     (616,136)               --
  Decrease in book overdraft................................      (52,671)         (113,470)
                                                              -----------         ---------
     Net cash provided by financing activities..............      682,475            20,679
                                                              -----------         ---------
Net decrease in cash........................................          (17)           (7,038)
Cash at beginning of year...................................        7,055             7,038
                                                              -----------         ---------
Cash at end of year.........................................  $     7,038         $      --
                                                              ===========         =========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
  Cash paid for interest....................................  $    57,244         $  20,000
                                                              ===========         =========
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-33
<PAGE>   114
 
                          WARD DRILLING COMPANY, INC.
 
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
    INFORMATION RELATING TO THE FIVE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED
 
(A) NATURE OF OPERATIONS
 
     Ward Drilling Company (the "Company"), an Oklahoma corporation, began
operations in 1981. The Company provides contract drilling services in the
Mid-Continent region of the United States for independent oil and gas companies.
 
     In May 1997, the Company's parent, L.O. Ward Revocable Trust transferred
all the fixed assets of the Company into WD Equipment L.L.C. in anticipation of
the sale of these assets to Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc. ("Bayard"), which
was consummated on May 31, 1997 (the "Bayard Acquisition"). The Company and
Bayard agreed to a purchase price of approximately $8 million plus 400,000
shares of Bayard stock plus warrants to purchase up to 200,000 shares of Bayard
stock in exchange for the purchase of WD Equipment L.L.C.
 
(B) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
     The Company recognizes revenue and expenses on dayrate contracts as the
drilling progresses (percentage-of-completion method). For turnkey and footage
contracts, the Company recognizes the revenue and expenses upon completion of
the well (completed-contract method).
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
     The Company considers cash equivalents to be all instruments that had a
remaining maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase.
 
EQUIPMENT
 
     Equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation on drilling equipment is
determined using the units-of-production method based upon management's
estimates of remaining drilling days by rig. Depreciation on all other equipment
is determined using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of
the assets ranging from three to seven years. Upon retirement or disposal, the
related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any
gain or loss is included in operations.
 
     The costs of major repairs and overhauls which extend the useful life of
drilling equipment are capitalized by charges to the allowance for accumulated
depreciation. Other additions and improvements are charged to the applicable
equipment account.
 
INCOME TAXES
 
     The Company is an electing S corporation for federal and state income tax
purposes. The Company's taxable income or loss will be included in its
stockholder's income tax return. Accordingly, no provision for income taxes has
been included in these financial statements.
 
CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK
 
     Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to
concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade receivables with oil
and natural gas companies. At December 31, 1996 over ninety-eight percent of the
Company's trade receivables were from four customers. For the year ended
December 31, 1996 the ten largest customers account for over 96% of total
revenues.
 
     At December 31, 1996 the Company had deposits in domestic banks in excess
of federally insured limits of approximately $156,000.
 
                                      F-34
<PAGE>   115
 
                          WARD DRILLING COMPANY, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
    INFORMATION RELATING TO THE FIVE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED
 
ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
 
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts for certain revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
(C) NOTE PAYABLE TO BANK
 
     The Company has available a line of credit with a bank for $500,000 which
expires in March 1998. The line of credit is collateralized by inventory,
accounts receivable, and other miscellaneous assets. Interest is at the bank's
base rate plus one percent (9.25% and 9.5% at December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.) Upon consummation of the sale of the Company on May 31, 1997,
this line of credit was extinguished.
 
(D) RELATED PARTIES
 
     The Company conducts drilling activities for companies owned or controlled
by L.O. Ward, one of the trustees of the L.O. Ward Revocable Trust (the Related
Parties); however no drilling activities were conducted for the Related Parties
in 1996.
 
     General and administrative expense in the accompanying statement of
operations is net of management fee income received from one of the Related
Parties aggregating $10,320 in 1996.
 
     The Company allocates office space and administrative expenses directly to
Related Parties. Amounts allocated under this arrangement aggregated
approximately $25,000 for 1996.
 
     The Company paid approximately $75,000 in 1996 to one of the Related
Parties for services which includes finding drilling contracts for the Company
and certain other administrative services. Certain expenses incurred by the
Related Parties and attributable to the Company's operations are not billed to
the Company.
 
     Accounts receivable at December 31, 1996 included $8,446 of receivables
from affiliated entities. Accounts payable at December 31, 1996 included
$241,233 owed to affiliated entities.
 
(E) EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
     The Company has issued stock appreciation rights to certain employees which
may entitle them to receive bonuses. These bonuses are based on net income and
the ratio of stock appreciation rights owned by the employees to total
outstanding shares of common stock at year end. Ninety-nine stock appreciation
rights were outstanding at December 31, 1996. A bonus payment of approximately
$37,500 was payable to employees at December 31, 1996.
 
(F) SAVINGS PLAN
 
     The Company participates in a salary deferral retirement plan which is
available to substantially all employees. Participants in the plan may make
contributions to the plan, with the Company matching up to 25% of the employee's
basic contribution. The basic contribution cannot exceed 5% of the employee's
base salary. Total contributions by the Company were approximately $10,000 in
1996.
 
                                      F-35
<PAGE>   116
 
                          WARD DRILLING COMPANY, INC.
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
    INFORMATION RELATING TO THE FIVE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 1997 IS UNAUDITED
 
(G) CONTINGENCIES
 
     The Company maintains a self insurance plan for workers' compensation and
is liable for claims up to $400,000 per-occurrence. The Company is involved in
legal actions arising out of workers' compensation claims. In the opinion of
management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's financial position. Total expense for workers'
compensation was approximately $335,000 in 1996, and accrued liabilities
included a reserve for unpaid and incurred but not reported claims of $310,000
at December 31, 1996.
 
                                      F-36
<PAGE>   117
 
                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Bonray Drilling Corporation
 
     We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Bonray Drilling
Corporation as of December 31, 1996 and June 30, 1996, and the related
statements of operations and accumulated deficit and cash flows for the
six-month period ended December 31, 1996 and the years ended June 30, 1996 and
1995. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.
 
     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
     In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Bonray Drilling Corporation
at December 31, 1996 and June 30, 1996, and the results of its operations and
its cash flows for the six-month period ended December 31, 1996 and the years
ended June 30, 1996 and 1995, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
 
                                            Ernst & Young LLP
 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
April 17, 1997
 
                                      F-37
<PAGE>   118
 
THE ACQUISITION OF BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION WAS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE
PURCHASE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING. ACCORDINGLY, THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS "PUSHED-DOWN"
AND RECORDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WHICH AFFECTS THE
COMPARABILITY OF THE JUNE 30, 1997 FINANCIAL POSITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
CASH FLOWS.
 
                          BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION
 
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
 
                                     ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            JUNE 30,    DECEMBER 31,     JUNE 30,
                                                              1996          1996           1997
<S>                                                         <C>         <C>             <C>
                                                                                        (UNAUDITED)
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                    (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                         <C>         <C>             <C>
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents...............................  $   187       $    58         $   167
  Accounts receivable (Note 5)............................    2,172         2,100           4,190
  Drilling contracts in progress..........................       20            --              62
  Prepaid expenses........................................       89           166             172
                                                            -------       -------         -------
          Total current assets............................    2,468         2,324           4,591
Properties and equipment:
  Drilling equipment (Notes 1 and 3)......................   20,411        20,927          18,463
  Land....................................................      110           110             110
  Buildings...............................................      356           356              73
  Other equipment.........................................    1,145         1,006             475
                                                            -------       -------         -------
                                                             22,022        22,399          19,121
  Less accumulated depreciation (Note 1)..................   14,179        14,210             878
                                                            -------       -------         -------
Net properties and equipment..............................    7,843         8,189          18,243
                                                            -------       -------         -------
          Total assets....................................  $10,311       $10,513         $22,834
                                                            =======       =======         =======
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable........................................  $   689       $   871         $ 1,435
  Notes payable (Note 3):
     Short-term line of credit............................      555            --             322
     Other................................................      189           343             172
  Accrued liabilities:
     Salaries and wages...................................      246           268             317
     Payroll and other taxes..............................       57            17              95
     Workers' compensation insurance (Note 4).............      446           768           1,245
     Income taxes payable.................................       --             4              19
     Other................................................      120           120             128
                                                            -------       -------         -------
          Total current liabilities.......................    2,302         2,391           3,733
Obligations due after one year:
  Workers' compensation insurance (Note 4)................       75            75              74
  Other...................................................       28            14              --
  Deferred income taxes...................................       --            --           1,781
Stockholders' equity:
  Common stock, $1.00 par value; 800,000 shares
     authorized; 432,740 shares issued at December 31,
     1996 and June 30, 1996; 423,540 shares issued at June
     30, 1997.............................................      433           433             424
  Capital in excess of par value..........................   12,497        12,497          16,379
  Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) (Note 1)........   (4,932)       (4,805)            443
                                                            -------       -------         -------
                                                              7,998         8,125          17,246
  Less 9,200 shares of treasury stock, at cost............       92            92              --
                                                            -------       -------         -------
          Total stockholders' equity......................    7,906         8,033          17,246
                                                            -------       -------         -------
          Total liabilities and stockholders' equity......  $10,311       $10,513         $22,834
                                                            =======       =======         =======
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-38
<PAGE>   119
 
THE ACQUISITION OF BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION WAS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE
PURCHASE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING. ACCORDINGLY, THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS "PUSHED-DOWN"
AND RECORDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WHICH AFFECTS THE
COMPARABILITY OF THE JUNE 30, 1997 FINANCIAL POSITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
CASH FLOWS.
 
                          BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION
 
                STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND ACCUMULATED DEFICIT
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       YEAR ENDED          SIX-MONTH      SIX-MONTH
                                                   -------------------   PERIOD ENDED    PERIOD ENDED
                                                   JUNE 30,   JUNE 30,   DECEMBER 31,      JUNE 30,
                                                     1995       1996         1996            1997
                                                                 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS,  (UNAUDITED)
                                                               EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                                <C>        <C>        <C>             <C>
Revenues:
  Contract drilling operations (Note 5)..........  $  8,486   $ 10,257     $  6,004        $  8,855
  Gain (loss) on sales of assets.................     1,029        (66)          27              --
  Interest and other income......................       172         89           27              36
                                                   --------   --------     --------        --------
          Total revenues.........................     9,687     10,280        6,058           8,891
Costs and expenses (Note 4):
  Contract drilling operations...................     6,865      8,189        4,836           6,409
  General and administrative.....................       752        864          473             611
  Interest and other expense.....................        39         85           43              98
  Depreciation...................................     1,130      1,284          569           1,047
                                                   --------   --------     --------        --------
                                                      8,786     10,422        5,921           8,165
                                                   --------   --------     --------        --------
Income (loss) before provision for income
  taxes..........................................       901       (142)         137             726
Provision for income taxes (Note 2)..............        35         --           10             336
                                                   --------   --------     --------        --------
Net income (loss)................................       866       (142)         127             390
Accumulated deficit at beginning of period.......    (5,656)    (4,790)      (4,932)         (4,805)
Elimination of accumulated deficit from purchase
  adjustment (Note 1)............................        --         --           --           4,858
                                                   --------   --------     --------        --------
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) at end of
  period.........................................  $ (4,790)  $ (4,932)    $ (4,805)       $    443
                                                   ========   ========     ========        ========
Net income (loss) per share......................  $   2.05   $  (0.34)    $   0.30        $   0.92
                                                   ========   ========     ========        ========
Weighted average shares outstanding..............   423,540    423,540      423,540         423,540
                                                   ========   ========     ========        ========
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-39
<PAGE>   120
 
THE ACQUISITION OF BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION WAS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE
PURCHASE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING. ACCORDINGLY, THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS "PUSHED-DOWN"
AND RECORDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WHICH AFFECTS THE
COMPARABILITY OF THE JUNE 30, 1997 FINANCIAL POSITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
CASH FLOWS.
 
                          BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION
 
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             YEAR ENDED          SIX-MONTH       SIX-MONTH
                                                        --------------------    PERIOD ENDED    PERIOD ENDED
                                                        JUNE 30,    JUNE 30,    DECEMBER 31,      JUNE 30,
                                                          1995        1996          1996            1997
                                                                       (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                                                (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                     <C>         <C>         <C>             <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Cash received from customers..........................  $ 10,910    $10,628       $ 6,457         $ 7,523
Cash paid to suppliers and employees..................   (10,178)    (9,662)       (5,325)         (6,753)
Interest received.....................................        36          5            --               8
Interest paid.........................................       (27)       (66)          (27)            (20)
Income taxes paid.....................................       (30)        (5)           (6)             --
Other cash receipts...................................       152         85            61              11
                                                        --------    -------       -------         -------
Net cash provided by operating activities.............       863        985         1,160             769
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from sales of assets.........................     1,659         27            43              --
Capital expenditures..................................    (2,120)      (987)         (931)         (4,772)
                                                        --------    -------       -------         -------
Net cash used by investing activities.................      (461)      (960)         (888)         (4,772)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Contributed capital...................................        --         --            --           3,961
Borrowings on notes payable...........................        --         --           395              --
Payments on notes payable.............................       (86)      (553)         (241)           (171)
Net increase (decrease) in borrowings on short-term
  line
  of credit...........................................      (165)       555          (555)            322
                                                        --------    -------       -------         -------
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities......      (251)         2          (401)          4,112
                                                        --------    -------       -------         -------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
  equivalents.........................................       151         27          (129)            109
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period......         9        160           187              58
                                                        --------    -------       -------         -------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period............  $    160    $   187       $    58         $   167
                                                        ========    =======       =======         =======
RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) TO NET CASH
  PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss).....................................  $    866    $  (142)      $   127         $   390
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
  provided by operating activities:
  Depreciation........................................     1,130      1,284           569           1,047
  (Gain) loss on sales of assets......................    (1,029)        66           (27)             --
  Deferred income taxes...............................        --         --            --             314
  Change in assets and liabilities:
    Decrease (increase) in current assets:
      Accounts receivable.............................      (434)       (33)           72          (2,090)
      Drilling contracts in progress..................        13          1            20             (62)
      Prepaid expenses................................         9          5           (77)             (6)
  Increase (decrease) in current liabilities:
    Accounts payable..................................        68       (276)          182             564
    Accrued liabilities...............................       (48)       479           308             627
    Accrued workers' compensation insurance and other
      due after one year..............................       288       (399)          (14)            (15)
                                                        --------    -------       -------         -------
         Total adjustments............................        (3)     1,127         1,033             379
                                                        --------    -------       -------         -------
         Net cash provided by operating activities....  $    863    $   985       $ 1,160         $   769
                                                        ========    =======       =======         =======
</TABLE>
 
DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITY
 
     During the year ended June 30, 1995, the Company acquired property, plant
and equipment by issuing a note payable of $828,050.
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-40
<PAGE>   121
 
THE ACQUISITION OF BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION WAS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE
PURCHASE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING. ACCORDINGLY, THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS "PUSHED-DOWN"
AND RECORDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WHICH AFFECTS THE
COMPARABILITY OF THE JUNE 30, 1997 FINANCIAL POSITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
CASH FLOWS.
 
                          BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION
 
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
          SIX-MONTH PERIODS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND DECEMBER 31, 1996
                     AND YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 AND 1995
 
 INFORMATION RELATING TO THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED
 
1. BASIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
  Nature of Operations
 
     Bonray Drilling Corporation (the "Company") is engaged in domestic onshore
contract drilling of oil and gas wells. The Company currently owns and has
available for operation fifteen drilling rigs located in Oklahoma, having depth
capabilities ranging from 7,000 to 25,000 feet.
 
     On February 10, 1997, substantially all of the Company's shares of
outstanding common stock were purchased by DLB Oil & Gas, Inc. ("DLB") for $30
per share or approximately $12,700,000. As a result of the completed
transaction, the Company became a subsidiary of DLB. Effective on the date of
the acquisition, the Company changed its fiscal year end from June 30 to
December 31 to correspond with the year end of DLB.
 
     The transaction was accounted for as a purchase using push down accounting
treatment. This resulted in a step up in the basis of the acquired assets and
the elimination of the previously recorded balance of accumulated depreciation
and amortization. Additionally, the accumulated deficit was eliminated as a
result of a new basis established for the acquired assets and liabilities.
 
  Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
     Cash and cash equivalents include cash deposits in banks and short-term
investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of
purchase by the Company.
 
  Contract Drilling Operations
 
     Revenue earned from footage and turnkey contracts is recognized by the
completed contract method, while revenue earned from daywork contracts is
recognized by the percentage-of-completion method. Provision is made for the
entire amount of expected losses on contracts, if any, in the period in which
such losses are first determined.
 
  Valuation of Properties and Equipment
 
     Drilling equipment is stated at amounts representing historical cost
adjusted by prior year write-downs based on the expected future economic value
of such equipment. This value was determined by projecting the estimated future
undiscounted cash flows generated by drilling equipment based on the Company's
historical utilization rates and profit margins as well as consideration of the
economic conditions of the industry. The Company continues to review these
assets for possible impairment based on expected future cash flows and other
available information and has determined that no impairment in the value of the
assets exists at December 31, 1996 or June 30, 1997, 1996 or 1995. However, due
to the uncertainty of such factors it is reasonably possible that the estimated
future cash flows may change. Additions to drilling equipment, land, buildings
and other equipment are reported at cost.
 
                                      F-41
<PAGE>   122
 
THE ACQUISITION OF BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION WAS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE
PURCHASE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING. ACCORDINGLY, THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS "PUSHED-DOWN"
AND RECORDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WHICH AFFECTS THE
COMPARABILITY OF THE JUNE 30, 1997 FINANCIAL POSITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
CASH FLOWS.
 
                          BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
 INFORMATION RELATING TO THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED
 
  Depreciation
 
     Depreciation of drilling equipment is computed on an operating day basis
(net of estimated salvage value), except for drilling rigs and related equipment
which are "mothballed" or otherwise not expected to be used for an extended
period of time. During the year ended June 30, 1996, there was a decrease in the
estimated salvage value of these inactive drilling rigs and equipment. As a
result, depreciation on this equipment was increased during the year ended June
30, 1996 to reduce the net book value of these assets to their estimated salvage
value. Depreciation recorded on these inactive rigs and equipment was $269,000
and $36,000 for the years ended June 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively (none for
the six-month period ended December 31, 1996). The net book value of such
drilling equipment is $457,000, which approximates the estimated salvage value
of the equipment at December 31, 1996.
 
     Depreciation of buildings and other equipment is computed by the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.
 
  Income (Loss) Per Share
 
     Income (loss) per share is computed on the basis of weighted average number
of shares of common stock and dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding.
 
  Credit Risk
 
     The Company operates its rigs in the state of Oklahoma and grants credit,
which is generally unsecured, to its customers (Note 5). At December 31, 1996,
approximately 90% of the Company's accounts receivable were from five customers.
The Company has not experienced any significant credit losses in the six-month
periods ended December 31, 1996 and June 30, 1997, or the years ended June 30,
1996 or 1995 and is not aware of any significant uncollectible accounts at
December 31, 1996.
 
  Use of Estimates
 
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and
accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
  Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
     The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in
estimating their fair values of financial instruments: Cash and cash equivalents
are estimated to have a fair value approximating the carrying amount due to the
short maturity of those instruments. Notes payable have variable interest rates
with carrying values approximating fair values.
 
  Interim Financial Statements and Disclosures
 
     In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim financial statements as
of and for the six-month period ended June 30, 1997 and unaudited interim
financial statement disclosures subsequent to December 31, 1996 include all
adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary to present
fairly the Company's financial position as of June 30, 1997 and results of
operations and cash flows for the six-month period ended June 30, 1997. Results
for the period ended June 30, 1997 are not necessarily indicative of the results
to be expected for the entire year.
 
                                      F-42
<PAGE>   123
 
THE ACQUISITION OF BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION WAS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE
PURCHASE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING. ACCORDINGLY, THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS "PUSHED-DOWN"
AND RECORDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WHICH AFFECTS THE
COMPARABILITY OF THE JUNE 30, 1997 FINANCIAL POSITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
CASH FLOWS.
 
                          BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
 INFORMATION RELATING TO THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED
 
2. INCOME TAXES
 
     Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting
purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of
the Company's deferred tax liabilities and assets as of December 31, 1996 and
June 30, 1996 are as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         JUNE 30,    DECEMBER 31,
                                                           1996          1996
<S>                                                      <C>         <C>
Deferred tax liability --
  Tax depreciation over book depreciation and
     write-downs.......................................   $  658        $  629
                                                          ======        ======
Deferred tax assets:
  Net revenues and expenses recognized for tax purposes
     which are deferred for financial purposes.........   $   25        $   25
  Net operating loss carryforwards.....................    2,073         1,999
                                                          ------        ------
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance...    2,098         2,024
  Less valuation allowance recognized..................    1,440         1,395
                                                          ------        ------
Net deferred tax assets................................   $  658        $  629
                                                          ======        ======
</TABLE>
 
     The deferred tax assets and liability are offset and, therefore, no
deferred tax asset or liability is reflected in the Company's balance sheets at
December 31, 1996 and June 30, 1996.
 
     The difference between the amount of the provision for income taxes and the
amount which would result from the application of the statutory rate to income
(loss) before provision for income taxes is analyzed as follows (dollars in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            YEAR ENDED     SIX-MONTH
                                                             JUNE 30,     PERIOD ENDED
                                                           ------------   DECEMBER 31,
                                                           1995    1996       1996
<S>                                                        <C>     <C>    <C>
Provision (credit) for income taxes at a statutory
  rate...................................................  $ 306   $(48)      $ 47
Difference resulting from:
  Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance for net
     deferred tax assets.................................   (330)    24        (45)
  Alternative minimum tax................................     35     --         --
  Other..................................................     24     24          8
                                                           -----   ----       ----
Provision for income taxes...............................  $  35   $ --       $ 10
                                                           =====   ====       ====
</TABLE>
 
     At December 31, 1996, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards for
federal tax purposes of approximately $4,600,000 which will expire beginning in
the year 2001 if not used. At December 31, 1996, the net operating loss
carryforwards for state tax purposes amounted to approximately $12,100,000.
 
3. NOTES PAYABLE
 
     During the six-month period ended December 31, 1996, the Company acquired
drilling equipment with the proceeds from two notes with a bank in the amounts
of $245,000 and $150,000, respectively. The notes are payable in monthly
installments of principal and interest in the amounts of $21,415 and $13,102,
respectively, until paid in full with interest at a rate of  1/2% above the
national prime lending rate (aggregate rate of 8.75% at
 
                                      F-43
<PAGE>   124
 
THE ACQUISITION OF BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION WAS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE
PURCHASE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING. ACCORDINGLY, THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS "PUSHED-DOWN"
AND RECORDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WHICH AFFECTS THE
COMPARABILITY OF THE JUNE 30, 1997 FINANCIAL POSITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
CASH FLOWS.
 
                          BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
 INFORMATION RELATING TO THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED
 
December 31, 1996) and are secured by the equipment purchased as well as other
specific drilling equipment owned by the Company. The balances of the two notes
at December 31, 1996 are $205,000 and $138,000, respectively, all of which is
due within one year. Subsequent to June 30, 1997, all outstanding note balances
were retired by DLB.
 
     The Company has a revolving line of credit agreement (the "credit
agreement") with a bank. Credit availability is subject to a monthly borrowing
base determination calculated as 75% of the Company's accounts receivable less
than 90 days old, not to exceed $750,000. At December 31, 1996, no borrowings
were outstanding under the revolving line of credit ($555,000 outstanding at
June 30, 1996). The credit agreement, which expires November 3, 1997 unless
renewed, provides for monthly interest payments, which accrue at a rate of 1/2
of 1% over the lender's national prime rate (aggregate rate of 8.75% at December
31, 1996). Outstanding advances and accrued interest are due in full upon
expiration of the credit agreement. The credit agreement is secured by the
Company's accounts receivable.
 
     During the year ended June 30, 1995, the Company acquired drilling and
other equipment by issuing a note payable to the seller of the equipment. The
$189,000 balance on the note at June 30, 1996 was paid by the Company during the
six-month period ended December 31, 1996.
 
4. WORKERS' COMPENSATION
 
     The Company is covered by a workers' compensation insurance plan for its
employees under which the Company is responsible for claims up to $100,000 per
incident.
 
     At December 31, 1996 and June 30, 1996, the Company has an estimated net
liability for accrued workers' compensation costs totaling $843,000 and $521,000
respectively. Under the plan, the Company is to reimburse the administrator for
costs as the administrator pays those costs, normally over a five-year period.
Accordingly, at both December 31, 1996 and June 30, 1996, $75,000 is classified
as due after one year, in the accompanying balance sheets.
 
     Total workers' compensation costs incurred by the Company were $538,000 for
the six-month period ended December 31, 1996 and $597,000 and $979,000 for the
years ended June 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively, and were based on actual and
estimated claims incurred. For the six-month period ended December 31, 1996 and
the year ended June 30, 1996, workers' compensation expense was reduced by
$38,000 and $48,000 ($0.09 and $0.11 per share, respectively) for changes in
estimates of claims relating to prior fiscal years. Workers' compensation
expense for the year ended June 30, 1995 was increased by $40,000 ($0.09 per
share), for changes in the estimated costs of claims that occurred in prior
fiscal years.
 
     The Company accrues losses for workers' compensation based on management's
estimate of the expected cost of claims incurred. The estimates are based upon
known information, historical experiences and consideration of risk reduction
techniques, when applicable, such as stop loss insurance on individual claims.
Due to uncertainties inherent in the estimation process, it is reasonably
possible that these estimates will be revised in the near-term; however,
management does not expect that such changes will be material to the financial
position or results of operations of the Company.
 
                                      F-44
<PAGE>   125
 
THE ACQUISITION OF BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION WAS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE
PURCHASE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING. ACCORDINGLY, THE PURCHASE PRICE WAS "PUSHED-DOWN"
AND RECORDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WHICH AFFECTS THE
COMPARABILITY OF THE JUNE 30, 1997 FINANCIAL POSITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
CASH FLOWS.
 
                          BONRAY DRILLING CORPORATION
 
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
 INFORMATION RELATING TO THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED
 
5. MAJOR CUSTOMERS
 
     Contract drilling operations revenues include revenues from certain
customers, which individually account for 10% or more of contract drilling
operations revenues as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       YEAR ENDED                  SIX-MONTH
                                             ------------------------------      PERIOD ENDED
CUSTOMER                                     JUNE 30, 1995    JUNE 30, 1996    DECEMBER 31, 1996
<S>                                          <C>              <C>              <C>
   A.......................................     $  879           $3,333             $1,301
   B.......................................      2,561            1,881              1,166
   C.......................................         --               --                728
   D.......................................      2,082            1,042                721
   E.......................................         --               --                695
                                                ------           ------            -------
$5,522                                          $6,256           $4,611
                                                ======           ======            =======
</TABLE>
 
6. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
     In July 1997, the Company entered into a $23 million credit agreement in
connection with which substantially all of the Company's assets were pledged as
collateral. Additionally, the company's parent, DLB, pledged as collateral all
of the outstanding common stock of the Company. Upon consummation of the
acquisition of the Company by Bayard, the shares of common stock of the Company
will be released by the lender and the shares of common stock of Bayard acquired
by DLB in the acquisition will be pledged in lieu thereof.
 
7. CONTINGENCIES
 
     During the normal course of business, the Company enters into agreements
and executes transactions that may result in a contingent liability to the
Company. At June 30, 1997, management does not believe such contingencies would
be material to the financial statements.
 
                                      F-45
<PAGE>   126
 
                           [INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
<PAGE>   127
 
                           [INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
<PAGE>   128
 
                           [INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
<PAGE>   129
 
                                [PICTURE OF RIG]
<PAGE>   130
 
======================================================
 
     NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND,
IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS
HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THE UNDERWRITERS. THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY THE SHARES BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION
IS NOT AUTHORIZED, OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING THE OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS
NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH
OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE
HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE
HEREOF.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        PAGE
<S>                                     <C>
Prospectus Summary....................    3
Risk Factors..........................   11
Use of Proceeds.......................   18
Dividend Policy.......................   18
Dilution..............................   19
Capitalization........................   20
Pro Forma Consolidated Financial
  Data................................   21
Selected Consolidated Financial and
  Operating Data......................   28
Management's Discussion and Analysis
  of Financial Condition and Results
  of Operations.......................   30
Business..............................   38
Management............................   50
Principal and Selling Stockholders....   60
Certain Relationships and Related
  Transactions........................   64
Description of Capital Stock..........   71
Shares Eligible for Future Sale.......   74
Underwriting..........................   75
Legal Matters.........................   76
Independent Public Accountants........   76
Available Information.................   77
Index to Financial Statements.........  F-1
</TABLE>
 
                             ---------------------
 
     UNTIL                , 1997 (25 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE PROSPECTUS), ALL
DEALERS EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK, WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING
IN THIS DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS. THIS IS IN
ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS
UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
======================================================
 
======================================================
 
                                9,200,000 SHARES
 
                                  BAYARD LOGO
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
                           -------------------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
                           -------------------------
                          DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
                             SECURITIES CORPORATION
 
                                LEHMAN BROTHERS
 
                       PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
 
                         RAUSCHER PIERCE REFSNES, INC.
 
                                RAYMOND JAMES &
                                ASSOCIATES, INC.
                                           , 1997
======================================================
<PAGE>   131
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
     All capitalized terms used and not defined in Part II of this Registration
Statement shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus which forms
a part of this Registration Statement.
 
ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
     The following is a statement of estimated expenses incurred by the Company
in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being
registered pursuant to this Registration Statement, other than underwriting
discounts and commissions.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    AMOUNT
    <S>                                                           <C>
    Securities Act registration fee.............................  $   70,534
                                                                  ----------
    NASD filing fee.............................................      17,600
    Blue sky qualification fees and expenses....................       5,000
    Printing and engraving fees and expenses....................     300,000
    Legal fees and expenses.....................................     300,000
    Accounting fees and expenses................................     300,000
    Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses..............       5,000
    American Stock Exchange listing fee.........................      50,000
    Miscellaneous...............................................     151,866
                                                                  ----------
      Total.....................................................  $1,200,000
                                                                  ==========
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
* To be completed by amendment.
 
     All of the foregoing estimated costs, expenses and fees will be borne by
the Company.
 
ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
 
  Delaware General Corporation Law
 
     Section 145(a) of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the
right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against
expenses (including attorney's fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
 
     Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is
or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or
suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation
unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which
such action or suit was brought
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   132
 
shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but
in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery
or such other court shall deem proper.
 
     Section 145(c) of the DGCL provides that to the extent that a director,
officer, employee or agent of a corporation has been successful on the merits or
otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in
subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any claim, issue or
matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys'
fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
 
     Section 145(d) of the DGCL provides that any indemnification under
subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made
by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination
that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in
the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145. Such determination shall be
made (1) by the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of
directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if
such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of
disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, or (3) by the stockholders.
 
     Section 145(e) of the DGCL provides that expenses (including attorneys'
fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the
corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or
officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not
entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in Section 145. Such
expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by other employees and agents may
be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the board of directors
deems appropriate.
 
     Section 145(f) of the DGCL provides that the indemnification and
advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 shall
not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw,
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
 
     Section 145(g) of the DGCL provides that a corporation shall have the power
to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at
the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such
capacity, or arising out of his capacity as such, whether or not the corporation
would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under Section 145.
 
  Restated Certificate of Incorporation
 
     Article Thirteenth of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company (the "Certificate"), a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the
Registration Statement, provides as follows:
 
     A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the
Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director, except for liability (1) for any breach of the director's
duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (2) for acts or
omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or knowing
violation of law, (3) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
as the same exists or as such provision may hereafter be amended, supplemented
or replaced, or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit. Any repeal or amendment of this Article Thirteenth by
the stockholders of the Corporation shall be prospective only, and shall not
adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director of the
Corporation arising from an act or omission occurring prior to the time of such
repeal or amendment. In addition to the circumstances in which a director of the
Corporation is not personally liable as set forth in the foregoing provisions of
this Article Thirteenth, a director shall not be liable to the Corporation or
its stockholders to such further extent as permitted by any law hereafter
enacted, including without limitation any subsequent amendment to the
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   133
 
Delaware General Corporation Law. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit
a lesser or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of
any particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation required
by law or by this Restated Certificate, the affirmative vote of the holders of
not less than 66 2/3% in voting power of the shares of the Corporation then
entitled to be voted in an election of directors, voting together as a single
class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision
inconsistent with, this Article Thirteenth.
 
     Article Twelfth of the Certificate provides as follows:
 
     The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was, is, or is threatened to
be made a party to a proceeding (as hereinafter defined) by reason of the fact
that he or she (1) is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or (2)
while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request
of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor,
trustee, employee, agent, or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic
corporation, limited liability company, association, partnership, joint venture,
sole proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, entity or
organization to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware General
Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended. Such right
shall be a contract right and as such shall run to the benefit of any director
or officer who is elected and accepts the position of director or officer of the
Corporation or elects to continue to serve as a director or officer of the
Corporation while this Article Twelfth is in effect. Any repeal or amendment of
this Article Twelfth shall be prospective only and shall not limit the rights of
any such director or officer or the obligations of the Corporation with respect
to any claim arising from or related to the services of such director or officer
in any of the foregoing capacities prior to any such repeal or amendment to this
Article Twelfth. Such right shall include the right to be paid by the
Corporation expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in defending any such
proceeding in advance of its final disposition to the maximum extent permitted
under the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter
be amended. If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses hereunder
is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim has
been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring
suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim, and, if
successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall also be entitled to be paid
the expenses of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action
that such indemnification is not permitted under the Delaware General
Corporation Law, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the
Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its board of
directors or any committee thereof or independent legal counsel, or
stockholders) to have made its determination prior to the commencement of such
action that indemnification of the claimant is permissible in the circumstances
nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its board of directors
or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel or stockholders) that such
indemnification is not permissible shall be a defense to the action or create a
presumption that such indemnification is not permissible. In the event of the
death of any person having a right of indemnification under the foregoing
provisions, such right shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs,
executors, administrators and personal representatives. The rights conferred
above shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or
hereafter acquire under any statute, bylaw, resolution of stockholders or
directors, agreement or otherwise.
 
     The Corporation may additionally indemnify any employee or agent of the
Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
 
     As used herein, the term "proceeding" means any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
arbitrative, or investigative, any appeal in such an action, suit or proceeding,
and any inquiry or investigation that could lead to such an action, suit or
proceeding.
 
  Bylaws
 
     Article Eight of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the
"Bylaws"), a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement
provides as follows:
 
     Each person who at any time shall serve or shall have served as a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation (including any predecessor of the
Corporation), or any person who is or was serving at the written request of the
Corporation (in accordance with written procedures adopted from time to time by
the
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   134
 
Board of Directors) as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor,
trustee, employee, agent or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise, shall be entitled to (a) indemnification and
(b) the advancement of expenses incurred by such person from the Corporation as,
and to the fullest extent, permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law or any successor statutory provision, as from time to time
amended. The foregoing right of indemnification and to the advancement of
expenses shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those to be
indemnified may be entitled as a matter of law or under any agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors of the Corporation, or other
arrangement.
 
     The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or another arrangement
on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Corporation or who is or was serving at the written request of the
Corporation as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee,
employee, agent or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise against any liability asserted against and
incurred by such person in such capacity or arising out of such person's status
in such capacity, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to
indemnify such person against that liability under this Article Eight or the
Delaware General Corporation Law.
 
  Indemnification Agreements
 
     The Company has entered into Indemnification Agreements (the
"Indemnification Agreements") with its directors and certain of its officers
(the "Indemnitees"), a form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.26 to the
Registration Statement. Under the terms of the Indemnification Agreements, the
Company has generally agreed to indemnify, and advance expenses to, each
Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law on the date of such
agreements and to such greater extent as applicable law may thereafter permit.
In addition, the Indemnification Agreements contain specific provisions pursuant
to which the Company has agreed to indemnify each Indemnitee (i) if such person
is, by reason of his or her status as a director, nominee for director, officer,
agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise with which such
person was serving at the request of the Company (any such status being
hereinafter referred to as a "Corporate Status"), made or threatened to be made
a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration,
alternative dispute resolution mechanism, investigation or other proceeding
(each, a "Proceeding"), other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the
Company, (ii) if such person is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, made
or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding brought by or in the right of
the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, except that no indemnification
shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to
which such Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company if
applicable law prohibits such indemnification (unless and only to the extent
that a court shall otherwise determine), (iii) against expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by such person or on his or her behalf in connection with
any Proceeding to which such Indemnitee was or is a party by reason of his or
her Corporate Status and in which such Indemnitee is successful, on the merits
or otherwise, (iv) against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such
person or on his or her behalf in connection with a Proceeding to the extent
that such Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness or
otherwise participates in any Proceeding at a time when such person is not a
party in the Proceeding, and (v) against expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in any judicial adjudication of or any award in
arbitration to enforce his or her rights under the Indemnification Agreements.
 
     Furthermore, under the terms of the Indemnification Agreements, the Company
has agreed to pay all reasonable expenses incurred by or on behalf of an
Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, whether brought by or in the right
of the Company or otherwise, in advance of any determination with respect to
entitlement to indemnification and within 15 days after the receipt by the
Company of a written request from such Indemnitee for such payment. In the
Indemnification Agreements, each Indemnitee has agreed that he or she will
reimburse and repay the Company for any expenses so advanced to the extent that
it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be
indemnified by the Company against such expenses.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   135
 
     The Indemnification Agreements also include provisions that specify the
procedures and presumptions which are to be employed to determine whether an
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification thereunder. In some cases, the nature
of the procedures specified in the Indemnification Agreements varies depending
on whether there has occurred a "Change of Control" (as defined in the
Indemnification Agreements) of the Company.
 
  Stockholders and Voting Agreement
 
     The Stockholders and Voting Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit
9.1 to the Registration Statement, provides that the Certificate, Bylaws and
other organizational documents of the Company and each of its subsidiaries shall
at all times, to the fullest extent permitted by law, provide for
indemnification of, advancement of expenses to, and limitation of the personal
liability of, the members of the Board of Directors of the Company and the
members of the boards or similar managing bodies of subsidiaries of the Company.
Additionally, such agreement provides that any Energy Spectrum Non-Voting
Observer (as defined in the Stockholders and Voting Agreement) shall be entitled
to indemnification from the Company to the maximum extent permitted by law, as
though such person were a director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Any amendment, repeal or modification of this provision may not be adverse to
any member of the Board of Directors of the Company, any Energy Spectrum
Non-Voting Observer or any member of the boards of directors or other similar
managing bodies of any subsidiary of the Company, without the consent of a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors.
 
  Underwriting Agreement
 
     The Underwriting Agreement, the form of which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to
the Registration Statement, provides for the indemnification of the directors
and officers of the Company against certain liabilities, including liabilities
arising under the Securities Act.
 
     The above discussion of the Certificate, Bylaws, Stockholders and Voting
Agreement, Underwriting Agreement and Section 145 of the DGCL is not intended to
be exhaustive and is respectively qualified in its entirety by the Certificate,
Bylaws, Stockholders and Voting Agreement, Underwriting Agreement and such
statute.
 
ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
 
     The following information relates to securities of the Company issued or
sold within the past three years which were not registered under the Securities
Act:
 
     On December 10, 1996, the Company issued 2,000,000, 1,600,000 and 2,000,000
shares (collectively, the "Initial Shares") of Common Stock to APLP, the Oliver
Companies and Energy Spectrum, respectively, and an option (the "Chesapeake
Option") to purchase 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $6 per share
to Chesapeake. In consideration for the Initial Shares (i) APLP contributed ten
drilling rigs (and the Company paid APLP approximately $9.3 million in cash),
(ii) the Oliver Companies contributed six drilling rigs and (iii) Energy
Spectrum contributed $10 million. In consideration for the Chesapeake Option,
Chesapeake entered into drilling contracts with two-year terms for six of the
Company's rigs. Such issuances were exempt from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(2) thereof as transactions not
involving a public offering.
 
     On December 10, 1996, the Company issued to The CIT Group/Equipment
Financing, Inc., a New York corporation ("CIT"), a warrant to purchase, at an
exercise price of $8 per share, up to 300,000 shares of Common Stock. The
warrant was issued for and in consideration of $500 in connection with the
entering into a loan agreement between the Company, as borrower, and CIT, as
lender, for a loan from CIT to the Company of up to $24 million. The issuance of
the warrant was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
under Section 4(2) thereof as not involving a public offering. CIT will exercise
in part the warrant for 150,000 shares of Common Stock in connection with the
Offering.
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>   136
 
     On February 28, 1997, the Company issued to James E. Brown, a director and
the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, 100,000 shares of
Common Stock (the "Restricted Shares") at a purchase price of $2.50 per share,
pursuant to a restricted stock award agreement. The issuance of the Restricted
Shares was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act under
Section 4(2) thereof as a transaction not involving a public offering.
 
     On May 1, 1997, the Company issued to Harold G. Hamm, as Trustee of the
Harold G. Hamm Revocable Inter Vivos Trust, dated April 23, 1984, 250,000 shares
of Common Stock in connection with the acquisition by the Company of all of the
issued and outstanding capital stock of Trend. The issuance of the shares of
Common Stock was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
under Section 4(2) thereof as a transaction not involving a public offering.
 
     On May 1, 1997, the Company issued to Chesapeake the following: (i)
1,000,000 shares of Common Stock; (ii) a subordinated note in the original
principal amount of $18 million; (iii) a warrant to purchase up to 700,000
shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $.01 per share; and (iv) a
warrant to purchase up to 800,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of
$7.50 per share, all in consideration for an aggregate purchase price of $25
million. The Company also issued to Energy Spectrum the following: (i) 140,000
shares of Common Stock; (ii) a subordinated note in the original principal
amount of $2.52 million; (iii) a warrant to purchase up to 98,000 shares of
Common Stock at an exercise price of $.01 per share; and (iv) a warrant to
purchase up to 112,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $7.50 per
share, all in consideration for an aggregate purchase price of $3.5 million. The
issuances of the shares of Common Stock, subordinated notes and warrants were
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act under Section
4(2) thereof as transactions not involving a public offering.
 
     On May 1, 1997, the Company issued to each of RR&T, Inc., an Oklahoma
corporation, and Mike Mullen warrants to purchase up to 50,000 shares of Common
Stock each at an exercise price of $8 per share in connection with the
acquisition by the Company of a drilling rig for a purchase price of $1.8
million. The issuance of the warrants was exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act under Section 4(2) thereof as transactions
not involving a public offering.
 
     On May 30, 1997, the Company issued to Ward Drilling Company, Inc., an
Oklahoma corporation, (i) 400,000 shares of Common Stock and (ii) a warrant to
purchase up to 200,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $10 per
share, each in connection with the acquisition by the Company of all of the
issued and outstanding common units of WD Equipment, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company. The issuances of the shares of Common Stock and the warrant
were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act under
Section 4(2) thereof as a transaction not involving a public offering.
 
     On July 31, 1997, upon the exercise by Energy Spectrum of its warrant to
purchase 98,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $.01 per share
and the payment by Energy Spectrum of an aggregate of $490 in consideration of
such exercise price, the Company issued to Energy Spectrum 98,000 shares of
Common Stock. The issuance of the shares of Common Stock was exempt from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act under Section 4(2) thereof as a
transaction not involving a public offering.
 
     On October 3, 1997, pursuant to a letter agreement dated August 20, 1997,
the Company issued to Chesapeake 3,194,000 shares of Common Stock in
consideration for (i) the cancellation of each of the Chesapeake Option, a
warrant to purchase up to 700,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of
$.01 per share and a warrant to purchase up to 800,000 shares of Common Stock at
an exercise price of $7.50 per share, (ii) the payment by Chesapeake of $9
million in cash and (iii) the redemption in full of $18 million principal amount
of Subordinated Notes issued by the Company to Chesapeake for a cash redemption
price of $15 million, subject to adjustment. The issuance of the shares of
Common Stock was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act
under Section 4(2) thereof as not involving a public offering.
 
     On October 10, 1997, upon the exercise by The CIT Group/Equipment
Financing, Inc. ("CIT") of its warrant to purchase 300,000 shares of Common
Stock at an exercise price of $8.00 per share, pursuant to the revised net
exercise provisions of such warrant, the Company issued to CIT 150,000 shares of
Common Stock
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>   137
 
in consideration for the surrender of the warrant to the Company and an
agreement that, following the Offering, CIT or the Company will make a cash
payment to the other, in an amount to be determined based upon the initial
public offering price (net of discounts and commissions) in the Offering, to
reconcile any variance between the 150,000 shares issued upon exercise and the
number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issuable pursuant to the
net exercise provisions of such warrant at a market value equal to the initial
public offering price (net of discounts and commissions) in the Offering. The
issuance of the shares of Common Stock was exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act under Section 4(2) thereof as a transaction
not involving a public offering.
 
   
     On October 16, 1997, the Company issued to DLB Oil & Gas, Inc. ("DLB") and
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation ("DLJ") 2,955,000 and 60,000
shares of Common Stock, respectively, upon the closing of the merger
contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 9, 1997,
by and among DLB, the Company, Bonray Acquisition Corp. and Bonray Drilling
Corporation, pursuant to which the Company acquired all of the business of
Bonray Drilling Corporation. The issuance of the shares of Common Stock was
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act under Section
4(2) thereof as a transaction not involving a public offering.
    
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
  (a) EXHIBITS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
<C>                      <S>
          1.1            -- Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
          3.1            -- Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
          3.2            -- Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as adopted
                            August 19, 1997.
          4.1            -- Specimen Stock Certificate for the Common Stock, par
                            value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
          5.1            -- Opinion of Baker & Botts, L.L.P. regarding legality of
                            securities being registered.*
          9.1            -- Second Amended and Restated Stockholders and Voting
                            Agreement, dated as of October 16, 1997, by and among the
                            Company and the several stockholders that are signatories
                            thereto.
         10.1            -- 1997 Stock Option and Stock Award Plan of the Company.
         10.2            -- Forms of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreements under the
                            1997 Stock Option and Stock Award Plan.
         10.3            -- Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated
                            as of April 30, 1997, by and among the Company and the
                            stockholders of the Company that are signatories thereto.
         10.4            -- First Amendment to Amended and Restated Registration
                            Rights Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1997, by and among
                            the Company and the stockholders of the Company that are
                            signatories thereto.
         10.5            -- Master Agreement, dated as of November 26, 1996, by and
                            among the Company and the stockholders of the Company
                            that are signatories thereto.
         10.6            -- Master Drilling Agreement, dated as of December 10, 1996,
                            by and among the Company, Chesapeake Energy Corporation
                            and Chesapeake Operating, Inc.
         10.7            -- Form of Chesapeake Drilling Agreement, by and between
                            Chesapeake Operating, Inc., as Operator, and the Company,
                            as Contractor.
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-7
<PAGE>   138
 
   
<TABLE>
<C>                          <S>
             10.8            -- Option Agreement, dated as of December 10, 1996, by and between the Company and
                                Chesapeake Energy Corporation.
             10.9            -- Chesapeake Energy Corporation Option to Purchase Common Stock of the Company, dated
                                December 10, 1996.
             10.10           -- Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 30, 1997, by and among the Company,
                                Energy Spectrum Partners LP and Chesapeake Energy Corporation (the "April Securities
                                Purchase Agreement").
             10.11           -- Form of Subordinated Note of the Company issued pursuant to the April Securities
                                Purchase Agreement.
             10.12           -- Form of Series A Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of the Company issued pursuant to the
                                April Securities Purchase Agreement.
             10.13           -- Form of Series B Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of the Company issued pursuant to the
                                April Securities Purchase Agreement.
             10.14           -- Ward Drilling Company, Inc. Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of the Company, dated May
                                30, 1997.
             10.15           -- Preferential Right to Transport Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1997, by and between the
                                Company and Geronimo Trucking Company.
             10.16           -- RR&T, Inc. Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of the Company, dated May 1, 1997.
             10.17           -- Mike Mullen Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of the Company, dated May 1, 1997.
             10.18           -- The CIT Group/Equipment Financing, Inc. Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of the
                                Company, dated December 10, 1996.
             10.19           -- Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of May 1, 1997 by and among Fleet Capital
                                Corporation, the Company and Trend Drilling Co.
             10.20           -- Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated as of May 1, 1997, by and among The CIT
                                Group/Equipment Financing, Inc. and Fleet Capital Corporation, as Lenders, and the
                                Company and Trend Drilling Co., as Borrowers.
             10.21           -- Employment Agreement, dated as of December 10, 1996, by and between the Company and
                                James E. Brown.
             10.22           -- Restricted Stock Award Agreement, dated as of December 10, 1996, by and between the
                                Company and James E. Brown.*
             10.23           -- Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1997, by and between the Company and Ed
                                Jacob.
             10.24           -- Employment Agreement, dated as of July 16, 1997, by and between the Company and David
                                E. Grose.
             10.25           -- Letter Agreement, dated as of August 20, 1997, by and between the Company and
                                Chesapeake Energy Corporation.
             10.26           -- Form of Indemnification Agreement to be entered into by the Company and each of the
                                directors and certain officers of the Company in connection with the Offering.
             10.27           -- Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 9, 1997, by and among DLB Oil & Gas,
                                Inc., the Company, Bonray Acquisition Corp. and Bonray Drilling Corporation.
             10.28           -- 1997 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan of the Company.
             10.29           -- Form of Nonqualified Option Agreement under the 1997 Non-Employee Directors' Option
                                Plan of the Company.
             10.30           -- Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 16, 1997, by and among the Company,
                                DLB Oil & Gas, Inc. and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation.
             10.31           -- Letter Agreement, dated as of October 3, 1997, by and between the Company and The CIT
                                Group/Equipment Financing, Inc.
             10.32           -- Second Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 30,
                                1997, by and among the Company and the stockholders of the Company that are signatories
                                thereto.*
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-8
<PAGE>   139
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
<C>                      <S>
             11.1            -- Statement regarding computation of per share earnings.
             16.1            -- Letter re: Change in certifying Accountant.
             21.1            -- Subsidiaries of the Company.
             23.1            -- Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. regarding financial statements of Ward Drilling
                                Company.
             23.2            -- Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. regarding financial statements of Trend Drilling
                                Company.
             23.3            -- Consent of Grant Thornton LLP.
             23.4            -- Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
             23.5            -- Consent of Baker & Botts, L.L.P. (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this
                                Registration Statement).*
             23.6            -- Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. regarding financial statements of the Company as of
                                June 30, 1997 and the six months then ended.
             24.1            -- Powers of Attorney (included in the signature pages of the Registration Statement as
                                initially filed and of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2).
             27.1            -- Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
   
*  Filed herewith
    
 
  (b) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
     None.
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters
at the closing specified in the Underwriting Agreement certificates in such
denominations and registered in such names as required by the Underwriters to
permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
 
     The undersigned Registrant also undertakes that:
 
     (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the
information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of
prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h)
under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of the registration
statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
     (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and this offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                      II-9
<PAGE>   140
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas, State of Texas,
on October 30, 1997.
    
 
                                          BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
 
                                          By:      /s/ JAMES E. BROWN
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                       James E. Brown
                                              Chairman of the Board, President
                                                and Chief Executive Officer
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                      DATE
<C>                                                  <S>                             <C>
 
                /s/ JAMES E. BROWN                   Chairman of the Board,            October 30, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------  President and Chief Executive
                  James E. Brown                     Officer
                                                     (Principal Executive Officer)
 
                /s/ DAVID E. GROSE                   Vice President and Chief          October 30, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------  Financial Officer
                  David E. Grose                     (Principal Financial and
                                                     Accounting Officer)
 
                         *                           Director                          October 30, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
               Carl B. Anderson, III
 
                         *                           Director                          October 30, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                 Sidney L. Tassin
 
                         *                           Director                          October 30, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                    Lew O. Ward
 
                         *                           Director                          October 30, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
              Merrill A. Miller, Jr.
 
              *By: /s/ JAMES E. BROWN
   ---------------------------------------------
                  James E. Brown
                 Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-10
<PAGE>   141
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
<C>                      <S>
           1.1           -- Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
           3.1           -- Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
           3.2           -- Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as adopted
                            August 19, 1997.
           4.1           -- Specimen Stock Certificate for the Common Stock, par
                            value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
           5.1           -- Opinion of Baker & Botts, L.L.P. regarding legality of
                            securities being registered.*
           9.1           -- Second Amended and Restated Stockholders and Voting
                            Agreement, dated as of October 16, 1997, by and among the
                            Company and the several stockholders that are signatories
                            thereto.
          10.1           -- 1997 Stock Option and Stock Award Plan of the Company.
          10.2           -- Forms of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreements under the
                            1997 Stock Option and Stock Award Plan.
          10.3           -- Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated
                            as of April 30, 1997, by and among the Company and the
                            stockholders of the Company that are signatories thereto.
          10.4           -- First Amendment to Amended and Restated Registration
                            Rights Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1997, by and among
                            the company and the stockholders of the Company that are
                            signatories thereto.
          10.5           -- Master Agreement, dated as of November 26, 1996, by and
                            among the Company and the stockholders of the Company
                            that are signatories thereto.
          10.6           -- Master Drilling Agreement, dated as of December 10, 1996,
                            by and among the Company, Chesapeake Energy Corporation
                            and Chesapeake Operating, Inc.
          10.7           -- Form of Chesapeake Drilling Agreement, by and between
                            Chesapeake Operating, Inc., as Operator, and the Company,
                            as Contractor.
          10.8           -- Option Agreement, dated as of December 10, 1996, by and
                            between the Company and Chesapeake Energy Corporation.
          10.9           -- Chesapeake Energy Corporation Option to Purchase Common
                            Stock of the Company, dated December 10, 1996.
          10.10          -- Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 30,
                            1997, by and among the Company, Energy Spectrum Partners
                            LP and Chesapeake Energy Corporation (the "April
                            Securities Purchase Agreement").
          10.11          -- Form of Subordinated Note of the Company issued pursuant
                            to the April Securities Purchase Agreement.
          10.12          -- Form of Series A Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of the
                            Company issued pursuant to the April Securities Purchase
                            Agreement.
          10.13          -- Form of Series B Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of the
                            Company issued pursuant to the April Securities Purchase
                            Agreement.
          10.14          -- Ward Drilling Company, Inc. Warrant to Purchase Common
                            Stock of the Company, dated May 30, 1997.
          10.15          -- Preferential Right to Transport Agreement, dated as of
                            May 30, 1997, by and between the Company and Geronimo
                            Trucking Company.
          10.16          -- RR&T, Inc. Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of the
                            Company, dated May 1, 1997.
          10.17          -- Mike Mullen Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of the
                            Company, dated May 1, 1997.
          10.18          -- The CIT Group/Equipment Financing, Inc. Warrant to
                            Purchase Common Stock of the Company, dated December 10,
                            1996.
          10.19          -- Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of May 1, 1997 by
                            and among Fleet Capital Corporation, the Company and
                            Trend Drilling Co.
</TABLE>
    
<PAGE>   142
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
<C>                      <S>
          10.20          -- Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated as of May 1,
                            1997, by and among The CIT Group/Equipment Financing,
                            Inc. and Fleet Capital Corporation, as Lenders, and the
                            Company and Trend Drilling Co., as Borrowers.
          10.21          -- Employment Agreement, dated as of December 10, 1996, by
                            and between the Company and James E. Brown.
          10.22          -- Restricted Stock Award Agreement, dated as of December
                            10, 1996, by and between the Company and James E. Brown.*
          10.23          -- Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1997, by and
                            between the Company and Ed Jacob.
          10.24          -- Employment Agreement, dated as of July 16, 1997, by and
                            between the Company and David E. Grose.
          10.25          -- Letter Agreement, dated as of August 20, 1997, by and
                            between the Company and Chesapeake Energy Corporation.
          10.26          -- Form of Indemnification Agreement to be entered into by
                            the Company and each of the directors and certain
                            officers of the Company in connection with the Offering.
          10.27          -- Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 9,
                            1997, by and among DLB Oil & Gas, Inc., the Company,
                            Bonray Acquisition Corp. and Bonray Drilling Corporation.
          10.28          -- 1997 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan of the
                            Company.
          10.29          -- Form of Nonqualified Option Agreement under the 1997
                            Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan of the Company.
          10.30          -- Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 16,
                            1997, by and among the Company, DLB Oil & Gas, Inc. and
                            Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation.
          10.31          -- Letter Agreement, dated as of October 3, 1997, by and
                            between the Company and The CIT Group/Equipment
                            Financing, Inc.
          10.32          -- Second Amended and Restated Registration Rights
                            Agreement, dated as of October 30, 1997, by and among the
                            Company and the stockholders of the Company that are
                            signatories thereto.*
          11.1           -- Statement regarding computation of per share earnings.
          16.1           -- Letter re: Change in certifying Accountant.
          21.1           -- Subsidiaries of the Company.
          23.1           -- Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. regarding financial
                            statements of Ward Drilling Company.
          23.2           -- Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. regarding financial
                            statements of Trend Drilling Company.
          23.3           -- Consent of Grant Thornton LLP.
          23.4           -- Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
          23.5           -- Consent of Baker & Botts, L.L.P. (included in the opinion
                            filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).*
          23.6           -- Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. regarding financial
                            statements of the Company as of June 30, 1997 and the six
                            months then ended.
          24.1           -- Powers of Attorney (included in the signature pages of
                            the Registration Statement as initially filed and of
                            Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2).
          27.1           -- Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
   
*  Filed herewith
    

<PAGE>   1
                                9,200,000 Shares

                       Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc.

                                  Common Stock

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT



                                                                November , 1997


DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
   SECURITIES CORPORATION
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
RAUSCHER PIERCE REFSNES, INC.
RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.
   As representatives of the several Underwriters 
     named in Schedule I hereto
     c/o Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
       277 Park Avenue
       New York, New York 10172

Dear Sirs:

         Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in
Schedule I hereto (the "UNDERWRITERS"), and certain stockholders of the Company
named in Schedule II hereto (the "SELLING STOCKHOLDERS") severally propose to
sell to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of 9,200,000 shares of the
common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "FIRM SHARES"), of
which 4,000,000 shares are to be issued and sold by the Company and 5,200,000
shares are to be sold by the Selling Stockholders, each Selling Stockholder
selling the amount set forth opposite such Selling Stockholder's name in
Schedule II hereto. In addition, the Company proposes to issue and sell and the
Selling Stockholders propose to sell to the several Underwriters not more than
an additional 


                                      -1-

<PAGE>   2


1,380,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company
(the "ADDITIONAL SHARES") if requested by the Underwriters as provided in
Section 2 hereof; in the amount of 169,050 Additional Shares in the case of the
Company and, in the case of the Selling Stockholders, in the amounts set forth
opposite such Selling Stockholders' names on Schedule II hereof. The Firm
Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively as
the "SHARES." The shares of common stock of the Company to be outstanding after
giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as
the "COMMON STOCK." The Company and the Selling Stockholders are hereinafter
sometimes referred to collectively as the "SELLERS."

         SECTION 1. Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company has
prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"COMMISSION") in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
(collectively, the "ACT"), a registration statement on Form S-1, including a
prospectus, relating to the Shares. The registration statement, as amended at
the time it became effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be
part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to
Rule 430A under the Act, is hereinafter referred to as the "REGISTRATION
STATEMENT"; and the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of
Shares is hereinafter referred to as the "PROSPECTUS." If the Company has filed
or is required pursuant to the terms hereof to file a registration statement
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act registering additional shares of Common
Stock (a "RULE 462(B) REGISTRATION STATEMENT"), then, unless otherwise
specified, any reference herein to the term "Registration Statement" shall be
deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.

         SECTION 2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase and Lock-Up Agreements. On
the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement,
and subject to its terms and conditions, (i) the Company agrees to issue and
sell 4,000,000 Firm Shares, (ii) each Selling Stockholder agrees, severally and
not jointly, to sell the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite such Selling
Stockholder's name in Schedule II hereto and (iii) each Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from each Seller at a price per Share of
$________ (the "PURCHASE PRICE") the number of Firm Shares (subject to such
adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may determine) that bears the
same proportion to the total number of Firm Shares to be sold by such Seller as
the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in
Schedule I hereto bears to the total number of Firm Shares.

         On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, (i) the Company agrees to
issue and sell up to 169,050 Additional Shares, (ii) each of the Selling
Stockholders severally agrees to sell the number of Additional Shares set forth
opposite such Selling Stockholder's name on Schedule II hereof and (iii) the
Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to
an aggregate of 1,380,000 Additional Shares from the Company and the Selling
Stockholders at the Purchase Price and in the amounts from each Seller
hereinafter specified. Additional Shares may be purchased solely for the
purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the
Firm Shares. The Underwriters may exercise their right to purchase Additional
Shares in whole or in part from time 


                                      -2-

<PAGE>   3


to time by giving written notice thereof to the Company within 30 days after
the date of this Agreement. You shall give any such notice on behalf of the
Underwriters and such notice shall specify the aggregate number of Additional
Shares to be purchased pursuant to such exercise and the date for payment and
delivery thereof, which date shall be a business day (i) no earlier than two
business days after such notice has been given (and, in any event, no earlier
than the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined)) and (ii) no later than ten
business days after such notice has been given. If any Additional Shares are to
be purchased, each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase
from each Seller the number of Additional Shares (subject to such adjustments
to eliminate fractional shares as you may determine) which bears the same
proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be purchased from such
Seller as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such
Underwriter in Schedule I bears to the total number of Firm Shares.

         Each Seller hereby agrees not to (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to
sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer
or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or
(ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion
of the economic consequences associated with the ownership of any Common Stock
(regardless of whether any of the transactions described in clause (i) or (ii)
is to be settled by the delivery of Common Stock, or such other securities, in
cash or otherwise), except to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, for
a period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus without the prior written
consent of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation ("DLJ").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, during such period (i) the Company may grant
stock options or other awards pursuant to the Company's existing stock option
plans, (ii) the Company may issue shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of
an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date
hereof and (iii) the Company may issue shares of Common Stock as payment of any
part of the purchase price for on-shore drilling rigs and related equipment (or
businesses or capital stock of businesses that operate on-shore drilling rigs
or related equipment (provided, however, that such shares will be subject to
the same restrictions on transfer for the same time period set forth in this
Section 2)). Except for registration statements on Form S-8 with respect to
shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Company's existing stock
option plans, the Company also agrees not to file any registration statement
with respect to any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into
or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock for a period of 180 days after
the date of the Prospectus without the prior written consent of DLJ. In
addition, each Selling Stockholder agrees that, for a period of 180 days after
the date of the Prospectus without the prior written consent of DLJ, it will
not make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the
registration of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into
or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The Company shall, prior to or
concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, deliver an agreement
executed by (i) each Selling Stockholder, (ii) each of the directors and
officers of the Company who is not a Selling Stockholder and (iii) each
stockholder listed on Annex I hereto to the effect that such person will not,
during the period commencing on the date such person signs such agreement and
ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, without the prior written
consent of DLJ, (A) engage in any of the transactions described in the first
sentence of this paragraph or (B) make any demand for, 


                                      -3-

<PAGE>   4



or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common
Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Common Stock.

         SECTION 3. Terms of Public Offering. The Sellers are advised by you
that the Underwriters propose (i) to make a public offering of their respective
portions of the Shares as soon after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement as in your judgment is advisable and (ii) initially to offer the
Shares upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.

         SECTION 4. Delivery and Payment. Delivery to the Underwriters of and
payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on
         , 1997 (the "CLOSING DATE") at such place as you shall designate. 
The Closing Date and the location of delivery of and payment for the Firm
Shares may be varied by agreement between you and the Company.

         Delivery to the Underwriters of and payment for any Additional Shares
to be purchased by the Underwriters shall be made at such place as you shall
designate at 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date specified in the
applicable exercise notice given by you pursuant to Section 2 (an "OPTION
CLOSING DATE"). Any such Option Closing Date and the location of delivery of
and payment for such Additional Shares may be varied by agreement between you
and the Company.

         Certificates for the Shares shall be registered in such names and
issued in such denominations as you shall request in writing not later than two
full business days prior to the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the
case may be. Such certificates shall be made available to you for inspection
not later than 9:30 A.M., New York City time, on the business day immediately
prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case
may be. Certificates in definitive form evidencing the Shares shall be
delivered to you on the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as
the case may be, with any transfer taxes thereon duly paid by the respective
Sellers, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against
payment to the Sellers of the Purchase Price therefor by wire transfer of
Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City.

         SECTION 5. Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with you:

         (a) To advise you promptly and, if requested by you, to confirm such
advice in writing, (i) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the
Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for
additional information, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of the
suspension of qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for such purposes, (iii) when
any amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, (iv) if the
Company is required to file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement after the
effectiveness of this Agreement, when the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement
has been filed with the Commission and (v) of the happening of any event during
the period referred to in Section 5(d) below which makes any statement of a
material fact made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or
which requires any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement or the


                                      -4-

<PAGE>   5



Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading. If at any
time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time.

         (b) To furnish to you six signed copies of the Registration Statement
as first filed with the Commission and of each amendment to it, including all
exhibits, and to furnish to you and each Underwriter designated by you such
number of conformed copies of the Registration Statement as so filed and of
each amendment to it, without exhibits, as you may reasonably request.

         (c) To prepare the Prospectus, the form and substance of which shall
be satisfactory to you, and to file the Prospectus in such form with the
Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Act;
during the period specified in Section 5(d) below, not to file any further
amendment to the Registration Statement and not to make any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus of which you shall not previously have been
advised or to which you shall reasonably object after being so advised unless
the Company shall have determined based on the advice of counsel that such
amendment or supplement is required by law; and, during such period, to prepare
and file with the Commission, promptly upon your reasonable request, any
amendment to the Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the
Prospectus which may be necessary or advisable in connection with the
distribution of the Shares by you, and to use its best efforts to cause any
such amendment to the Registration Statement to become promptly effective.

         (d) Prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the first business day
after the date of this Agreement and from time to time thereafter for such
period as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus is
required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or a
dealer, to furnish in New York City to each Underwriter and any dealer as many
copies of the Prospectus (and of any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus)
as such Underwriter or dealer may reasonably request.

         (e) If during the period specified in Section 5(d), any event shall
occur or condition shall exist as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel
for the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the
Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading,
or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend
or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to
prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment or supplement to
the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus, as so amended or
supplemented, will not in the light of the circumstances when it is so
delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with applicable
law, and to furnish to each Underwriter and to any dealer that you may specify
as many copies thereof as such Underwriter or dealer may reasonably request.

         (f) Prior to any public offering of the Shares, to cooperate with you
and counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the registration or
qualification of the Shares for offer and sale by the several Underwriters and
by dealers under the state securities or Blue Sky laws of such


                                      -5-

<PAGE>   6



jurisdictions as you may request, to continue such registration or
qualification in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares and
to file such consents to service of process or other documents as may be
necessary in order to effect such registration or qualification; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to
qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so
qualified or to take any action that would subject it to general consent to
service of process or taxation other than as to matters and transactions
relating to the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the offering or sale of the Shares, in any jurisdiction in which
it is not now so subject.

         (g) To mail or otherwise make generally available to its stockholders
as soon as practicable an earnings statement covering the twelve-month period
ending December 31, 1998 that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of
the Act, and to advise you in writing when such statement has been so made
available.

         (h) During the period of three years after the date of this Agreement,
to furnish to you as soon as available copies of all reports or other
communications furnished to the record holders of Common Stock or furnished to
or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which any
class of securities of the Company is listed and such other publicly available
information concerning the Company and its subsidiaries as you may reasonably
request.

         (i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are
consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all
expenses incident to the performance of the Sellers' obligations under this
Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's
counsel, the Company's accountants and any Selling Stockholder's counsel (in
addition to the Company's counsel) in connection with the registration and
delivery of the Shares under the Act and all other fees and expenses in
connection with the preparation, printing, filing and distribution of the
Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits), any
preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to
any of the foregoing prior to or during the period specified in Section 5(d),
including the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and
dealers in the quantities specified herein, (ii) all costs and expenses related
to the transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any
transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) all costs of printing or
producing this Agreement and any other agreements or documents in connection
with the offering, purchase, sale or delivery of the Shares, (iv) all expenses
in connection with the registration or qualification of the Shares for offer
and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states and all
costs of printing or producing any Preliminary and Supplemental Blue Sky
Memoranda in connection therewith (including the filing fees and fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
registration or qualification and memoranda relating thereto), (v) the filing
fees in connection with the review and clearance of the offering of the Shares
by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., (vi) all fees and
expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration
statement on Form 8-A relating to the Common Stock and all costs and expenses
incident to the listing of the Shares on the American Stock Exchange ("AMEX")
and other national securities exchanges and foreign stock exchanges, (vii) the
cost of printing certificates representing the Shares, (viii) the costs


                                      -6-

<PAGE>   7



and charges of any transfer agent, registrar and/or depositary, and (ix) all
other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the
Company and the Selling Stockholders hereunder for which provision is not
otherwise made in this Section. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the
Selling Stockholders will pay all expenses incident to the performance of their
obligations under, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by,
this Agreement, including the fees and disbursements of their respective
counsel. The provisions of this Section shall not supersede or otherwise affect
any agreement that the Company and the Selling Stockholders may otherwise have
for allocation of such expenses among themselves.

         (j) To use its best efforts to list the Shares on the AMEX and to
maintain the listing of the Shares on the AMEX, the New York Stock Exchange or
the Nasdaq National Market for a period of three years after the date of this
Agreement.

         (k) To use its best efforts to do and perform all things required or
necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement by the Company prior to
the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and to satisfy
all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Shares.

         (l) If the Registration Statement at the time of the effectiveness of
this Agreement does not cover all of the Shares, to file a Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement with the Commission registering the Shares not so
covered in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., New York City time, on
the date of this Agreement and to pay to the Commission the filing fee for such
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement at the time of the filing thereof or to give
irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b)
under the Act.

         SECTION 6. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

         (a) The Registration Statement has become effective (other than any
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement to be filed by the Company after the
effectiveness of this Agreement); any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement filed
after the effectiveness of this Agreement will become effective no later than
10:00 P.M., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement; and no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect,
and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the Company's
knowledge, threatened by the Commission.

         (b)(i) The Registration Statement (other than any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement to be filed by the Company after the effectiveness of
this Agreement), when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended, if
applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement (other than
any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement to be filed by the Company after the
effectiveness of this Agreement) and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or
supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Act,
(iii) if the Company is required to file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement
after the effectiveness of this Agreement, such Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement and any amendments thereto, when they


                                      -7-

<PAGE>   8



become effective (A) will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading and (B) will comply in all material
respects with the Act and (iv) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended
or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this
paragraph (b) do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter
furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly
for use therein.

         (c) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration
statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, complied when so filed in all material
respects with the Act, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and
warranties set forth in this paragraph (c) do not apply to statements or
omissions in any preliminary prospectus based upon information relating to any
Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you
expressly for use therein.

         (d) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries set forth on Exhibit 21.1
to the Registration Statement (the "MATERIAL SUBSIDIARIES") has been duly
incorporated or formed, is validly existing as a corporation or limited
liability company in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation or formation and has the corporate or limited liability company
power and authority to carry on its business as described in the Prospectus and
to own, lease and operate its properties, and each is duly qualified and is in
good standing as a foreign corporation or limited liability company authorized
to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its
ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the
failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         (e) There are no outstanding subscriptions, rights, warrants, options,
calls, convertible securities or commitments of sale or liens granted or issued
by the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries relating to or entitling any
person to purchase or otherwise to acquire any shares of the capital stock of
the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, except as otherwise disclosed
in the Registration Statement.

         (f) All the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
(including the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders) have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and not
subject to any preemptive or similar rights; and the Shares to be issued and
sold by the Company have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to
the Underwriters against payment therefor as provided by this Agreement, will
be validly issued, fully paid and


                                      -8-

<PAGE>   9



non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will not be subject to any
preemptive or similar rights.

         (g) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other evidences
of equity ownership of each of the Company's Material Subsidiaries have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and
are owned by the Company, directly or indirectly through one or more
subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, claim, lien, encumbrance
or adverse interest of any nature.

         (h) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

         (i) Neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is (i) in
violation of its respective charter or bylaws or other organizational documents
or (ii) in default in the performance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or
condition contained in any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other
agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Material
Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Material
Subsidiaries or their respective property is bound, except with respect to item
(ii) for such defaults that would not reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         (j) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company, the compliance by the Company with all the provisions hereof and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) require any
consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or qualification with, any
court or governmental body or agency (except such as are required under the Act
or as may be required under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
states), (ii) conflict with or constitute a breach of any of the terms or
provisions of, or a default under, the charter, bylaws or other organizational
documents of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, (iii) conflict
with or constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or a default
under, any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or
instrument to which the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party
or by which the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries or their respective
property is bound, or (iv) violate or conflict with any applicable law or any
rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court or any governmental
body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company, any of its subsidiaries or
their respective property; or (v) result in the suspension, termination or
revocation of any Authorization (as defined below) of the Company or any of its
Material Subsidiaries or any other impairment of the rights of the holder of
any such Authorization; except with respect to items (i), (iii), (iv) and (v)
for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders or qualifications which if
not made or obtained, or conflicts, violations or defaults which if existing,
or suspensions, terminations or revocations which if existing would not
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.



                                      -9-

<PAGE>   10



         (k) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the
Company's knowledge, threatened to which the Company or any of its Material
Subsidiaries is or could be a party or to which any of their respective
property is or could be subject that are required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described; nor are
there any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required
to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed
as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not so described or filed as
required.

         (l) Neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries has
violated any foreign, federal, state or local law or regulation relating to the
protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic
substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS") or any
provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, except for such violations
which, singly or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of
operation of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         (m) Each of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries has such
permits, licenses, consents, exemptions, franchises, authorizations and other
approvals (each, an "AUTHORIZATION") of, and has made all filings with and
notices to, all governmental or regulatory authorities and self-regulatory
organizations and all courts and other tribunals, including, without
limitation, under any applicable Environmental Laws, as are necessary to own,
lease, license and operate its respective properties and to conduct its
business, except where the failure to have any such Authorization or to make
any such filing or notice would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Each such
Authorization is valid and in full force and effect and each of the Company and
its Material Subsidiaries is in substantial compliance with all the terms and
conditions thereof and with the rules and regulations of the authorities and
governing bodies having jurisdiction with respect thereto; and, to the
knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred (including, without limitation,
the receipt of any notice from any authority or governing body) which allows
or, after notice or lapse of time or both, would allow, revocation, suspension
or termination of any such Authorization or results or, after notice or lapse
of time or both, would result in any other material impairment of the rights of
the holder of any such Authorization; and, except as disclosed in the
Prospectus, such Authorizations contain no restrictions that are burdensome to
the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries; and, except as disclosed in
the Prospectus, except where such failure to be valid and in full force and
effect or to be in compliance, the occurrence of any such event or the presence
of any such restriction would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition
or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         (n) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no costs or
liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation,
any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of
properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any Authorization


                                      -10-

<PAGE>   11



granted thereunder, any related constraints on operating activities and any
potential liabilities to third parties) which would, singly or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         (o) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company.

         (p) Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. and Grant Thornton LLP are independent
public accountants with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries as required
by the Act.

         (q) The consolidated financial statements included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto),
together with related schedules and notes, present fairly the consolidated
financial position, results of operations and changes in financial position of
the Company and its subsidiaries on the basis stated therein at the respective
dates or for the respective periods to which they apply; such statements and
related schedules and notes have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods
involved, except as disclosed therein; the supporting schedules, if any,
included in the Registration Statement present fairly in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles the information required to be stated
therein; and the other financial and statistical information and data set forth
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or
supplement thereto) are, in all material respects, accurately presented.

         (r) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and
sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in
the Prospectus, will not be, an "investment company" as such term is defined in
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

         (s) Except as has been described in the Prospectus, there are no
contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person
granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration
statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to
require the Company to include such securities with the Shares registered
pursuant to the Registration Statement.

         (t) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Prospectus other than as set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement),
(i) there has not occurred any material adverse change or any development
involving a prospective material adverse change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or the earnings, business, management or operations of the Company
and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) there has not been any material
adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse
change in the capital stock or in the long-term debt of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent.



                                      -11-

<PAGE>   12



         (u) The Company has complied with all provisions of Section 517.075,
Florida Statutes (Chapter 92-198, Laws of Florida).

         (v) Each certificate signed by any officer of the Company and
delivered at the Closing to the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters
shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to the
Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.

         (w) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and indefeasible title
to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property
owned by them and which is material to the business of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Prospectus or such
as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially
interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the
Company and its subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held under
lease by the Company and its subsidiaries and which are material to the
business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are held by
them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases.

         (x) The Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries are insured by
insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks
and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which
they are engaged; and neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries
has received notice from any insurer which indicates that the Company or such
Material Subsidiary will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage
as and when such coverage expires.

         (y) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the
Company or any of its subsidiaries on the one hand, and the directors,
officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries on the other hand, which is required by the Act to be described in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which is not so described.

         (z) The pro forma financial statements of the Company and its
subsidiaries and the related notes thereto set forth in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (and any supplement or amendment thereto) have
been prepared on a basis consistent with the historical financial statements of
the Company and its subsidiaries, give effect to the assumptions used in the
preparation thereof on a reasonable basis and in good faith and present fairly
the historical and proposed transactions contemplated by the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus. Such pro forma financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of Rule 11-02 of
Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission. The other pro forma financial and
statistical information and data set forth in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus (and any supplement or amendment thereto) are, in all material
respects, accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent with the pro
forma financial statements.

        (aa) The Company and each of its Material Subsidiaries maintains a
system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurance that (i) transactions are executed in


                                      -12-

<PAGE>   13



accordance with management's general or specific authorizations; (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to
maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.

         (bb) All material tax returns required to be filed by the Company and
each of its subsidiaries in any jurisdiction have been filed, other than those
filings being contested in good faith, and all material taxes, including
withholding taxes, penalties and interest, assessments, fees and other charges
due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries have been paid, other than those being
contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided.

         SECTION 7. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Stockholders.
Each Selling Stockholder severally represents and warrants to each Underwriter
that:

         (a) Such Selling Stockholder is the lawful owner of the Shares to be
sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement and has, and on the
Closing Date will have, good and clear title to such Shares, free of all
restrictions on transfer (other than any restrictions arising pursuant to
applicable securities laws), liens, encumbrances, security interests, equities
and claims whatsoever.

         (b) Such Selling Stockholder has, and on the Closing Date will have,
full legal right, power and authority, and all authorization and approval
required by law, to enter into this Agreement, the Custody Agreement signed by
such Selling Stockholder and the Company, as Custodian, relating to the deposit
of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder (the "CUSTODY AGREEMENT")
and the Power of Attorney of such Selling Stockholder appointing certain
individuals as such Selling Stockholder's attorneys-in-fact (the "ATTORNEYS")
to the extent set forth therein, relating to the transactions contemplated
hereby and by the Registration Statement and the Custody Agreement (the "POWER
OF ATTORNEY") and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold
by such Selling Stockholder in the manner provided herein and therein.

         (c) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder.

         (d) The Custody Agreement of such Selling Stockholder has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder and is a valid
and binding agreement of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance
with its terms.

         (e) The Power of Attorney of such Selling Stockholder has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder and is a valid
and binding instrument of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, and, pursuant to such Power of


                                      -13-

<PAGE>   14



Attorney, such Selling Stockholder has, among other things, authorized the
Attorneys, or any one of them, to execute and deliver on such Selling
Stockholder's behalf this Agreement and any other document that they, or any
one of them, may deem necessary or desirable in connection with transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby and to deliver the Shares to be sold by such
Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement.

         (f) Upon delivery of and payment for the Shares to be sold by such
Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement, good and clear title to such
Shares will pass to the Underwriters, free of all restrictions on transfer,
liens, encumbrances, security interests, equities and claims whatsoever.

         (g) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of such Selling Stockholder by or on
behalf of such Selling Stockholder, the compliance by such Selling Stockholder
with all the provisions hereof and thereof and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) require any consent,
approval, authorization or other order of, or qualification with, any court or
governmental body or agency (except such as may be required under the Act, or
the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states), (ii) conflict with or
constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or a default under,
the organizational documents of such Selling Stockholder, if such Selling
Stockholder is not an individual, (iii) conflict with or constitute breach of
any of the terms or provisions of, or default under, any indenture, loan
agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument to which such
Selling Stockholder is a party or by which such Selling Stockholder or any
property of such Selling Stockholder is bound or (iv) violate or conflict with
any applicable law or any rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any
court or any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over such Selling
Stockholder or any property of such Selling Stockholder; except for such
consents, approvals, authorizations, orders or qualifications which if not made
or obtained, or conflicts, violations or defaults which if existing, would not
adversely affect the performance by the Selling Stockholder of its obligations
hereunder.

         (h) The information in the Registration Statement under the caption
"Principal and Selling Stockholders" which specifically relates to such Selling
Stockholder does not, and will not on the Closing Date, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

         (i) At any time during the period described in Section 5(d), if there
is any change in the information referred to in Section 7(i), such Selling
Stockholder will promptly notify you of such change.

         (j) Each certificate signed by or on behalf of such Selling
Stockholder and delivered on the Closing Date to the Underwriters or counsel
for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by
such Selling Stockholder to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.



                                      -14-

<PAGE>   15



         SECTION 8. Indemnification. (a) The Sellers, jointly and severally,
agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, its
officers and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and judgments (including, without limitation, any
legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending
any matter, including any action, that could give rise to any such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by any such
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon
information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by
such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein; provided, however, that
the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus
shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter in connection with any
losses, claims, damages and liabilities and judgments if a copy of the
Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished
any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given to the person
asserting such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments at or prior to
the written confirmation of the sale of the Shares to such person, and if the
Prospectus (as so amended and supplemented) would have cured the defect giving
rise to such loss, claim, damage, liability or judgment, unless such failure to
deliver such amended or supplemented Prospectus was a result of noncompliance
by the Company with its delivery obligations under Section 5 hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate liability of any Selling
Stockholder pursuant to this Section 8(a) shall be limited to an amount equal
to the total proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions
but before deducting expenses) received by such Selling Stockholder from the
Underwriters for the sale of the Shares sold by such Selling Stockholder
hereunder.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Underwriters agree that, in the
case of any loss, claim, damage, liability or judgment for which they may claim
indemnification hereunder, they will first make demand for indemnification from
the Company, and will not seek to enforce any right or remedy granted under
this Section 8 against any Selling Stockholder, unless and until (i) the
Underwriters shall have delivered a written demand for indemnification
hereunder to the Company and (ii) the Company shall have failed to observe or
comply in all material respects with any of its obligations hereunder in
respect of such loss, claim, damage, liability or judgment for a period of at
least 60 days following the delivery of such written demand. In the event that
the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have failed to comply with their
obligations in respect of any loss, claim, damage, liability or judgment, the
Underwriters further agree that (x) they will not commence any legal proceeding
against any Selling Stockholder to recover such loss, claim, damage, liability
or judgment unless, prior to or concurrently therewith, they shall have
commenced a legal proceeding against the Company to recover the same, (y) they
will diligently and in good faith prosecute any such legal proceeding against
the Company for as long as any Selling Stockholder is a party thereto, and (z)
in the event that judgments are entered in favor of the Underwriters against



                                      -15-

<PAGE>   16



both the Company and one or more Selling Stockholders in any such legal
proceeding, (1) during the period of 90 days following the date on which the
judgment against the Company becomes final and is not subject to appeal, the
Underwriters will take commercially reasonable efforts to enforce and collect
the judgment entered against the Company, including abstracting the judgment,
levying execution of the judgment against the Company and pursuing other
commercially reasonable steps to collect the judgment from the Company, and
will not seek to enforce the judgment entered against any such Selling
Stockholder and (2) after the expiration of such period, the Underwriters may
seek to enforce the judgment entered against such Selling Stockholder, but will
continue to take commercially reasonable steps to enforce the judgment entered
against the Company for so long as they are seeking to enforce the judgment
entered against any Selling Stockholder; provided, however, that the
Underwriters shall be relieved of their obligation to seek a judgment against
the Company, to seek to obtain payment from the Company in satisfaction of such
judgment, or, having sought such satisfaction to wait 60 days after such
failure by the Company to immediately satisfy any such judgment if, at any
time, (i) the Company files a petition for relief under the United States
Bankruptcy Code (the "BANKRUPTCY CODE"), (ii) an order for relief is entered
against the Company in an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code and such
order remains in effect for 90 consecutive days, (iii) the Company makes an
assignment for the benefit of its creditors or (iv) any court orders or
approves the appointment of a receiver or custodian for the Company or a
substantial portion of its assets and such order continues in effect for 90
consecutive days.

         (b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the
Registration Statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, each
Selling Stockholder and each person, if any, who controls such Selling
Stockholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Sellers to
such Underwriter but only with reference to information relating to such
Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by such Underwriter through you
expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any preliminary
prospectus.

         (c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in
respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing
and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including
the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and
the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that
in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant
to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), the Underwriter shall not be required to assume
the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ
separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of
such Underwriter). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ
separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the
indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been
specifically authorized


                                      -16-

<PAGE>   17



in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have
failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such
action (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and
the indemnifying party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by
such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which
are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party
(in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the
defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case,
the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one action or separate
but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising
out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for (i) the
fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to
any local counsel) for all Underwriters, their officers and directors and all
persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, (ii) the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local
counsel) for the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration
Statement and all persons, if any, who control the Company within the meaning
of either such Section and (iii) the fees and expenses of more than one
separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all Selling
Stockholders and all persons, if any, who control any Selling Stockholder
within the meaning of either such Section, and all such fees and expenses shall
be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such separate firm for
the Underwriters, their officers and directors and such control persons of any
Underwriters, such firm shall be designated in writing by DLJ. In the case of
any such separate firm for the Company and such directors, officers and control
persons of the Company, such firm shall be designated in writing by the
Company. In the case of any such separate firm for the Selling Stockholders and
such control persons of any Selling Stockholders, such firm shall be designated
in writing by the Attorneys. The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold
harmless the indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action
(i) effected with the indemnifying party's written consent or (ii) effected
without its written consent if the settlement is entered into more than twenty
business days after the indemnifying party shall have received a request from
the indemnified party for reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel
(in any case where such fees and expenses are at the expense of the
indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such settlement, the indemnifying
party shall have failed to comply with such reimbursement request. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of
judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action in respect of which
the indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity or
contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the indemnified
party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are or could have been the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to
act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.

         (d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in this Section 8
is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then
each indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party,


                                      -17-

<PAGE>   18



shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Sellers on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the
offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i)
above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above
but also the relative fault of the Sellers on the one hand and the Underwriters
on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the
Sellers on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be deemed
to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering
(before deducting expenses) received by the Sellers, and the total underwriting
discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, bear to the total price
to the public of the Shares, in each case as set forth in the table on the
cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Sellers on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or the Selling Stockholders on
the one hand or the Underwriters on the other hand and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission.

         The Sellers and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any matter,
including any action, that could have given rise to such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess
of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it
and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of
any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason
of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to
contribute pursuant to this Section 8(d) are several in proportion to the
respective number of Shares purchased by each of the Underwriters hereunder and
not joint.

         (e) The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and
shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any
indemnified party at law or in equity.



                                      -18-

<PAGE>   19



         (f) Each Selling Stockholder hereby designates Bayard Drilling
Technologies, Inc., 4005 N.W. Expressway, Suite 550E, Oklahoma City, OK 73116,
as its authorized agent, upon which process may be served in any action which
may be instituted in any state or federal court in the State of New York by any
Underwriter, any director or officer of any Underwriter or any person
controlling any Underwriter asserting a claim for indemnification or
contribution under or pursuant to this Section 8, and each Selling Stockholder
will accept the jurisdiction of such court in such action, and waives, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any defense based upon lack of
personal jurisdiction or venue. A copy of any such process shall be sent or
given to such Selling Stockholder, at the address for notices specified in
Section 12 hereof.

         SECTION 9. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The several
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares under this
Agreement are subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

         (a) All the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
this Agreement shall be true and correct (in the case of representations and
warranties that are qualified as to materiality) or true and correct in all
material respects (in the case of representations and warranties that are not
so qualified) on the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on
and as of the Closing Date.

         (b) If the Company is required to file a Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement after the effectiveness of this Agreement, such Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., New York City
time, on the date of this Agreement; and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been commenced or shall be pending
before or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated by the Commission.

         (c) You shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate dated
the Closing Date, signed by James E. Brown and David E. Grose, in their
respective capacities as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer of the Company, confirming the matters set forth in Sections 6(t), 9(a)
and 9(b) and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and
satisfied all of the conditions herein contained and required to be complied
with or satisfied by the Company on or prior to the Closing Date.

         (d) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Prospectus other than as set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement),
(i) there shall not have occurred any change or any development involving a
prospective change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings,
business, management or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, (ii) there shall not have been any change or any development
involving a prospective change in the capital stock or in the long-term debt of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (iii) neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries shall have incurred any liability or obligation, direct or
contingent, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause 9(d)(i),
9(d)(ii) or 9(d)(iii), in your judgment, is material


                                      -19-

<PAGE>   20



and adverse and, in your judgment, makes it impracticable to market the Shares
on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

         (e) All the representations and warranties of each Selling Stockholder
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct (in the case of
representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality) or true
and correct in all material respects (in the case of representations and
warranties that are not so qualified) on the Closing Date with the same force
and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date and you shall have received
on the Closing Date a certificate dated the Closing Date from each Selling
Stockholder to such effect and to the effect that such Selling Stockholder has
complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions herein
contained and required to be complied with or satisfied by such Selling
Stockholder on or prior to the Closing Date.

         (f) You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion (in a form
reasonably satisfactory to you and counsel for the Underwriters), dated the
Closing Date, of Baker & Botts, L.L.P., counsel for the Company and the Selling
Stockholders, to the effect that:

                  (i) Each of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries which
         are corporations has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
         corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
         incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and authority to
         own, lease and operate its property and to conduct its business as
         described in the Prospectus; WD Equipment, L.L.C. has been duly formed
         and is validly existing as a limited liability company in good
         standing under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and has all
         requisite power and authority under its limited liability company
         agreement and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act to own, lease
         and operate its property and to conduct its business as described in
         the Prospectus;

                  (ii) Each of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries is
         duly qualified and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or
         foreign limited liability company (as the case may be) authorized to
         do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business
         or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification,
         except where the failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be
         expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial
         condition or results of operations of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

                  (iii) All the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
         Company (including the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders)
         have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
         part of the Company and are validly issued, fully paid and
         non-assessable, and none of such outstanding shares of Common Stock
         were issued in violation of any preemptive or other similar rights to
         subscribe for or purchase the same arising under the Certificate of
         Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or the General Corporation Law
         of the State of Delaware or, to their knowledge, under any agreement
         to which the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party or
         by which it is bound;


                                      -20-

<PAGE>   21



                  (iv) The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company
         hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
         on the part of the Company and, when issued and delivered to the
         Underwriters against payment of the consideration therefor as provided
         in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly
         issued, fully paid and non-assessable and such Shares will not have
         been issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights to
         subscribe for or purchase the same arising under the Certificate of
         Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or the General Corporation Law
         of the State of Delaware or, to their knowledge, under any agreement
         to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which
         it is bound;

                  (v) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of
         the Material Subsidiaries which are corporations have been duly
         authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable;
         all of the outstanding limited liability company interests in WD
         Equipment, L.L.C. have been duly authorized and validly issued in
         accordance with the limited liability company agreement of WD
         Equipment, L.L.C. in exchange for the capital contributions specified
         therein; and, to the Company's knowledge, all of the outstanding
         shares of capital stock or limited liability company interests, as the
         case may be, of the Material Subsidiaries are owned by the Company,
         directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, free and
         clear of any security interest, claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse
         interest of any nature;

                  (vi) This Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary
         corporate action on the part of the Company, executed and has been
         delivered by the Company;

                  (vii) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as
         to legal matters in all material respects to the description thereof
         contained in the Prospectus;

                  (viii) Based solely upon oral confirmation from the staff of
         the Commission, the Registration Statement has become effective under
         the Act; to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending
         the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no
         proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened by the
         Commission;

                  (ix) The statements under the captions "Management's
         Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
         Operations-Financial Condition and Liquidity", "Business-Government
         Regulation and Environmental Matters", "Management", "Certain
         Relationships and Related Transactions", and "Description of Capital
         Stock" and "Underwriting" in the Prospectus and Items 14 and 15 of
         Part II of the Registration Statement, insofar as such statements
         constitute a summary of the legal matters or documents referred to
         therein, are accurate and fairly present the information set forth
         therein, in each case in all material respects;



                                      -21-

<PAGE>   22



                  (x) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
         qualification with, any Applicable Governmental Authority (as
         hereinafter defined) is required pursuant to any Applicable Laws (as
         hereinafter defined) for the execution and delivery of this Agreement
         by the Company, the performance by the Company of its obligations
         hereunder or the consummation by the Company of the transactions
         contemplated hereby, except for any such consent, approval,
         authorization, order or qualification which (i) has been made or
         obtained prior to the Closing Date or (ii) may be required under
         applicable state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws in connection
         with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters
         and the clearance of such offering with the NASD (as to which such
         counsel need not express an opinion); or (iii) if not made or obtained
         would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
         Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

                  (xi) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
         Company, the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder
         and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
         hereby will not (i) result in a violation of the terms of Certificate
         of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or the Material
         Subsidiaries, (ii) result in a breach or violation of or constitute
         (either alone or with notice or the passage of time, or both) a
         default under, any agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, lease,
         franchise, license, indenture, permit or other instrument to which the
         Company or its Material Subsidiaries is a party or by which the
         Company, the Material Subsidiaries or their properties are bound that
         is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, (iii) result in
         a violation of any Applicable Laws to which the Company, the Material
         Subsidiaries or their properties are subject or any judgment, decree
         or order of any Applicable Governmental Authority that specifically
         names the Company, the Material Subsidiaries or is directed at their
         property (provided, however, that such counsel need not express an
         opinion with respect to compliance with any federal or state
         securities or antifraud law, rule or regulation except as otherwise
         specifically stated in the opinion of such counsel); except for any
         such violation, breach or default referred to in clause (i),(ii) or
         (iii) above which would not have a material adverse effect on the
         Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; 

                  (xii) To the knowledge of such counsel, there are no legal or
         governmental proceedings pending or threatened against the Company or
         any of the Material Subsidiaries or by which any of their respective
         property is or could be subject that are required to be described in
         the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described,
         or of any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are
         required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement
         that are not so described or filed as required;

                  (xiii) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
         offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds
         thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be, an "investment
         company" as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of
         1940, as amended;

                  (xiv) To the knowledge of such counsel, except as described
         in the Prospectus, no holder of securities of the Company has any
         right to require the registration of such securities by the Company
         under Act as a result of the filing of the Registration Statement or
         in


                                      -22-

<PAGE>   23



         connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to the Prospectus
         which have not been waived by such holder or complied with by the
         Company;

                  (xv) The Registration Statement (and any amendment thereto),
         as of its effective date, and the Prospectus (or any supplement or
         amendment thereto), as of its date (other than (a) the financial
         statements and schedules (including the notes thereto and the
         auditors' reports thereon) included therein and (b) the other
         financial information included therein appear on their face to comply
         as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act.

                  As used herein, (i) the term "APPLICABLE LAWS" means the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the contract laws of the
State of New York, the laws of the State of Texas and the laws of the United
States of America that, in the experience of such counsel, are normally
applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by this Agreement and (ii)
the term "APPLICABLE GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means any governmental authority
or body of the United States of America or the State of Texas or the State of
New York or (solely with respect to the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware) the State of Delaware.

                  Such opinion shall also include a statement to the effect
that although such counsel did not independently verify, are not passing upon
and do not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus (except to the extent stated in paragraphs (f)(vii) and (f)(ix)
above), they advise you that no facts have come to their attention which lead
them to believe that the Registration Statement (other than (i) the financial
statements (including the notes thereto and the auditors' report thereon)
included therein, and (ii) the other financial information included therein, as
to which such counsel need express no opinion), as of its effective date,
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading or that the Prospectus (other than (i) the financial
statements (including the notes thereto and the auditors' report thereon)
included therein and (ii) the other financial information included therein), as
of its date and as of the Closing Date, contained or contains any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

         (g)      You shall have received on the Closing Date, with respect to 
each Selling Stockholder, an opinion (in form reasonably satisfactory to you
and counsel for the Underwriters), dated the Closing Date, of Baker & Botts,
L.L.P. (to the extent that Baker & Botts, L.L.P. is counsel to such Selling
Stockholder) or other counsel reasonably acceptable to you to the effect that:

                  (i) Such Selling Stockholder is the sole registered holder of
         the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this
         Agreement; upon delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling
         Stockholder under this Agreement and payment of the purchase price
         therefor in accordance with this Agreement, assuming that (a) the
         Underwriters have


                                      -23-

<PAGE>   24



         purchased such Shares in good faith and without notice of any "adverse
         claim" (within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code) and (b)
         certificates evidencing such Shares have been registered in the name
         of the Underwriters or certificates evidencing the same which are
         registered in the name of such Selling Stockholder have been delivered
         to the Underwriters duly endorsed for transfer (or accompanied by duly
         executed stock powers or other forms of assignment in proper form for
         transfer), the Underwriters will acquire such shares free and clear of
         any security interests, liens, encumbrances or other "adverse claims"
         (within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code);

                  (ii) Such Selling Stockholder has full legal right and power
         (if such Selling Stockholder is not a corporation or a partnership),
         or all requisite corporate or partnership authority (if such Selling
         Stockholder is a corporation or partnership) to enter into this
         Agreement and the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney of such
         Selling Stockholder and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the
         Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder in the manner provided
         herein and therein;

                  (iii) The Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of each
         Selling Stockholder has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
         by such Selling Stockholder and is a valid and binding agreement of
         such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms;

                  (iv) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
         qualification with, any Applicable Governmental Authority is required
         pursuant to any Applicable Laws for the execution and delivery of this
         Agreement or the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of such
         Selling Stockholder (collectively, the "Selling Stockholder
         Agreements") by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder, the
         performance by such Selling Stockholder of its obligations hereunder
         or thereunder or the consummation by it of the transactions
         contemplated hereby or thereby, except for any such consent, approval,
         authorization, order or qualification which (i) has been made or
         obtained prior to the Closing Date, (ii) may be required under the
         Act, the Exchange Act or any applicable state or foreign securities or
         Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the
         Shares by the Underwriters and the clearance of such offering with the
         NASD (as to which such counsel need not express an opinion) or (iii)
         if not made or obtained, would not reasonably be expected to adversely
         affect the performance by such Selling Stockholder of its obligations
         under the Selling Stockholder Agreements; and

                  (v) The execution and delivery of the Selling Stockholder
         Agreements on behalf of such Selling Stockholder, the performance by
         such Selling Stockholder of its obligations hereunder or thereunder
         and the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions
         contemplated hereby or thereby will not (i) result in a breach or
         violation of the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws
         or the partnership agreement of such Selling Stockholder, if
         applicable, (ii) to such counsel's knowledge, result in a breach or
         violation of or constitute (either alone or with the passage of time
         or both) a default under any agreement or other instrument binding
         upon such Selling Stockholder, (iii) result in a


                                      -24-

<PAGE>   25



         violation of any Applicable Laws to which such Selling Stockholder or
         its properties are subject or any judgment, decree or order of any
         Applicable Governmental Authority that specifically names such Selling
         Stockholder or is directed at such Selling Stockholder's property
         (provided, however, that such counsel need not express an opinion with
         respect to compliance with any federal or state securities or
         antifraud law, rule or regulation), except for any such breach,
         violation or default referred to in clauses (ii) or (iii) above which
         would not reasonably be expected to adversely affect the performance
         by such Selling Stockholder of its obligations under the Selling
         Stockholder Agreements.

         For purposes of the foregoing opinions, the definitions of the term
"Applicable Laws" and "Applicable Governmental Authority" shall mean federal
laws and the laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation or formation (as the
case may be) of any Selling Stockholder that is a corporation or a partnership
and the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which counsel rendering such opinions
is admitted to practice.

         The opinion of Baker & Botts, L.L.P. or such other counsel as
described in Section 9(f) and 9(g) above shall be rendered to you at the
request of the Company or the Selling Stockholders, as applicable, and shall so
state therein.

         (h) You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion, dated the
Closing Date, of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, as to
the matters referred to in Sections 9(f)(iv), 9(f)(vi), and 9(f)(ix) (but only
with respect to the statements under the caption "Description of Capital Stock"
and "Underwriting") and the last paragraph of Section 9(f).

         In giving such opinions with respect to the matters covered by the
last paragraph of Section 9(f), Baker & Botts, L.L.P. and Andrews & Kurth
L.L.P. may state that their opinion and belief are based upon their
participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and Prospectus
and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion of the
contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification except as
specified.

         (i) You shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the
Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case
may be, in form and substance satisfactory to you, from Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P. and Grant Thornton LLP, independent public accountants, containing the
information and statements of the type ordinarily included in accountants'
"comfort letters" to Underwriters with respect to the financial statements and
certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus.

         (j) The Company shall have delivered to you the agreements specified
in Section 2 hereof which agreements shall be in full force and effect on the
Closing Date.

         (k) The Shares shall have been approved for listing, subject to notice
of issuance, on the AMEX.



                                      -25-

<PAGE>   26



         (l) The Company and the Selling Stockholders shall not have failed on
or prior to the Closing Date to perform or comply with any of the agreements
herein contained and required to be performed or complied with by the Company
or the Selling Stockholders, as the case may be, on or prior to the Closing
Date.

         (m) You shall have received on the Closing Date, a certificate of each
Selling Stockholder who is not a U.S. Person (as defined under applicable U.S.
federal tax legislation) to the effect that such Selling Stockholder is not a
U.S. Person, which certificate may be in the form of a properly completed and
executed United States Treasury Department Form W-8 (or other applicable form
or statement specified by Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof).

         The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase any Additional
Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to you on the applicable Option
Closing Date of such documents as you may reasonably request with respect to
the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of such
Additional Shares and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional
Shares.

         SECTION 10. Effectiveness of Agreement and Termination. This Agreement
shall become effective upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
parties hereto.

         This Agreement may be terminated at any time on or prior to the
Closing Date by you by written notice to the Sellers if any of the following
has occurred: (i) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national
or international calamity or crisis or change in economic conditions or in the
financial markets of the United States or elsewhere that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse and, in your judgment, makes it impracticable to market
the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus, (ii)
the suspension or material limitation of trading in securities or other
instruments on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the
Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Chicago
Board of Trade or the Nasdaq National Market or limitation on prices for
securities or other instruments on any such exchange or the Nasdaq National
Market, (iii) the suspension of trading of the Common Stock on any exchange or
in the over-the-counter market, (iv) the enactment, publication, decree or
other promulgation of any federal or state statute, regulation, rule or order
of any court or other governmental authority which in your opinion materially
and adversely affects, or will materially and adversely affect, the business,
financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (v) the declaration of a banking moratorium by
either federal or New York State authorities or (vi) the taking of any action
by any federal, state or local government or agency in respect of its monetary
or fiscal affairs which in your opinion has a material adverse effect on the
financial markets in the United States.

         If on the Closing Date or on an Option Closing Date, as the case may
be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase the
Firm Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which it or they have
agreed to purchase hereunder on such date and the aggregate number of Firm
Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting
Underwriter or


                                      -26-

<PAGE>   27



Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than
one-tenth of the total number of Shares to be purchased on such date by all
Underwriters, each non-defaulting Underwriter shall be obligated severally, in
the proportion which the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite its name in
Schedule I bears to the total number of Firm Shares which all the
non-defaulting Underwriters have agreed to purchase, or in such other
proportion as you may specify, to purchase the Firm Shares or Additional
Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters,
as the case may be, agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date;
provided that in no event shall the number of Firm Shares or Additional Shares,
as the case may be, which any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to
Section 2 hereof be increased pursuant to this Section 11 by an amount in
excess of one-ninth of such number of Firm Shares or Additional Shares, as the
case may be, without the written consent of such Underwriter. If on the Closing
Date any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm
Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to which such
default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Shares to
be purchased by all Underwriters and arrangements satisfactory to you, the
Company and the Selling Stockholders for purchase of such Firm Shares are not
made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without
liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the Company or the
Selling Stockholders. In any such case which does not result in termination of
this Agreement, either you or the Sellers shall have the right to postpone the
Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the
required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or
any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an Option Closing
Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase
Additional Shares and the aggregate number of Additional Shares with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of
Additional Shares to be purchased on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters
shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase
such Additional Shares or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional
Shares that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to
purchase on such date in the absence of such default. Any action taken under
this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in
respect of any default of any such Underwriter under this Agreement.

         SECTION 11. Agreements of the Selling Stockholders. Each Selling
Stockholder severally agrees with you and the Company:

         (a) To pay or to cause to be paid all transfer taxes payable in
connection with the transfer of the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Stockholder to the Underwriters.

         (b) To do and perform all things to be done and performed by such
Selling Stockholder under this Agreement prior to the Closing Date and to
satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Shares to be sold by
such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement.

         SECTION 12. Miscellaneous. Notices given pursuant to any provision of
this Agreement shall be addressed as follows: (i) if to the Company or to the
Selling Stockholders, to Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc., 4005 N.W.
Expressway, Suite 550E, Oklahoma City, OK 73116, and (ii) if to any Underwriter
or to you, to you c/o Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, 


                                      -27-

<PAGE>   28



277 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10172, Attention: Syndicate Department, or
in any case to such other address as the person to be notified may have
requested in writing.

         The respective indemnities, contribution agreements, representations,
warranties and other statements of the Company, the Selling Stockholders and
the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall
remain operative and in full force and effect, and will survive delivery of and
payment for the Shares, regardless of (i) any investigation, or statement as to
the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the officers or
directors of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter, the
Company, the officers or directors of the Company, any person controlling the
Company, any Selling Stockholder or any person controlling such Selling
Stockholder, (ii) acceptance of the Shares and payment for them hereunder and
(iii) termination of this Agreement.

         If for any reason the Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of any
Seller as provided herein (other than as a result of any termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 10), the Company agrees to reimburse the several
Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the
proposed offering of the Shares. Notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, the Company shall be liable for all expenses which it has agreed to
pay pursuant to Section 5(i) hereof. The Sellers also agree, jointly and
severally, to reimburse the several Underwriters, their directors and officers
and any persons controlling any of the Underwriters for any and all fees and
expenses (including, without limitation, the fees disbursements of counsel)
reasonably incurred by them in connection with enforcing their rights hereunder
(including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 8 hereof).The Underwriters
also agree, jointly and severally, to reimburse the Sellers for any and all fees
and expenses (including, without limitation, the fees disbursements of counsel)
reasonably incurred by them in connection with enforcing their rights hereunder
(including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 8 hereof).

         Except as otherwise provided, this Agreement has been and is made
solely for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company, the Selling
Stockholders, the Underwriters, the Underwriters' directors and officers, any
controlling persons referred to herein, the Company's directors and the
Company's officers who sign the Registration Statement and their respective
successors and assigns, all as and to the extent provided in this Agreement,
and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement. The term "successors and assigns" shall not include a purchaser of
any of the Shares from any of the several Underwriters merely because of such
purchase.

         This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.

         This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.




                                      -28-

<PAGE>   29



         Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
among the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the several Underwriters.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.



                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Title:


                                              THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS NAMED IN
                                                   SCHEDULE II HERETO, ACTING
                                                   SEVERALLY

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                                       Attorney-in-fact




DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
         SECURITIES CORPORATION
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
RAUSCHER PIERCE REFSNES, INC.
RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Acting severally on behalf of
   themselves and the several
   Underwriters named in
   Schedule I hereto

By:      DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
           SECURITIES CORPORATION



         By:
            ---------------------------


                                      -29-

<PAGE>   30



                                   SCHEDULE I


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Number of Firm Shares
Underwriters                                                  to be Purchased
- ------------                                              ---------------------
<S>                                                       <C>

Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
         Corporation

Lehman Brothers Inc.

Prudential Securities Incorporated

Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, Inc.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.


                                                          ---------------------
                                      Total                       9,200,000
</TABLE>



                                      -30-

<PAGE>   31



                                  SCHEDULE II

                              Selling Stockholders





<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Number of
                                                                     Additional
                                                  Number of          Shares
                                                  Firm Shares        Subject to
                                                  Being Sold         Sale
                                                  ----------         ----------
Name
- ----
<S>                                                <C>                   <C>    
Chesapeake Energy Corporation                      3,400,000             794,000
Energy Spectrum Partners LP                          772,669             227,331
Mullen-Oliver Partnership, Ltd.                      370,881             109,119
Continental Illinois Property Corporation #3         312,000                   0
The CIT Group/Equipment Financing, Inc.              150,000                   0
Harold G. Hamm, Trustee for the Harold G.
Hamm Revocable Intervivos Trust dated
4/23/84                                               77,267              22,733
L.O. Ward                                              1,314                 386
Wil-Cas Investments, L.P.                             65,348              19,227
A. Brad Curtis                                           193                  57
Richard Tozzi                                            328                  97
AnSon Partners Limited Partnership                    50,000              38,000
                                                   ---------           ---------
                                       Total       5,200,000           1,210,950
</TABLE>










                                      -31-

<PAGE>   32
                                   ANNEX I

                Stockholders Required to Sign Lock-Up Agreements


Chesapeake Energy Corporation

Energy Spectrum Partners LP

AnSon Partners Limited Partnership

Wil-Cas Investments, L.P.

Oliver Family Trust

RR&T, Inc.

Mullen-Oliver Partnership Ltd.

Mike Mullen Energy Equipment Resource, Inc.

Grupo de Hercules, Ltd.

Harold G. Hamm Trustee of the
Harold G. Hamm Revocable Inter
Vivos Trust dated 4/23/84

James E. Brown

Continental Illinois Property Corporation #3



                                      -32-


<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 5.1


                            [BAKER & BOTTS, L.L.P. LETTERHEAD]



                                                                October 30, 1997





Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc.
4005 Northwest Expressway, Suite 550E
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  73116

Gentlemen:

                 As set forth in the Registration Statement on Form S-1
(Commission File No. 333-34451) (the "Registration Statement"), filed by Bayard
Drilling Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act"), relating to the registration under the Act of the offering and
sale of up to an aggregate of 10,580,000 shares (the "Shares") of common stock,
par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"), of the Company, the validity of the
Shares is being passed upon for you by us.  The Shares include (i) 4,000,000
shares of Common Stock being issued and sold by the Company, (ii) 169,050
shares of Common Stock that may be issued and sold by the Company pursuant to
an over-allotment option (the "Over- allotment Option") granted to the
Underwriters named in the Registration Statement, (iii) 5,200,000 shares of
Common Stock being sold by the selling stockholders identified in the
Registration Statement (the "Selling Stockholders"), and (iv) 1,210,950 shares
of Common Stock that may be sold by the Selling Stockholders pursuant to the
Over-allotment Option.  The Shares identified in clauses (i) and (ii) above are
hereinafter referred to as the "Company Shares" and the Shares identified in
clauses (iii) and (iv) above are hereinafter referred to as the "Selling
Stockholder Shares."  At your request, this opinion of counsel is being
furnished to you for filing as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.

                 In our capacity as counsel to the Company in connection with
the registration and proposed offering and sale of the Shares, we have
familiarized ourselves with (i) the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (the "Restated Certificate of Incorporation") filed as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement and (ii) the Company's





<PAGE>   2
Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc.    -2-                       October 30, 1997


Bylaws, as amended to date, and have examined the originals, or copies
certified or otherwise identified, of corporate records of the Company,
including minute books of the Company, certificates of public officials and of
representatives of the Company, statutes and other records, instruments and
documents, as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed.  In giving such
opinions, we have relied upon certificates of officers of the Company with
respect to the accuracy of the material factual matters contained in such
certificates.

                 Based upon our examination as aforesaid, and subject to the
limitations and qualifications hereinafter set forth, we are of the opinion
that:

                 1.       The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and
         validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

                 2.       When the Board of Directors of the Company or the
         duly authorized Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the
         Company shall have fixed the price at which the Shares are to be sold,
         all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company with respect
         to the authorization of the Company Shares will have been taken.  Upon
         the occurrence of the event specified in the immediately preceding
         sentence and upon the sale of the Company Shares for the price
         approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or the duly
         authorized Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company,
         the Company Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and
         nonassessable.

                 3.       The Selling Stockholder Shares have been duly
         authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

                 The opinions set forth above are limited to matters governed
by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as in effect on the
date hereof.

                 We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the
caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration
Statement and to the filing





<PAGE>   3
Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc.    -3-                       October 30, 1997


of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.  In giving such
consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons
whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the Rules and
Regulations of the Securities and  Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                        Very truly yours,


                                        /s/  BAKER & BOTTS, L.L.P.






<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.22


                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                        RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT


                 This Restricted Stock Agreement (the "Agreement") is an
amendment and restatement of the Restricted Stock Agreement (the "Prior
Agreement") entered into effective as of December 10, 1996, between Bayard
Drilling Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and James
E. Brown (the "Participant").  The Company and the Participant desire to enter
into this Agreement to amend and clarify certain provisions of the Prior
Agreement to reflect an adjustment of the Company's Common Stock as a result of
a stock dividend, and in anticipation of the initial public offering of the
Company.  This Agreement shall be effective retroactive to December 10, 1996,
and supersedes the Prior Agreement in its entirety.  To the extent that any
provision of this Agreement conflicts with the express terms of the Bayard
Drilling Technologies, Inc. 1997 Stock Option and Stock Award Plan, as it may
be amended from time to time, which is incorporated herein and made a part
hereof for all purposes (the "Plan"), it is hereby acknowledged and agreed that
the terms of the Plan shall control and, if necessary, the applicable
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed amended so as to carry out the
purpose and intent of the Plan.

                 1.       DEFINITIONS:  All capitalized terms in this Agreement
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan unless otherwise defined
in this Agreement.  As used herein, the terms set forth below shall have the
following respective meanings:

                 (a)      "BENEFICIARY" means a person designated by the
         Participant pursuant to Paragraph 7 hereof.

                 (b)      "DUE CAUSE" means (i) habitual neglect of the
         Participant's duties or failure by the Participant to perform or
         observe any obligation of employment with the Company that is not
         remedied within 30 days after written notice thereof from the
         Company's Board of Directors, (ii) any material breach of the
         Employment Agreement, or (iii) the conviction of or a plea of guilty
         or nolo contendere by the Participant to a felony or misdemeanor
         involving fraud, embezzlement, theft or dishonesty or other criminal
         act involving intentional misrepresentation.

                 (c)      "DISABILITY" means the inability or incapacity of
         Participant for 90 days to perform the essential functions of the job
         or position with the Company described in the Employment Agreement,
         even with reasonable accommodation.  Such inability or incapacity
         shall be documented to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company's
         Board of Directors by appropriate correspondence from physicians who
         are reasonably satisfactory to the Company's Board of Directors.

                 (d)      "EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT" means that certain Employment
         Agreement dated as of December 10, 1996 between the Participant and
         the Company.





<PAGE>   2
                 2.       RESTRICTED STOCK.  In order to encourage the
Participant's contribution to the successful performance of the Company, and in
consideration of the covenants and promises of the Participant herein
contained, the Company sold to the Participant as of February 28, 1997 (the
"Date of Grant"), a total of 50,000 shares of Common Stock at a purchase price
of $5.00 per share, subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth below
and in the Plan (the "Restricted Stock").  Subsequently, the Company's Common
Stock was split, two- for-one by means of a stock dividend to its stockholders.
Accordingly, the Participant has 100,000 shares of Restricted Stock at a
purchase price of $2.50 per share.

                 3.       ESCROW OF CERTIFICATES.  The certificates
representing shares of Restricted Stock shall be registered in the name of the
Participant and deposited, together with a stock power endorsed by the
Participant in blank, with the Secretary of the Company (or his or her
designee) during the Restricted Period, as defined in Paragraph 4(a) hereof. 
Each such certificate shall bear a legend as provided by the Company,
conspicuously referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions described in
the Plan and in this Agreement.  The Participant, by executing this Agreement
in the space provided below, hereby acknowledges (a) that, as a material
inducement to the grant of this Incentive Award under the Plan, the Secretary
of the Company (or his or her designee) is so appointed as the escrow holder
with the authority to hold said certificate(s) and stock power(s) in escrow and
to take all such actions and to effectuate all transfers of vested Restricted
Stock or releases as are in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the
Plan and (b) that the appointment is coupled with an interest, and that it
accordingly will be irrevocable.  The escrow holder will not be liable to the
Participant (or to any other party) for any actions or omissions unless the
escrow holder is grossly negligent.  The escrow holder may rely upon any
letter, notice, or other document executed by any signature purported to be
genuine.

                 4.       RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER BEFORE VESTING.

                 (a)      The shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder to
         the Participant may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or
         otherwise encumbered, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by
         operation of law or otherwise, from the Date of Grant until said
         shares shall have become vested in the Participant (and restrictions
         terminated thereon) in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 5
         or as otherwise provided in Paragraph 6 below.  (The period of time
         between the Date of Grant and the vesting of shares of Restricted
         Stock shall be referred to herein as the "Restricted Period" as to
         those shares of Restricted Stock.)

                 (b)      Consistent with the foregoing, except as contemplated
         by Paragraph 9 below, no right or benefit under this Agreement shall
         be subject to transfer, anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment,
         pledge, encumbrance or charge, whether voluntary, involuntary, by
         operation of law or otherwise, and any attempt to transfer,
         anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, pledge, encumber or charge the
         same shall be void.  No right or benefit hereunder shall in any manner
         be liable for or subject to any debts, contracts, liabilities or torts
         of the person entitled to such benefits.  If the Participant or his
         Beneficiary hereunder shall become bankrupt or attempt to transfer,
         anticipate, alienate, assign, sell, pledge, encumber or charge




                                      2
<PAGE>   3
         any right or benefit hereunder, other than as contemplated by
         Paragraph 9 below, or if any creditor shall attempt to subject the
         same to a writ of garnishment, attachment, execution, sequestration,
         or any other form of process or involuntary lien or seizure, then such
         right or benefit shall cease and terminate.

                 5.       VESTING OF RESTRICTED STOCK.

                 (a)      Except as set forth in Paragraph 5(b) hereof, the
         Participant shall become vested as to:

                         (i)   20% of the shares of Restricted Stock on
                 December 10, 1997;
                 
                         (ii)  an additional 20% of the shares of Restricted 
                 Stock on December 10, 1998;

                         (iii) an additional 20% of the shares of Restricted 
                 Stock on December 10, 1999;

                         (iv)  an additional 20% of the shares of Restricted
                 Stock on December 10, 2000; and

                         (v)   the remaining 20% of the shares of Restricted 
                 Stock on December 10, 2001;

provided, however, that the Participant shall not vest pursuant to this
Paragraph 5(a) in shares of Restricted Stock if the Participant has not been
continuously employed by the Company from the date of this Agreement through
such vesting date (the vesting or forfeiture of such shares to be governed
instead by the provisions of Paragraph 6).

                 (b)      In the event of a Change of Control (as such term is
         defined in the Plan), the Participant shall vest on the date of the
         Change of Control in all shares of Restricted Stock not previously
         vested and all restrictions set forth in Paragraph 4 will terminate.


                 6.       EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

                 (a)      FORFEITURE OF UNVESTED RESTRICTED STOCK.  If the
         Company terminates the Participant's employment with the Company for
         Due Cause, or if the Participant voluntarily resigns from the Company
         (other than as a result of death or Disability), then the shares of
         Restricted Stock that have not previously vested in accordance with
         Paragraph 5 above as of the date of such termination (the "Unvested
         Shares"), shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company,
         without any payment by the Company, unless the Company elects, in its
         sole and absolute discretion, to purchase the Unvested Shares pursuant
         to paragraph 6(d) hereof.


                                      3


<PAGE>   4
                 (b)      PARTICIPANT'S RIGHT TO PURCHASE UNVESTED SHARES. If
         the Company terminates the employment of Participant without Due
         Cause, then the Participant shall have the right, but not the
         obligation, for a period of 30 days from the date of termination, to
         purchase from the Company all, but not less than all, of the Unvested
         Shares for a cash purchase price of $5.00 per share.  Upon such
         purchase, the Unvested Shares shall fully vest and all restrictions
         shall lapse.  The Participant shall inform the Company in writing
         prior to the expiration of such 30 day period of Participant's intent
         to purchase the Unvested Shares.

                 (c)      PARTICIPANT'S PURCHASE RIGHT IN THE EVENT OF DEATH OR
         DISABILITY.  Upon the death or Disability of the Participant, then the
         Beneficiary or the Participant, as the case may be, shall have the
         right, but not the obligation, for a period of 30 days, to purchase
         from the Company all, but not less than all, of the Unvested Shares
         for a purchase price in cash of $5.00 per share.  The Beneficiary or
         the Participant, as the case may be, shall inform the Company in
         writing prior to the expiration of such 30 day period of such
         Beneficiary's or Participant's intent to purchase the Unvested Shares.

                 (d)      COMPANY'S RIGHT TO PURCHASE UNVESTED SHARES.  Upon
         the Participant's termination of employment with the Company for any
         reason (other than by reason of a Change of Control) ("Termination"),
         the Company shall have the right (but not the obligation), in its sole
         and absolute discretion, to purchase from the Participant (or his
         estate or Beneficiary) all Unvested Shares hereunder on the terms and
         conditions set forth in this Paragraph 6(d); provided, however, that
         if the Participant or the Beneficiary purchases Unvested Shares from
         the Company pursuant to either Paragraph 6(b) or 6(c) hereof, then the
         Company shall have no right to purchase such Unvested Shares.  The
         Company's rights under this Paragraph 6(d) are assignable by the
         Company.  The Company's right of purchase under this Paragraph 6(d)
         will be exercisable on an all or nothing basis as to the Unvested
         Shares.  The Company (or its assignee) may exercise its right of
         purchase under this Paragraph 6(d) at any time not more than 45 days
         after the effective date of the Participant's Termination.  The
         Company (or its assignee) will exercise its right, if at all, by
         informing the Participant (or his estate or Beneficiary) in writing of
         the Company's (or its assignee's) intention to do so, in a notice that
         specifies a closing date that is no more than 60 days after the
         effective date of the Participant's Termination.  The Unvested Shares
         will be purchased at the Company's (or its assignee's) principal
         executive offices on that date.  The Company (or its assignee) will
         pay in cash, upon purchase, a price equal to $2.50 per share.  If the
         Company terminates the Participant's employment with the Company for
         Due Cause, or if the Participant voluntarily resigns from the Company
         (other than as a result of death or Disability) and the Company elects
         not to purchase the Unvested Shares pursuant to this Paragraph 6(d),
         then the Unvested Shares will be forfeited by the Participant to the
         Company without any payment of consideration by the Company to the
         Participant.  If the Company





                                      4
<PAGE>   5
         terminates the Participant's employment with the Company without Due
         Cause, or if the Participant's employment with the Company terminates
         due to death or Disability and the Company elects not to purchase the
         Unvested Shares pursuant to this Paragraph 6(d), then the Unvested
         Shares shall fully vest with the Participant without any payment of
         consideration by the Participant to the Company.

                 7.       BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS.  The Participant shall file
with the Corporate Secretary of the Company a designation of one or more
beneficiaries (each a "Beneficiary") to whom shares otherwise due the
Participant shall be distributed in the event of the death of the Participant
while in the employ of the Company.  The Participant shall have the right to
change the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries from time to time; provided, however,
that any change shall not become effective until received in writing by the
Secretary of the Company.  If any designated Beneficiary survives the
Participant but dies before receiving all of his benefits hereunder, any
remaining benefits due him shall be distributed to the deceased Beneficiary's
estate.  If there is no effective Beneficiary designation on file at the time
of the Participant's death, or if the designated Beneficiary or Beneficiaries
have all predeceased such Participant, the payment of any remaining benefits
shall be made to the Participant's estate.

                 8.       LIMITATION OF RIGHTS.  Nothing in this Agreement or
the Plan shall be construed to:

                 (a)      give the Participant any right to be awarded any
         further restricted stock other than in the sole discretion of the
         Committee;

                 (b)      give the Participant or any other person any interest
         in any fund or in any specified asset or assets of the Company or any
         Subsidiary; or

                 (c)      confer upon the Participant the right to continue in
         the employment or service of the Company or any Subsidiary, or affect
         the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment
         or service of the Participant at any time or for any reason.

                 9.       PREREQUISITES TO BENEFITS.  Neither the Participant,
nor any person claiming through the Participant, shall have any right or
interest in the Restricted Stock awarded hereunder, unless and until all the
terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement and the Plan which affect
the Participant or such other person shall have been complied with as specified
herein.

                 10.      RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER.  Subject to the limitations
and restrictions contained herein, the Participant (or Beneficiary) shall have
all rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock once
such shares have been registered in his name hereunder.

                 11.      SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  This Agreement shall bind
and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Participant, the Company
and their respective permitted successors and assigns (including personal
representatives, heirs and legatees), except that the Participant may not




                                      5
<PAGE>   6
assign any rights or obligations under this Agreement except to the extent and
in the manner expressly permitted herein.

                 12.      GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed by,
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.



  [The remainder of the page deliberately left blank; signature page follows.]




                                      6
<PAGE>   7
                 This Agreement is executed and delivered, in duplicate,
pursuant to the Plan, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by
reference.


                                     BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
              
              
              
                                     By: /s/ Sidney L. Tassin      
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                             Sidney L. Tassin
                                             On behalf of the Board of Directors
              
               

                                     PARTICIPANT
       


                                     /s/  James E. Brown
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                          James E. Brown






<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.32


================================================================================
                           SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                                  BY AND AMONG

                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                       AND

                                THE STOCKHOLDERS

                           THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO

                                OCTOBER 30, 1997


================================================================================




<PAGE>   2



                           SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                       BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                  This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
(this "Agreement"), dated as of October 30, 1997, is made by and among, Bayard
Drilling Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the
stockholders and employee option holders of the Company that are signatories
hereto (the "Stockholders").


                                   WITNESSETH:

                  WHEREAS, as of December 10, 1996, the Company and certain of
its stockholders entered into that certain Registration Rights Agreement (the
"Original Registration Rights Agreement"), pursuant to which the parties thereto
set forth certain agreements by and among the stockholders of the Company party
thereto and the Company with respect to certain registration rights regarding
shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"), of the
Company, owned by such stockholders of the Company; and

                  WHEREAS, as of April 30, 1997, the Company and certain of its
stockholders entered into that certain Amended and Restated Registration Rights
Agreement (as amended, the "First Amended and Restated Registration Rights
Agreement"), pursuant to which the parties thereto amended and restated the
Original Registration Rights Agreement in its entirety; and

                  WHEREAS, the Company and the other parties hereto desire to
amend and restate the First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
in its entirety;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the mutual benefits to be
gained by the performance thereof and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and accepted, the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                  SECTION 1.        Definitions.  As used herein, the following 
terms shall have the following meanings:

                  "AnSon Group" means the holders of 51% or more of the
         Registrable Shares owned of record by the group comprised of AnSon
         Partners Limited Partnership and Carl B.
         Anderson, III.

                  "Chesapeake" means Chesapeake Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma
         corporation.

        

        
<PAGE>   3

                  "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
     

                  "Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals 
         hereto.

                  "Common Stock Equivalent" means securities convertible into,
         or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of Common Stock, including
         without limitation (i) the Series B Warrant held by Energy Spectrum and
         (ii) any options granted by the Company to employees of the Company;
         but not including the Subordinated Notes.

                  "Company" has the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.

                  "Demand Registration" has the meaning set forth in Section 
         3(b) hereof.

                  "Demand Registration Request" has the meaning set forth in 
         Section 3(a) hereof.

                  "Demand Registration Request Initiator" has the meaning set 
         forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

                  "Distribution Registration Statement" has the meaning set 
         forth in the DLB Registration Rights Agreement.

                  "DLB Registration Rights Agreement" means that certain
         Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 15, 1997, by and
         among the Company, DLB Oil & Gas, Inc.
         and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation.

                  "Energy Spectrum" means Energy Spectrum Partners LP, a 
         Delaware limited partnership.

                  "Holdback Agreements" has the meaning set forth in Section 5 
         hereof.

                  "Indemnified Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 8(a)
         hereof.

                  "Initial Public Offering" means the initial underwritten
         public offering of shares of Common Stock registered under the
         Securities Act pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1
         (Commission File No. 333-34451) of the Company.

                  "IPO Date" means the date of effectiveness of the Initial 
         Public Offering.

                  "Issuer Indemnified Party" has the meaning set forth in 
         Section 8(c) hereof.

                  "Oliver Group" means the holders of 51% or more of the 
         Registrable Shares owned of record by the group comprised of R.T. 
         Oliver, R.T. Oliver Drilling, Inc., RR&T, Inc., Oliver Family Trust, 
         Mullen-Oliver Partnership, Ltd., Grupo de Hercules, Ltd., Mike Mullen
         Energy Equipment Resource, Inc. and Mike Mullen.




                                       2
<PAGE>   4
         

                  "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation,
         limited liability company, association, joint stock company, trust,
         joint venture, unincorporated organization or governmental entity or
         any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

                  "Piggyback Registration" has the meaning set forth in Section 
         4 hereof.

                  "Piggyback Registration Notice" has the meaning set forth in 
         Section 4 hereof.

                  "Registrable Shares" means at any time any shares of Common
         Stock owned by the Stockholders, whether acquired on the date hereof or
         hereafter acquired, including without limitation, any shares of Common
         Stock issuable upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of Common
         Stock Equivalents owned by the Stockholders; provided, however, that
         Registrable Shares shall not include any shares (i) the sale of which
         has been registered pursuant to a registration statement filed under
         the Securities Act which has been declared effective or (ii) which may
         be otherwise transferred without restriction (including volume
         restrictions) under Rule 144 or any similar successor rule or provision
         then in force.

                  "Registration Expenses" has the meaning set forth in Section 7
         hereof.

                  "Requesting Holders" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)
         hereof.

                  "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
         or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations
         promulgated thereunder, all as the same may be in effect from time to
         time.

                  "Securities Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of
         1934, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and
         regulations promulgated thereunder, all as the same may be in effect
         from time to time.

                  "Selling Holder" means a holder who is selling Registrable
         Shares which are registered pursuant to the Securities Act as
         contemplated by this Agreement.

                  "Selling Indemnified Party" has the meaning set forth in 
         Section 8(a) hereof.

                  "Series B Warrant" means that certain Series B Warrant,
         exercisable for 112,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of
         $7.50 per share, issued by the Company to Energy Spectrum as of April
         30, 1997.



                                       3
<PAGE>   5

                  "Share Value" means the average market price per share of
         Common Stock on the principal national securities exchange or quotation
         system on which the Common Stock is then traded or quoted for the ten
         day trading period ending on the day prior to the determination date.

                  "Stockholders" has the meaning set forth in the Preamble 
         hereto.

                  "Subordinated Notes" means that certain subordinated note of
         the Company, issued to Energy Spectrum, due May 1, 2003, in the
         original principal amount of $2,520,000, and any additional
         subordinated notes of the Company which are issued as interest thereon.

                  "Ward Group" means the holders of 51% or more of the 
         Registrable Shares owned of record by the group comprised of Ward 
         Drilling, Inc., L.O. Ward and Wil-Cas Investments.

                  SECTION 2. Effectiveness; Amended and Restated Agreement. This
Agreement shall become effective, and the First Amended and Restated
Registration Rights Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety as
set forth herein, upon the later of (i) the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Company and the stockholders of the Company who are parties to
the First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement and who hold more
than 50% of the Registrable Shares and (ii) the IPO Date.

                  SECTION 3.        Demand Registration.

                     (a)  Requests for Registration. Subject to the limitations 
         set forth in this Section 3, at any time Chesapeake, Energy Spectrum,
         the AnSon Group, the Oliver Group or the Ward Group may request the
         Company to register under the Securities Act, on the number of
         occasions specified in clause (iv) of Section 3(c), all or any part of
         the Registrable Shares held by Chesapeake, Energy Spectrum, the AnSon
         Group, the Oliver Group or the Ward Group, as applicable (a "Demand
         Registration Request"). Within 10 days of receipt by the Company of a
         Demand Registration Request, the Company shall give written notice of
         such request to all other holders of Registrable Shares. Such holders
         shall have the right to join the Demand Registration Request by
         delivery of written notice to the Company of such intention, which
         notice shall include the number of Registrable Shares that each such
         additional holder intends to have the Company register in response
         thereto. The Person or group of Persons making the Demand Registration
         Request shall be referred to herein as the "Demand Registration
         Request Initiator." All holders of Registrable Shares that participate
         in any such demand registration shall be referred to herein as
         "Requesting Holders."

                     (b)  Registration by the Company. Unless the Company
         has the right to refuse registration pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof,
         the Company shall file a registration 



                                       4
<PAGE>   6

         statement under the Securities Act covering the Registrable Shares
         which are the subject of any Demand Registration Request as soon as
         practicable after receipt by the Company of any such Demand
         Registration Request (each, a "Demand Registration"); provided,
         however, that if (i) in the good faith judgment of the Board of
         Directors of the Company, such registration would be seriously
         detrimental to the Company (or any proposed acquisition or disposition
         of assets or properties) and the Board of Directors of the Company
         concludes, as a result, that it is essential to defer the filing of
         such registration statement at such time, and (ii) the Company shall 
         furnish all Requesting Holders a certificate signed by the President
         of the Company stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board
         of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously detrimental to the
         Company for such registration statement to be filed in the near future
         and that it is, therefore, essential to defer the filing of such
         registration statement, then the Company shall have the right to defer
         such filing for the period during which such disclosure would be
         seriously detrimental; provided, however, that the Company may not
         defer the filing of a registration statement for a period of more than
         120 days after receipt of the Demand Registration Request of the
         Requesting Holders, and, provided further, that the Company shall not
         defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any twelve-month
         period and shall give written notice to the Requesting Holders
         immediately after the reason for deferring the filing of the
         registration statement has ceased to exist. The Company shall not be
         required to register any Registrable Shares during any period in which
         it has exercised its deferral right as aforesaid.

                     (c)  Demand Registration Limitations. The demand
         registration rights set forth in this Section 3 may be exercised only
         in accordance with the following limitations:

                          (i)   The holders of Registrable Shares shall have the
               right to exercise demand registration rights under this Section 3
               only after the 180th day after the IPO Date.

                          (ii)  The holders of Registrable Shares shall not have
               any right to exercise demand registration rights under this
               Section 3 at any time after the fifth anniversary of the IPO
               Date.

                          (iii) The Company shall not be required to make any 
               Demand Registrations pursuant to this Section 3 unless the
               aggregate Share Value of all Registrable Shares proposed to be
               registered in connection therewith shall equal or exceed $20
               million.

                          (iv)  Each of Chesapeake, Energy Spectrum, the AnSon
               Group, the Oliver Group and the Ward Group shall have the right
               to require the Company to file up to two Demand Registrations
               with the Commission; provided, however, 



                                       5
<PAGE>   7

               that the Company shall be required to effect not more than one
               Demand Registration for each of Chesapeake, Energy Spectrum, the
               AnSon Group, the Oliver Group and the Ward Group pursuant to this
               clause (iv) unless and until it is qualified to register the
               Registrable Shares on Form S-3 promulgated under the Securities
               Act.

                          (v)   Provided the Company is actively employing in 
               good faith all reasonable efforts to cause such registration
               statements to become effective, the Company shall not be required
               to make any Demand Registration pursuant to this Section 3 during
               the period ending 90 days after the effective date of any
               registration under the Securities Act by the Company of shares of
               Common Stock or other equity securities, other than in connection
               with an employee benefit plan, dividend reinvestment plan or
               merger, consolidation or other business combination.

                     (d)  Priority on Demand Registrations. The registration
               statement filed pursuant to the Demand Registration Request of
               the Requesting Holders may, subject to the limitations set forth
               below, include other securities of the Company, with respect to
               which registration rights have been granted, and may include
               securities of the Company being sold for the account of the
               Company. If a Demand Registration is an underwritten public
               offering and the managing underwriters advise the Company in
               writing that in their opinion the number of Registrable Shares
               and other securities requested to be included exceeds the number
               of Registrable Shares and other securities which can be sold in
               such offering, the Company shall include in such registration,
               prior to the inclusion of any securities to be sold by the
               Company or any other securities which are not Registrable Shares,
               (i) first the number of Registrable Shares requested to be
               included by the Demand Registration Request Initiator and (ii)
               second, the number of Registrable Shares requested to be
               included, pro rata among the Requesting Holders other than the
               Demand Registration Request Initiator on the basis of the number
               of Registrable Shares owned by such Requesting Holders.

                     (e)  Underwriters. The managing underwriter or underwriters
               for any Demand Registration shall be selected by the holders of a
               majority of the Registrable Shares to be included in such Demand
               Registration, which managing underwriter or underwriters shall be
               reasonably acceptable to the Company.

                  SECTION 4.        Piggyback Registration.

                     (a)  Right to Piggyback. If at any time the Company
               proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities
               Act with respect to any underwritten offering of any securities
               of the Company, other than (i) a registration statement on Form
               S-4 or S-8 (or any substitute form for comparable purposes that
               may be adopted by the Commission), (ii) a registration statement
               filed in connection with an exchange offer or 



                                       6
<PAGE>   8

               an offering of securities solely to the Company's existing
               security holders or (iii) the Distribution Registration
               Statement, the Company shall in each case give written notice (a
               "Piggyback Registration Notice") of such proposed filing of such
               registration statement (a "Piggyback Registration") to all
               holders of Registrable Shares as soon as practicable, but in no
               event less than 20 days before the anticipated filing date, and
               shall, subject to Section 4(b) hereof, include in such
               registration statement all Registrable Shares with respect to
               which the Company has received written requests for inclusion
               therein within 15 days after the Piggyback Registration Notice is
               received by all such holders.

                     (b)  Priority in Piggyback Registrations. If the
               managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their
               opinion the number of securities requested to be included in a
               registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such
               offering, the Company shall include in such registration (i)
               first, the securities of the Company proposed to be registered as
               described in the Piggyback Registration Notice and (ii) second,
               the Registrable Shares and other securities requested to be
               included in such registration, pro rata among the holders of all
               such Registrable Shares and other securities requested to be
               included on the basis of the then number of Registrable Shares
               and other securities requested to be included by each such
               holder.

                     (c)  Right to Withdraw. Notwithstanding anything to the
               contrary, neither the delivery of a Piggyback Registration Notice
               by the Company nor of the request by the holder of the
               Registrable Shares shall in any way obligate the Company to file,
               or the holder of the Registrable Shares to have such shares
               included in, a registration statement under this Section 4 and
               notwithstanding such filing, the Company may, at any time prior
               to the effective date thereof, in its sole discretion, determine
               not to offer the securities to which the registration statement
               relates without liability to any of the holders of the
               Registrable Shares, and any holder may determine not to include
               its Registrable Shares therein without liability.

                     (d)  Selection of Underwriters. The managing underwriter or
               underwriters for any Piggyback Registration shall be selected by
               the Company, by action of the Board of Directors.

                  SECTION 5. Holdback Agreements. In the event that Registrable
Shares are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 3 or 4 hereof, the
holders of any such Registrable Shares shall enter into such agreements,
including underwriting agreements and lock-up agreements, as the managing
underwriter of any underwritten public offering registered under the Securities
Act shall reasonably request (collectively, "Holdback Agreements"); provided,
however, that (i) with respect to an initial public offering of shares of Common
Stock, such Holdback Agreements shall not exceed a period of 14 calendar days
prior to, and 180 calendar days after, the effective date of such registration,
and (ii) with respect to any subsequent registrations, such Holdback Agreements
shall not exceed a period of 14 calendar days prior to, and 120 calendar 



                                       7
<PAGE>   9

days after, the effective date of such registration.

                  SECTION 6. Registration Procedures. Whenever the holders of
Registrable Shares have requested that any Registrable Shares be registered
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect the
registration and the sale of such Registrable Shares in accordance with the
intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall
as expeditiously as possible:

                     (a)  prepare and file with the Commission a registration 
          statement with respect to such Registrable Shares and use its best
          efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain
          effective for such period as may be reasonably necessary to effect the
          sale of such securities, in any case not to exceed six months;

                     (b)  prepare and file with the Commission such amendments 
          and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used
          in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration
          statement effective for a period of not more than six months and
          comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the
          disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement
          during such period in accordance with the intended methods of
          disposition by the Selling Holders set forth in such registration
          statement;

                     (c)  furnish, without charge, to each Selling Holder and
          the underwriters of the securities being registered such number of
          copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement
          thereto, in each case including all exhibits, the prospectus included
          in such registration statement, including each preliminary prospectus,
          and such other documents as each such Selling Holder or underwriters
          may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
          Registrable Shares owned by each such Selling Holder or the sale of
          such securities by such underwriters;

                     (d)  use its best efforts to register or qualify such
         Registrable Shares under the securities or blue sky laws of such
         jurisdictions as each Selling Holder shall reasonably request and do
         any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or
         advisable to enable each such Selling Holder to consummate the
         disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Shares owned by
         such Selling Holder, provided, however, that the Company shall not be
         required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction
         where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this
         Section 6(d), (ii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction
         or (iii) consent to general service of process in any such
         jurisdiction;

                     (e)  (i) cause all such Registrable Shares covered by
         such registration statement to be listed on the principal securities
         exchange on which shares of Common Stock are then listed, if any, if
         the listing of such Registrable Shares is then permitted under 




                                       8
<PAGE>   10

          the rules of such exchange, or (ii) if shares of Common Stock are not
          then so listed, cause all such Registrable Shares to be listed on a
          national securities exchange or, failing that, secure designation of
          all such Registrable Shares as a Nasdaq Stock Market "national market
          system security" within the meaning of Rule 1lAa2-1 of the Commission
          or, failing that, secure Nasdaq Stock Market authorization for such
          shares and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, take all
          actions that may be required by the Company as the issuer of such
          Registrable Shares in order to facilitate the managing underwriter's
          arranging for the registration of at least two market makers as such
          with respect to such shares with the National Association of
          Securities Dealers, Inc.;

                     (f) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent
          and registrar for all such Registrable Shares not later than the
          effective date of such registration statement;

                     (g) enter into such customary agreements, including
          underwriting agreements in customary form, and take all such other
          actions as the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to
          expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Shares;

                     (h) upon receipt of such confidentiality agreements as the
          Company may reasonably request, make reasonably available for
          inspection by the Selling Holders, any underwriter participating in
          any disposition pursuant to such registration statement, and any
          attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such Selling
          Holders or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent
          corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause the
          Company's officers, directors, employees and independent accountants
          to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Selling
          Holder, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with
          such registration statement;

                     (i) promptly notify each Selling Holder, (i) of the time
          when the registration statement, any pre-effective amendment, the
          prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto or
          post-effective amendment to the registration statement has been filed
          and, with respect to the registration statement or any post-effective
          amendment, when the same has become effective and (ii) of the receipt
          by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of
          the qualification of any Registrable Shares for sale under the
          securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation of
          any proceeding for such purpose;

                     (j) notify each Selling Holder of any requests by the
          Commission for the amending or supplementing of such registration
          statement or prospectus or for additional information;





                                       9
<PAGE>   11

                     (k) prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon
          the request of any Selling Holder, any amendments or supplements to
          such registration statement or prospectus which, in the opinion of
          counsel selected by the holders of a majority of the Registrable
          Shares being registered, is required under the Securities Act or the
          rules and regulations thereunder in connection with the distribution
          of Registrable Shares by such Selling Holder;

                     (l) prepare and promptly file with the Commission, and 
          promptly notify each Selling Holder of the filing of, such amendments
          or supplements to such registration statement or prospectus as may be
          necessary to correct any statements or omissions if, at the time when
          a prospectus relating to such securities is required to be delivered
          under the Securities Act, any event shall have occurred as the result
          of which any such prospectus as then in effect would include an untrue
          statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
          necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
          circumstances in which they were made, not misleading;

                     (m) advise each Selling Holder, promptly after the Company 
          shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of
          any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such
          registration statement or the initiation or threatening of any
          proceeding for such purpose and promptly use all reasonable efforts to
          prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if
          such stop order should be issued;

                     (n) provide notice within a reasonable amount of time
          prior to the filing of any registration statement or prospectus of any
          amendment or supplement to such registration statement or prospectus,
          furnish a copy thereof to each Selling Holder and refrain from filing
          any such registration statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement
          to which counsel selected by the holders of a majority of the
          Registrable Shares being registered shall have reasonably objected on
          the grounds that such amendment or supplement does not comply in all
          material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the
          rules and regulations thereunder, unless, in the case of an amendment
          or supplement, the Company reasonably believes the filing of such
          amendment or supplement is reasonably necessary to protect the Company
          from any liabilities under any applicable federal or state law;

                     (o) at the request of any Selling Holder in connection
          with an underwritten offering, furnish on the date or dates provided
          for in the underwriting agreement: (i) an opinion of counsel,
          addressed to the underwriters and the Selling Holders, covering such
          matters as such underwriters may reasonably request, including,
          without limiting the generality of the foregoing, opinions to the
          effect that (A) such registration statement has become effective under
          the Securities Act; (B) to the best of such counsel's knowledge no
          stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof has been issued and no
          proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or
          contemplated under the Securities Act; (C) the registration statement,
          the prospectus, and each amendment 



                                       10
<PAGE>   12

          or supplement thereto comply as to form in all material respects with
          the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
          regulations of the Commission thereunder, except that such counsel
          need express no opinion as to financial statements or other financial
          or statistical data contained therein; and (ii) a "cold comfort"
          letter or letters from the independent certified public accountants of
          the Company addressed to the underwriters and the Selling Holders,
          covering such matters as such underwriters may reasonably request, in
          which letters such accountants shall state, without limiting the
          generality of the foregoing, that they are independent certified
          public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and that
          in the opinion of such accountants the financial statements and other
          financial data of the Company included in the registration statement,
          the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto comply in all
          material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
          Securities Act;

                     (p) deliver promptly to each Selling Holder and each
          underwriter, if any, copies of all correspondence between the
          Commission and the Company, its counsel or auditors and all memoranda
          relating to discussions with the Commission or its staff with respect
          to the registration statement, other than those portions of any such
          correspondence and memoranda which contain information subject to
          attorney-client privilege with respect to the Company;

                     (q) provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Shares, not
          later than the effective date of the registration statement;

                     (r) make reasonably available its employees and personnel 
          and otherwise provide reasonable assistance to the underwriters,
          taking into account the needs of the Company's business and the
          requirements of the marketing process, in the marketing of Registrable
          Shares in any underwritten offering;

                     (s) promptly prior to the filing of any document which is
          to be incorporated by reference into the registration statement or the
          prospectus, after the initial filing of such registration statement,
          provide copies of such document to counsel to the Selling Holders of
          Registrable Shares and to the managing underwriter, if any, and make
          the Company's representatives reasonably available for discussion of
          such document and make such changes in such document prior to the
          filing thereof as counsel for such Selling Holders or underwriters may
          reasonably request;

                     (t) furnish to each Selling Holder and the managing 
          underwriter, without charge, at least one signed copy of the
          registration statement and any post-effective amendments thereto,
          including financial statements and schedules, all documents
          incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits, including those
          incorporated by reference;






                                       11
<PAGE>   13

                     (u) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
          Commission, and make generally available to its security holders, as
          soon as reasonably practicable after the effective date of the
          registration statement, and in any event within 16 months thereafter,
          an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the period
          of at least 12 consecutive months beginning with the first day of the
          Company's first calendar quarter after the effective date of the
          registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the
          provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158
          thereunder; and

                     (v) take all such other commercially reasonable actions as 
          are necessary or advisable in order to expedite or facilitate the
          disposition of such Registrable Shares.

                  SECTION 7. Registration Expenses. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, all expenses incident to the Company's performance of
or compliance with this Agreement, including without limitation, all
registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or
blue sky laws, including a blue sky survey and the related fees and expenses of
counsel, printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, and fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and its independent certified public
accountants, fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Selling Holders,
selected by the Selling Holder initiating a registration under Section 3 hereof
and selected by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Shares included in
a registration under Section 4 hereof, and other Persons (including experts)
retained by the Company, and all other fees and disbursements of underwriters
customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities (all such expenses being
herein called "Registration Expenses"), shall be borne by the Company. In
addition, the Company shall pay its internal expenses, including without
limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing
legal or accounting duties, the expense of any annual audit or quarterly review,
the expense of any liability insurance obtained by the Company and the expenses
and fees for listing the securities so registered on each securities exchange on
which any shares of common stock are then listed or on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Registration Expenses shall not include (a) the fees and expenses of more than
one counsel for the Selling Holders, or (b) any underwriting discounts,
commissions or similar charges attributable to the sale of Registrable Shares
included in such registration.

                  SECTION 8.        Indemnification and Contribution.

                     (a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall
         indemnify and hold harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law each
         Selling Holder, its officers, directors, fiduciaries, stockholders,
         partners (and the directors, officers, employees and stockholders
         thereof) and agents and each person, if any, who controls such Selling
         Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
         Securities Exchange Act (collectively, the "Selling Indemnified
         Parties" and, individually, a "Selling Indemnified Party"), from and
         against any and all losses, claims, damages, whether in contract, tort
         or otherwise, liabilities, expenses, actions and proceedings, whether
         commenced or threatened, in respect thereof, including reasonable costs
         of investigation, counsel fees and amounts paid in settlement,
         whatsoever (as incurred or suffered) arising out of or based 




                                       12
<PAGE>   14

          upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
          fact contained in any registration statement or preliminary, final or
          summary prospectus relating to the Registrable Shares or in any
          amendment or supplement thereto, or arising out of or based upon any
          omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
          to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
          misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
          liabilities or expenses arise out of, or are based upon, any such
          untrue statement or omission or allegation thereof based upon
          information furnished in writing to the Company by such Selling Holder
          or on such Selling Holder's behalf expressly for use therein. The
          Company shall also indemnify any underwriters of the Registrable
          Shares, their officers, partners and directors and each person who
          controls such underwriters on substantially the same basis as that of
          the indemnification of the Selling Indemnified Parties provided in
          this Section 8 or to provide such other indemnification customarily
          obtained by underwriters at the time of offering.

                     (b) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any action
          or proceeding, including any governmental investigation, shall be
          brought or asserted against any Selling Indemnified Party in respect
          of which indemnity may be sought from the Company, the Company shall,
          at its expense, assume the defense thereof, including the employment
          of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Selling Indemnified Party.
          Such Selling Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate
          counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense thereof,
          but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
          such Selling Indemnified Party unless (i) the Company has agreed to
          pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the Company fails to diligently
          defend the action or proceeding within 20 days after receiving notice
          from the Selling Indemnified Party that the Selling Indemnified Party
          believes the Company has so failed or (iii) the named parties to any
          such action or proceeding, including any impleaded parties, include
          both such Selling Indemnified Party and the Company, and such Selling
          Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that there may be
          a conflict of interest between any of the parties, or that
          representation of the Selling Indemnified Party and the Company is
          otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of professional
          conduct, or one or more legal defenses are available to such Selling
          Indemnified Party which are different from or additional to those
          available to the Company; in which case, if such Selling Indemnified
          Party notifies the Company in writing that it elects to employ
          separate counsel at the expense of the Company, the Company shall not
          have the right to assume the defense of such action or proceeding on
          behalf of such Selling Indemnified Party; it being understood,
          however, that the Company shall not, in connection with any one such
          action or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related
          actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the
          same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and
          expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (together with
          appropriate local counsel) at any time for all such Selling
          Indemnified Parties, which firm shall be designated in writing by a
          majority of the Selling Indemnified Parties. The Company shall not be
          liable for any settlement of any such action or proceeding effected



                                       13
<PAGE>   15

          without the Company's written consent, but if settled with its written
          consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed,
          or if there be a final judgment no longer subject to appeal for the
          plaintiff in any such action or proceeding, the Company agrees to
          indemnify and hold harmless such Selling Indemnified Parties from and
          against any loss or liability (to the extent stated above) by reason
          of such settlement or judgment.

                     (c) Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Shares.
          Each Selling Holder shall severally, but not jointly, indemnify and
          hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, fiduciaries,
          stockholders and agents and each person, if any, who controls the
          Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act or Section
          20 of the Securities Exchange Act (collectively, the "Issuer
          Indemnified Parties" and, individually, an "Issuer Indemnified Party"
          and, together with a Selling Indemnified Party an "Indemnified
          Party"), to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the
          Company to such Selling Holder, but only with respect to information
          furnished in writing by such Selling Holder or on such Selling
          Holder's behalf expressly for use in any registration statement or
          prospectus relating to the Registrable Shares, or any amendment or
          supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus; provided, however,
          that to the extent that this indemnity arises from any untrue
          statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
          contained in any registration statement or in any prospectus relating
          to the Registrable Shares or in any amendment or supplement thereto,
          the liability of each Selling Holder shall be limited to the amount of
          the net proceeds received by such Selling Holder from the offering. In
          case any action or proceeding shall be brought against an Issuer
          Indemnified Party, in respect of which indemnity may be sought against
          such Selling Holder, such Selling Holder shall have the rights and
          duties given to the Company, and the Issuer Indemnified Parties shall
          have the rights and duties given to such Selling Holder, by the
          preceding Section 8(b) hereof. Each Selling Holder shall also
          severally, but not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless underwriters
          of the Registrable Shares, their officers, directors, fiduciaries,
          stockholders and agents and each person who controls such underwriters
          on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the
          Company provided in this Section 8.

                     (d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in
          this Section 8 is unavailable to any Indemnified Party in respect of
          any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses, actions or
          proceedings referred to herein, then each such indemnifying party, in
          lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the
          amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such
          losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses, actions and
          proceedings (i) as between the Issuer Indemnified Parties and the
          Selling Indemnified Parties on the one hand and the underwriters on
          the other, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
          relative benefits received by the Issuer Indemnified Parties and the
          Selling Indemnified Parties on the one hand and the underwriters on
          the other from the offering of the Registrable Shares, or if such
          allocation is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as
          is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the
          rela tive fault of the Issuer Indemnified Parties and the Selling
          Indemnified Parties on the one hand and of the underwriters on the
          other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
          such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses actions or
          proceedings, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations
          and (ii) as between the Issuer Indemnified Parties, on the one hand,
          and each Selling Indemnified Party on the other, in such proportion as
          is 



                                       14
<PAGE>   16
          appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Issuer Indemnified
          Parties and of each Selling Indemnified Party in connection with such
          statements or omissions, as well as any other relevant equitable
          considerations. The relative benefits received by the Issuer
          Indemnified Parties and the Selling Indemnified Parties on the one
          hand and the underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the
          same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering, net of
          underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses,
          received by the Issuer Indemnified Parties and the Selling Indemnified
          Parties bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions
          received by the underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table
          on the cover page of the prospectus. The relative fault of the Issuer
          Indemnified Parties and the Selling Indemnified Parties on the one
          hand and of the underwriters on the other shall be determined by
          reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
          statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to
          state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Issuer
          Indemnified Parties and the Selling Indemnified Parties or by the
          underwriters. The relative fault of the Issuer Indemnified Parties on
          the one hand and of each Selling Indemnified Party on the other shall
          be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue
          or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
          alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
          supplied by such party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
          access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
          statement or omission.

                           The Company and the Selling Holders hereby agree that
         it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
         Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata allocation, even if the
         underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose, or by any
         other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
         considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The
         amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the
         losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses, actions or proceedings
         referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to
         include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other
         expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection
         with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
         Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), no underwriter
         shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
         which the total price at which the Registrable Shares underwritten by
         it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the
         amount of any damages which such underwriter has otherwise been
         required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
         omission or alleged omission, and no Selling Holder shall be required
         to contribute any amount in 




                                       15
<PAGE>   17


          excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable
          Shares of such Selling Holder were offered to the public exceeds the
          amount of any damages which such Selling Holder has otherwise been
          required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement
          or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent
          misrepresentation, within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
          Securities Act, shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who
          was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Each Selling
          Holder's obligation to contribute is several in the proportion that
          the proceeds of the offering received by such Selling Holder bears to
          the total proceeds of the offering, and not joint.

                     (e) Settlement or Compromise. No indemnifying party shall
          without the written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect the
          settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment
          with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect
          of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder,
          whether or not the Indemnified Party is an actual or potential party
          to such action or claim, unless such settlement, compromise or
          judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the Indemnified
          Party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii)
          does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
          culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any Indemnified
          Party.

                     (f) Rights not Exclusive. The indemnity agreements 
          contained in this Section 8 shall be in addition to any other rights
          to indemnification or contribution which any Indemnified Party may
          have pursuant to law or contract and shall remain operative and in
          full force and effect regardless of any investigation made or omitted
          by or on behalf of any indemnified party and shall survive the
          transfer of the Registrable Shares by any such party.

                  SECTION 9.      Compliance with Rule 144. When it is first 
legally required to do so, the Company shall register a class of securities
under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act, and commence to file reports
under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act. Thereafter at the
request of any holder who proposes to sell securities in compliance with Rule
144 promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act, the Company shall
(i) forthwith furnish to such holder a written statement of compliance with the
filing requirements of the Commission as set forth in Rule 144 as such rule may
be amended from time to time and (ii) timely file and make available to the
public and such holders such reports and other information as will enable the
holders to make sales pursuant to Rule 144.

                  SECTION 10.      Participation in Underwritten Registrations.
No Person may participate in any registration hereunder which is underwritten
unless such Person (a) agrees to sell such Person's securities on the basis
provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons
entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements, (b) provides all such
information as is reasonably required to effect such registration and completes
and executes all undertakings, questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other



                                       16

<PAGE>   18

documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements
or applicable laws, and (c) complies with all other reasonable requests of the
managing underwriter and with the Company and complies with all other reasonable
requests related to such registration.

                  SECTION 11.      Remedies. Any Person having rights under any
provision of this Agreement will be entitled to enforce such rights
specifically, to recover damages caused by reason of any breach of any provision
of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by law.

                  SECTION 12.      Amendments and Waivers. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement may be amended or
waived at any time only by the written agreement of the Company and the holders
of a majority of the Registrable Shares. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval
of any kind or character on the part of any such holders of any provision or
condition of this Agreement must be made in writing and shall be effective only
to the extent specifically set forth in writing.

                  SECTION 13.      Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this
Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto will bind and inure to
the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto,
whether so expressed or not.

                  SECTION 14.      Final Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes
the final agreement of the parties hereto concerning the matters referred to
herein, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings with respect to
the subject matter hereof.

                  SECTION 15. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of
this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid
under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be
prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision will be
ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without
invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.

                  SECTION 16.      Descriptive Headings.  The descriptive 
headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and do
not constitute a part of and shall not be utilized in interpreting this
Agreement.

                  SECTION 17.      Notices. Any notices required or permitted to
be sent hereunder shall be delivered by hand, by telex or telecopier, or by
certified or registered mail, postage prepaid and return receipt requested, or
delivered by overnight courier service to the following addresses, or such other
addresses as shall be given by notice delivered hereunder. Notices shall be
deemed to have been given upon delivery, if delivered by hand, three business
days after mailing, if mailed, or one business day after delivery to the
courier, if delivered by overnight courier service, and upon receipt of an
appropriate electronic confirmation, if by telex or telecopier:






                                       17
<PAGE>   19

                  If to the holders of Registrable Shares, to the addresses set
forth on the stock record books of the Company.

                           If to the Company, to:

                           Bayard Drilling Technologies, Inc.
                           4005 Northwest Expressway
                           Suite 550E
                           Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73116
                           Telecopy: (405) 840-9553
                           Attention:  President


                  SECTION 18.      Governing Law.  The validity, meaning and 
effect of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the
State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in that
state.

                  SECTION 19.      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered
shall be deemed an original, and such counterparts together shall constitute one
instrument. Each party shall receive a duplicate original of the counterpart
copy or copies executed by it and the Company.




                                       18
<PAGE>   20


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this
Agreement as of the date first above written.


                                  THE COMPANY:

                                  BAYARD DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                                  By: /s/  James E. Brown
                                      ------------------------------
                                           James E. Brown
                                           President


                                  THE STOCKHOLDERS:

                                  ANSON PARTNERS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP



                                  By: /s/  Carl B. Anderson, III
                                     -------------------------------
                                  Name:    Carl B. Anderson, III
                                       -----------------------------
                                  Title:   General Partner
                                        ----------------------------
  

                                  /s/ Carl B. Anderson, III
                                      Carl B. Anderson, III


                                  ENERGY SPECTRUM PARTNERS LP

                                  By:    Energy Spectrum Capital LP, its General
                                         Partner

                                  By:    Energy Spectrum LLC, its General
                                         Partner



                                  By: /s/  Sidney L. Tassin
                                     -------------------------------
                                  Name:    Sidney L. Tassin
                                       -----------------------------
                                  Title:   President        
                                        ----------------------------

<PAGE>   21



                                  MIKE MULLEN ENERGY EQUIPMENT
                                      RESOURCE, INC.



                                  By: /s/ Mike Mullen
                                     -------------------------------
                                  Name:   Mike Mullen
                                       -----------------------------
                                  Title:  President
                                        ----------------------------


                                  GRUPO DE HERCULES, LTD.

                                  By:  Mullen-Oliver Rig Investments Group, Inc.
                                       General Partner



                                  By: /s/ Mike Mullen
                                     -------------------------------
                                  Name:   Mike Mullen
                                       -----------------------------
                                  Title:  President
                                        ----------------------------


                                  MULLEN-OLIVER PARTNERSHIP, LTD.

                                  By:  Mullen-Oliver Rig Investments Group, Inc.
                                       General Partner



                                  By: /s/ Mike Mullen
                                     -------------------------------
                                  Name:   Mike Mullen
                                       -----------------------------
                                  Title:  President
                                        ----------------------------


                                  RR & T, INC.


                                  By: /s/ Roy T. Oliver
                                     -------------------------------
                                  Name:   Roy T. Oliver
                                       -----------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------





<PAGE>   22



                                  R.T. OLIVER DRILLING, INC.


                                  By:    /s/ Roy T. Oliver
                                     -------------------------------
                                  Name:      Roy T. Oliver
                                       -----------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------


                                  /s/  Roy T. Oliver
                                  ----------------------------------
                                       Roy T. Oliver



                                  /s/  Mike Mullen
                                  ----------------------------------
                                       Mike Mullen


                                  OLIVER FAMILY TRUST

                                  By:    /s/ Roy T. Oliver
                                     -------------------------------
                                  Name:      Roy T. Oliver
                                       -----------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------



                                  CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION


                                  By:    /s/ Aubrey K. McClenden
                                     -------------------------------
                                  Name:      Aubrey K. McClenden
                                       -----------------------------
                                  Title:
                                        ----------------------------


                                  WARD DRILLING COMPANY, INC.


                                  By:    /s/ Richard R. Tozzi
                                     -------------------------------
                                  Name:      Richard R. Tozzi
                                       -----------------------------
                                  Title:     Vice President
                                        ----------------------------






<PAGE>   23


                          WIL-CAS INVESTMENTS, L.P.


                          By:  Richard R. Tozzi
                             -------------------------------
                             General Partner



                          By:    /s/Richard Tozzi
                             -------------------------------
                          Name:  Richard R. Tozzi
                          ----------------------------------
                          Title: Executive Vice President, General Partner
                                 -------------------------------------------

                          /s/  Lew O. Ward
                          ----------------------------------
                               Lew O. Ward

                                   

                          HAROLD G. HAMM REVOCABLE INTER
                            VIVOS TRUST DATED APRIL 23, 1984


                          By:  /s/Harold G. Hamm
                              ------------------------------
                          Name: Harold G. Hamm
                               -----------------------------
                          Title: Trustee
                                ----------------------------


                          EMPLOYEE OPTION HOLDERS:



                          /s/  James E. Brown
                          ----------------------------------
                               James E. Brown



                          /s/  Edward S. Jacob
                          ----------------------------------
                               Edward S. Jacob



                          /s/  David E. Grose
                          ----------------------------------
                               David E. Grose



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