PARKER DRILLING CO /DE/
10-Q, 1997-06-27
DRILLING OIL & GAS WELLS
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<PAGE>   1
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                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------
                                   FORM 10-Q
                             ---------------------
 (Mark One)
    /X/     QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
            SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                  FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MAY 31, 1997

                                       OR

    / /     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
            SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

    FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                     TO
                                   -------------------    -------------------


                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-7573
                             ----------------------

                            PARKER DRILLING COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                                        73-0618660
- -------------------------------           ------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

       Parker Building, Eight East Third Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma  74103
       -----------------------------------------------------------------
       (Address of principal executive offices)              (zip code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code (918) 585-8221
       ------------------------------------------------------------------

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No

     As of May 31, 1997, 76,668,155 common shares were outstanding.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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<PAGE>   2


                            PARKER DRILLING COMPANY

                                     INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Part I.  Financial Information                                                                             Page No.
<S>                                                                                                        <C>
         Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited) -
           May 31, 1997 and August 31, 1996                                                                    2

         Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited) -
           Three and Nine Months Ended May 31, 1997 and
           May 31, 1996                                                                                        3

         Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) -
           Nine Months Ended May 31, 1997 and May 31, 1996                                                     4

         Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed
           Financial Statements                                                                              6 - 7

         Report of Independent Accountants                                                                     8

         Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
           Condition and Results of Operations                                                               9 - 13


Part II.  Other Information

         Item 6, Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                                             15

         Signatures                                                                                           16

         Exhibit 15, Letter Re Unaudited Interim                                                              17
          Financial Information

         Exhibit 27, Financial Data Schedule (EDGAR version only)


</TABLE>



<PAGE>   3




                         PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                    PARKER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                             (Dollars in Thousands)
                                  (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     May 31,     August 31,
                                                      1997          1996
                              ASSETS              -----------    ----------
                              ------
<S>                                                 <C>            <C>
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                         $ 88,798       $ 61,738
  Other short-term investments                         2,877         16,247
  Accounts and notes receivable                       81,005         33,675
  Rig materials and supplies                          16,050         10,735
  Other current assets                                14,161          3,653
                                                    --------       --------
      Total current assets                           202,891        126,048

Property, plant and equipment less accumulated 
  depreciation, depletion and amortization of 
  $372,530 at May 31, 1997, and $351,714
  at August 31, 1996                                 405,407        124,177

Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization
  of $2,616                                          143,454            -

Other noncurrent assets                               43,849         25,734
                                                    --------       --------
      Total assets                                  $795,601       $275,959
                                                    ========       ========

                     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                     ------------------------------------

Current liabilities:
  Current portion of long-term debt                 $ 18,084       $    584
  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities            41,255         16,326
  Accrued income taxes                                 5,850          6,217
                                                    --------       --------
      Total current liabilities                       65,189         23,127
                                                    --------       --------

Long-term debt                                       379,565          2,794
                                                    --------       --------
Other long-term liabilities                            9,880          5,990
                                                    --------       --------
Common stock, $.16 2/3 par value                      12,778         10,888
Capital in excess of par value                       340,284        254,955
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)              (11,626)       (20,338)
Other                                                   (469)        (1,457)
                                                    --------       --------
     Total stockholders' equity                      340,967        244,048
                                                    --------       --------

      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity    $795,601       $275,959
                                                    ========       ========
</TABLE>

     See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.



                                     - 2 -

<PAGE>   4




                    PARKER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                (Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)
                                  (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended

                                 May 31,     May 31,    May 31,    May 31,
                                  1997        1996       1997       1996
                                --------    -------    --------   --------
<S>                             <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
Revenues:
  Land drilling                 $49,419     $33,986    $132,193   $112,266
  Offshore drilling              32,779         -        64,279        -
  Tool rental                     9,116         -        17,916        -
  Other                             639       1,012       1,805      3,371
                                -------     -------    --------   --------
Total revenues                   91,953      34,998     216,193    115,637
                                -------     -------    --------   --------
Operating expenses:
  Land drilling                  32,110      23,000      90,434     76,987
  Offshore drilling              19,233         -        38,883        -
  Tool rental                     2,957         -         4,982        -
  Other                           1,380       1,216       3,797      4,036
  Depreciation, depletion and
    amortization                 13,262       5,733      32,874     17,339
  General and administrative      4,673       5,460      14,055     15,194
                                -------     -------    --------   --------
Total operating expenses         73,615      35,409     185,025    113,556
                                -------     -------    --------   --------
Operating income (loss)          18,338        (411)     31,168      2,081

Other income and (expense):
  Interest expense               (9,930)        (34)    (22,037)       (87)
  Interest income                 1,101         312       3,118      1,011
  Other income (expense) - net     (334)      1,233       1,753      3,108
                                -------     -------    --------   --------
Total other income and (expense) (9,163)      1,511     (17,166)     4,032
                                -------     -------    --------   --------
Income before income taxes        9,175       1,100      14,002      6,113
                                -------     -------    --------   --------
Income tax expense                3,278         790       5,290      3,565
                                -------     -------    --------   --------
Net income                      $ 5,897     $   310    $  8,712   $  2,548
                                -------     -------    --------   --------

Earnings per share,
  primary and fully diluted     $   .08     $   .01    $    .12   $    .05
                                =======     =======    ========   ========
Number of common shares used 
  in computing earnings per 
  share:

   Primary                   73,988,916  56,251,437  69,678,303  56,014,726
                             ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

   Fully diluted             74,057,455  56,290,118  69,779,690  56,219,680
                             ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
</TABLE>




     See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.


                                     - 3 -

<PAGE>   5






                    PARKER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents
                             (Dollars in Thousands)
                                  (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         Nine Months Ended
                                                        May 31,     May 31,
                                                         1997        1996
                                                       --------     -------
<S>                                                    <C>          <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                                           $  8,712     $ 2,548
  Adjustments to reconcile net income
    to net cash provided by operating activities:
      Depreciation, depletion and amortization           32,874      17,339
      Expenses not requiring cash                         2,910         108
      Change in operating assets and liabilities        (37,189)     (3,678)
      Other-net                                          (1,792)     (2,587)
                                                       --------     ------- 
    Net cash provided by (used in) operating
      activities                                          5,515      13,730
                                                       --------     ------- 
Cash flows from investing activities:
  Capital expenditures                                  (60,199)    (26,359)
  Acquisition of Mallard, net of cash acquired         (311,837)        -
  Acquisition of Quail                                  (66,888)        -
  Proceeds from the sale of equipment                    10,418       5,377
  Decrease (increase) in short-term
   investments                                           13,370      (2,696)
  Other-net                                              (5,475)     (1,136)
                                                       --------     ------- 
    Net cash provided (used) by investing
      activities                                       (420,611)    (24,814)
                                                       --------     -------
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Proceeds from issuance of debt                        387,274         -
  Principal payments under debt obligations              (6,702)       (285)
  Proceeds from common stock offering                    61,477         -
  Proceeds from exercise of stock warrants                  -         1,552
  Other                                                     107         (81)
                                                       --------     ------- 
    Net cash provided by financing
      activities                                        442,156       1,186
                                                       --------     ------- 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents                  27,060      (9,898)

Cash and cash equivalents at
  beginning of period                                    61,738      20,752
                                                       --------     ------- 
Cash and cash equivalents at
  end of period                                         $88,798     $10,854
                                                       ========     ======= 
</TABLE>





                                     - 4 -

<PAGE>   6




                    PARKER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
          CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
                Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents
                             (Dollars in Thousands)
                                  (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>         <C>
Supplemental cash flow information:
  Interest paid                                        $ 19,822    $    120
  Taxes paid                                           $  6,076    $  2,556

<CAPTION>
  Business acquisitions in November 1996:               Mallard      Quail
                                                        -------      -----
<S>                                                    <C>         <C>      
  Working capital, net of cash acquired                $  8,168    $   (765)
  Property, plant and equipment                         232,039      24,099
  Purchase price in excess of net assets
   acquired                                             102,516      43,554
  Other assets                                            1,853         -
  Noncurrent liabilities                                 (7,739)        -
  Preferred stock issued                                (25,000)        -
                                                       --------    --------
    Net cash used in acquisitions                      $311,837    $ 66,888
                                                       --------    --------
Supplemental noncash financing activity:
  In November 1996, the Company issued $25,000,000 of preferred stock,
  subsequently converted to common stock in December 1996, as a part of the
  acquisition of Mallard. (See Note 3.)

</TABLE>




     See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.


                                     - 5 -

<PAGE>   7




                   PARKER DRILLING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

        NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.    In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited consolidated
      condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments (of a normally
      recurring nature) which are necessary for a fair presentation of (1) the
      financial position as of May 31, 1997 and August 31, 1996, (2) the results
      of operations for the three and nine months ended May 31, 1997 and May 31,
      1996, and (3) cash flows for the nine months ended May 31, 1997 and May
      31, 1996.  Results for the nine months ended May 31, 1997, are not
      necessarily indicative of the results which will be realized for the year
      ending August 31, 1997.  The year-end consolidated condensed balance sheet
      data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include
      all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles.  The
      financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's Form
      10-K for the year ended August 31, 1996.

2.    Earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income by the
      weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period
      including the effect of dilutive options when applicable.  Common shares,
      subject to vesting, granted under the 1969 Key Employee Stock Grant Plan,
      1980 Incentive Career Stock Plan and the 1991 Stock Grant Plan are issued
      and outstanding and are only considered in the computation of weighted
      average shares outstanding when their effect on earnings per share is
      dilutive.

3.    On November 12, 1996, the Company acquired Mallard Bay Drilling, Inc.
      ("Mallard") and Quail Tools, Inc. ("Quail").  Both were accounted for by
      the purchase method of accounting.

      The Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Mallard from Energy
      Ventures, Inc. ("EVI") for $336.8 million, including acquisition costs,
      for cash of $311.8 million and $25.0 million of preferred stock which was
      converted into 3,056,600 shares of common stock during the second quarter
      of fiscal 1997. Mallard owns and operates 34 drilling and workover barges
      in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Nigeria, four platform
      rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and four land drilling rigs in Argentina.

      The Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Quail for $66.9
      million, including acquisition costs. Quail is a provider of premium
      rental tools used in well drilling, production and workover primarily to
      companies working in the Gulf of Mexico and Gulf Coast land regions. The
      excess of purchase price over the fair values of the net assets acquired
      was $102.5 million for Mallard and $43.6 million for Quail and has been
      recorded as goodwill, which is being amortized on a straight-line basis
      over 30 years.

      The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of the
      third quarter consolidated results of operations of the Company and the
      acquired entities as if the acquisition had occurred September 1, 1995.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        (Thousands except per share amounts)
                                 Three Months Ended        Nine Months Ended
                                 -------------------      -------------------
                                  May 31,    May 31,       May 31,    May 31,
                                   1997       1996          1997       1996
                                 --------   --------      --------   --------
       <S>                       <C>        <C>           <C>        <C>
       Revenues                  $ 91,953   $ 58,440      $245,258   $187,991
       Net income                $  5,897   $ (6,854)     $  7,194   $(18,457)
       Earnings per common share $    .08   $   (.12)     $    .10   $   (.31)
</TABLE>


                                     - 6 -

<PAGE>   8





  NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)


4.    The Company financed the acquisitions of Mallard and Quail through the
      issuance of $300,000,000 of Senior Notes and a term loan of $100,000,000.
      Additionally, the Company issued $25,000,000 of preferred stock which was
      converted to 3,056,600 shares of common stock during the second quarter
      of fiscal 1997.

      The $300,000,000 Senior Notes, which were sold at a $2,355,000 discount,
      have an interest rate of 9 3/4% and will mature in 2006. The $100,000,000
      term loan was a part of commitment from a syndicate of financial
      institutions to establish a Senior Credit Facility which consists of the
      term loan and a $45,000,000 revolving credit facility.

      The term loan bears interest, at the option of the Company, at prime to
      prime plus 0.50% or at 1.75% to 2.25% above the one-, two-, three- and
      six-month LIBOR rate, depending on the Company's debt-to-capital ratio
      (as defined) and will be paid in quarterly payments, with a final balloon
      payment on November 30, 2002. The term loan has no prepayment penalty, is
      guaranteed by the principal subsidiaries of the Company and is
      collateralized by substantially all of the assets of the Company and the
      assets and stock of the Subsidiary Guarantors. The term loan contains
      customary representations and warranties and will restrict the Company's
      ability to, among other things, incur indebtedness, merge or sell assets
      and make investments.

      The revolving portion of the Senior Credit Facility is available, subject
      to the satisfaction of customary borrowing conditions, for working
      capital requirements and general corporate purposes. The revolver will
      terminate on December 31, 1998 and is collateralized by a first lien on
      the Company's accounts receivable. Borrowings under the revolver will not
      be permitted to exceed a borrowing base equal to 80% of the Company's
      eligible accounts receivable. Under the Senior Credit Facility the
      Company is prohibited from paying dividends and is required to maintain
      certain financial ratios.

5.    On March 7, 1997, the Company filed a registration statement for the
      registration of 11,565,090 shares of common stock (including a 15 percent
      over-allotment option), comprised of 8,508,490 primary shares offered by
      the Company and 3,056,600 secondary shares offered by EVI. Public
      offerings of 11,203,200 shares have been completed, from which the
      Company received net proceeds of approximately $61.5 million.

6.    On April 8, 1997, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire
      substantially all of the assets of Bolifor, S.A., a Bolivian-owned
      contractor.  The assets to be acquired include 11 rigs and an inventory of
      spare parts, tubulars, camps and vehicles located in Bolivia, Paraguay and
      Argentina, plus the assignment of three existing drilling contracts.  The
      acquisition is anticipated to be completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal
      1997 and the purchase price of $25 million will be funded out of available
      cash.

7.    On May 9, 1997, the Company signed definitive agreements to acquire
      Hercules Offshore Corporation and Hercules Rig Corp. for $195.0 million in
      cash.  The Hercules companies own seven jackup rigs and three self-
      erecting platform rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and one additional platform
      rig on bareboat charter to a firm in Brazil.  The transaction is subject
      to various conditions, including Malaysian regulatory approval and
      financing by the Company.  The Company anticipates the transaction will
      close in early fiscal 1998.  Management anticipates funding the
      acquisitions through a combination of methods which may include existing
      cash, the issuance of new debt, including the possibility of a new issue
      of convertible subordinated debt, borrowings under the current Senior
      Credit Facility or a possible new credit facility, and the issuance of
      additional equity if necessary or desirable.


                                     - 7 -

<PAGE>   9





  NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)



8.    On June 16, 1997 barge Rig 52 incurred a blowout and suffered extensive
      damage. Three employees and a third party service representative were
      killed. Management is still in the process of determining the amount of
      salvageable equipment and the amount of insurance proceeds that will be
      received. It is too early for management to make an estimate of possible
      losses.




                                     - 8 -

<PAGE>   10

                       Report of Independent Accountants




To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
Parker Drilling Company

      We have reviewed the consolidated condensed balance sheet of Parker
Drilling Company and subsidiaries as of May 31, 1997, and the related
consolidated condensed statements of operations for the three and nine month
periods ended May 31, 1997 and 1996 and consolidated condensed statements of
cash flows for the nine month periods ended May 31, 1997 and 1996. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.

      We conducted our review in accordance with standards established by the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim
financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to
financial data and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and
accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted
in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the objective of
which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken
as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

      Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that
should be made to the condensed consolidated financial statements referred to
above for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.

      We have previously audited, in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards, the consolidated balance sheet as of August 31, 1996, and
the related consolidated statements of operations, redeemable preferred stock
and stockholders' equity and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented
herein); and in our report, dated October 14, 1996, we expressed an unqualified
opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the
information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet
as of August 31, 1996, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to
the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.



                        By: /s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
                            ----------------------------
                            COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.



Tulsa, Oklahoma
June 27, 1997



                                     - 9 -

<PAGE>   11






                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS





RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
- ---------------------

Third Quarter of Fiscal 1997 Compared with Third Quarter of Fiscal 1996

      The Company recorded net income of $5.9 million for the third quarter of
fiscal 1997 as compared to net income of $ .3 million for the comparable
quarter of fiscal 1996. The Company's results of operations were favorably
impacted by its Mallard offshore drilling and Quail tool rental businesses that
were acquired in November 1996.

      The Company's total revenues increased $57.0 million from last year's
third quarter due, in large part, to revenues generated by the acquired
businesses. Offshore drilling and tool rental operations accounted for $32.8
million and $9.1 million, respectively, of the increase in revenues. The demand
for drilling services in the transition zones of the Gulf of Mexico and Nigeria
and the rental demand for specialized drilling equipment in the offshore Gulf
of Mexico and Gulf Coast markets continued to strengthen. The revenues
generated by the offshore drilling and tool rental businesses in the third
quarter compare favorably to the $26.2 million and $7.1 million, respectively,
recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 1997.

      The Company experienced a 93% utilization rate on its 23 available barge
rigs, which excludes those rigs that are currently cold-stacked. During the
quarter, barge Rig 74 commenced operations for Chevron in Nigeria.
Additionally, the refurbishment of barge Rig 60 was recently completed and the
rig will begin operations during the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997. A recent
blowout and fire involving Rig 52 damaged a significant portion of the rig.
Until such time as the rig is repaired and returned to service the Company will
sustain a loss in revenues.

      Total land drilling revenues increased $15.4 million, primarily due to a
37 percent increase in rig revenue days as compared to the third quarter of
fiscal 1996. Principal areas of increased rig utilization included the United
States, the Asia Pacific region, Colombia and Peru.

      Revenues from the Company's United States land drilling operations
increased $4.4 million from last year due to a 73 percent increase in rig
revenue days and improvements in day rates. All 14 of the Company's United
States rigs are currently under contract. During the quarter, Rig 238 in
Louisiana suffered extensive damage in a blowout and has been removed from the
rig fleet. Management anticipates that insurance proceeds will approximate the
book value of the lost equipment.

      Revenues from the Latin America region increased $5.1 million primarily
due to four additional rigs under contract in Colombia and Peru. Revenue
generated by four Argentina land rigs obtained in the Mallard acquisition
offset revenue decreases on other rigs in Argentina. Asia Pacific region
revenues increased $5.3 million due to additional drilling activity in
Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.


                                     - 10 -

<PAGE>   12





RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)
- ---------------------


      The Company's offshore drilling and tool rental operations generated a
combined $19.7 million profit margin (revenues less direct operating expenses)
during the third quarter of fiscal 1997. The third quarter profit margin of
$19.7 million compared to the $15.1 million profit margin for the second
quarter reflects a strengthening of the offshore drilling and tool rental
markets. Increased utilization and day rates in the land drilling business also
generated an additional $6.3 million of profit margin in the third quarter of
fiscal 1997 versus the comparable quarter in fiscal 1996.

      Depreciation, depletion and amortization increased $7.5 million due to
the additional depreciation and goodwill amortization related to the
acquisition of Mallard and Quail. General and administrative expense decreased
$ .8 million principally due to one-time expenses associated with personnel
reductions recorded last year.

      During the third fiscal quarter, the Company initiated plans to move
Partech, its rig manufacturing and service center, from Odessa, Texas to New
Iberia, Louisiana. In conjunction with the planned move, the Company evaluated
and wrote down to fair market value its properties and inventories in Odessa,
recording a $1.4 million expense in other operating expenses.

      Other income and expense includes the $9.9 million interest expense and
amortization of debt issuance fees and costs on $400.0 million of borrowings
used to finance the Mallard and Quail acquisitions. The $ .8 million increase
in interest income was due to significantly higher cash balances due in part to
the receipt of $61.5 million in net proceeds from a common stock offering that
was completed in early April. Other income (expense) - net decreased $1.6
million principally due to fewer gains on sales of assets this quarter.

      The $2.5 million increase in income tax expense is primarily attributable
to current foreign taxes resulting from higher international profits as
compared to last year.



First Nine Months of Fiscal 1997 Compared with First Nine Months of Fiscal
1996

      The Company recorded net income of $8.7 million for the first nine months
of fiscal 1997, an increase of $6.2 million from the comparable period of
fiscal 1996. The Company's results of operations were favorably impacted by the
acquisitions of Mallard and Quail.

      Total revenues of $216.2 million represent a $100.6 million increase from
the same period last year. The offshore drilling and tool rental businesses
accounted for $64.3 million and $17.9 million, respectively, of the increase in
revenues. Land drilling revenues increased $19.9 million from the same period
last year, of which $10.9 million was from United States operations and resulted
from additional rig utilization and improving day rates. The remaining increase
was primarily due to $7.1 million of revenues generated from four Argentina land
rigs obtained in the Mallard acquisition.


                                     - 11 -

<PAGE>   13





RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)
- ---------------------


      The demand for drilling services in the shallow water transition zones of
the Gulf Coast and Nigeria, and the rental demand for specialized drilling
equipment in the offshore Gulf of Mexico and Gulf Coast markets, continued to
strengthen in the first nine months of fiscal 1997. The revenues generated by
the offshore drilling and tool rental businesses generated $8.6 million more
revenues in the third quarter as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 1997.

      The Company's offshore drilling and tool rental businesses generated a
combined profit margin of $38.3 million for the first nine months of fiscal
1997. The land drilling business profit margin was $6.5 million higher for the
first nine months principally due to increased utilization and day rates in the
third quarter.

      Increases in interest expense and depreciation, depletion and
amortization were attributable to the Mallard and Quail acquisitions in the
first quarter of fiscal 1997. Ongoing general and administrative expenses
throughout fiscal 1997 have been consistent with fiscal 1996, with the $1.1
million decrease resulting primarily from one-time expenses in fiscal 1996
associated with personnel reductions.

      Interest income increased $2.1 million due to significantly higher cash
balances, partially resulting from a common stock offering completed in early
April 1997. A $1.4 million decrease in other income (expense) - net resulted
from fewer gains on sale of assets. The $1.7 million increase in income tax
expense was higher foreign taxes resulting from improved international
operations, which was partially offset by a $1.3 million reversal in fiscal
1997 of an income tax accrual in a country where the Company terminated
operations.




LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
- -------------------------------

      Cash and short-term investments were $91.7 million at May 31, 1997, an
increase of $13.7 million from August 31, 1996. The Company received net
proceeds of $61.5 million from a common stock offering in April 1997. Capital
expenditures for the first nine months of fiscal 1997 amounted to $60.2
million.

      Capital expenditures incurred to date include: the substantial upgrade of
barge Rig 74, which began work in Nigeria in the third quarter; the
refurbishments of platform Rig 41, which began work in the Gulf of Mexico in
the third quarter, and barge Rig 60, which will begin work in the transition
zones of the U.S. Gulf Coast in the fourth quarter; the upgrade of land Rig 7,
which has now begun working in Pakistan; and the expenditure of approximately
$3.0 million of the $12.5 million budgeted for expansion of tool rental
operations in the South Texas market.



                                     - 12 -

<PAGE>   14



LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (continued)
- -------------------------------


      In November 1996, the Company acquired Mallard for $311.8 million in cash
and $25.0 million in convertible preferred stock (that converted into 3,056,600
shares of common stock in the second quarter of fiscal 1997) and Quail for
$66.9 million in cash. The Company financed the acquisitions of Mallard and
Quail through the issuance of $300.0 million principal amount of 9 3/4% Senior
Notes and a term loan of $100.0 million under the Senior Credit Facility.

      The Senior Notes, which were sold at a $2.4 million discount, have an
interest rate of 9 3/4% and will mature in 2006. The Senior Notes are
guaranteed by the Company's principal subsidiaries. The $100.0 million term
loan was a part of a commitment from a syndicate of financial institutions to
establish a Senior Credit Facility, which consists of the term loan and a $45.0
million revolving credit facility. The term loan bears interest (7.94% at 
May 31, 1997), at the option of the Company, at prime to prime plus 0.50% or at
least 1.75% to 2.25% above the one-, two-, three- and six-month reserve adjusted
LIBOR rate, depending on the Company's Debt-to-Capital Ratio (as defined), and
matures on November 30, 2002. Installments of principal and interest are payable
quarterly in an amount that provides for the retirement of $10.0 million in
fiscal 1997, $14.0 million in fiscal 1998, $12.0 million in each of fiscal 1999
through 2002, with a final payment of $28 million due at maturity. The term loan
has no prepayment penalty, is guaranteed by the Company's principal subsidiaries
and is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and the assets
and stock of such subsidiaries.

      The revolving credit facility is available for working capital
requirements and general corporate purposes. Availability under the revolving
credit facility is subject to certain borrowing base limitations based on 80%
of eligible accounts receivable. All advances to the Company under the
revolving credit facility bear interest, at the option of the Company at prime
to prime plus 0.50% or at least 1.75% to 2.25% above the one-, two-, three- and
six-month reserve adjusted LIBOR rate, depending on the percentage of the
credit used. The revolving credit facility is collateralized by a first lien on
the Company's accounts receivable. The revolving credit facility matures on
December 31, 1998.

      Each of the 9 3/4% Senior Notes and the Senior Credit Facility contains
customary affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions on
incurrence of debt and sales of assets. The Senior Credit Facility prohibits
payment of dividends and the indenture for the Senior Notes restricts the
payment of dividends.

      On June 6, 1997, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire
substantially all of the assets of Bolifor, S.A., a Bolivian-owned contractor,
for $25 million. The assets to be acquired include 11 land rigs in Bolivia, 
Paraguay and Argentina. Management expects the Bolifor acquisition to close in 
July 1997 and be funded out of available cash.



                                     - 13 -

<PAGE>   15
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (continued)
- -------------------------------


     In May 1997, the Company signed definitive agreements to acquire Hercules
Offshore Corporation and Hercules Rig Corp. for $195.0 million in cash. The
Hercules companies own seven jackup rigs and three self-erecting platform rigs
in the Gulf of Mexico and one additional platform rig on bareboat charter to a
firm in Brazil. The transaction is subject to various conditions, including
Malaysian regulatory approval and financing by the Company. The Company
anticipates the transaction will close in the fourth quarter of calendar 1997.
Management anticipates funding the acquisitions through a combination of methods
which may include existing cash, the possible issuance of convertible debt, 
borrowings under the current Senior Credit Facility and the issuance of 
additional equity securities if necessary or desirable.

     With the exception of the acquisition of Hercules, which is expected to be
funded as described above, management believes that the current level of cash
and short-term investments and cash generated from operations should be
sufficient to finance the Company's working capital needs and expected capital
expenditures during the remainder of fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1998. Should new
opportunities requiring capital arise, the Company may utilize the revolving
portion of the Senior Credit Facility or may consider seeking additional equity
or long-term debt financing.

Subsequent Event:

     On June 16, 1997, barge Rig 52 incurred a blowout and suffered extensive
damage. Three employees and a third party service representative were killed.
Management is still in the process of determining the amount of salvageable
equipment and the amount of insurance proceeds that will be received. It is too
early for management to make an estimate of possible losses.




                                     - 14 -

<PAGE>   16





PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION



Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(a)        Exhibits:                                                            Page
<S>        <C>                                                                  <C>

           Exhibit 10(n) Definitive agreement to acquire Hercules
           Offshore Corporation

           Exhibit 10(o) Definitive agreement to acquire Hercules Rig
           Corp.

           Exhibit 15 Letter re Unaudited Interim Financial Information          17

           Exhibit 27 Financial Data Schedule (EDGAR version only)

(b)       Reports on Form 8-K - There were no reports on Form 8-K filed during
          the three months ended May 31, 1997.



</TABLE>



                                     - 15 -

<PAGE>   17





                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



                                                 Parker Drilling Company
                                                 -----------------------
                                                        Registrant



Date:  June 27, 1997


                                 By:  /s/ James J. Davis
                                      ----------------------------------------
                                          James J. Davis
                                          Senior Vice President-Finance and
                                          Chief Financial Officer




                                 By:  /s/ Randy Ellis
                                      ----------------------------------------
                                          Randy Ellis
                                          Controller and
                                          Chief Accounting Officer






                                     - 16 -

<PAGE>   18
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER            DESCRIPTION
- -------           -----------
<S>     <C>                                                                    
Exhibit 10(n)     Definitive agreement to acquire Hercules Offshore Corporation

Exhibit 10(o)     Definitive agreement to acquire Hercules Rig Corp.

Exhibit 15        Letter re Unaudited Interim Financial Information

Exhibit 27        Financial Data Schedule (EDGAR version only)
</TABLE>



<PAGE>   1
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>      <C>                                                                                                         <C>
1.       SALE AND TRANSFER OF SHARES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2-
                 1.1      Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -2-
                 1.2      Sale of Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -13-

2.       PURCHASE PRICE; PAYMENT; ADJUSTMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -13-
                 2.1      Purchase Price  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -13-
                 2.2      Initial Purchase Price Adjustments; Funded Debt; Working Capital  . . . . . . . . . . . .  -14-
                 2.3      Further Purchase Price Adjustments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -15-
                 2.4      CAPEX; Rig Loans  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -17-
                 2.5      Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -19-
                 2.6      Closing Deliveries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -19-

3.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -20-
                 3.1      Organization and Good Standing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -20-
                 3.2      Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -21-
                 3.3      Enforceability; Conflicts, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -22-
                 3.4      Title to Shares; Shares Pledge  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -23-
                 3.5      Capitalization  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -24-
                 3.6      Subsidiaries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -24-
                 3.7      Financial Statements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -24-
                 3.8      No Changes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -24-
                 3.9      Benefit Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -26-
                 3.10     Tax Returns and Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -31-
                 3.11     Regulatory Filings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -34-
                 3.12     Litigation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -34-
                 3.13     No Defaults; Contracts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -34-
                 3.14     Government Regulations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -34-
                 3.15     Assets, Liabilities and Certain Covenants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -35-
                 3.16     Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -36-
                 3.17     Minute Books  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -37-
                 3.18     Payment of Expenses of Brokers or Finders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -37-
                 3.19     Undisclosed Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -38-
                 3.20     Patents, Trademarks, Licenses and Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -38-
                 3.21     Powers of Attorney  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -38-
                 3.22     Use of Names  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -38-
                 3.23     Books and Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -39-
                 3.24     Performance Bonds; Letters of Credit  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -39-
                 3.25     Certain Property on Rigs  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -39-
                 3.26     Rig Classifications and Certifications; Shipping Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -40-
                 3.27     Title to Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -41-
</TABLE>





<PAGE>   2
<TABLE>
<S>      <C>                                                                                                         <C>
                 3.28     Rig Equipment; Inventory  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -42-
                 3.29     Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -42-
                 3.30     Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -43-
                 3.31     Environmental Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -43-
                 3.32     Consents  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -44-
                 3.33     LIMITATION OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -45-

4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY BUYER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -46-
                 4.1      Organization and Good Standing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -46-
                 4.2      Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -46-
                 4.3      No Violation; Enforceability  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -47-
                 4.4      Brokers or Finders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -47-
                 4.5      Notice; Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -47-
                 4.6      No Section 338 Election.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -48-

5.       SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; INDEMNIFICATION
                 5.1      Survival  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -48-
                 5.2      Indemnification by Seller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -48-
                 5.3      Indemnification by Buyer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -52-
                 5.4      Matters Involving Third Parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -53-

6.       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF BUYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -55-
                 6.1      Representations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -55-
                 6.2      Litigation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -56-
                 6.3      No Material Adverse Change  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -56-
                 6.4      Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -56-
                 6.5      Legal Opinions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -57-
                 6.6      Deliveries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -57-
                 6.7      Casualty Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -57-
                 6.8      Board and Shareholder Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -57-
                 6.9      Financing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -57-
                 6.10     HRC Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -58-

7.       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF SELLER  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -58-
                 7.1      Representations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -58-
                 7.2      Litigation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -58-
                 7.3      Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -59-
                 7.4      Deliveries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -59-
                 7.5      Board Approval  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -59-
                 7.6      Financing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -59-
                 7.7      HRC Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -59-
</TABLE>





<PAGE>   3
<TABLE>
<S>      <C>                                                                                                         <C>
8.       COVENANTS OF SELLER PRIOR TO CLOSING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -59-
                 8.1      Access  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -60-
                 8.2      Governmental Approvals  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -60-
                 8.3      Operations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -61-
                 8.4      Restrictions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -62-
                 8.5      Rig Loss  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -64-
                 8.6      Unpaid Dividends  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -66-
                 8.7      Seller Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -67-
                 8.8      False Representations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -67-

9.       COVENANTS OF BUYER PRIOR TO CLOSING  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -67-
                 9.1      Governmental Approvals  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -67-
                 9.2      Guaranty Release  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -68-
                 9.3      Due Care  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -68-
                 9.4      False Representations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -68-
                 9.5      Buyer Assistance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -68-

10.      OTHER COVENANTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -69-
                 10.1     Post Closing Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -69-
                 10.2     Company's Employees, Stand Alone Entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -69-
                 10.3     Employee Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . .  -70-
                 10.4     Certain Tax Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -73-
                 10.5     Taking of Necessary Action  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -76-
                 10.6     Press Releases and Public Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -76-
                 10.7     Shareholder Advances  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -76-

11.      EXPENSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -77-

12.      TERMINATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -77-
                 12.1     Causes for Termination  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -77-
                 12.2     Effect of Termination; Liquidated Damages; Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -78-

13.      NOTICES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -80-

14.      GENERAL  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -81-
                 14.1     Entire Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -81-
                 14.2     Amendments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -81-
                 14.3     Waivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -81-
                 14.4     Headings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -81-
                 14.5     Severability  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -81-

15.      ARBITRATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -82-
                 15.1     Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -82-
</TABLE>





<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>
<S>      <C>                                                                                                            <C>
                 15.2     Powers and Selection.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -82-
                 15.3     Venue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -83-
                 15.4     Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -83-
                 15.5     Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -84-
                 15.6     Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -84-

16.      GOVERNING LAW  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -84-
                 16.1     Arbitration Provisions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -84-
                 16.2     Other Provisions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -84-

17.      COUNTERPARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -85-

18.      NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -85-

19.      SUCCESSION AND ASSIGNMENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -85-

20.      CONSTRUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -85-

21.      INCORPORATION OF EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -86-

22.      SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -86-

LIST OF EXHIBITS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -88-
</TABLE>





<PAGE>   5





                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT



         THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is dated as of May __,
1997 by and among TRENERGY (MALAYSIA) BHD, a Malaysian public limited company
("Seller"), PARKER DRILLING COMPANY, a Delaware corporation ("Parker") and
PARKER DRILLING OFFSHORE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parker ("Parker Offshore") (Parker and Parker Offshore being
hereinafter referred to collectively as "Buyer");

                                   WITNESSETH

         WHEREAS:

         (1)     Seller owns and wishes to sell to Buyer the following shares
(collectively, the "Shares"):

         (a)     EIGHTEEN MILLION THIRTY FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY
FOUR (18,034,384) shares of common stock, par value of $1.00 each, representing
one hundred percent (100%) of all of the issued and outstanding shares of
common stock ("HOC Common Stock") of Hercules Offshore Corporation, a Texas
corporation ("HOC");  and

         (b)     FOUR MILLION (4,000,000) shares of Series A non-voting
cumulative preferred stock, issued at a price of $1.00 each, representing one
hundred percent (100%) of  all of the issued and outstanding Series A
non-voting cumulative preferred stock ("HOC Preferred Stock")  of HOC; and

         (2)     Buyer has agreed to purchase the Shares for the consideration
hereinafter expressed on condition that Buyer is also able to purchase all of
the shares of capital stock of Hercules Rig
<PAGE>   6
Corp., a Texas corporation ("HRC"), pursuant to the provisions of a Stock
Purchase Agreement of even date with this Agreement;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.       SALE AND TRANSFER OF SHARES.

         1.1     Definitions.

         "AFFILIATE" or "AFFILIATES" means, with respect to Buyer or Seller,
any other entity directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under
direct or indirect common control with Buyer or Seller, respectively.  For
purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with correlative meanings,
the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and "under common control with") used
with respect to either Buyer or Seller, shall mean the possession, directly or
indirectly of the beneficial ownership of fifty (50) percent or more of the
voting securities of Buyer or Seller, as applicable.

         "AGP" means Andrade Gutierrez Perfuracao, Ltda., a Brazilian limited
liability company and the parent company of Driltech.

         "AGREED CAPEX" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

         "AGREEMENT" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

         "ASSETS"  means the Rigs, the Real Property Leases, the Bareboat
Charters, the Contracts, and all other tangible or intangible assets, benefits,
contracts and contract rights owned or enuring to the benefit of the Company
including, without limitation, the assets reflected in the Company's Financial
Statements in accordance with GAAP.

         "ASSUMED DEBT" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

         "AUDIT DATE" means December 31, 1996.


                                      -2-


<PAGE>   7
         "BAREBOAT CHARTERS" means (a) Bareboat Charter Agreement for Rig 25
dated April 8, 1994, as amended, between HRC, as owner, and HOC, as charterer;
and (b) Bareboat Charter Agreement for Rig 22, dated January 1, 1997 between
HRC, as owner and HOC, as charterer.

         "BENEFIT PLANS" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a)(iii).

         "BUYER" has the meaning given to such term in the preamble.

         "BUYER TERMINATION EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section
12.1(b).

         "CAPITAL LEASES" means all capital leases of the Company, as listed in
Exhibit 1.1(i).

         "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Sections 
9601-9675.

         "CLOSING" and "CLOSING DATE" have the meanings set forth in Section
2.4.

         "COAST GUARD" means the United States Coast Guard as defined in 46
U.S.C. Section 2101.      

         "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         "COMPANY" means HOC.

         "CONTRACTS"  means the Real Property Leases, Drilling Contracts,
Bareboat Charters, the Driltech Lease and all other contracts to which the
Company or any of its Assets are subject which obligate the Company to make or
entitle the Company to receive payments in excess of $100,000 but does not
include any Benefit Plans.

         "CORPORATE CHARTER DOCUMENTS" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1
hereof.

         "DAMAGES" has the meanings set forth in Sections 5.2(a) and 5.3(a).

         "DRILLING CONTRACTS" means all drilling or workover contracts listed
in Exhibit 1.1(ii).

         "DRILTECH" means Driltech Inc., a Cayman Islands' company.





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   8
         "DRILTECH LEASE" means the Equipment Lease Agreement for Rig 1 between
HOC, Driltech and AGP executed on May 3, 1996, but effective as of February 5,
1996, as amended by an agreement dated July 23, 1996, a true copy of which  has
been delivered to Buyer.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" or "LAW" means the federal and state
environmental laws, health and safety laws, rules or regulations, with respect
to the business or operations of the Company, of the United States of America
and all other applicable jurisdictions, including, but not limited to CERCLA,
as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"), 42 U.S.C. Sections 6901-6992k,
the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. Section 5101, et seq.,
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq., the
Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. Section 2701, et seq.; the Clean Air Act,
42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq., the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251, et
seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act ("TSCA") , 15 U.S.C. Sections 2601-2629,
the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections 300F-300J, the Occupational
Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. Section  651 et seq. ("OSHA") and all
similar federal, state (including, but not limited to, environmental, health
and safety laws of the State of Texas) and local statutes, ordinances and the
regulations, orders and decrees promulgated thereunder.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.

         "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" means all books of account and financial
statements of the Company delivered by Seller to Buyer and listed in Exhibit
3.7(a).

         "FREEPORT INDEMNITY" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(c)(i)

         "FREEPORT INDEMNITY DEMAND" has the meaning set forth in Section
5.2(c)(iii).





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   9
         "FUNDED DEBT" means all outstanding principal, interest, fees,
prepayment penalties and other amounts owed by HOC (a) to Heller pursuant to
the terms of the Heller Loan; (b) to Southwest Bank pursuant to the Southwest
Revolver; (c) pursuant to the Shareholder Loan ; and  (d) pursuant to the
Capital Leases.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles that are
consistent with principles promulgated or adopted in the United States with
respect to the Company.  With respect to the Seller, GAAP shall be deemed to
mean generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied in Malaysia.

         "GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY" means any government or any state, department or
other political subdivision thereof or governmental body, agency, authority,
department or commission (including, without limitation, any court or tribunal)
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
functions of or pertaining to government and any corporation, partnership or
other entity directly or indirectly owned by any of the foregoing.

         "GUARANTY RELEASE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

         "HOC" means Hercules Offshore Corporation.

         "HOC COMMON STOCK" means the 18,034,384 shares of common stock, par
value of $1.00 each, representing 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of
common stock of HOC.

         "HOC PREFERRED STOCK" means the 4,000,000 shares of Series A
non-voting cumulative preferred stock, issued at a price of $1.00 each,
representing 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Series A non-voting
cumulative preferred stock of HOC.

         "HRC"  means Hercules Rig Corp., a Texas corporation, the owner of Rig
25 and bareboat charterer from IOLP of Rig 22.





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   10
         "HRC AGREEMENT" means the Stock Purchase Agreement between the
shareholders of HRC and Buyer of even date herewith.

         "HSR" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Anti-Trust Improvements Act of 1976.

         "HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES" means any substance or material that is defined
or otherwise listed as a hazardous substance pursuant to CERCLA, as a toxic
substance pursuant to TSCA, a hazardous waste pursuant to RCRA,  a hazardous
material pursuant to the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act or any
petroleum material that in its concentration and location presents a material
endangerment to human health or the environment.

         "HELLER" means Heller Financial, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois and its
assignees and participants.

         "HELLER LOAN" means the term loan of $15,000,000 from Heller to HOC
pursuant to a  Loan and Security Agreement dated as of December 23, 1996 and
the Promissory Note in connection therewith, dated December 27, 1996 together
with all fees, prepayment penalties and other amounts with respect thereto.

         "INDEMNIFIED PARTY" and "INDEMNIFYING PARTY" have the meanings set
forth in Section 5.4(a).

         "INVENTORY"  means any and all inventory of the Company recorded, in
accordance with GAAP, in the Company's Financial Statements.

         "IOLP"  means Isabella Offshore Limited Partnership, of San Francisco,
California, the owner and bareboat charterer to HRC of Rig 22.

         "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.





                                      -6-
<PAGE>   11
         "LAFAYETTE LEASE" means that certain Lease Agreement dated as of
December 15, 1996, between HOC and Pedro Petroleum for the lease by HOC of land
and improvements for its purchasing office in Lafayette, Louisiana.

         "LENDERS"  means collectively the various lenders or lessors, as
appropriate, under the Funded Debt, or individually a "Lender."

         "LENDER CONSENTS" means approvals required of either or all of the
Lenders.

         "LIABILITIES"  means all liabilities of the Company from time to time
recorded in the Company's Financial Statements in accordance with  GAAP.

         "MARKS" means the trademarks, trade names, and service marks of HOC
listed in Exhibit 3.22 hereto.

         "MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE" or "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" or "AFFECT"
means, with respect to any person, a change, event or result that (a) adversely
affects or impairs, as appropriate, the value  of any of its Assets by an
amount in excess of $7,500,000 or (b)  creates or results in the incurrence of
a liability or obligation of such person of an amount in excess of
$7,500,000.00.

         "NAME" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.22.

         "OFFICE LEASE" means that certain Lease Agreement dated as of April
28, 1992, between HOC and Dan-Columbia Associates for the lease of office space
at 11011 Richmond Avenue,  Houston, Texas 77042.

         "PERMITTED LIENS" means:

                 (a)      preferred mortgage liens, liens, security interests
and encumbrances on the Rigs and certain other assets of HOC under the Heller
Loan and the Southwest Revolver;





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   12
provided, however, that this category of lien shall only be permitted on the
Closing Date if same are assumed by Buyer;

                 (b)      all rights, benefits and interests (including the
option to purchase) of Driltech, AGP, Cliffs Drilling Company and their
assignees, in and to Rig 1 under the Driltech Lease, and all rights and
benefits of Petrobras, if any, to the use of Rig 1 under the Petrobras
Contract;

                 (c)      the Shares Pledge, but shall only be permitted at
Closing if Buyer assumes the Heller Loan;

                 (d)      shipyards' and worker's liens on Rig 14 and Rig 3;

                 (e)      liens for Taxes, assessments and governmental charges
not yet due and payable or the validity of which are being diligently contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

                 (f)      statutory, common law and maritime liens (including
liens for insurance premiums or calls), purchase money liens, liens securing
debt under capital leases and other liens arising in the ordinary course of
business relating to obligations as to which there is no default on the part of
the Company;

                 (g)      charterer's liens or other similar liens in the
ordinary course of business under the Drilling Contracts as to which there is
no default on the part of the Company;

                 (h)      liens in connection with Worker's Compensation,
unemployment insurance or other Social Security, pension or public liability
obligations; and

                 (i)      liens in connection with any litigation or other
proceeding or arising out of a judgment or award for which an appeal is being
prosecuted, as disclosed in Exhibit 3.12;





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   13
provided, however, that at the Closing "Permitted Liens" shall not include any
liens for Taxes, assessments or governmental charges filed of record against
the Assets, or statutory or maritime liens filed of record against the Assets,
unless any such liens are being diligently contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and are disclosed in Exhibit 3.12.

         "PETROBRAS" means Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras, the Brazilian
national oil company.

         "PETROBRAS CONTRACT" means that certain Lease Contract No.
101.2.061.96-4 and Service Contract No.  101.2.062.96-7 for Rig 1, each dated
September 2, 1996 between Petrobras and AGP, as both have or will shortly be
assigned to Cliffs Drilling Company.

         "PRE-CLOSING TAXABLE PERIOD" means all or a portion of (i) any taxable
period up to and including the Closing Date or (ii) any taxable period with
respect to which the Tax is computed by reference to Tax items, assets, capital
or operations of the Company arising  on or before, or existing as of, the
Closing Date.

         "PROJECTED CAPEX" means the scope of work and amount of expenditures
incurred prior to the survey date set forth in Section 2.4 plus all future
amounts projected by the Company for certain capital projects relating to the
Rigs, as listed in Exhibit 2.4(a) hereto.

         "PURCHASE PRICE" means the price paid by Buyer for the Shares pursuant
to, and as same may be adjusted under, the provisions of Section 2.2.

         "REAL PROPERTY LEASES" means the Lafayette Lease and the Office Lease.

         "RESTORATION SHORTFALL" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(c).

         "RIG CASUALTY EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(c).





                                      -9-
<PAGE>   14
         "RIG EQUIPMENT" means any and all drilling machinery and equipment
(including,  without limitation, floor tools and blow-out preventers), engines,
machinery, equipment, mooring systems and equipment, riser tensioner systems
and equipment, boots, covers, anchors, chains, cables, tackle, rigging,
apparel, furniture, computers and computer equipment, computer software,
fittings and equipment, tools, pumps and pumping equipment, living quarters
located thereon, spare components and parts, tubulars, drill pipe, drill
collars, racking, supporting inventory and stores (unless classified as
Inventory), and all other appurtenances thereto appertaining or belonging to
any of the Rigs (including items under Capital Leases to HOC), including, to
the extent such items are owned by HOC, appertaining or belonging to Rig 22,
whether located on the Rigs, or located elsewhere; and all top drives and
related equipment owned by HOC and used in connection with the Rigs; excluding,
however, Rig Rental Equipment and other equipment and stores owned by (a) any
operator, third-party suppliers (such as catering consumables, cement units or
logging equipment) or otherwise, or (b) with respect to Rig 1, by Driltech, AGP
or Petrobras, or (c) with respect to Rig 22, by IOLP or HRC or (d) with respect
to Rig 25, by HRC.

         "RIG LOANS" means all sums advanced prior to the Closing Date by Buyer
to HOC in connection with the Agreed CAPEX.

         "RIG LOANS NOTE" means the promissory note executed by Seller on even
date herewith in connection with the Rig Loans, in the form of Exhibit 2.4(c).

         "RIG RENTAL EQUIPMENT" means rental equipment on board the Rigs or
stored elsewhere,  which is leased or rented by HOC from third parties for use
in its normal operations.

         "RIG RESTORATION AMOUNT" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(c).





                                      -10-
<PAGE>   15
         "RIGS"  means all platform and jack-up drilling or workover rigs and
their associated Rig Equipment and Inventory, owned, chartered or operated by
the Company, which rigs are identified by numbers, as set forth in Exhibits
3.15(b) and 3.15(c).

         "SELLER" means Trenergy (Malaysia) BHD.

         "SELLER TERMINATION EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section
12.1(c).

         "SHAREHOLDER ADVANCE" means all cash sums advanced by the Company to
Seller prior to the Closing Date.

         "SHAREHOLDER LOAN" shall mean all principal, interest and other
amounts owed by HOC, as of the Closing Date, to the individual shareholders and
former shareholders of HOC as listed in Exhibit 1.1(iii).

         "SHARES" means, collectively, the HOC Common Stock and HOC Preferred
Stock.

         "SHARES PLEDGE" means, with respect to the Shares, the Pledge
Agreement dated as of December 23, 1996, executed by Seller in favor of Heller
in support of and as partial security for the Heller Loan.

         "SHIPPING LAWS" means all statutory and general maritime laws of the
United States of America governing the documentation, ownership, operation and
inspection of United States vessels or foreign vessels operating in United
States waters including such laws as they relate to jack-up or platform
drilling or workover rigs, and all U.S. Maritime Administration and Coast Guard
rules and regulations.

         "SOUTHWEST BANK" means Southwest Bank of Texas, N.A., of Houston,
Texas.

         "SOUTHWEST REVOLVER" means the revolving line of credit of up to
$8,000,000 from Southwest Bank to HOC pursuant to the terms of that certain
Amended Loan Agreement dated as





                                      -11-
<PAGE>   16
of August 20, 1996, as amended by a First Modification agreement dated as of
November 18, 1996 and that certain Amended Revolving Credit Note dated August
20, 1996 and as further amended and currently in effect.

         "TAX" or "TAXES" means any federal, state, local, or foreign income,
gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, premium
windfall profits, environmental (including taxes under Code Sec. 59A), customs
duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or
similar), unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales,
use, transfer, registration, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated, or other
tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty, or addition
thereto, whether disputed or not, excluding, however, any deferred taxes which
appear as a Liability on the Company's Financial Statements.

         "TAX RETURN" means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund,
or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or
attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

         "THIRD PARTY CLAIM" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(a).

         "TO THE BEST OF SELLER'S KNOWLEDGE", as used in this Agreement, with
respect to Seller, means and applies to the actual knowledge (after reasonable
inquiry) of Seller, its officers, agents or employees.

         "WORKING CAPITAL" means the sum of (a) cash on hand, (b) outstanding
accounts receivable (including Shareholder Advances), (c) Inventory and (d)
prepaid expenses and deposits and other current assets minus (x) accounts
payable, Shareholder Loans and other current liabilities and (y) any and all
unpaid insurance deductibles for any casualty or other loss described in
Section 8.5;





                                      -12-
<PAGE>   17
provided, however, that accounts payable and other current liabilities does not
include the current portion of any (i) Funded Debt, (ii) Rig Loans, or (iii)
charter hire under the Bareboat Charters and all charter hire owed to IOLP by
HRC, all computed in accordance with GAAP.

         "WORKING CAPITAL ADJUSTMENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

         "WORKING CAPITAL STATEMENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

         1.2     Sale of Shares.

         Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, the Shares Pledge, if relevant), on the Closing Date,
Seller agrees to sell, transfer and deliver the Shares to Buyer, free and clear
of all liens, charges, pledges and encumbrances, and on such date Buyer agrees
to purchase and take delivery of title to the Shares.

2.       PURCHASE PRICE; PAYMENT; ADJUSTMENTS.

         2.1     Purchase Price.

                 (a)      The purchase price for the Shares, subject to any
adjustment as set out in Section 2.1(b) below ("Purchase Price"), shall be ONE
HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS  (U.S. $145,000,000), payable
in cash at the Closing.

                 (b)      The Purchase Price to Seller shall be adjusted
upwards or downwards by (i) the amount of  the Funded Debt, if any, assumed by
Buyer at the Closing pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2(a), (ii) any
payments by Buyer to Lenders under 2.2(b) and (iii) any Agreed CAPEX
adjustments in Section 2.4.  After the Closing, the Purchase Price may be
further adjusted for any Working Capital Adjustments described in Section 2.3.

                 (c)      Subject to Section 2.2(b), all payments of Purchase
Price and other sums due hereunder shall be made in U.S. Dollars in immediately
available funds to Seller by wire





                                      -13-
<PAGE>   18
transfer to Seller's bank account designated in writing to Buyer at least two
(2) Business Days prior to the Closing, or as otherwise instructed by Seller in
writing.

         2.2     Initial Purchase Price Adjustments; Funded Debt; Working
Capital.

                 (a)      Buyer may at its sole option, by notice in writing to
Seller, given at least thirty-five (35) days prior to Closing (to permit any
necessary notices to be given to the Lenders),  subject to any necessary Lender
Consents and Heller's agreement to give the Guaranty Release,  elect to assume
at the Closing (i) either or both of the Heller Loan or the Southwest Revolver
or (ii) any Capital Leases (collectively, "Assumed Debt"); provided, however,
that Buyer may only assume the Heller Loan at Closing if it obtains from Heller
and delivers to Seller at or prior to Closing a full release of the guaranty
given by Seller to Heller pursuant to the Heller Loan ("Guaranty Release").  If
Buyer does elect to assume any of the above, Buyer and Seller shall act in good
faith and cooperate in obtaining, as promptly as possible but in any event
prior to the Closing Date, all necessary Lender Consents.  If the necessary
Lender Consents and the Guaranty Release are obtained, at the Closing Buyer
shall reduce the Purchase Price by the total amount outstanding for principal,
interest, fees and other costs due to the relevant Lenders on the Closing Date,
all as certified in writing by such Lender(s), and shall pay to Seller, as
Purchase Price, the reduced amount.  Thereupon, Seller shall be relieved of any
liability to Buyer or any other party under any shareholder guarantees or
obligations regarding the Assumed Debt.

                 (b)      If Buyer does not elect to assume all or any part of
the Assumed Debt or  any necessary Lender Consents are not obtained on or
before the Closing, Buyer shall pay at Closing (i) directly to the relevant
Lenders all outstanding principal, interest (net of any applicable withholding
taxes) or fees, prepayment penalties and other costs due to such Lender or
Lenders,





                                      -14-
<PAGE>   19
all as certified in writing by the relevant Lender, for all Funded Debt not
assumed by Buyer and (ii) the balance of the Purchase Price to Seller.

                 (c)      If  upon completion of the Agreed CAPEX survey in
Section 2.4(a) below, the Agreed CAPEX exceeds the Projected CAPEX of HOC, the
Purchase Price to Seller shall be further reduced at the Closing by the amount
of such excess.

                 (d)      Notwithstanding any other provision herein contained,
Buyer shall not assume, and Seller shall pay or cause to be paid, from the
Purchase Price proceeds at Closing,  any and all Shareholder Loan amounts due.

         2.3     Further Purchase Price Adjustments.

         Buyer and Seller agree that in the event the actual amount of the
Company's Working Capital as of the Closing Date is greater or lesser than
$4,000,000, the Purchase Price shall be increased or decreased, as the case may
be, by an amount (the "Working Capital Adjustment") equal to the difference
between the actual Working Capital and $4,000,000, in the manner set forth
below:

                 (a)      Within thirty (30) days immediately following the
Closing, Buyer shall prepare a Working Capital statement prepared in accordance
with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior periods ("Working Capital
Statement"), which will determine the Company's Working Capital, as of the
Closing Date, in accordance with the Working Capital definition in Section 1.1
above;

                 (b)      Within thirty (30) days following delivery by Buyer
to Seller of the Working Capital Statement, Seller shall notify Buyer whether
it agrees with such statement; provided, however, that if Seller shall fail to
notify Buyer within such thirty (30) day period, Seller shall be





                                      -15-
<PAGE>   20
deemed to have agreed with the Buyer's Working Capital Statement.  If Seller
disagrees with the Working Capital Statement, Seller shall inform Buyer in
writing and Seller and Buyer shall work in good faith to reach agreement on
such statement; but if they fail to agree within ten (10) days after Buyer's
receipt of Seller's dispute notice, either Buyer or Seller may refer the matter
to one of the "Big Six" independent public accounting firms agreed by Seller
and Buyer, the costs of which shall be borne equally by Seller and Buyer.  Such
accountants shall examine the records of the Company and determine the disputed
Working Capital Statement items within thirty (30) days following the date the
matter is referred to them, and such Working Capital determination shall be
final and binding on Buyer and Seller; and

                 (c)      If the Working Capital reflected on the Working
Capital Statement exceeds $4,000,000, then Buyer will, within ten (10) business
days after such determination, make a cash payment to Seller of and equal to
the amount by which such Working Capital exceeds $4,000,000, as a Working
Capital Adjustment.  If the Working Capital reflected on the Working Capital
Statement is less than $4,000,000, then Seller shall within ten (10) business
days after such determination make a cash payment to Buyer of and equal to the
amount by which $4,000,000 exceeds such Working Capital, as a Working Capital
Adjustment.

         2.4     CAPEX; Rig Loans.

                 (a)      (i)     Within twenty-one (21) days after the date of
this Agreement, Seller and Buyer agree to cause an independent survey to be
performed of the Projected CAPEX.  Such survey is to be based on the scope of
work described in Exhibit 2.4(a) and shall be performed by Moduspec Engineering
International B.V.  This survey shall provide (x) a compilation of all sums
paid or incurred for capital expenditures on the Rigs relating to the Agreed
CAPEX by the





                                      -16-
<PAGE>   21
Company between January 1, 1997 and the date of such report, all as recorded in
the Company's books and records or, if not yet booked, as reflected in all
purchase or work orders issued, and all vendors' invoices received, by the
Company in relation to such expenditures (which records shall be conclusive
save for manifest error and shall not be subject to question by such surveyor),
plus (y) without duplication, an independent estimate of all future
expenditures necessary to accomplish the scope of work for each Rig as set
forth in Exhibit 2.4(a).  Subject to subparagraph (ii) below, Seller and Buyer
agree to accept, as final and binding, the prior paid or incurred capital
expenditure amounts and the projected capital expenditure amounts set forth in
the independent survey report ("Agreed CAPEX").  The Agreed CAPEX report shall
be set forth in detail and format similar to Exhibit 2.4(a) and delivered to
Seller and Buyer.  All costs of such survey shall be borne equally by Seller
and Buyer.

                          (ii)    If either Buyer or Seller disputes any
estimated capital expenditures in the  Agreed CAPEX report, such party may, by
notice in writing to the other party, request a redetermination (at the cost of
the disputing party) of the disputed items.  Such redetermination is to be
carried out by another independent surveyor acceptable to Buyer and Seller and
shall be delivered to the parties within fourteen (14) days after the
appointment of such new surveyor.  This second independent report shall be
final and binding without further appeal or challenge.

                 (b)      Subject to subparagraph (c) below, Buyer agrees to
reimburse Seller at Closing for all Agreed CAPEX; provided, however, that any
Agreed CAPEX incurred by HOC after the completion of the final Agreed CAPEX
report will only be reimbursed by Buyer if such expenditure received the prior
written approval of Buyer.





                                      -17-
<PAGE>   22
                 (c)      Prior to Closing, Buyer may, at Buyer's option upon
request of Seller, advance to, or pay on behalf of, HOC any amounts incurred by
HOC, upon Buyer's previous written consent, in connection with the Agreed
CAPEX, as such amounts become due and payable.  All such advances and payments
made by Buyer in connection with the Agreed CAPEX prior to Closing shall be
deemed to be a loan (collectively, "Rig Loans") from Buyer to Seller and the
Company, jointly and severally, pursuant to the provisions of the Rig Loans
Note, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.4(c).  Seller and the
Company shall be liable to Buyer for the repayment of all sums owed under the
Rig Loans Note.

                 (d)      At the Closing, Buyer shall irrevocably terminate the
Rig Loans Note and unconditionally release, with prejudice, and discharge
forever Seller and the Company from all liability and obligations under the Rig
Loans Note.  Such release and discharge to be in the form of Exhibit 2.4(d).
If for any reason the Closing does not take place, Seller and the Company shall
remain liable to Buyer under the terms of the Rig Loans Note until same has
been repaid in full.

         2.5     Closing.

                 The "Closing" of the purchase and sale provided for in this
Agreement shall take place at the offices of Griggs & Harrison, P.C., 1301
McKinney St., Suite 3200, Houston, Texas 77010, at 10:00 a.m., Houston time, on
the Closing Date, or at such other time and place as the parties hereto shall
mutually agree in writing.  Unless extended by agreement in writing of the
parties, which date is referred to herein as the "Closing Date", the Closing
shall take place on a date and time jointly agreed to by Seller and Buyer which
is on or before two (2) weeks after the





                                      -18-
<PAGE>   23
date on which the last approval required for Closing by Seller and Buyer under
Sections 6.4 and 7.3 is obtained.  The Closing Date shall in any event take
place prior to December 31, 1997.

         2.6     Closing Deliveries.

                 At the Closing:

                 (a)      Seller shall deliver to Buyer certificates
representing the Shares, duly endorsed to Buyer, together with such instruments
of transfer required by applicable law, which shall transfer to Buyer good and
marketable (legal and beneficial) title to the Shares, free and clear of all
liens and encumbrances, except for the Shares Pledge if and to the extent that
Buyer elects to assume the Heller Loan under Section 2.2;

                 (b)      Seller shall also deliver to Buyer all Contracts and
additional documents, instruments and certificates to be delivered to Buyer
under the terms of this Agreement;

                 (c)      Seller shall receive the Guaranty Release if Buyer
has agreed to assume the Heller Loan;

                 (d)      Buyer shall deliver to Seller the Purchase Price, as
same may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of  Section 2.2 of this
Agreement;

                 (e)      If relevant, Buyer shall pay directly to the
appropriate Lender all Funded Debt not assumed by Buyer under Section 2.2 and
the balance of the Purchase Price, as adjusted, to Seller;

                 (f)      Buyer shall deliver to Seller the original Rig Loans
Note and the executed Rigs Loan release in Exhibit 2.4(d), and shall pay to
Seller, in cash, all Agreed CAPEX reimbursements pursuant to Section 2.4(b),
less the principal sum outstanding on any Rig Loan Notes; and





                                      -19-
<PAGE>   24
                 (g)      Buyer shall deliver to Seller all other documents,
instruments and certificates required to be delivered by Buyer pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement.

3.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER.

         SELLER REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS TO BUYER AS FOLLOWS:

         3.1     Organization and Good Standing.

                 The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the State of Texas and has full
corporate power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted, to own, lease or charter the Rigs, properties and Assets which it
owns, leases or charters and to perform all of its obligations under the
agreements and instruments to which it is a party or by which it is bound.  The
copies of the Articles of Incorporation, bylaws and other organizational
documents of the Company, as amended to date, true copies of which, certified
by the Secretary of the Company, have heretofore been delivered to Buyer, are
complete and correct, in full force and effect, and no provision thereof or of
Seller's equivalent Corporate Charter Documents would preclude any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Seller is a public company duly
organized, validly existing  and in good standing under the laws of Malaysia.
Seller's Memorandum and Articles of Association and other organizational
documents are in full force and effect and valid under the laws of Malaysia and
no provision thereof would preclude any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.  The organizational documents of the Company or Seller, as
appropriate in this context, are hereinafter referred to as "Corporate Charter
Documents."





                                      -20-
<PAGE>   25
         3.2     Authority.

                 Seller has all necessary corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and all agreements, instruments and
documents to be executed and delivered hereunder by it, to sell, transfer and
deliver the Shares to Buyer at the Closing (subject to the terms of the Shares
Pledge, if applicable), to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and
to perform all terms and conditions hereof to be performed by it.  The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and all agreements, instruments and
documents to be executed and delivered by Seller hereunder, the performance by
Seller of all the terms and conditions hereof and thereof to be performed, and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action of the board of directors of
Seller, and no other corporate proceedings other than approval of the
shareholders of Seller are necessary with respect thereto.  All persons who
have executed and delivered this Agreement, and all persons who will execute
and deliver the Shares, transfers and other agreements, documents, instruments
and certificates to be executed and delivered hereunder by Seller have been
duly authorized by all necessary board of director actions on the part of
Seller, as applicable.

         3.3     Enforceability; Conflicts, etc.

                 This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligations of Seller enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Seller nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby to be performed by the
parties hereto will (a) violate or conflict with any provision of the Corporate
Charter Documents of Seller, as amended to date, or (b) violate or conflict in
any material way with any provision of any law, rule, regulation, order,
permit, certificate, writ, judgment,





                                      -21-
<PAGE>   26
injunction, decree, determination, award or other decision of any court,
Governmental Agency, domestic or foreign, or arbitrator binding upon Seller.
Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby will (except as specified in Exhibit 3.3
under the caption "Required Consents") result in a breach of, or constitute a
default (or with notice or lapse of time or both would result in a breach of or
constitute a default) under, or otherwise give any person the right to
terminate any lease, license, contract or other agreement or instrument to
which Seller or the Company is a party, except for the Shares Pledge and
Seller's guaranty under the Heller Loan.  Neither the execution and delivery by
Seller of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby will result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any mortgage,
deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest, or other charge or encumbrance
of any nature upon or  with respect to any of the properties now or hereafter
owned by the Company.

         3.4     Title to Shares; Shares Pledge.

                 (a)      Subject only to the Shares Pledge, Seller now has,
and will have at Closing, full legal and beneficial title to all of the Shares,
free and clear of all liens and encumbrances.  The Shares are duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and constitute 100% of the issued
and outstanding shares (common and preferred) of HOC.  Seller will, by delivery
to Buyer of certificates properly endorsed representing the Shares at the
Closing, have transferred, delivered and vested in Buyer good and marketable
(legal and beneficial) title to the whole of the Shares free and clear of all
liens, pledges, encumbrances, security interests, claims, charges and
restrictions whatsoever, with the exception of the Shares Pledge, if the Heller
Loan is assumed by Buyer.  Except for the Shares Pledge, there are no
outstanding agreements, options, warrants





                                      -22-
<PAGE>   27
or other rights of any kind whatsoever entitling any person to purchase or
acquire an interest in any of the Shares.  The certificates representing any
Shares delivered at the Closing and the signatures and endorsements thereof or
instruments of transfer delivered therewith will be valid and genuine.

         (b)     Pursuant to the provisions of the Shares Pledge, all of the
HOC Common Stock is pledged to Heller as security for the Heller Loan.  If
Buyer elects to assume the Heller Loan, pursuant to the provisions of Section
2.2, Buyer acknowledges and agrees that the HOC Common Stock may at the Closing
still remain pledged to, and be in the possession of, Heller to secure the
Heller Loan.  In such event, Seller's warranty of title given above and
elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be qualified to take into
account the Shares Pledge.

         3.5     Capitalization.

                 The authorized and issued capital of the Company at December
31, 1996  is as set forth in Exhibit 3.5.  There are no outstanding or
authorized options, warrants, rights, calls or commitments of any character
relating to unissued or treasury shares of such capital, and there are no
outstanding securities or other instruments convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of such capital and no commitments to issue such securities or
instruments.

         3.6     Subsidiaries.

                 The Company has no subsidiaries.





                                      -23-
<PAGE>   28
         3.7     Financial Statements.

                 (a)      The books of account and related records of the
Company fairly reflect in reasonable detail the Assets, Liabilities and
transactions of the Company and are sufficient to form the basis of financial
statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, and are sufficient to permit an
independent auditor to render an unqualified audit opinion with respect to such
financial statements.  The Seller has delivered to the Buyer the financial
statements of the Company listed in Exhibit 3.7(a) (the "Financial
Statements").

                 (b)      The Financial Statements (including the notes
thereto) (i) fairly present  the financial positions of the Company as of their
respective dates and the results of its operations and cash flow for the
periods covered thereby, and (ii) are in conformity with and have been prepared
in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis.

         3.8     No Changes.

                 Since the Audit Date there has not been:

                 (a)      Any material change in the financial position,
results of operations, business, Assets (including any damage, destruction or
loss thereto) or Liabilities of the Company, except changes in the ordinary
course of business;

                 (b)      Any payment, discharge, or satisfaction by the
Company of any liability or obligation (whether accrued, absolute, contingent,
or otherwise), other than the payment, discharge, or satisfaction, in the
ordinary course of business, of Liabilities or obligations shown or reflected
on the Financial Statements since the Audit Date, except as set forth on
Exhibit 3.8(b);





                                      -24-
<PAGE>   29
                 (c)      Any change by the Company in any method of accounting
or of the keeping of its books of account or accounting practices;

                 (d)      Any issued, sold, purchased or redeemed shares of the
Company's share capital; any subdivided or in any way reclassified capital
shares, or amendments to the  Corporate Charter Documents of the Company;

                 (e)      Except for the Bareboat Charters, Capital Leases, any
obligations incurred for Agreed CAPEX, other obligations incurred in the
ordinary course of business and as otherwise permitted in this Agreement, any
incurred liability or obligation under agreements or otherwise except for
obligations pursuant to this Agreement; nor has the Company made any material
acquisitions, issued or become obligated with respect to any notes, debentures,
bonds or other debt securities, or waived any rights or claims which are
material to the business or condition of the Company; or

                 (f)      Any transaction, agreement, or event outside the
ordinary course of the Company's business;

                 (g)      Except for changes made in the ordinary course of
business not involving officers or key employees of the Company, or as
disclosed to Buyer, any material increase or modification of, or commitment to
increase or modify, the compensation of its employees, including salaries,
bonus or other employee benefits or severance payments or obligations, or any
modification of the terms of any  employment, severance or collective
bargaining agreement, except for the senior management, salaried and operations
incentive bonus plans for fiscal year 1997 approved in the ordinary course of
business, copies and details of which have been disclosed to Buyer;





                                      -25-
<PAGE>   30
                 (h)      Any capital expenditures outside the ordinary course
of business, except Projected CAPEX;

                 (i)      Any material damage, destruction, or loss (whether or
not covered by insurance) to its property, other than ordinary wear and tear;
and

                 (j)      Any legal commitment incurred by the Company to do
any of the foregoing.

         3.9     Benefit Plans.

                 (a)      Definitions.  Where the following words and phrases
appear in this Agreement, they shall have the respective meanings set forth
below, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary:

                          (i)     Each "employee benefit plan," as such term is
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, including, but not limited to, any employee
benefit plan that may be exempt from some or all provisions of ERISA, which is
sponsored, maintained, or contributed to by the Company or Seller for the
benefit of employees, former employees, independent contractors, or agents of
the Company, or has been so sponsored, maintained, or contributed to since 1974
("Plans").

                          (ii)    Each personnel policy, stock option plan,
collective bargaining agreement, bonus plan or arrangement, incentive award
plan or arrangement, vacation policy, severance pay plan, policy or agreement,
deferred compensation agreement or arrangement, executive compensation or
supplemental income arrangement, consulting agreement, employment agreement,
and each other employee benefit plan, agreement, arrangement, program, practice
or understanding, which is not described in Section 3.9(a)(i) and which is
sponsored, maintained, or contributed to by the Company or Seller for the
benefit of the employees, former employees,





                                      -26-
<PAGE>   31
independent contractors, or agents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
or has been so sponsored, maintained, or contributed to since 1974 ("Benefit
Programs or Agreements").

                          (iii)   Collectively, the Plans and Benefit Programs
or Agreements are defined as "Benefit Plans".

                 (b)      Exhibit 3.9(b) lists each Benefit Plan, which is
sponsored, maintained, or contributed to by the Company, or has been so
sponsored, maintained, or contributed to since September 1, 1993, and true,
correct, and complete copies of each such Benefit Plan, and related trusts, if
applicable, including all amendments thereto, have been furnished to Buyer.
There have also been furnished to Buyer, with respect to each such Benefit Plan
required to file such report and/or description, the most recent report on Form
5500 and the summary plan description.

                 (c)      (i)     Neither the Company nor any Commonly
Controlled Entity (as defined in Section 3.9(c)(xii)) contributes to or has an
obligation to contribute to, nor has the Company or any Commonly Controlled
Entity at any time within six years prior to the Closing Date contributed to or
had an obligation to contribute to, a multiemployer plan within the meaning of
Section 3(37) of ERISA.

                          (ii)    All obligations, whether arising by operation
of law or by contract, required to be performed in connection with the Benefit
Plans have been performed, and there have been no omissions, defaults, or
violations by any party with respect to any Benefit Plan;

                          (iii)   Except as disclosed in the following two
subparagraphs (a) and (b) and in paragraph (iv) below, all reports and
disclosures relating to the Benefit Plans required  to be filed or furnished to
Governmental Agencies, participants, or beneficiaries have been filed or





                                      -27-
<PAGE>   32
furnished in accordance with applicable law in a timely manner, and each
Benefit Plan has been administered in compliance with its governing documents.

                                  (a)      The Hercules Offshore Corporation
Employee Welfare Benefit Plan failed to give initial notification of COBRA
rights to plan participants.

                                  (b)      The Hercules Offshore Corporation
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan has not filed either an annual Form
5500 or a "top hat filing".  The Company covenants and agrees that it will
correct this oversight prior to the Closing.

                           (iv)   Each Plan that is intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code (A) satisfies the requirements of such
Section, (B) has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS
regarding such qualified status and covering amendments required under the Tax
Reform Act of 1986 (TRA '86), the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992,
the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1993, the final nondiscrimination regulations
under Section 401(a)(4) of the Code, and all other amendments required to be
filed within the TRA '86 remedial amendment period described in Internal
Revenue Procedures 95-12 (the "TRA '86 Amendments") and (C) has not, since
receipt of the most favorable determination letter, been amended or operated in
a way that would adversely affect such qualified status except that (x) the
Company has not sought a determination letter with respect to the Hercules
Offshore Corporation 401(k) Plan and (y) the Plan has mistakenly excluded
bonuses from the definition of compensation when calculating the employer
matching contribution maximum of 6% of compensation.

                          (v)     There are no actions, suits, or claims
pending (other than routine claims for benefits) or threatened against, or with
respect to, any of the Benefit Plans or their assets;





                                      -28-
<PAGE>   33
                          (vi)    All contributions required to be made to the
Benefit Plans pursuant to their terms and provisions have been made timely;

                          (vii)   The Company has not ever maintained a Plan,
or had an obligation to contribute to a Plan which is subject to Title IV of
ERISA;

                          (viii)  As to any Plan intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code, there has been no termination of, partial
termination of, or discontinuance of contributions to the Plan within the
meaning of Section 411(d)(3) of the Code;

                          (ix)    No act, omission, or transaction has occurred
that would result in the imposition on the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or any employee or former employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries of
(A) breach of fiduciary duty liability damages under Section 409 or Section 502
of ERISA, (B) a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subsections (c), (i), or (1)
of Section 502 of ERISA, or (C) a tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 43 of
Subtitle D of the Code;

                          (x)     There is no matter pending (other than
routine qualification determination findings) with respect to any of the
Benefit Plans before the IRS, the Department of Labor, or other applicable
Governmental Agency;

                          (xi)    The Company has never sponsored a trust
intended to be exempt under Section 501(c)(9) of the Code;

                          (xii)   With respect to any employee benefit plan,
within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, which is not a Benefit Plan but
which is sponsored, maintained, or contributed to, or has been sponsored,
maintained, or contributed to within six years prior to the Closing Date, by
any corporation, trade, business, or entity under common control with the





                                      -29-
<PAGE>   34
Company or Seller, within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m), or (o) of
the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA ("Commonly Controlled Entity"), (A) no
withdrawal liability, within the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA, has been
incurred, which withdrawal liability has not been satisfied, (B) no liability
to the PBGC has been incurred by any Commonly Controlled Entity, which
liability has not been satisfied, (C) no accumulated funding deficiency,
whether or not waived, within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section
412 of the Code has been incurred, and (D) all contributions (including
installments) to such plans required by Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of
the Code have been timely made.

                 (d)      The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A) require the
Company to make a larger contribution to, or pay greater benefits under, any
Benefit Plan than it otherwise would, (B) create or give rise to any additional
vested rights or service credits under any Benefit Plan, or (C) violate the
terms of any Benefit Plan or applicable law thereto.

                 (e)      Neither the Company nor Seller is a party to any
agreement, nor has the Company or Seller established a policy or practice
requiring it to make a payment or provide any other form of compensation or
benefit to any person performing services for the Company upon termination of
such services that would not, in any event, be payable or provided in the
absence of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                 (f)      In connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no payments have or will be made
under the Benefit Plans which, in the aggregate, would result in imposition of
the sanctions imposed under Section 280G or Section 4999 of the Code.





                                      -30-
<PAGE>   35
                 (g)      Each Benefit Plan may be unilaterally amended or
terminated in its entirety by the Company without liability except as to
benefits accrued and vested thereunder prior to or upon such amendment or
termination.

                 (h)      No Benefit Plan provides medical or life insurance
benefits to former employees, except as may be required by Section 4980B of the
Code or Sections 601 through 608 of ERISA ("COBRA coverage"), and the Company
is not contractually or otherwise obligated (whether or not in writing) to
provide medical or life benefits upon retirement or termination of employment
other than COBRA coverage.

         3.10    Tax Returns and Taxes.

                 (a)      Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.10, (i) all returns
and reports ("Tax Returns") of or with respect to any Tax which is required to
be filed on or before the Closing Date by or with respect to the Company have
been or will be duly and timely filed, (ii) all items of income, gain, loss,
deduction and credit or other items required to be included in each such Tax
Return have been or will be so included and all information provided in each
such Tax Return is true, correct and complete, (iii) all Taxes which have
become or will become due with respect to the period covered by each such Tax
Return have been or will be timely paid in full, (iv) all withholding Tax
requirements imposed on or with respect to the Company have been or will be
satisfied in full, and (v) no penalty, interest or other charge is or will
become due with respect to the late filing of any such Tax Return or late
payment of any such Tax.

                 (b)      There is no claim against the Company for any Taxes,
and no assessment, deficiency or adjustment has been asserted or proposed with
respect to any Tax Return of or with





                                      -31-
<PAGE>   36
respect to the Company, other than those disclosed in Exhibit 3.10 (and to
which are attached true and complete copies of all audit or similar reports).

                 (c)      Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.10, there is not in
force any extension of time with respect to the due date for the filing of any
Tax Return of or with respect to the Company or any waiver or agreement for any
extension of time for the assessment or payment of any Tax of or with respect
to the Company.

                 (d)      The total amounts set up as liabilities for current
and deferred Taxes in the Company's Closing Date balance sheet will be
sufficient to cover the payment of all Taxes, whether or not assessed or
disputed, which are, as of the Closing Date, or which could thereafter be found
to be, due by or with respect to the Company up to and through the periods
covered thereby.

                 (e)      The Company is not and has never been a member of an
affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated Tax
Return in any jurisdiction.

                 (f)      Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.10, none of the
property of the Company is held in an arrangement that could be classified as a
partnership for Tax purposes, and the Company  does not own any interest in any
controlled foreign corporation (as defined in section 957 of the Code), passive
foreign investment company (as defined in section 1296 of the Code) or other
entity the income of which is required to be included in the income of the
Company.

                 (g)      Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.10, none of the
property of the Company is subject to a safe- harbor lease (pursuant to section
168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as in effect after the Economic
Recovery Tax Act of 1981 and before the Tax Reform Act





                                      -32-
<PAGE>   37
of 1986) or is "tax-exempt use property" (within the meaning of section 168(h)
of the Code) or "tax-exempt bond financed property" (within the meaning of
section 168g(5) of the Code).

                 (h)      Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.10, the Company will
not be required to include any amount in income for any taxable period
beginning on the Closing Date as a result of a change in accounting method for
any taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date or pursuant to any
agreement with any Tax authority with respect to any such taxable period.

                 (i)      The Company has not consented to have the provisions
of  section 341(f)(2) of the Code apply with respect to a sale of its stock.

                 (j)      Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.10, the transfer of
the Shares contemplated by this Agreement will not result in any Tax liability
or gain to the Company, except, however, that the change of control effected by
the transfer of the Shares at Closing could, under IRS rules, restrict the
Company's future use of any net operating losses, which could have an indirect
effect on the Company's Tax liability.

         3.11    Regulatory Filings.

                 All regulatory filings with any Governmental Agency relating
to the operations of the Company (including, but not limited to, all
environmental filings) required to be made have been made in material
compliance with applicable law, and no material deficiencies have been asserted
by any such authority with respect to such a filing.





                                      -33-
<PAGE>   38
         3.12    Litigation.

                 Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.12, there is no action, suit,
proceeding, claim or investigation pending, or to the best of Seller's
knowledge threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its Assets
before any court or Governmental Agency or regulatory authority.

         3.13    No Defaults; Contracts.

                 Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.13, no event or condition has
occurred which constitutes, or with the lapse of time or the giving of notice
or both, would constitute a material default or a basis of force majeure or
other claim of excusable delay or non-performance by the Company or any other
person under any lease of property or under any other Contract, agreement,
instrument or obligation to which the Company is a party or by which it is
bound and which is material to the Company.

         3.14    Government Regulations.

                 Set forth in Exhibit 3.14 is a true and correct list of all
franchises, licenses, permits, certificates and other governmental approvals
necessary to enable the Company to carry on its business in all material
respects as presently conducted; and the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not
materially affect any such franchise, license, permit, certificate or other
governmental approval.  The Company is not in material violation of any law,
rule, regulation, order, permit, certificate, writ, judgment, stipulation,
injunction, decree, determination, award or decision of any court, government,
or Governmental Agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, or arbitrator
binding upon the Company.





                                      -34-
<PAGE>   39
         3.15    Assets, Liabilities and Certain Covenants.

                 Set forth in Exhibits to this Section 3.15 are true and
correct lists of the following Assets and Liabilities as of March 31, 1997:

                 (a)      all Real Property Leases as described in Exhibit
3.15(a);

                 (b)      all Rigs owned by the Company as set forth by name in
Exhibit 3.15(b);

                 (c)      all Rigs chartered to or operated by the Company as
set forth in Exhibit 3.15(c);

                 (d)      all Rig Equipment and Inventory, itemized by Rig
number in Exhibit 3.15(d), and all other personal property by category owned by
the Company;

                 (e)      all Drilling Contracts and other Contracts between
the Company and others which are in force as of the date hereof (including,
without limitation, mortgages, charters, leases, deeds of trust, loan and
credit agreements, security agreements, pledge agreements, employment
contracts, labor union contracts, contracts or commitments for the purchase or
sale of shares, products or services) which impose an obligation on the
Company, or to which the Company's properties are subject, in an amount
exceeding $100,000, all as set forth in Exhibits 1.1(ii) and 3.15(e);

                 (f)      all Rig Rental Equipment agreements and other capital
leases and rental agreements to which the Company is a party with respect to
Rig Rental Equipment, Inventory or all other personal property, all as listed
in Exhibit 3.15(f);

                 (g)      all Liabilities (including, but not limited to,
indebtedness for borrowed money) of the Company, as set forth in Exhibit
3.15(g);

                 (h)      all policies of insurance of the Company, as listed
in Exhibit 3.15(h);





                                      -35-
<PAGE>   40
                 (i)      all separate agreements for the employment of any
individual on a full-time, part-time, consulting, or other basis providing
annual compensation in excess of $75,000 or any agreement or document providing
severance benefits outside the Company's customary severance policy, as set
forth in Exhibit 3.15(i); and

                 (j)      any agreement under which it has advanced or loaned
any amount to any of its directors, officers, and employees outside the
ordinary course of business, as set forth in Exhibit 3.15(j).

         3.16    Employees.

                 Seller has caused the Company to give Buyer true and correct
lists of all present directors, officers and employees of the Company,
including each such person's date of hire or appointment and annual salary,
bonus and benefits for the year ended on December 31, 1996, and for the current
year, 1997.  Exhibit 3.16(a) sets forth a list of all employees of the Company
who are not "active employees" as of May 1, 1997, and, with respect to each
such employee, the reason for inactive status.  For purposes of the preceding
sentence, "active employee" shall mean (i) each employee who is physically at
work on such day and (ii) each employee who is not physically at work on such
day solely because he is on employer-approved vacation, sick leave (not
including short-term disability or long-term disability), or paid time off (not
exceeding 15 days per year).  The Company is not a party to or subject to any
labor union or collective bargaining agreement.  The Company is in material
compliance with all applicable laws pertaining to employment and employment
practices and wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment in
respect of its respective employees.  The Company is not engaged in any unfair
labor practices or unlawful employment practices.  There is no pending action,
claim,





                                      -36-
<PAGE>   41
investigation or inquiry by or before, and the Company is not subject to any
judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of or inquiry from, any
Governmental Agency in connection with any current, former or prospective
employee of the Company, except for minor court or regulatory orders or decrees
in connection with the garnishment of employee wages for child support payments
or other routine garnishments permitted or required by applicable law and other
non-material orders or decrees in the ordinary course of business.

         3.17    Minute Books.

                 The minute books of the Company made available to Buyer and
its representatives contain true and correct copies of the minutes of each
meeting of and all resolutions passed by the Board of Directors of the Company
and no meeting or resolution of such Board has been held or passed for which
minutes are not contained therein, with the exception of resolutions of the
Board of Directors passed on April 18, 1997, true copies of which will be given
to Buyer when same are available.

         3.18    Payment of Expenses of Brokers or Finders.

                 Seller has hired Jefferies & Co. in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and Seller hereby indemnifies and
holds harmless Buyer from any brokerage or finders' fees or agents' commissions
or their like payment in connection with this Agreement alleged to be due by or
through Seller or as a result of the action of Seller.

         3.19    Undisclosed Liabilities.

                 The Company has no, and the Company's properties and Assets
are not subject to, any liability, commitment, indebtedness or obligation of
any kind whatsoever (whether liquidated or unliquidated, actual or contingent),
on the Company or its Assets, which (a) is not shown and





                                      -37-
<PAGE>   42
adequately reserved against in the Financial Statements or (b) has not been
disclosed to Buyer in writing.

         3.20    Patents, Trademarks, Licenses and Permits.

                 The Company is not presently being challenged for infringement
of patents, patent rights or licenses, trademarks or trade names, or copyrights
or copyright registrations, nor to the best of Seller's knowledge, is the
Company in conflict with the rights of others with respect to patents, patent
rights or licenses, trademarks, trade names or copyrights.

         3.21    Powers of Attorney.

                 No person or company holds any power of attorney or blank
transfer form from Seller on any of the Shares except for Heller under the
Shares Pledge.

         3.22    Use of Names.

                 Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the
Buyer shall acquire from Seller all of its respective right, title and interest
to use the name "Hercules Offshore Corporation" and all derivatives of such
name (the "Name") (excluding Hercules Marine Services Corp., Hercules Capital
Corporation and HOC Liquidating Corporation) and the trademarks, trade names
and service marks listed in Exhibit 3.22 hereof  (the "Marks") and shall obtain
the exclusive right to use the Name and the Marks; and Seller shall not have
any right to use the Name or the Marks.

         3.23    Books and Records.

                 All of the books and records of the Company including all
personnel files, employee data and other materials relating to employees, are
substantially complete and correct, have been maintained in accordance with
good business practice and all applicable laws, and, in





                                      -38-
<PAGE>   43
the case of the books of account, have been prepared and maintained in
accordance with GAAP.  Such books and records accurately and fairly reflect, in
reasonable detail, all Assets,  Liabilities and material transactions of the
Company.

         3.24    Performance Bonds; Letters of Credit.

                 Set forth in Exhibit 3.24 is a listing of all performance and
similar bonds and letters of credit currently posted by, or any certificate of
financial responsibility or similar evidence of financial accountability
obtained or procured by, the Company for the purpose of owning and operating
the Rigs or otherwise conducting its business.

         3.25    Certain Property on Rigs.

                 After the date hereof, subject to normal wear and tear and
consumption in the ordinary course of business, neither Seller nor the Company
shall remove or permit to be removed any tangible property from any Rig, which
tangible property has a value equal to or greater than $100,000 in the
aggregate for all Rigs, except for (a) Rig Rental Equipment, (b) any  equipment
owned by oil and gas operators or other operators or contractors working for
the Company in the ordinary course of business, (c)  any such tangible property
relocated from one Rig to another Rig or transferred to storage and held for
use on or in connection with the Rigs, and (d) any equipment or tangible
property removed and later returned or replaced as part of the Agreed CAPEX
program.

         3.26    Rig Classifications and Certifications; Shipping Laws.

                 (a)      The classification of each Rig and, if applicable,
the flag under which is documented is set forth in Exhibit 3.26(a), together
with a summary of the recommendations to class for each of the Rigs based on
the most recent survey of such Rig as of the date of this





                                      -39-
<PAGE>   44
Agreement, as well as a listing of required certifications and the expiration
date for each such certification.  Each of the Rigs has and will have at
Closing all required class and Coast Guard certifications (subject to any
listed recommendations) necessary for its present operations in full force and
effect in the name of HOC (with the exception of Rig 14 and any other Rig that
may be affected by any loss or damage referred to in Section 8.5).

                 (b)      Each Rig is duly and correctly documented under the
laws of the jurisdiction where same is required to be documented.

                 (c)      Rig 14 is currently undergoing modifications and
repairs and is located at Coastline Contractors Inc.'s dock in Cameron,
Louisiana.  Until the Closing, Seller shall cause HOC to use reasonable efforts
and exercise prudent care in overseeing and ensuring that any work on Rig 14 is
performed in a workmanlike manner.  Subject to Section 9.3, Seller and HOC
shall permit Buyer, at its own risk and cost, to observe and inspect all work
being conducted on Rig 14.

                 (d)(i)   Subject to (d)(iii) below, Rig 1 is as of the date
hereof, and will be as of the Closing, leased to Driltech and AGP pursuant to
the Driltech Lease which is in full force and effect as of the date hereof and
all rental payments due HOC thereunder have been timely paid.

                 (ii) Rig 1 is currently located in the Campos Basin, offshore
Brazil, working for Petrobras, and a true copy of the Petrobras Contract has
been given to Buyer prior to the date hereof.

                 (iii) The Driltech Lease has been, or shortly will be,
assigned to Cliffs Drilling Company, a Delaware corporation, pursuant to an
Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated with effect from May 1, 1997, and
Driltech and AGP have guaranteed the assignee's performance





                                      -40-
<PAGE>   45
and obligations as lessee thereunder.  Pursuant to a separate Assignment and
Assumption Agreement dated as of May 1, 1997, the Petrobras Contract has been,
or shortly will be, assigned to Cliffs Drilling do Brasil Servicos de Petroleo
S/C Ltda., shortly to be renamed Delta Petroleo Ltda.

                 (e)      The Company qualifies as a "citizen" of the United
States of America for purposes of the documentation of vessels in the United
States under the Shipping Laws.

         3.27    Title to Assets.

                 The Company has good and marketable title to all of its Rigs
and other Assets, real and personal, free and clear of all liens and
encumbrances, except for Permitted Liens, and such other imperfections of
title, easements, restrictions, liens, and encumbrances, if any, that do not,
individually or in the aggregate, materially affect the value or intended use
or enjoyment of the Rigs or the Assets.  Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.27,
the Company has not received notice of any violation of, or default under, any
law, ordinance, order, certificate, regulation or requirement relating to its
owned or leased properties or Assets which remains uncured or has not been
dismissed.  The Bareboat Charters, Equipment Leases and other leases and
licenses pursuant to which the Company charters, leases or licenses from or to
others any Rigs, Rig Equipment, Inventory or other material real or personal
property are in all material respects in good standing and valid and effective
in accordance with their respective terms.

         3.28    Rig Equipment; Inventory.

                 As of the date of this Agreement, the Company owns good and
marketable title to the Rig Equipment and Inventory, except for Rig Rental
Equipment and other equipment belonging to third parties, free and clear of all
encumbrances except for Permitted Liens.  As of





                                      -41-
<PAGE>   46
the Closing Date, the Company will own good and marketable title to the Rig
Equipment and Inventory, except for Rig Rental Equipment and other third party
equipment described above, as such Rig Equipment and Inventory may be reduced
through the consumption thereof, or increased through replacement thereof or
additions thereto, in the ordinary course of the maintenance and operation of
the Rigs through the Closing Date, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances
except for Permitted Liens, if any, created or permitted to be imposed by
Buyer.

         3.29    Contracts.

                 Seller has caused the Company to deliver to Buyer for review
complete and correct copies of all Contracts, and all  amendments thereto and
assignments thereof.  Except for any necessary Lender Consents or any Brazilian
consents required to complete assignment of the Driltech Lease to Cliffs
Drilling Company and the Petrobras Contract to Cliffs' Brazilian subsidiary, no
consents are needed for any Contracts.  As of the date of this Agreement, each
of the Contracts is valid, binding and in full force and effect against the
Company and, as of the Closing, each of the Contracts will be valid, binding
and in full force and effect against the Company.  As of the date hereof, the
Company is not in default in any material respect, and no notice of alleged
default has been received by Seller or the Company under any of the Contracts,
and no other party thereto is in default thereunder in any material respect,
and there exists no condition or event which, with or without notice or passage
of time or both, would (i) constitute a material default under any of the
Contracts by the Company, or (ii) otherwise give any other party to such a
Contract the right to charge any material penalties to Seller or the Company or
reduce the rates that would otherwise be payable to the Company under such a
Contract.





                                      -42-
<PAGE>   47
         3.30    Insurance.

                 The Company maintains insurance with sound and reputable
insurers, and there are currently in full force and effect, policies of
insurance with respect to the Rigs and all other Assets and business of Seller
against such casualties and contingencies of such types and in such amounts as
are customary for drilling contractors of similar size engaged in similar
operations, including, without limitation, all policies regarding Worker's
Compensation.  All premiums due and payable with respect to such policies have
been timely paid and no notice of cancellation of, or any intention not to
renew, any such policy has been received by the Company.  Set forth in Exhibit
3.15(h) is a summary description of (a) the insurance maintained by the Company
covering each of the Rigs and/or the operation of its business and (b) all
outstanding insurance claims.

         3.31    Environmental Matters.

                 The Company is in material compliance with all Environmental
Laws applicable to its operations.  No notice, citation, summons or order has
been issued, no complaint has been filed, no penalty has been assessed and no
investigation or review is pending or threatened by any Governmental Agency or
other governmental entity or person with respect to any generation, treatment,
storage, recycling, transportation, release or disposal of any Hazardous
Substances by the Company or, to the best of Seller's knowledge on behalf of
the Company.  The Company has (a) not received any request for information,
notice of claim, demand, or other  notification that the Company is or may be
potentially responsible with respect to any investigation or clean-up of any
threatened or actual release of any Hazardous Substance and (b) received no
notice of, and neither knows of nor suspects, facts or conditions which might
constitute any violation of, give rise to or result in, any remedial
obligations of the Company under any United States





                                      -43-
<PAGE>   48
Environmental Laws.  The Company has been issued all necessary permits and
governmental authorizations in order to carry on its business as currently
operated, and, to the extent necessary, agrees to transfer all such permits and
authorizations to Buyer at the Closing.  To the best of Seller's knowledge,
there have been no environmental inspections, investigations, studies, audits,
tests, reviews, or other analyses conducted in relation to any property or
business now or previously owned, operated or leased by the Company except as
set forth in Exhibit 3.31 hereof.  Except for the alleged circumstances
disclosed on Exhibit 3.31 (with respect to Bob Casale, et ux.), there is no
material liability to any non-governmental third party in tort in connection
with any release into the environment of, or any exposure to, any Hazardous
Substances as a result of or with respect to the properties which are now or
previously owned or leased by the Company or with respect to the businesses of
the Company.

         3.32    Consents.

                 No consent, approval, or authorization of, or registration or
filing with, any person, including any governmental authority or other
regulatory agency is required of Seller or the Company in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby except for: (a) a pre-merger notification
filing under HSR and any further filings or Governmental Agency requirements in
connection therewith, (b) the approval of the Malaysian Securities Commission,
(c) the approval of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange and (d) approval of the
shareholders of Seller.

         3.33    LIMITATION OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

                 EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH HEREIN, SELLER MAKES NO
REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN CONNECTION WITH





                                      -44-
<PAGE>   49
THE COMPANY, THE RIGS, THE CONTRACTS, THE DRILTECH LEASE, THE CHARTERS, REAL
PROPERTY LEASES OR ANY OTHER ASSETS OF THE COMPANY OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT,  INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY,
VALUE, REPAIR, SEAWORTHINESS, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE, OR
QUALITY, OR AS TO THE ABSENCE OF ANY DEFECTS THEREIN, WHETHER LATENT OR PATENT,
IT BEING UNDERSTOOD THAT THE RIGS AND ASSETS OF THE COMPANY ARE BEING
TRANSFERRED WITH THE SHARES  HEREUNDER "AS IS AND WHERE IS" WITH ALL FAULTS AND
IN THEIR PRESENT STATE AND CONDITION.  BUYER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS EXAMINED,
AND MADE ITS OWN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF, THE COMPANY, THE RIGS AND OTHER
ASSETS AND HAS NOT RELIED ON ANY STATEMENTS OF ANY COMPANY EMPLOYEE OR
REPRESENTATIVE AS TO VALUES, OR CONDITION OR APPRAISALS OF, OR REPRESENTATIONS
OR WARRANTIES (OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT) IN CONNECTION WITH,
THE SHARES, THE COMPANY, THE RIGS, CONTRACTS OR THE OTHER ASSETS.

4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY BUYER.

         Buyer hereby represents and warrants to Seller as follows:

         4.1     Organization and Good Standing.

                 Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of Delaware and is duly authorized to carry on
business and is in good standing in the





                                      -45-
<PAGE>   50
States of Oklahoma and Texas.  Buyer is a "citizen" of the United States for
vessel documentation purposes under the Shipping Laws.

         4.2     Authority.

                 Buyer has all the requisite power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement, and to perform its obligations hereunder and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.  The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Buyer and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no
other corporate action of, including any action by the shareholders of Buyer,
is necessary to authorize this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer and is a
legal, valid and binding obligation of Buyer enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms.  Buyer will have at the Closing full corporate power
and authority to make and perform this Agreement, purchase and take delivery of
the Shares and perform all other transactions contemplated herein.

         4.3     No Violation; Enforceability.

                 This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of Buyer, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the terms hereto will
violate or conflict with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation,
bylaws and other applicable organizational documents of Buyer, or violate the
provisions of or result in the acceleration of performance under any material
mortgage, lien, lease, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to
which Buyer is a party or by which it or any of its property is





                                      -46-
<PAGE>   51
bound, and will not violate or conflict with any other material restriction to
which Buyer is subject.

         4.4     Brokers or Finders.

                 Buyer has incurred no obligation or liability, contingent or
otherwise, for brokerage or finders' fees or agents' commissions or other like
payment in connection with this Agreement and WILL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS
Seller from any such payment alleged to be due by or through Buyer as a result
of the action of Buyer.

         4.5     Notice; Approvals.

                 Except for filings and any necessary approvals under HSR and
the obtaining of the necessary financing and any approvals required therefor to
complete its purchase of the Shares hereunder, Buyer need not give any notice
to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization or consent or approval of
any person or Governmental Authority in order to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.

         4.6     No Section 338 Election.

                 Buyer will not make an election under Section 338(g) of the
Code with regard to the purchase of the Shares.

5.       SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; INDEMNIFICATION.

         5.1     Survival.

                 None of the express representations and warranties of the
parties hereto contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing, except
for representations and warranties under (a) Section 3.4, which shall survive
until the close of business on the date which is ten (10) years after the
Closing Date, (b) Sections 3.9 and 3.10 and the tax representations and
agreements





                                      -47-
<PAGE>   52
contained in Section 10.4, which shall each survive until five (5) days after
the end of any applicable statutes of limitation, and (c) Section 3.31, which
shall survive for a period of six (6) months after the Closing Date, and
further except that the indemnity in Section 5.2(c) of this Agreement shall
survive without limit to time.

         5.2     Indemnification by Seller.

                 (a)      SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5.1 ABOVE, AND
THE LIMITATIONS IN  5.2(b) & (c) BELOW, SELLER SHALL AND DOES HEREBY AGREE TO
DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS BUYER AND ITS AFFILIATES AND THEIR
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS FROM
AND AGAINST:

                          (i) ANY LOSS, LIABILITY, CLAIM, OBLIGATION, DAMAGE,
DEFICIENCY (AND, WITH RESPECT TO SECTION 3.9 ONLY, TAXES) OR ANY JUDGMENT,
ASSESSMENT, INTEREST OR PENALTY ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM ANY
MISREPRESENTATION, BREACH OF WARRANTY, OR NON-FULFILMENT OF ANY AGREEMENT OR
COVENANT ON THE PART OF SELLER CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY INACCURACY IN
ANY STATEMENT OR CERTIFICATE FURNISHED OR TO BE FURNISHED TO BUYER IN
CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND ANY TAXES OR
PENALTIES IMPOSED ON THE COMPANY PURSUANT TO SECTION 6038A OF THE CODE;

                          (ii) ANY INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLES AND ANY UNINSURED
LOSS, LIABILITY, CLAIM, OBLIGATION, DAMAGES (PHYSICAL OR MONETARY), JUDGMENTS
OR ORDERS ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM THE OPERATION BY SELLER OF THE
BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY OR THE RIGS OR OTHER ASSETS PRIOR TO CLOSING, UNLESS
THE FULL AMOUNT OF ANY SUCH UNINSURED LOSS(ES) HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN ANY
WORKING CAPITAL ADJUSTMENTS AT CLOSING UNDER SECTION 2.2 ABOVE, IN WHICH EVENT
NO INDEMNITY SHALL APPLY TO SUCH LOSS; OR





                                      -48-
<PAGE>   53
                          (iii) ANY ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, COSTS, AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND ALL OTHER EXPENSES INCURRED IN
INVESTIGATING, PREPARING, OR DEFENDING ANY LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING, COMMENCED
OR THREATENED) INCIDENT TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS
SECTION 5.2.

                 THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF SUCH LOSSES, LIABILITIES, CLAIMS,
COSTS, ASSESSMENTS, INTEREST, OR PENALTIES (AND, WITH RESPECT TO SECTION 3.9
ONLY, TAXES), OR ANY JUDGMENTS, EXPENSES, AND FEES ARE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO
AS "DAMAGES".

                 (b)      NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, SELLER SHALL HAVE NO
LIABILITY UNTIL THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF ALL DAMAGES PURSUANT TO SECTION 5.2(a)
EXCEEDS $500,000; THEREAFTER, INDEMNIFICATION SHALL BE PAID AS PROVIDED FOR
HEREIN FOR ALL DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF $500,000; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY
DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 3.4, 3.9, 3.10, 3.31, 5.2(c)
AND 10.4 SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS.

                 (c)(i)   NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION TO THE CONTRARY
CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND SUBJECT TO THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN
SUBPARAGRAPH (c)(III) BELOW, SELLER DOES HEREBY, AND AGREES TO, INDEMNIFY,
DEFEND AND HOLD HARMLESS BUYER AND ITS AFFILIATES  AND THEIR EMPLOYEES,
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES (THE "BUYER GROUP") FROM AND
AGAINST ANY DAMAGES ("DAMAGES," FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION 5.2(c), SHALL
INCLUDE REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES AND BE DEFINED AS "FREEPORT DAMAGES") WITH
RESPECT TO ANY OF THE MATTERS SET FORTH IN SECTION 3.31 OR LISTED IN EXHIBIT
3.31, WHICH ARISE OUT OF THE USE OF, OR ANY OPERATIONS OR ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED
PRIOR TO THE CLOSING ON, THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY KNOWN AS 906 MARLIN ROAD,
FREEPORT, TEXAS OWNED BY HERCULES MARINE SERVICES CORPORATION PRIOR TO THE
CLOSING ("FREEPORT INDEMNITY").  SELLER'S INDEMNITY GIVEN IN THIS SECTION
5.2(c) SHALL





                                      -49-
<PAGE>   54
BE WITHOUT LIMIT TO TIME BUT SELLER SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY UNDER THIS SECTION
FOR ANY FREEPORT DAMAGES WHICH EXCEED AN AGGREGATE SUM OF $10,000,000.

                 (ii)     ON RECEIPT OF ANY THIRD PARTY CLAIM FOR FREEPORT
DAMAGES AFTER THE CLOSING, BUYER SHALL REFER OR CAUSE TO BE REFERRED IN THE
NORMAL COURSE OF BUSINESS, THE MATTER TO INSURANCE UNDERWRITERS OF ANY
INSURANCE POLICIES ISSUED TO THE COMPANY PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE WHICH MAY
COVER FREEPORT DAMAGES FOR A NOTICE OF CLAIM AND FOR A DETERMINATION AS TO
WHETHER SUCH FREEPORT INDEMNITY CLAIM IS COVERED UNDER ANY OF THE INSURANCE
POLICIES CURRENTLY OR PREVIOUSLY CARRIED BY THE COMPANY.  BUYER SHALL SEND OR
CAUSE TO BE SENT TO SELLER NOTICE IN WRITING, GIVING DETAILS OF SUCH CLAIM,
WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS OF RECEIPT OF ANY SUCH FREEPORT INDEMNITY CLAIM.

         THEREAFTER, SELLER SHALL HAVE ALL RIGHTS OF AN INDEMNIFYING PARTY SET
FORTH IN SECTION 5.4 (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE DEFENSE OF ANY SUCH CLAIM).

                 (iii)    AFTER FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURES IN SECTION 5.4, IF ANY
FREEPORT DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF A MATTER COVERED BY THE FREEPORT INDEMNITY
BECOME DUE AND OWING (WHETHER BROUGHT ABOUT BY JUDGMENT, ORDER, DECREE,
OFFICIAL DETERMINATION, ASSESSMENT, PENALTY OR FINE BY ANY COURT, TRIBUNAL OR
GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY) IN FAVOR OF ANY THIRD PARTY OR GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, THEN,
AND IN SUCH EVENT, BUYER OR THE COMPANY MAY GIVE SELLER NOTICE IN WRITING
("FREEPORT INDEMNITY DEMAND"), GIVING FULL DETAILS AND COPIES OF ALL
DETERMINATIONS, OPINIONS, ORDERS OR OTHER INSTRUMENTS WHICH VERIFY THE AMOUNT
OWED, REQUESTING PAYMENT OF ANY FREEPORT DAMAGES DUE IN RESPECT OF SUCH
FREEPORT INDEMNITY CLAIM.  WITHIN FIFTEEN DAYS AFTER RECEIPT BY SELLER OF ANY
SUCH FREEPORT INDEMNITY DEMAND, SELLER SHALL PAY BUYER IN CASH BY WIRE TRANSFER
THE FULL AMOUNT OF SUCH FREEPORT INDEMNITY DEMAND.





                                      -50-
<PAGE>   55
                 (iv)     ANY INSURANCE PROCEEDS RECEIVED BY BUYER OR COMPANY
COVERING FREEPORT DAMAGES SHALL BE ALLOCATED AS FOLLOWS: (i) TO BUYER, TO THE
EXTENT NECESSARY TO REIMBURSE BUYER FOR ALL FREEPORT DAMAGES PAID BY BUYER, AND
(ii) THE REMAINDER TO SELLER.  ANY INSURANCE PROCEEDS DUE TO SELLER PURSUANT TO
THIS SECTION 5.2(c)(iv) SHALL BE PAID WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS OF BUYER'S OR THE
COMPANY'S RECEIPT OF SUCH PROCEEDS.

                 (v)      FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THE PARTIES AGREE THAT
THIS SECTION 5.2(c) SHALL WITHOUT EXCEPTION GOVERN ANY FREEPORT DAMAGES OR
INDEMNITY CLAIMS UNDER THE FREEPORT INDEMNITY, TO THE EXCLUSION OF ANY OTHER
INDEMNITY PROVISIONS COVERING SECTION 3.31 OF THIS AGREEMENT.

         5.3     Indemnification by Buyer.

                 (a)      SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5.1 ABOVE AND
THE LIMITATIONS IN 5.3(b) BELOW, BUYER SHALL AND DOES HEREBY AGREE TO DEFEND,
INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS SELLER AND ITS AFFILIATES AND THEIR OFFICERS,
DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS FROM AND AGAINST:

                          (i)     ANY LOSS, LIABILITY, CLAIM, OBLIGATION,
DAMAGE, OR DEFICIENCY ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM ANY MISREPRESENTATION,
BREACH OF WARRANTY, OR NON-FULFILMENT OF ANY AGREEMENT OR COVENANT ON THE PART
OF BUYER CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY INACCURACY IN ANY STATEMENT OR
CERTIFICATE FURNISHED OR TO BE FURNISHED TO SELLER IN CONNECTION WITH THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY;

                          (ii)    ANY LOSS, LIABILITY, CLAIM, OBLIGATION,
DAMAGES (PHYSICAL OR MONETARY), JUDGMENTS, ORDERS ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING
FROM THE OPERATION BY BUYER OF THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY OR OF THE RIGS OR
OTHER ASSETS, SUBSEQUENT TO CLOSING; AND





                                      -51-
<PAGE>   56
                          (iii)   ANY ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, COSTS, AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND ALL OTHER EXPENSES INCURRED IN
INVESTIGATING, PREPARING, OR DEFENDING ANY LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING, COMMENCED
OR THREATENED) INCIDENT TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS
SECTION 5.3.

                 THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF SUCH LOSSES, LIABILITIES, CLAIMS,
COSTS, EXPENSES, AND FEES ARE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS "DAMAGES".

                 (b)      NOTWITHSTANDING, THE FOREGOING, BUYER SHALL HAVE NO
LIABILITY UNTIL THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF ALL DAMAGES PURSUANT TO SECTION 5.3(a)
EXCEEDS $500,000; THEREAFTER, INDEMNIFICATION SHALL BE PAID AS PROVIDED FOR
HEREIN FOR ALL DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF $500,000; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY
DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 10.1 AND 10.2 SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS.

         5.4     Matters Involving Third Parties.

                 (a)      Subject to the procedures set forth in Section
5.2(c)(ii), concerning the environmental indemnity given in such Section, any
third party shall notify any party to this Agreement (the "Indemnified Party")
with respect to any matter (a "Third Party Claim") that may give rise to a
claim for indemnification  against any other party (the "Indemnifying Party")
under this Section 5.4, then the Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the
Indemnifying Party thereof in writing; provided, however, that no delay on the
part of the Indemnified Party in notifying the Indemnifying Party shall relieve
the Indemnifying Party from any obligation hereunder unless (and then solely to
the extent) the Indemnifying Party thereby is materially prejudiced.

                 (b)      The Indemnifying Party will have the right to defend
the Indemnified Party against the Third Party Claim with counsel of its choice
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified





                                      -52-
<PAGE>   57
Party so long as (i) the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party in
writing within 15 days after the Indemnified Party has given notice of the
Third Party Claim that the Indemnifying Party will indemnify the Indemnified
Party from and against any Damages the Indemnified Party may suffer resulting
from, arising out of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the Third
Party Claim; (ii) the Indemnifying Party provides the Indemnified Party with
evidence reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party that the Indemnifying
Party will have the financial resources to defend against the Third Party Claim
and fulfill its indemnification obligations hereunder; (iii) the Third Party
Claim involves only money damages and does not seek an injunction or other
equitable relief; (iv) settlement of, or an adverse judgment with respect to,
the Third Party Claim is not in the good faith judgment of the Indemnified
Party, likely to establish a precedential custom or practice materially adverse
to the continuing business interests of the Indemnified Party; and (v) the
Indemnifying Party conducts the defense of the Third Party Claim actively and
diligently.

                 (c)      So long as the Indemnifying Party is conducting the
defense of the Third Party Claim in accordance with Section 5.4(b), (i) the
Indemnified Party may retain separate co-counsel at its sole cost and expense
and participate in the defense of the Third Party Claim, (ii) the Indemnified
Party will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement with respect to the Third Party Claim without the prior written
consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld); and (iii) the Indemnifying Party will not consent to the entry of
any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect to the Third Party Claim
without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld).





                                      -53-
<PAGE>   58
                 (d)      In the event any of the conditions in Section 5.4(b)
is or becomes unsatisfied, however, (i) the Indemnified Party may defend
against the Third Party Claim in any manner it reasonably may deem appropriate;
provided, however, that the Indemnified Party shall not consent to the entry of
any judgment or enter into any settlement or agreement to settle a Third Party
Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld; (ii) the Indemnifying Party will reimburse
the Indemnified Party promptly and periodically for the reasonable costs of
defending against the Third Party Claim (including reasonable attorneys' fees
and expenses); and (iii) the Indemnifying Party will remain responsible for any
Damages the Indemnified Party actually suffers resulting from, arising out of,
relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the Third Party Claim to the
fullest extent provided in this Section 5.4 subject to any limitations set
forth in Sections 5.2 and 5.3 above.

                 (e)      THE INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL
HEREIN APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO SUCH INDEMNITY
MAY RELATE TO THE ORDINARY, SOLE OR CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE BY ANY INDEMNIFIED
PARTY, ITS SUBSIDIARIES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS.

6.       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF BUYER.          

         The obligations of Buyer hereunder are, subject to waiver at the 
option of Buyer, subject to the satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date,
of the following conditions:





                                      -54-
<PAGE>   59
         6.1     Representations.

                 The representations and warranties of Seller contained in this
Agreement shall be true in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date
with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been
made on and as of such date; all of the covenants and agreements of Seller and
approvals on Seller's part to be complied with and performed on or before the
Closing pursuant to the terms hereof shall have been complied with and
performed in all material respects; and Seller shall have delivered to Buyer a
certificate to such effect dated the Closing Date and signed by its authorized
representative.

         6.2     Litigation.

                 No action, suit, investigation, or other proceeding or claim
shall have been threatened in writing or instituted before any court or by any
Governmental Agency or instrumentality either (a) to restrain, prohibit or
invalidate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) to impose any
material restrictions, limitations or conditions with respect thereto or with
respect to Buyer's ownership interests in the Company or any of the Rigs or
material Assets of the Company, or (c) to obtain any material damages or other
relief in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  No
action, suit, investigation, other proceeding or claim against the Company
shall have been instituted or shall be threatened in writing before any court
or before or by any government or Governmental Agency or instrumentality,
domestic or foreign, under any Environmental Laws or other applicable laws,
which might have a material effect on the business or financial condition of
the Company.





                                      -55-
<PAGE>   60
         6.3     No Material Adverse Change.

                 No Material Adverse Change shall have occurred; provided
however, that for the purposes of this Section 6.3 only, no Material Adverse
Change shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of any casualty loss
(whether partial or total) of or to any of the Rigs, which loss shall be
governed solely by the provisions of Section 8.5 hereof.

         6.4     Approvals.

                 Seller shall have obtained all regulatory approvals required
(including, if necessary, approvals under HSR, and approvals of the Malaysian
Securities Commission and the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange) to be obtained by it
as a condition to the lawful consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and, if necessary, such consents of any Lender under the Funded Debt, of
any landlord under any Real Property Lease or of any lessor under any Capital
Leases to the change of ownership and control of Seller.

         6.5     Legal Opinions.

                 Buyer shall have received an opinion from independent outside
Malaysian and Texas counsel to Seller and the Company, acceptable to Buyer, to
the matters set forth in Exhibit 6.5 hereof.

         6.6     Deliveries.

                 Seller shall have effected delivery of all of the items
required to be delivered by it at the Closing.

         6.7     Casualty Losses.

                 No Buyer Termination Event has occurred; provided, however,
that if the Buyer is satisfied that any casualty losses or damages amounting to
a Buyer Termination Event are





                                      -56-
<PAGE>   61
adequately covered by insurance, it may, at its option, waive this condition
and, pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.5 hereof, proceed with the
Closing.

         6.8     Board and Shareholder Approvals.

                 Seller shall have delivered to Buyer a copy of resolutions of
(a) the board of directors of Seller and (b) Seller's shareholders, duly
certified by its Secretary to be true and correct copies, and approving of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         6.9     Financing.

                 Buyer shall have obtained the necessary financing to complete
the transactions contemplated hereby.

         6.10    HRC Agreement.

                 Buyer shall, prior to or contemporaneously with the sale of
the Shares under this Agreement, have taken delivery and possession of the HRC
shares and paid the full purchase price therefor, as same may be adjusted under
the terms of the HRC Agreement.

7.       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF SELLER.

         The obligations of Seller hereunder are, subject to waiver at the
option of Seller, subject to the satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing, of
the following conditions:

         7.1     Representations.

                 The representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this
Agreement shall be true in all material respects on and as of the Closing with
the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on
and as of such date; all of the covenants and agreements of Buyer to be
complied with and performed on or before the Closing Date pursuant to the terms
hereof shall have been complied with and performed in all material respects;
and





                                      -57-
<PAGE>   62
Buyer shall have delivered to Seller a certificate to such effect dated the
Closing Date and signed by its authorized representatives.

         7.2     Litigation.

                 No action, suit, investigation, other proceeding or claim
shall have been threatened or instituted before any court or before or by any
government or Governmental Agency or instrumentality either (a) to restrain,
prohibit or invalidate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) to
impose any material restrictions, limitations or conditions with respect
thereto, or (c) to obtain any material damages or other relief in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         7.3     Approvals.

                 Buyer shall have obtained all regulatory approvals required
(including, if necessary, approvals under HSR) to be obtained by them as a
condition to the lawful consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

         7.4     Deliveries.

                 Buyer shall have effected delivery of all of the items
required to be delivered by it on or before the Closing.

         7.5     Board Approval.

                 Buyer shall have delivered to Seller a copy of the resolutions
of its board of directors duly certified by the Secretary of Buyer, as being
true and correct and all other items and documents required to be delivered by
Buyer hereunder.





                                      -58-
<PAGE>   63
         7.6     Financing.

                 Buyer shall have obtained the necessary financing to complete
the transactions contemplated hereby.

         7.7     HRC Agreement.

                 The HRC share purchase transaction shall have been consummated
or shall be consummated, as appropriate, on the Closing Date, and the purchase
price for the HRC Agreement shall be paid by Buyer to Seller under the HRC
Agreement, as set forth in Section 6.10 above.

8.       COVENANTS OF SELLER PRIOR TO CLOSING.

         Seller covenants and agrees that, between the date of this Agreement
and the Closing:

         8.1     Access.

                 Seller will furnish Buyer with such additional financial and
operating data, books and records and other information as Buyer shall from
time to time reasonably request; provided that all such access and information
shall be supplied in such a way as to minimize disruption of the business of
Seller and the Company.   No further inspections of the Rigs and other Assets
and properties of the Company shall be made by Buyer without Seller's prior
consent (which, in the case of the Rigs, should be in writing), which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that (i) any access to
the Rigs, Assets and properties shall be subject to the supervision and control
of Seller's authorized representatives, (ii) Buyer's representatives shall,
prior to any Rig or other property inspections, have executed all standard
indemnity forms of the Company and shall follow all safety procedures required
by the Company and (iii) Buyer and its representatives shall strictly comply
with the provisions of Section 9.3.





                                      -59-
<PAGE>   64
         8.2     Governmental Approvals.

                 Seller will take all steps necessary to apply for any consent,
approval or authorization required by applicable law to allow the sale of the
Shares to Buyer and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
including, without limitation, the approval and authorization of Heller,
Seller's shareholders, the applicable Governmental Agency under HSR, the
Malaysian Securities Commission, the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange and all other
national, state or local Governmental Agency or authority having jurisdiction
over the sale and the transactions contemplated hereby, and such steps shall be
taken as soon as practicable after the date hereof.

         8.3     Operations.

                 Seller will cause the Company to:

                 (a)      continue to conduct its business in its usual and
regular manner and not engage in any material new activity or transaction
including, without limitation, the lease, sale, disposal or purchase of any Rig
or other material Asset;

                 (b)      comply in all material respects with all laws
applicable to it and the conduct of its business;

                 (c)      duly and punctually perform in all material respects
all of its contractual obligations in accordance with the terms thereof;

                 (d)      maintain and keep the Rigs and its other Assets and
facilities in good condition and working order, except for ordinary wear and
tear and damages directly attributable to natural disasters;





                                      -60-
<PAGE>   65
                 (e)      use its best efforts to preserve the goodwill of its
customers and others having business relations with it;

                 (f)      give prompt written notice to Buyer of any notice
received by it of any  default or breach or alleged default or breach under any
material contract, instrument or agreement to which it is a party or by which
it is bound;

                 (g)      give prompt written notice to Buyer of the
commencement of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation or the assertion
of any claim or threat to commence any action, suit, proceeding or
investigation; keep Buyer fully and promptly informed as to any developments in
any pending action, suit, proceeding or investigation;

                 (h)      fully cooperate with Buyer in its efforts to obtain
all necessary governmental consents, authorizations, orders and approvals
required to be obtained by Buyer in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;

                 (i)      use its best efforts to preserve its business
organization intact and retain the services of its officers, employees and
agents; and

                 (j)      maintain in full force and effect insurance policies
providing coverage and amounts of coverage comparable to the coverage and
amounts of coverage provided under its policies of insurance now in effect.

         8.4     Restrictions.

                 (a)      Certain Actions.  Prior to the Closing, Seller
agrees, and will cause the Company, not to without the prior written consent of
Buyer, which shall not be unreasonably withheld:





                                      -61-
<PAGE>   66
                          (i)     enter into any contract or commitment, or
incur or agree to incur any liability or make any capital expenditure, except
in the ordinary course of business where the aggregate payments involved may
reasonably be expected not to exceed $100,000; or

                          (ii)    amend its Corporate Charter Documents
(including, without limitation, to change its authorized or issued share
capital by reclassification, subdivision, reorganization or otherwise) or amend
its bylaws; or

                          (iii)   incur, or agree to incur, or otherwise
guarantee or become liable for any new indebtedness for money borrowed except
for (a) any drawings or issuance of letters of credit in the ordinary course of
business under the Funded Debt (except that no further drawings may be made on
the Heller Loan), and (b) the Rig Loans in connection with Agreed CAPEX; or

                          (iv)    cause or suffer any of the Company's Rigs, or
their other Assets or real or personal property to become subject to any lien
other than Permitted Liens; or

                          (v)     except as may be required by the Malaysian
Securities Commission,  the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange or as required in
connection with any required approval of Seller's shareholders or as otherwise
required by applicable law, make any public announcements concerning the
transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of Buyer.
In all cases, such public announcement shall be of acceptable form to Buyer; or

                          (vi)    hire or terminate employees except in the
ordinary course of business; or

                          (vii)   change any benefit plan (written or
unwritten).

                 (b)      No Shop.  Seller will not, in any way, (i) solicit,
directly or indirectly, or cause any other person to solicit, any offer to
acquire all or any part of the Shares or all or any





                                      -62-
<PAGE>   67
part of the business or Assets of the Company, whether by merger, purchase of
assets, tender offer or otherwise, (ii) enter into any discussions,
negotiations or agreements which contemplate the merger of the Company or the
sale of all or any part of the business or Assets of the Company to any person
or entity, other than Buyer or (iii) provide any person or entity other than
Buyer with any information or data of any nature whatsoever relating to the
Shares or the business or Assets of the Company for the purpose of enabling
such person or entity to develop a proposal for the acquisition of the Shares
or all or any part of the business or Assets of the Company.  Seller and the
Company, as applicable, shall immediately advise Buyer in writing, directly or
indirectly, of any inquiries, discussions, negotiations or proposals from or
with third parties including the specific terms thereof and the identification
of the other parties involved.

                 (c)  Nothing contained in this Section 8.4 or elsewhere in
this Agreement shall prohibit the Company from making Shareholder Advances to
Seller or from paying any dividends to Seller prior to the Closing.

         8.5     Rig Loss.

                 (a)(1)   If any Rig other than Rigs 22 and 25 shall become an
actual, constructive, arranged or compromised total loss (as determined by the
Company's insurance underwriter's marine surveyor) prior to the Closing: (i)
all insurance proceeds received for such Rig prior to the Closing shall be held
in trust by Seller and the Company for the use and benefit of Buyer and such
proceeds shall be transferred to Buyer with the Shares and belong to Buyer at
the Closing in addition to any Working Capital covenants herein, and shall not
be subject to or cause any Purchase Price adjustments at Closing, (ii) the
terms "Rigs" or "Assets" shall be deemed not to include such Rig, and (iii)
Buyer shall be required to purchase the Rig at Closing.  Additionally,





                                      -63-
<PAGE>   68
in each case, (x) Buyer shall be entitled to retain all proceeds of insurance
received subsequent to the Closing which are associated with such loss; (y) the
other provisions of this Agreement shall continue to be in effect; and (z) the
Closing shall take place in the manner contemplated herein; provided, however,
that if the insurance proceeds, net of salvage and removal costs, received by
Buyer at or subsequent to Closing for such Rig loss shall be less than an
amount equal to 4.382 times the gross profit attributable to such Rig in the
report prepared by Jefferies & Company, Inc. dated March 1997 (page 9, gross
profit run rate), Seller shall, either at Closing or, if subsequent to Closing,
within fifteen (15) days after receipt of written demand by Buyer, pay Buyer in
cash an amount equal to the difference between such gross profit multiplier and
the lower amount of insurance proceeds received; provided, further, that if
Buyer has not received the full insurance proceeds attributable to such Rig on
or before the sixtieth (60th) day after the Closing Date (as reasonably
verified to Seller by Buyer), Seller agrees to pay to Buyer, on written demand
by Buyer, interest on an amount equal to the gross profit multiplier set out
above for such Rig (as same may be reduced by any partial proceeds received by
Buyer), at the prime rate of interest (as same may change from time to time)
announced by Citibank, N.A. at its offices in New York, New York, from the
Closing Date until the receipt by Buyer of such full amount of insurance
proceeds (based on a 365 day year and actual days elapsed).

                          (2)     The actual, constructive, arranged or
compromised total loss (as determined by the Company's insurance underwriter's
marine surveyor) of two (2) or more of the Company's Rigs will, however,
constitute a Buyer Termination Event.

                 (b)      Without limiting Seller's obligations under Section
8.5(a), if a Rig, other than Rig 22 or Rig 25, sustains damage in an amount
exceeding $250,000 but not amounting to





                                      -64-
<PAGE>   69
an actual, constructive, arranged or compromised total loss prior to the
Closing, either (i) Seller shall cause the Company to commence to repair the
damage to such Rig using any insurance proceeds recovered by the Company for
that Rig prior to the Closing, or (ii) Buyer, at its option exercised by notice
in writing to Seller within twenty-one (21) days after receipt by Buyer of
written notice of any casualty loss from Seller, may request Seller or the
Company not to commence such repairs and instead to hold any recovered
insurance proceeds in trust for Buyer and to transfer same to Buyer at the
Closing in the same manner and under the same terms as set forth in Section
8.5(a)(i) above.

                          In either case, Buyer shall remain obligated to
purchase the Shares at the Closing and the Purchase Price shall not be reduced.

                 (c)      If Seller has commenced repairs on a Rig prior to
Closing under (b)(i) above and if the repairs have not been completed on or
before the Closing Date, Buyer and Seller shall nevertheless proceed with
Closing, the Rig shall be transferred with the Shares at Closing and Buyer
shall pay Seller the full Purchase Price, unless otherwise adjusted pursuant to
Section 2.1(b) above.  Buyer and Seller, within fifteen (15) days after
Closing, shall cause a mutually agreed licensed surveyor to perform an audit of
the unrepaired damage and determine the total amount of money ("Rig Restoration
Amount") necessary to complete the repairs in order to restore the Rig to its
state and condition immediately prior to such Rig casualty event ("Rig Casualty
Event").  Promptly upon receipt of the report, Buyer and Seller shall cause the
Company's insurance underwriters to review such report and determine whether
the balance of insurance proceeds attributable to the Rig Casualty Event will
be sufficient to cover in full the Rig Restoration Amount, less any deductibles
("Restoration Shortfall").  Seller agrees to pay to Buyer in cash by





                                      -65-
<PAGE>   70
wire transfer, within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the insurance
underwriter's report, the total amount of (a) any deductibles not already paid
by Seller or the Company prior to Closing and (b) any Restoration Shortfall.

         8.6     Unpaid Dividends.

                 Any accrued and unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock will
be canceled prior to the Closing Date.

         8.7     Seller Assistance.

                 At Buyer's cost, Seller shall, and shall cause the Company, to
cooperate and provide  Buyer with true and correct financial statements,
documents or other information reasonably necessary for Buyer's use in
connection with any prospectus, offering memorandum or  regulatory filing
required to be issued or made by Buyer in obtaining the financing needed to
complete the transactions contemplated hereby.  Seller agrees to and does
hereby indemnify and hold harmless Buyer from and against any action, claim or
loss arising out of Seller's failure to comply with the provisions of this
Section 8.7.

         8.8     False Representations.

                 Seller will promptly notify Buyer in writing if it becomes
aware of any fact or condition which makes untrue, or causes to be untrue, any
representation or warranty made by Seller in this Agreement.

9.       COVENANTS OF BUYER PRIOR TO CLOSING.

         Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing:

         9.1     Governmental Approvals.





                                      -66-
<PAGE>   71
                 Buyer will cooperate with Seller in taking all steps necessary
by Buyer to obtain any consent, approval or authorization required, pursuant to
HSR, if necessary, of its lenders, if applicable, and as otherwise required by
law to allow the consummation of this  Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, including the approval and authorization of any national,
state or local Governmental Agency or authority having jurisdiction over the
transactions contemplated hereby as may be required, and such steps will be
taken as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement.

         9.2     Guaranty Release.

                 Buyer will cooperate with Seller, to obtain and deliver, or
cause to be obtained and delivered, the Guaranty Release, in a form reasonably
satisfactory to Seller, should Buyer elect to assume the Heller Loan.

         9.3     Due Care.

                 Buyer shall and shall cause its employees, representatives and
agents to take due  care and use its and their best efforts to ensure that no
actions or statements by it, its employees or representatives are made which
directly or indirectly materially adversely interfere, or could with the
passage of time, materially adversely interfere with the ordinary course and
operation of the business of the Company or its Rigs.

         9.4     False Representations.

                 Buyer will promptly notify Seller in writing if it becomes
aware of any fact or condition which makes untrue, or causes to be untrue, any
representation or warranty made by Buyer in this Agreement.

         9.5     Buyer Assistance.





                                      -67-
<PAGE>   72
                 At Seller's cost, Buyer shall cooperate and provide Seller
with true and correct financial statements, documents or other information
reasonably necessary for Seller's use in connection with any approvals or
regulatory filings to be obtained or made by Seller, as set forth in Section
3.32 above, for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Buyer agrees to and does hereby indemnify and hold harmless Seller from and
against any action, claim or loss arising out of Buyer's failure to comply with
the provisions of this Section 9.5.

10.      OTHER COVENANTS.

         10.1    Post Closing Assistance.

                 After the Closing, Buyer shall give Seller and its authorized
representatives reasonable access, upon prior written notice and during normal
business hours, to books and records of  the Company relating to periods prior
to the Closing (including, but not limited to, all records necessary for
purposes of Seller in determining the Working Capital Statement in Section
2.3(b)), and Buyer shall permit such persons to examine and copy at Seller's
expense such books and records to the extent requested by Seller.  Buyer agrees
that it shall preserve and keep the records of the business of the Company and
of the Assets for a period of three years from the Closing Date, or for any
longer period as may be required by any Governmental Agency or ongoing
litigation or as requested by Seller in connection with any Tax examination.

         10.2     Company's Employees, Stand Alone Entities.

                 Buyer and Seller each acknowledge the other party's
significant interest in the stability, and continued smooth operation and
profitability of the Company through the Closing Date and for a reasonable
period beyond.  Accordingly, Seller agrees that as and from the date





                                      -68-
<PAGE>   73
of this Agreement until the Closing Date, and Buyer agrees that as and from the
Closing Date until the close of business on January 31, 1998:

                 (a)      neither Buyer nor Seller will terminate the
employment or services of, discharge, lay-off, furlough, suspend, demote in
rank or position, or reduce any salaries, bonuses, benefits or perquisites of,
any employee, salaried or hourly worker, or of Horizon Engineering
(collectively, "Employees") unless any such Employee is terminated for any act
of fraud, disloyalty, theft or dishonesty or other reckless or dangerous
misconduct;

                 (b)      each will cause all existing employment contracts, if
any, bonus plans and incentive programs to remain in effect and pay all
Employees all of their due compensation, bonuses, incentives and benefits under
existing or similar plans and arrangements; and

                 (c)      unless otherwise required by Buyer for tax reasons or
to mitigate or take advantage of any legal requirements under applicable law:

                          (i)     Buyer will treat and keep the Company as a
stand alone and independent entity and subsidiary of Buyer;

                          (ii)    Buyer will not merge, consolidate, reorganize
or amalgamate the Company into any other company or entity; and

                          (iii)   Buyer will not transfer the controlling
interest in the Shares to any other entity within the group of companies or
entities controlled by or affiliated with Buyer, or liquidate the Company.

                 (d)      Buyer and Seller each specifically agree that this
Section 10.2 does and is intended to confer third party beneficiary rights and
benefits on all of the Company's Employees and their heirs and successors.





                                      -69-
<PAGE>   74
         10.3    Employee Benefits.

                 Except as otherwise indicated in this Section 10.3, all
capitalized terms used in this Section 10.3 shall be as defined in Section 3.9
or as otherwise defined in this Agreement.

                 (a)      On or prior to the day prior to the Closing Date,
Seller shall (i) cause the Company to file annual reports (Form 5500 series)
for all plan years of the Hercules Offshore Corporation Nonqualified Plan's
existence (any penalties, costs, taxes, interest, fees, sanctions, and expenses
associated with such filings shall be borne by Seller) and (ii) produce to
Buyer on or prior to the Closing Date resolutions of the boards of directors of
the Company and Seller, filings, and all other documents establishing to the
satisfaction of Buyer that such action has been completed.

                 (b)      On or prior to the day prior to the Closing Date,
Seller shall (i) cause the Company to take whatever action is necessary to
correct retroactively any operational and form defects in the Hercules Offshore
Corporation 401(k) Plan (the "401(k) Plan") and to obtain a determination from
the Internal Revenue Service that the 401(k) Plan is and was for all periods of
its existence a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code (any penalties,
costs, taxes, interest, fees, sanctions, and expenses associated with such
action shall be borne by Seller) and (ii) produce to Buyer resolutions of the
boards of directors of the Company and Seller and all other documents
establishing to the satisfaction of Buyer that all such actions have been
completed.

                 (c)      With respect to each "qualifying event" (within the
meaning of Section 603 of ERISA and Section 4980B(f)(3) of the Code) that
occurred on or prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall cause to be provided to
all employees and former employees of the Company sufficient





                                      -70-
<PAGE>   75
medical, mental health, vision, dental, and other group health plan benefits to
satisfy the obligations, if any, of Seller, the Company, any Commonly
Controlled Entity (as defined in Section 3.9(c)(xii)), and Buyer under the
continuation of coverage provisions described in Section 4980B of the Code and
Section 601 through 608 of ERISA ("COBRA") and any similar continuation of
health coverage provisions under applicable state law.  On or prior to the
Closing Date, Seller shall cause to be corrected all violations of such
continuation of health coverage provisions, and all penalties, costs, taxes,
interest, fees, benefits, expenses, and damages associated with such correction
and violations shall be borne by Seller.  Exhibit 10.3(c) lists all employees
and former employees who currently are covered (or are within the election
period to elect coverage) under any Company group health plan pursuant to such
continuation of health coverage provisions.

                 (d)      Seller shall retain or assume and be liable for all
past, present, and future obligations and liabilities of Seller, the Company
and any Commonly Controlled Entity arising out of any law or contract with
respect to the 401(k) Plan, the Nonqualified Plan, and COBRA obligations
associated with any group health plan maintained by the Company or Seller in
connection with any event commencing, occurring, or failing to occur on, or
prior to the Closing Date, and Seller agrees to indemnify Buyer and any
Commonly Controlled Entity (as defined in Section 3.9(c)(xii) of this
Agreement), and their directors, officers and employees with respect to any
loss, liability, assessment, taxes, interest, penalties, judgments, and
employee benefit claims (including any and all costs and fees related to
proceedings establishing such loss, liability, assessment, taxes, interest,
penalties, judgments, or employee benefit claims) arising out of any law or
contract with respect to the 401(k) Plan, the Nonqualified Plan, and COBRA
obligations





                                      -71-
<PAGE>   76
associated with any group health plan maintained by the Company or Seller in
connection with any event commencing, occurring, or failing to occur on, or
prior to the Closing Date.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this
Agreement to the contrary, the indemnity provided in this Section 10.3(d) shall
survive the Closing for the duration of all applicable statutes of limitation,
shall be in addition to any other indemnities provided in this Agreement and
shall not be subject to any restrictions imposed in this Agreement upon any
such other indemnities.

         10.4    Certain Tax Matters.

                 (a)      With respect to each Tax Return covering a taxable
period beginning on or before the Closing Date that is required to be filed
after the Closing Date for, by or with respect to the Company (other than the
Tax Returns described in Section 3.10, Buyer shall cause such Tax Return to be
prepared and shall cause to be included in such Tax Return all Tax items
required to be included therein.  Buyer shall determine (by an interim closing
of the books as of the Closing Date except for ad valorem Taxes and franchise
Taxes based on capital which shall be prorated on a daily basis) the portion,
if any, of the Tax due with respect to the period covered by such Tax Return
which is attributable to the Company for the Pre-Closing Taxable Period.

                 (b)      At least thirty (30) days prior to the due date
(including extensions) of such Tax Return, Buyer shall deliver to Seller a copy
of such Tax Return and its pre-closing allocation determinations.  If Seller
disagrees with such allocation, it shall notify Buyer in writing within seven
(7) days after receipt by Seller of the Buyer's Tax Return and allocation
determinations, listing the items disputed and detailed reasons for its
dispute.  If Seller and Buyer cannot agree on the disputed items within five
(5) days after receipt by Buyer of Seller's dispute notice, Buyer and Seller
shall appoint a mutually agreeable independent "Big Six" accounting firm to
review the





                                      -72-
<PAGE>   77
Tax Return and Buyer's determinations.  The findings and allocations of such
independent accounting firm shall be conclusive and binding on Buyer and
Seller.

                 (c)      Buyer and Seller shall cause such independent review
to be completed within fifteen (15) days after the appointment of the
independent accounting firm, if possible.  If the independent accounting firm's
report determines that Buyer's Tax Return and allocation determinations are
incorrect, Seller and Buyer shall share the costs of such report equally.  If
the report determines that Buyer's determinations are correct, Seller alone
shall pay the costs of such report.  If the amount of Tax so determined to be
attributable to the Pre-Closing Taxable Period exceeds the amount reflected as
a current liability for such Tax on the Working Capital Statement, Seller shall
pay to Buyer the amount of such excess Tax not more than ten (10) days after
Seller either (i) agrees with Buyer's determinations or (ii) receives the
independent auditor's final determinations, whichever is earlier.  If the
amount of tax determined to be attributable to the Pre-Closing Taxable Period
is less than the amount reflected as a liability for such Tax Return on the
Working Capital Statement, Buyer shall pay Seller the amount of such deficiency
within ten (10) days after the allocation was finally determined in the manner
set forth above.  Buyer shall cause the Company to file timely such Tax Return
with the appropriate taxing authority and to pay timely the amount of Taxes
shown to be due on such Tax Return.

                 (d)      Any Tax Return to be prepared pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 10.4 shall be prepared in a manner consistent with
practices followed in prior years with respect to similar Tax Returns, unless
otherwise agreed by the Parties hereto or except for changes required by
changes in law.





                                      -73-
<PAGE>   78
                 (e)      Seller shall grant to Buyer (or its designees) access
at all reasonable times to all of the information, books and records relating
to the Company within the possession of Seller (including workpapers and
correspondence with taxing authorities), and shall afford Buyer (or its
designees) the right (at Buyer's expense) to take extracts therefrom and to
make copies thereof, to the extent reasonably necessary to permit Buyer (or its
designees) to prepare Tax Returns, to conduct negotiations with Tax
authorities, and to implement the provisions of, or to investigate or defend
any claims between the parties arising under, this Agreement.

                 (f)      Buyer shall grant or cause the Company to grant
Seller (or its designees) access at all reasonable times to all of the
information, books and records relating to the Company within the possession of
Buyer, (including workpapers and correspondence with taxing authorities), and
shall afford Seller (or its designees) the right (at Seller's expense) to take
extracts therefrom and to make copies thereof, to the extent reasonably
necessary to permit Seller (or its designees) to prepare Tax Returns, to
conduct negotiations with Tax authorities, and to implement the provisions of,
or to investigate or defend any claims between the parties arising under, this
Agreement.

                 (g)      If subsequent to the Closing, the Company or any
other entity within Buyer's group of Companies should be audited with respect
to any taxable period (including the Pre-Closing Taxable Period) prior to the
Closing Date, Buyer shall permit Seller's representatives to participate fully
(including attending all auditing discussions or meetings with the IRS) in any
such audit.

                 (h)      Each of the parties hereto will preserve and retain
all schedules, workpapers and other documents relating to any Tax Returns of or
with respect to the Company or to any





                                      -74-
<PAGE>   79
claims, audits or other proceedings affecting the Company until the expiration
of the statute of limitations (including extensions) applicable to the taxable
period to which such documents relate or until the final determination of any
controversy with respect to such taxable period, and until the final
determination of any payments that may be required with respect to such taxable
period under this Agreement.

                 (i)      The Tax matters set forth in this Section 10.4 shall
survive until the close of business on the date which is five (5) days after
the end of any applicable statutes of limitation.  In the event of a conflict
between the provisions of Section 3.10 or this Article 10 and any other
provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of Section 3.10 or this  Article
10 shall control.

         10.5    Taking of Necessary Action.

                 The parties hereto shall take all such reasonable and lawful
action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate the
transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as possible.

         10.6    Press Releases and Public Announcements.

                 Neither Buyer nor Seller shall issue any press release or make
any public announcement relating to the subject matter of this Agreement prior
to the Closing without prior written approval of both Buyer or Seller;
provided, however, that either party may make any public disclosure it believes
in good faith is required by applicable law (in which case the disclosing party
will use all reasonable efforts to advise the other party prior to making the
disclosure).





                                      -75-
<PAGE>   80
         10.7    Shareholder Advances.

                 Seller agrees to pay or cause to be repaid to the Company all
Shareholder Advances. Such repayment shall be made on the same date the Working
Capital Adjustment is paid, as set forth in Section 2.3 above.

11.      EXPENSES.

         Buyer and Seller shall each pay their own expenses in connection with
the preparation, execution and consummation of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, all legal and accounting expenses and fees and other fees
of their representatives or agents.  The parties shall each pay their own
filing fees and other expenses in connection with any required HSR filings
required by applicable law and any other regulatory or governmental filings and
approvals required for the transactions contemplated hereby.

12.      TERMINATION.

         12.1    Causes for Termination.

                 This Agreement may be terminated at or at any time prior to
the Closing:

                 (a)      by mutual consent in writing of Buyer and Seller;

                 (b)      by Buyer (a "Buyer Termination Event"), as follows:

                          (i)     if for any reason not the fault or cause or
within the control of Buyer or its representatives, the Closing does not occur
prior to December 31, 1997;

                          (ii)    if the Buyer is entitled to terminate pursuant
to the provisions of Section 8.5;

                          (iii)   upon a breach on the part of Seller of any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement, or
if any representation or warranty of Seller





                                      -76-
<PAGE>   81
shall have become untrue, and such breach or change causes, or would with the
passage of time cause, a Material Adverse Effect to the Company; or

                          (iv)    Seller terminates or takes any affirmative
action seeking to terminate this Agreement for any reason other than a Seller
Termination Event.

                 (c)      by Seller (a "Seller Termination Event"), as follows:

                          (i)     if for any reason not the fault or cause or
within the control of Seller or its representatives, the Closing does not occur
prior to December 31, 1997;

                          (ii)    upon a material breach on the part of Buyer
of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this
Agreement, or if any material representation or warranty of Buyer shall have
become untrue in any material respect; or

                          (iii)   Buyer terminates or takes any affirmative
action seeking to terminate this Agreement for any reason other than a Buyer
Termination Event; or

                 (d)      by either Buyer or Seller, as follows:

                          (i)     Buyer is unable to obtain the financing
necessary to close and otherwise consummate this transaction;

                          (ii)    for any reason, not the fault or cause or
within the control of the party seeking to terminate, the parties are unable to
complete the purchase of the HRC shares on or prior to the Closing Date under
the provisions of the HRC Agreement; or

                          (iii)   Seller is unable, despite best efforts, to
obtain the necessary approval of (x) its shareholders, (y) the Malaysian
Securities Commission or (z)  the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, or either Buyer
or Seller are unable to obtain the approval, if necessary, of any  Governmental
Agency under HSR.





                                      -77-
<PAGE>   82
         12.2    Effect of Termination; Liquidated Damages; Fees.

                 (a)      In the event of termination of this Agreement, this
Agreement shall forthwith become null and void and, except as otherwise
specifically provided herein, there shall be no liability on the part of either
Buyer or Seller or their respective officers, directors, employees or agent.

                 (b)      Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, (i) if this Agreement is terminated for any reason
or cause set forth in Sections 12.1(c)(iii) or 12.1(d)(i) (unless failure to
obtain the financing is due to a major financial market collapse which
significantly impairs Buyer's ability to raise financing prior to Closing due
to reasons other than the Buyer's own financial standing) or, if due to Buyer's
fault or cause or within its control, 12.1(d)(ii), then Buyer shall pay to
Seller in cash, by wire transfer, within five (5) business days after such
termination, the sum of $5,000,000, or (ii) if this Agreement is terminated due
to any of (w) the failure of the Seller's  board of directors, for any reason,
to recommend the completion of the sale of Shares contemplated hereby, (x)
Salehuddin Hashim, for any reason, fails to vote all of his shares of the
Company affirmatively for the completion of the sale to Buyer of the Shares
contemplated hereby, (y) if due to Seller's fault or cause or within its
control, 12.1(d)(ii) or (z) any reason or cause set forth in Section
12.1(b)(iv), Seller shall pay to Buyer in cash, by wire transfer within five
(5) business days after such transaction, the sum of $5,000,000.  All
termination payments in this Section 12.2(b) shall be by way of liquidated
damages and not be deemed a penalty; furthermore, nothing contained herein
shall be construed as or deemed to be a waiver or cancellation of Sections 5.2
or 5.3 above or 12.2(c) below.





                                      -78-
<PAGE>   83
                 (c)      In no event shall either Seller or Buyer be liable
for any consequential damages; provided, however that nothing contained in this
Agreement shall relieve any party from liability for damages actually incurred
as a result of any breach of this Agreement.

13.      NOTICES.

         All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or
permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given and delivered, when given in person or by prepaid telegram or
telefax, acknowledgment received, or mailed first class, postage prepaid,
registered or certified mail, as follows:

                 If to Buyer:

                          Parker Drilling Company
                          Eight East Third Street
                          Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103
                          Attn: Robert L. Parker, Jr.
                          Telephone: (918) 631-1212
                          Facsimile: (918) 631-1253

                 With a copy to:

                          Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P.
                          1001 Fannin, Suite 2300
                          Houston, Texas 77002
                          Attn: T. Mark Kelly
                          Telephone: (713) 758-4592
                          Facsimile: (713) 615-5531

                 If to Seller:

                          Trenergy (Malaysia) BHD.
                          Wisma ISP, No. 29A, Jalan Tamam U Thant
                          55000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
                          Telephone: 011-603-242-1033
                          Facsimile: 011-603-242-5621





                                      -79-
<PAGE>   84
                 With a copy to:

                          M.A. (Tony) Nunes
                          Griggs & Harrison, P.C.
                          1301 McKinney, Suite 3200
                          Houston, Texas  77010
                          Facsimile: (713) 651-1944
                          Telephone: (713) 651-0600


14.      GENERAL.

         14.1    Entire Agreement.

                 This Agreement, together with all exhibits hereto, constitutes
the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings,
negotiations and discussions, whether written or oral, among the parties
concerning such subject matter, with the exception of the Confidentiality
Agreement executed by Seller, the Company, HRC and Buyer on April 11, 1997, as
extended, which shall continue in full force and effect and bind Buyer and
Seller hereunder.

         14.2    Amendments.

                 This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in
writing specifically amending same signed by Seller and Buyer.

         14.3    Waivers.

                 No waiver by a party of any default by the other party in the
performance of any provision of this Agreement shall operate or be construed as
a waiver of any future default whether of a like or of a different character.





                                      -80-
<PAGE>   85
         14.4    Headings.

                 The headings used in this Agreement are for the convenience of
reference only and shall not be construed to define or limit any of the
provisions hereof.

         14.5    Severability.

                 In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained
in this Agreement or in any other instrument referred to herein, shall, for any
reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision
of this Agreement or any other such instrument.

15.      ARBITRATION.

         15.1    Rules.

                 All disputes arising in connection with this Agreement shall
be finally settled by binding arbitration under the general Commercial
Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), as same is
supplemented and modified by its International Arbitration Rules and
Procedures, by three arbitrators appointed in accordance with Section 15.2 of
this Agreement.  All arbitration proceedings  shall be conducted, and any
awards handed down shall be, in the English language.

         15.2    Powers and Selection.

                 (a)      The party that submits a dispute to the AAA under
this Agreement shall name in its submission one arbitrator.  The party against
whom the request for arbitration is filed must select an arbitrator and notify
the other party and the AAA of its selection within ten (10) days of receipt of
written notice from the AAA of the other party's demand for arbitration.  If
either party fails to notify the AAA of its selection, within ten (10) days
after written notice by the AAA to do so, the AAA is empowered to select an
arbitrator for such party.  The two





                                      -81-
<PAGE>   86
arbitrators selected by the parties shall mutually select a third arbitrator to
chair the arbitral panel and notify the AAA of their selection within fifteen
(15) days after the appointment of the two party-appointed arbitrators.  If the
arbitrators selected by the parties are unable to agree on a third arbitrator
within such time period, then the AAA shall appoint the third arbitrator.

                 (b)      The arbitrators shall have the power to gather such
materials, documents, information, testimony and evidence as they deem relevant
to the dispute and the parties shall provide such materials, documents,
information, testimony and evidence requested by the arbitrators, except to the
extent that it is proprietary, subject to third-party confidentiality
restrictions or subject to an attorney-client or other legal privilege.  Any
challenge to a claim of privilege shall be resolved by the arbitrators.

         15.3    Venue.

                 Arbitration conducted pursuant to this Agreement shall be held
in New York, New York.  Judgment on any award resulting therefrom may be
entered in and enforced by any court having jurisdiction over any of the
parties (or the assets of any of the parties) against whom such award is
rendered, and the parties hereby waive any claim of immunity to such
enforcement.  Any awards hereunder shall be deemed to be non-domestic and may
also be enforced in accordance with the provisions of the New York Convention
on the Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (1958), as adopted and codified
by the United States of America.

         15.4    Award.

                 The arbitrators shall commence and conclude the arbitration
and render their award within one hundred twenty (120) days of either party's
demand for arbitration.  The award rendered by the arbitrators shall be the
sole and exclusive remedy of the parties regarding any





                                      -82-
<PAGE>   87
claims, counterclaims, issues or accounting arising under this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby (whether sounding in contract or tort).  The
arbitrators may make any award of money damages or provide specific performance
or injunctive relief, including awarding interest and attorneys' fees.  Any
award shall be final and binding on the parties and non-appealable, and the
arbitrators shall give written reasons for their award.

         15.5    Service.

                 Service of any and all notices of arbitration hereunder may be
made by either party on the other in the manner and to the address set forth in
Section 13 hereof and service thus made shall be taken and held to be valid
personal service upon such party by any party to this Agreement on whose behalf
such service is made.

         15.6    Costs.

                 All administrative costs of the American Arbitration
Association together with all fees and expenses of the arbitrators shall be
borne equally by the parties and all costs, fees and expenses incident to
enforcing any award shall be charged to and borne by the party resisting the
award.

16.      GOVERNING LAW.

         16.1    Arbitration Provisions.

                 Section 15 shall be governed by the procedural rules of the
American Arbitration Association and, to the extent applicable, the United
States Federal Arbitration Act, Title 9, United States Code.






                                      -83-
<PAGE>   88

         16.2    Other Provisions.

                 Except as provided in Section 16.1, this Agreement shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, excluding,
however, any Texas conflict of  laws' rules that would refer the resolution of
any issue to the law of a jurisdiction other than the State of Texas.

17.      COUNTERPARTS.

         This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

18.      NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES.

         Except as set forth in Section 10.2(d), this Agreement shall not
confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties hereto and
their respective successors and permitted assigns.

19.      SUCCESSION AND ASSIGNMENT.

         This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties named herein and their respective heirs, successors and permitted
assigns.  No party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights,
interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the
other parties hereto; provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of
Section 10.2, Buyer may assign its rights hereunder to any of its affiliates,
but such assignment shall not relieve Buyer of any of its obligations or
indemnities hereunder, and Seller may assign its rights and interests in and to
any of the Purchase Price to any other party provided such assignment of
proceeds shall not relieve Seller of any of its obligations or indemnities
hereunder.





                                      -84-
<PAGE>   89
20.      CONSTRUCTION.

         The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting
of this Agreement.  In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or
interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly
by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or
disfavoring either party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions
of this Agreement.  Any reference to any federal, state, local, or foreign
statute or law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise.  The word
"including" shall mean including without limitation.

21.      INCORPORATION OF EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES.

         The Exhibits identified in this Agreement are incorporated herein by
reference and made a part hereof.

22.      SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.

         The parties hereto agree that this Agreement and any provisions hereof
(including but not limited to the provisions of Section 10.2) shall be
specifically enforceable and the parties hereto hereby waive any defense to
such a proceeding in equity that monetary damages are sufficient.          IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, Buyer and Seller have each caused this Stock Purchase
Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by its duly
authorized officers.

                          SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE





                                      -85-
<PAGE>   90
                                           PARKER DRILLING COMPANY


                                           By                             
                                             -----------------------------
                                           Name                           
                                               ---------------------------
                                           Title                          
                                                --------------------------
                                                                          
                                           PARKER DRILLING OFFSHORE       
                                           COMPANY                        
                                                                          
                                           By                             
                                             -----------------------------
                                           Name                           
                                               ---------------------------
                                           Title                          
                                                --------------------------
                                                                          
                                           TRENERGY (MALAYSIA) BHD        
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                           By                             
                                             -----------------------------
                                           Name                           
                                               ---------------------------
                                           Title                          
                                                --------------------------
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                      -86-                                
<PAGE>   91
                                LIST OF EXHIBITS

        1.1(i)        Capital Leases.
                      
        1.1(ii)       Drilling/Workover Contracts.
                      
        1.1(iii)      Shareholder Loans.
                      
        2.4(a)        Projected CAPEX/Form of Agreed CAPEX Survey/Scope of Work.

        2.4(c)        Form of Rig Loans Note.
                      
        2.4(d)        Form of Release of the Rig Loans Note.
                      
        3.3           Required Consents.
                      
        3.5           Authorized and Issued Capital of the Company.
                      
        3.7(a)        Financial Statements.
                      
        3.8(b)        Payments Since Audit Date.
                      
        3.9           Benefit Plans.
                      
        3.10          Tax Returns.
                      
        3.12          Litigation/Claims.
                      
        3.13          Material Defaults/Force Majeure.
                      
        3.14          Permits/Licenses.
                      
        3.15(a)       Real Property Leases.
                      
        3.15(b)       Rigs owned by the Company.
                      
        3.15(c)       Rigs Chartered to or operated by the Company.
                      
        3.15(d)       Personal Property owned by the Company.
                      
        3.15(e)       Other Contracts.






                                     -87-
<PAGE>   92
        3.15(f)       Leases/Rental Agreements.
                      
        3.15(g)       Liabilities of the Company.
                      
        3.15(h)       Insurance Policies.
                      
        3.15(i)       Employment Agreements/Severance Benefits.
                      
        3.15(j)       Loans to Officers/Directors/Employees.
                      
        3.16(a)       Inactive Employees.
                      
        3.22          Patents/Trademarks/Permits.
                      
        3.24          Bonds/Letters of Credit.
                      
        3.26(a)       Rigs/Flag/Classification/Recommendations.
                      
        3.27          Title to Assets.
                      
        3.31          Environmental Studies/Investigations.
                      
        6.5           Legal Opinion Matters.
                      
        10.3(c)       Employees on COBRA.





                                      -88-

<PAGE>   1

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS



<TABLE>
<S>      <C>     <C>                                                                                                 <C>
1.       SALE AND TRANSFER OF SHARES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1-
                 1.1      Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1-
                 1.2      Sale of Shares  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -9-

2.       PURCHASE PRICE; PAYMENT; ADJUSTMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -10-
                 2.1      Purchase Price  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -10-
                 2.2      Purchase Price Reductions; Rig Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -10-
                 2.3      Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -11-
                 2.4      Closing Deliveries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -11-

3.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -12-
                 3.1      Organization and Good Standing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -12-
                 3.2      Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -13-
                 3.3      Enforceability; Conflicts, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -13-
                 3.4      Title to Shares; Shares Pledge  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -14-
                 3.5      Capitalization  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -15-
                 3.6      Subsidiaries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -15-
                 3.7      Financial Statements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -15-
                 3.8      No Changes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -16-
                 3.9      Benefit Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -17-
                 3.10     Tax Returns and Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -19-
                 3.11     Regulatory Filings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -21-
                 3.12     Litigation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -21-
                 3.13     No Defaults; Contracts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -21-
                 3.14     Government Regulations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -22-
                 3.15     Assets and Liabilities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -22-
                 3.16     Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -23-
                 3.17     Minute Books  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -24-
                 3.18     Payment of Expenses of Brokers or Finders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -24-
                 3.19     Undisclosed Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -24-
                 3.20     Patents, Trademarks, Licenses and Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -24-
                 3.21     Powers of Attorney  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -25-
                 3.22     Use of Names  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -25-
                 3.23     Books and Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -25-
                 3.24     Performance Bonds; Letters of Credit  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -25-
                 3.25     Certain Property on Rigs  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -26-
                 3.26     Rig Classifications and Certifications; Shipping Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -26-
                 3.27     Title to Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -27-
                 3.28     Rig Equipment; Inventory  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -27-
                 3.29     Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -28-
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   2

<TABLE>
<S>      <C>     <C>                                                                                                 <C>
                 3.30     Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -28-
                 3.31     Environmental Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -29-
                 3.32     Consents  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -30-
                 3.33     LIMITATION OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -30-

4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY BUYER  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -31-
                 4.1      Organization and Good Standing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -31-
                 4.2      Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -31-
                 4.3      No Violation; Enforceability  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -32-
                 4.4      Brokers or Finders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -32-
                 4.5      Notice; Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -32-
                 4.6      No Section 338 Election . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -33-

5.       SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; INDEMNIFICATION         
                 5.1      Survival  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -33-
                 5.2      Indemnification by Seller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -33-
                 5.3      Indemnification by Buyer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -35-
                 5.4      Matters Involving Third Parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -36-

6.       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF BUYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -38-
                 6.1      Representations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -38-
                 6.2      Litigation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -38-
                 6.3      No Material Adverse Change  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -39-
                 6.4      Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -39-
                 6.5      Legal Opinions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -39-
                 6.6      Deliveries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -40-
                 6.7      Casualty Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -40-
                 6.8      Board and Shareholder Approvals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -40-
                 6.9      HOC Agreement; Financing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -40-

7.       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF SELLER  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -40-
                 7.1      Representations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -41-
                 7.2      Litigation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -41-
                 7.3      Approvals; Financing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -41-
                 7.4      Deliveries  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -41-
                 7.5      Board Approval  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -42-
                 7.6      HOC Agreement.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -42-

8.       COVENANTS OF SELLER PRIOR TO CLOSING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -42-
                 8.1      Access  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -42-
                 8.2      Governmental Approvals  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -43-
                 8.3      Operations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -43-
                 8.4      Restrictions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -44-
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
<S>      <C>     <C>                                                                                                 <C>
                 8.5      Rig Loss  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -46-
                 8.6      Seller Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -48-
                 8.7      False Representations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -49-

9.       COVENANTS OF BUYER PRIOR TO CLOSING  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -49-
                 9.1      Governmental Approvals  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -49-
                 9.2      Due Care  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -49-
                 9.3      False Representations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -50-
                 9.4      Buyer Assistance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -50-

10.      OTHER COVENANTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -50-
                 10.1     Post Closing Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -50-
                 10.2     Stand Alone Entities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -51-
                 10.3     [Intentionally Deleted] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -51-
                 10.4     Certain Tax Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -51-
                 10.5     Taking of Necessary Action  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -55-
                 10.6     Press Releases and Public Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -55-

11.      EXPENSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -55-

12.      TERMINATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -55-
                 12.1     Causes for Termination  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -55-
                 12.2     Effect of Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -57-

13.      NOTICES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -57-

14.      GENERAL  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -58-
                 14.1     Entire Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -58-
                 14.2     Amendments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -59-
                 14.3     Waivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -59-
                 14.4     Headings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -59-
                 14.5     Severability  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -59-

15.      ARBITRATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -59-
                 15.1     Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -59-
                 15.2     Powers and Selection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -60-
                 15.3     Venue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -61-
                 15.4     Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -61-
                 15.5     Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -61-
                 15.6     Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -62-

16.      GOVERNING LAW  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -62-
                 16.1     Arbitration Provisions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -62-
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>
<S>      <C>     <C>                                                                                                 <C>
                 16.2     Other Provisions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -62-

17.      COUNTERPARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -62-

18.      NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -62-

19.      SUCCESSION AND ASSIGNMENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -63-

20.      CONSTRUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -63-

21.      INCORPORATION OF EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -63-

22.      SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -64-

LIST OF EXHIBITS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  -66-
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   5


                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


         THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is dated as of May __,
1997 between RASHID & LEE NOMINEES SDN.  BHD., a Malaysian private limited
company ("Seller"), and PARKER DRILLING COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
("Parker") and PARKER DRILLING OFFSHORE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Parker ("Parker Offshore"); Parker and Parker
Offshore being hereinafter referred to as "Buyer";

                                   WITNESSETH

         WHEREAS:

         (1)     Seller owns and wishes to sell to Buyer ONE THOUSAND (1,000)
shares of common stock, each with no nominal or par value (the "Shares"),
representing one hundred percent (100%) of all of the issued and outstanding
common stock, of Hercules Rig Corp., a Texas corporation ("HRC" or the
"Company");

         (2)     Buyer has agreed to purchase the Shares for the consideration
hereinafter expressed on condition that Buyer is also able to purchase certain
agreed shares of capital stock of Hercules Offshore Corporation, a Texas
corporation, pursuant to the provisions of a separate Stock Purchase Agreement
of even date with this Agreement;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.       SALE AND TRANSFER OF SHARES.

         1.1     Definitions.

         "AFFILIATE" or "AFFILIATES" means, with respect to Buyer or Seller,
any other entity directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under
direct or indirect common control with Buyer
<PAGE>   6
or Seller, respectively.  For purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by"
and "under common control with") used with respect to either Buyer or Seller,
shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly of the beneficial ownership
of fifty (50) percent or more of the voting securities of Buyer or Seller, as
applicable.

         "AGREEMENT" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

         "ASSETS" means the Rigs, the Bareboat Charters, the IOLP Charter, the
Contracts and all other tangible or intangible assets, benefits, contracts and
contract rights owned or enuring to the benefit of the Company, including,
without limitation, the assets reflected in the Company's Financial Statements
in accordance with GAAP.

         "ASSUMED DEBT" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

         "AUDIT DATE" means December 31, 1996.

         "BAREBOAT CHARTERS" means (a) Bareboat Charter Agreement for Rig 25
dated April 8, 1994, as amended, between HRC, as owner, and HOC, as charterer;
and (b) Bareboat Charter Agreement for Rig 22, dated January 1, 1997 between
HRC, as owner and HOC, as charterer.

         "BENEFIT PLANS" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9.

         "BUYER" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

         "BUYER TERMINATION EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section
12.1(b).

         "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation
and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Sections  9601 -9675.

         "CLOSING" and "CLOSING DATE" have the meanings set forth in Section
2.3.



                                     -2-
<PAGE>   7
         "COAST GUARD" means the United States Coast Guard as defined in 46
U.S.C. Section 2101.

         "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         "COMPANY" means Hercules Rig Corp.

         "CONTRACTS"  means the Bareboat Charters, the IOLP Charter and all
other contracts to which the Company or any of its Assets are subject which
obligate the Company to make or entitle the Company to receive payments in
excess of $100,000.

         "CORPORATE CHARTER DOCUMENTS" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1
hereof.

         "DAMAGES" has the meanings set forth in Sections 5.2(a) and 5.3(a).

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" or "LAW" means the federal and state 
environmental laws, health and safety laws, rules or regulations, with respect
to the business or operations of the Company, of the United States of America
and all other applicable jurisdictions, including, but not limited to CERCLA, as
amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"), 42 U.S.C. Sections 6901-6992k,
the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. Section 5101, et seq., the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq., the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. Section 2701, et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42
U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq., the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251, et
seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act ("TSCA"), 15 U.S.C. Sections 2601-2629,
the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections 300F-300J, the Occupational
Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. Section 651 et seq. ("OSHA") and all
similar federal, state (including but not limited to environmental, health and
safety laws of the State of Texas) and local statutes, ordinances and the
regulations, orders and decrees promulgated thereunder.





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   8
         "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" means all books of account and financial
statements of the Company delivered by Seller to Buyer and listed in Section
3.7(a).

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles that are
consistent with principles promulgated or adopted in the United States with
respect to the Company.  With respect to the Seller, GAAP shall be deemed to
mean generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied in Malaysia.

         "GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY" means any government or any state, department or
other political subdivision thereof or governmental body, agency, authority,
department or commission (including, without limitation, any court or tribunal)
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
functions of or pertaining to government and any corporation, partnership or
other entity directly or indirectly owned by any of the foregoing.

         "HOC"  means Hercules Offshore Corporation, a Texas corporation.

         "HRC"  means Hercules Rig Corp.

         "HOC AGREEMENT" means the Stock Purchase Agreement between Trenergy
(Malaysia) BHD., HOC's sole shareholder, and Buyer of even date herewith for
the sale to Buyer of all of HOC's shares.

         "HSR" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Anti-Trust Improvements Act of 1976.

         "HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES" means any substance or material that is defined
or otherwise listed as a hazardous substance pursuant to CERCLA, as a toxic
substance pursuant to TSCA, a hazardous waste pursuant to RCRA,  a hazardous
material pursuant to the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act or any
petroleum material that in its concentration and location presents a material
endangerment to human health or the environment.





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   9
         "INDEMNIFIED PARTY" and "INDEMNIFYING PARTY" have the meanings set
forth in Section 5.4(a).

         "INVENTORY"  means any and all inventory of the Company recorded, in
accordance with GAAP, in the Company's Financial Statements.

         "IOLP"  means Isabella Offshore Limited Partnership, of San Francisco,
California, the owner and bareboat charterer to HRC of Rig 22.

         "IOLP CHARTER" means that certain Bareboat Charter Agreement, dated
January 1, 1997, between IOLP as owner, and HRC, as charterer, for and in
connection with Hercules Rig 22, and all of HRC's obligations and indebtedness
thereunder, including, but not limited to, HRC's obligation to purchase Rig 22
on termination of such bareboat charter, all of which is further secured by the
Rig 25 Mortgage.

         "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.

         "IOLP CONSENTS" means approvals required of IOLP under the IOLP
Charter, if any.

         "LIABILITIES"  means all liabilities of the Company from time to time
recorded in the Company's Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP.

         "MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE" or "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" or "AFFECT"
means, with respect to any person, a change, event or result that (a) adversely
affects or impairs, as appropriate, the value of any Assets by an amount in
excess of $2,500,000 or (b)  creates or results in the incurrence of a
liability or obligation of such person of an amount in excess of $2,500,000.

         "NAME" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.22.





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   10
         "PERMITTED LIENS" means:

         (a)     preferred mortgage liens, liens, security interests and
encumbrances on the Rigs and certain other assets of HRC under the Rig 25
Mortgage and the IOLP Charter, provided, however, that such liens shall only be
permitted on the Closing Date if the Rig 25 Mortgage and/or IOLP Charter are
assumed by Buyer;

         (b)     shipyards' and worker's liens, if any, on the Rigs;

         (c)     liens for Taxes, assessments and governmental charges not yet
due and payable or the validity of which are being diligently contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings;

         (d)     statutory, common law and maritime liens (including liens for
insurance premiums or calls), purchase money liens, liens securing debt under
capital leases and other liens arising in the ordinary course of business
relating to obligations as to which there is no default on the part of the
Company;

         (e)     charterer's liens or other liens under the Bareboat Charters
and the IOLP Charter in the ordinary course of business as to which there is no
default;

         (f)     liens in connection with Worker's Compensation, unemployment
insurance or other Social Security, pension or public liability obligations;
and

         (g)     liens in connection with any litigation or other proceeding or
arising out of a judgment or award for which an appeal is to be prosecuted as
disclosed in Exhibit 3.12; provided, however, that at the Closing "Permitted
Liens" shall not include any liens for Taxes, assessments or governmental
charges filed of record against the Assets, or statutory or maritime liens
filed of record against the Assets, unless any such liens are being diligently
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and are disclosed in Exhibit
3.12.





                                      -6-
<PAGE>   11
         "PRE-CLOSING TAXABLE PERIOD" means all or a portion of (i) any taxable
period up to and including the Closing Date or (ii) any taxable period with
respect to which the Tax is computed by reference to Tax items, assets, capital
or operations of the Company arising  on or before, or existing as of, the
Closing Date.

         "PURCHASE PRICE" means the price paid by Buyer for the Shares pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2.2.

         "RESTORATION SHORTFALL" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(c).

         "RIG 25 MORTGAGE" means the mortgage over Rig 25 in favor of IOLP to
secure the IOLP Charter.

         "RIG CASUALTY EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(c).

         "RIG DEBT" means all outstanding principal and interest, charter hire
fees, fees, expenses and obligations of HRC to IOLP, under and pursuant to the
terms of the IOLP Charter.

         "RIG EQUIPMENT" means any and all drilling machinery and equipment
(including,  without limitation, floor tools and blow-out preventers), engines,
machinery, equipment, mooring systems and equipment, riser tensioner systems
and equipment, boots, covers, anchors, chains, cables, tackle, rigging,
apparel, furniture, computers and computer equipment, computer software,
fittings and equipment, tools, pumps and pumping equipment, living quarters
located thereon, spare components and parts, tubulars, drill pipe, drill
collars, racking, supporting inventory and stores (unless classified as
Inventory), and all other appurtenances thereto appertaining or belonging to
any of the Rigs (including items under Capital Leases to HOC), including, to
the extent such items are owned by HOC, appertaining or belonging to Rig 22,
whether located on the Rigs, or located elsewhere; and all top drives and
related equipment, if any, owned by HOC





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   12
and used in connection with the Rigs; excluding, however, Rig Rental Equipment
and other equipment and stores owned by (a) any operator, third-party suppliers
(such as catering consumables, cement units or logging equipment) or otherwise,
or (b) with respect to both Rigs, by HOC or (c) with respect to Rig 22, by
IOLP.

         "RIG RENTAL EQUIPMENT" means rental equipment on board the Rigs or
stored elsewhere,  which is leased or rented by HRC or HOC from third parties
for use in normal drilling or workover operations.

         "RIG RESTORATION AMOUNT" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(c).

         "RIGS"  means Rig 25 and all of Seller's right, title and interest in
and to Rig 22, and their associated Rig Equipment and Inventory, owned,
chartered or operated by the Company, which rigs are more specifically
identified in Exhibit 3.15(a).

         "SELLER" means Rashid & Lee Nominees SDN. BHD., a Malaysian private
limited company.

         "SELLER TERMINATION EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section
12.1(c).

         "SHARES" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

         "SHIPPING LAWS" means all statutory and general maritime laws of the
United States of America governing the documentation, ownership, operation and
inspection of United States vessels or foreign vessels operating in United
States waters including such laws as they relate to drill rigs, jack up or
platform drill rigs, and all U.S. Maritime Administration and Coast Guard rules
and regulations.

         "TAX" or "TAXES" means any federal, state, local, or foreign income,
gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, premium
windfall profits, environmental





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   13
(including taxes under Code Sec. 59A), customs duties, capital stock,
franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment,
disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer,
registration, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated, or other tax of any
kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether
disputed or not, excluding, however, any deferred taxes which appear as a
Liability on the Company's Financial Statements.

         "TAX RETURN" means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund,
or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or
attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

         "THIRD PARTY CLAIM" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(a).

          "TO THE BEST OF SELLER'S KNOWLEDGE", as used in this Agreement, with
respect to Seller, means and applies to the actual knowledge (after reasonable
inquiry) of Seller, its officers, agents or employees.

         1.2     Sale of Shares.

                 Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the
Closing Date, Seller agrees to sell, transfer and deliver the Shares to Buyer,
free and clear of all liens, charges, pledges and encumbrances, and on such
date Buyer agrees to purchase and take delivery of title to the Shares.





                                      -9-
<PAGE>   14
2.       PURCHASE PRICE; PAYMENT; ADJUSTMENTS.

         2.1     Purchase Price.

                 (a)      The purchase price for the Shares, subject to any
adjustment as set out in 2.1(b) below, shall be FIFTY MILLION UNITED STATES
DOLLARS  (U.S. $50,000,000), payable in cash at the Closing.

                 (b)      The Purchase Price paid to Seller shall be reduced by
(i) the amount of  the Rig Debt, if any, assumed by Buyer at the Closing
pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2(a) and (ii) any payments by Buyer to
IOLP under 2.2(b).

                 (c)      Subject to Section 2.2(b), all payments of Purchase
Price and other sums due hereunder shall be made in U.S. Dollars in immediately
available funds to Seller by wire transfer to Seller's bank account designated
in writing to Buyer at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing, or as
otherwise instructed by Seller in writing.

         2.2     Purchase Price Reductions; Rig Debt.

                 (a)      Buyer may at its sole option, by notice in writing to
Seller, given at least thirty-five (35) days prior to Closing (to permit any
necessary notices to be given to IOLP), elect to assume at the Closing, subject
to any necessary IOLP Consents, all of the Rig Debt.  If Buyer does elect to
assume such Rig Debt, Buyer and Seller shall act in good faith and cooperate in
obtaining, as promptly as possible but in any event prior to the Closing Date,
all necessary IOLP Consents.  At the Closing, Buyer and Seller shall reduce the
Purchase Price by the total amount of Rig Debt outstanding to IOLP,  as
certified in writing by IOLP, and Buyer shall pay to Seller, as Purchase Price,
the reduced amount.





                                      -10-
<PAGE>   15
                 (b)      If Buyer does not elect to assume the Rig Debt, or
any necessary IOLP Consents are not obtained on or before the Closing, Buyer
shall pay at Closing (i) directly to IOLP all outstanding amounts owed on the
Rig Debt, as certified in writing by IOLP, and (ii) the balance of the Purchase
Price to Seller.

         2.3     Closing.

                 The "Closing" of the purchase and sale provided for in this
Agreement shall take place at the offices of Griggs & Harrison, P.C., 1301
McKinney St., Suite 3200, Houston, Texas 77010, at 10:00 a.m., Houston time, on
the Closing Date, or at such other time and place as the parties hereto shall
mutually agree in writing.  Unless extended by agreement in writing of the
parties, which date is referred to herein as the "Closing Date", the Closing
shall take place on a date and time jointly agreed by Seller and Buyer which is
on or before a date which is two (2) weeks after the date of satisfaction of
(or waiver thereof in accordance with this Agreement) the latest to occur of
the conditions set forth under Sections 6.4 and 7.3.  The Closing Date shall in
any event take place prior to December 31, 1997.

         2.4     Closing Deliveries.

                 At the Closing:

                 (a)      Seller shall deliver to Buyer certificates
representing the Shares, duly endorsed to Buyer, together with such instruments
of transfer required by applicable law, which shall transfer to Buyer good and
marketable (legal and beneficial) title to the Shares, free and clear of all
liens and encumbrances;

                 (b)      Seller shall also deliver to Buyer all Contracts and
additional documents, instruments and certificates to be delivered to Buyer
under the terms of this Agreement;





                                      -11-
<PAGE>   16
                 (c)      Buyer shall deliver to Seller the Purchase Price, as
same may be reduced  pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 of this
Agreement;

                 (d)      If relevant, Buyer shall pay directly to IOLP all
amounts of Rig Debt outstanding, if same is not assumed by Buyer under Section
2.2, and shall pay the balance of the Purchase Price to Seller; and

                 (e)      Buyer shall deliver to Seller all other documents,
instruments and certificates required to be delivered by Buyer pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement.

3.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER.

         Seller represents and warrants to Buyer as follows:

         3.1     Organization and Good Standing.

                 The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the State of Texas and has full
corporate power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted, to own, lease or charter the Rigs, properties and Assets which it
owns, leases or charters and to perform all of its obligations under the
agreements and instruments to which it is a party or by which it is bound.  The
copies of the Articles of Incorporation, bylaws  and other organizational
documents of the Company, as amended to date, true copies of which, certified
by the Secretary of the Company, have heretofore been delivered to Buyer, are
complete and correct, in full force and effect, and no provision thereof or of
Seller's Memorandum and Articles of Association or other organizational
documents would preclude any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.  Seller is a private limited company duly organized, validly
existing  and in good standing under the laws of Malaysia.  Seller's Memorandum
and Articles of Association or other organizational documents are in full force
and





                                      -12-
<PAGE>   17
effect and valid under the laws of Malaysia and no provision thereof would
preclude any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  The
organizational documents of the Company and Seller, as appropriate in this
context, are hereinafter referred to as "Corporate Charter Documents."

         3.2     Authority.

                 Seller has all necessary corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and all agreements, instruments and
documents to be executed and delivered hereunder by it, to sell, transfer and
deliver the Shares to Buyer at the Closing, to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and to perform all terms and conditions hereof to be
performed by it.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement and all
agreements, instruments and documents to be executed and delivered by Seller
hereunder, the performance by Seller of all the terms and conditions hereof and
thereof to be performed, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the
board of directors of Seller, and no other corporate proceedings other than
approval of the shareholders of Seller are necessary with respect thereto.  All
persons who have executed and delivered this Agreement, and all persons who
will execute and deliver the Shares, transfers and other agreements, documents,
instruments and certificates to be executed and delivered hereunder by Seller
have been duly authorized by all necessary board of director actions on the
part of Seller, as applicable.





                                      -13-
<PAGE>   18
         3.3     Enforceability; Conflicts, etc.

                 This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligations of Seller enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Seller nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby to be performed by the
parties hereto will (a) violate or conflict with any provision of the Corporate
Charter Documents of Seller, as amended to date, or (b) violate or conflict
with any provision of any law, rule, regulation, order, permit, certificate,
writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination, award or other decision of
any court,  Governmental Agency, domestic or foreign, or arbitrator binding
upon Seller.  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (except as specified
in Exhibit 3.3 under the caption "Required Consents") result in a breach of, or
constitute a default (or with notice or lapse of time or both would result in a
breach of or constitute a default) under, or otherwise give any person the
right to terminate any lease, license, contract or other agreement or
instrument to which Seller or the Company is a party.  Neither the execution
and delivery by Seller of this Agreement nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby will result in, or require, the creation or
imposition of any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest, or
other charge or encumbrance of any nature upon or  with respect to any of the
properties now or hereafter owned by the Company.

         3.4     Title to Shares; Shares Pledge.

                 Seller now has, and will have at Closing, full legal title to
all of the Shares, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances.  The Shares
are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and
constitute 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of HRC.  Seller will,





                                      -14-
<PAGE>   19
by delivery to Buyer of certificates properly endorsed representing the Shares
at the Closing, have transferred, delivered and vested in Buyer good and
marketable (legal and beneficial) title to the whole of the Shares free and
clear of all liens, pledges, encumbrances, security interests, claims, charges
and restrictions whatsoever.  There are no outstanding agreements, options,
warrants or other rights of any kind whatsoever entitling any person to
purchase or acquire an interest in any of the Shares.  The certificates
representing any Shares delivered at the Closing and the signatures and
endorsements thereof or instruments of transfer delivered therewith will be
valid and genuine.

         3.5     Capitalization.

                 The authorized and issued capital of the Company at December
31, 1996  is as set forth in Exhibit 3.5.  There are no outstanding or
authorized options, warrants, rights, calls or commitments of any character
relating to unissued or treasury shares of such capital, and there are no
outstanding securities or other instruments convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of such capital and no commitments to issue such securities or
instruments.

         3.6     Subsidiaries.

                 The Company has no subsidiaries.

         3.7     Financial Statements.

                 (a)      The books of account and related records of the
Company fairly reflect in reasonable detail the Assets, Liabilities, and
transactions of the Company and are sufficient to form the basis of financial
statements prepared in accordance with GAAP and are sufficient to permit an
independent auditor to render an unqualified audit opinion with respect to such
financial statements.  The Seller has delivered to Buyer the financial
statements of the Company listed in Exhibit 3.7(a) (the "Financial
Statements").





                                      -15-
<PAGE>   20
                 (b)      The Financial Statements (including the notes
thereto) (i) fairly present the financial positions of the Company as of their
respective dates and the results of its operations and cash flow, for the
periods covered thereby, and (ii) are in conformity with and have been prepared
in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis.

         3.8     No Changes.

                 Since the Audit Date there has not been:

                 (a)      Any material change in the financial position,
results of operations, business, Assets (including any damage, destruction or
loss thereto) or Liabilities of the Company, except changes in the ordinary
course of business;

                 (b)      Any payment, discharge, or satisfaction by the
Company of any liability or obligation (whether accrued, absolute, contingent,
or otherwise), other than the payment, discharge, or satisfaction in the
ordinary course of business, of Liabilities or obligations shown or reflected
on the Financial Statements since the Audit Date;

                 (c)      Any change by the Company in any method of accounting
or the keeping of its books of account or accounting practices;

                 (d)      Any issued, sold, purchased or redeemed shares of the
Company's share capital; any subdivided or in any way reclassified capital
shares, or amendments to the Corporate Charter Documents of the Company;

                 (e)      Except for the IOLP Charter and other obligations in
the ordinary course of business and as otherwise permitted in this Agreement,
any incurred liability or obligation under agreements or otherwise, except for
obligations pursuant to this Agreement; nor has the Company made any material
acquisitions, issued or become obligated, with respect to any notes,





                                      -16-
<PAGE>   21
debentures, bonds or other debt securities or waived any rights or claims which
are material to the business or condition of the Company;

                 (f)      Any transaction, agreement, or event outside the
ordinary course of the Company's business;

                 (g)      Any capital expenditures outside the ordinary course
of business, except Projected CAPEX under the HOC Agreement;

                 (h)      Any material damage, destruction, or loss (whether or
not covered by insurance) to its property, other than ordinary wear and tear;
and

                 (i)      Any legal commitment incurred by the Company to do
any of the foregoing.

         3.9     Benefit Plans.

                 (a)      Definitions.  Where the following words and phrases
appear in this Agreement, they shall have the respective meanings set forth
below, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary:

                          (i)     Each "employee benefit plan," as such term is
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, including, but not limited to, any employee
benefit plan that may be exempt from some or all provisions of ERISA, which is
sponsored, maintained, or contributed to by the Company or Seller for the
benefit of employees, former employees, independent contractors, or agents of
the Company, or has been so sponsored, maintained, or contributed to since 1974
("Plans").

                          (ii)    Each personnel policy, stock option plan,
collective bargaining agreement, bonus plan or arrangement, incentive award
plan or arrangement, vacation policy, severance pay plan, policy or agreement,
deferred compensation agreement or arrangement, executive compensation or
supplemental income arrangement, consulting agreement, employment





                                      -17-
<PAGE>   22
agreement, and each other employee benefit plan, agreement, arrangement,
program, practice or understanding, which is not described in Section 3.9(a)(i)
and which is sponsored, maintained, or contributed to by the Company or Seller
for the benefit of the employees, former employees, independent contractors, or
agents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or has been so sponsored,
maintained, or contributed to since 1974 ("Benefit Programs or Agreements").

                          (iii)   Collectively, the Plans and Benefit Programs
or Agreements are defined as "Benefit Plans".

                 (b)      The Company has no and has never had any employees,
except its officers, none of whom are or have ever been paid or otherwise
compensated by the Company.

                 (c)      The Company has not ever maintained a Benefit Plan or
had an obligation to contribute to a Benefit Plan.

                 (d)      With respect to any benefit plan, within the meaning
of Section 3(3) of ERISA, which is not a Benefit Plan but which is sponsored,
maintained, or contributed to, or has been sponsored, maintained, or
contributed to within six years prior to the Closing Date, by any corporation,
trade, business, or entity under common control with the Company or Seller,
within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m), or (o) of the Code or Section
4001 of ERISA ("Commonly Controlled Entity"), (A) no withdrawal liability,
within the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA, has been incurred, which
withdrawal liability has not been satisfied, (B) no liability to the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation has been incurred by any Commonly Controlled
Entity, which liability has not been satisfied, (C) no accumulated funding
deficiency, whether or not waived, within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA
or Section 412 of the Code has been





                                      -18-
<PAGE>   23
incurred, and (D) all contributions (including installments) to such plans
required by Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code have been timely
made.

         3.10    Tax Returns and Taxes.

                 (a)      Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.10, (i) all returns
and reports ("Tax Returns") of or with respect to any Tax which is required to
be filed on or before the Closing Date by or with respect to the Company have
been or will be duly and timely filed, (ii) all items of income, gain, loss,
deduction and credit or other items required to be included in each such Tax
Return have been or will be so included and all information provided in each
such Tax Return is true, correct and complete, (iii) all Taxes which have
become or will become due with respect to the period covered by each such Tax
Return have been or will be timely paid in full, (iv) all withholding Tax
requirements imposed on or with respect to the Company have been or will be
satisfied in full, and (v) no penalty, interest or other charge is or will
become due with respect to the late filing of any such Tax Return or late
payment of any such Tax.

                 (b)      There is no claim against the Company for any Taxes,
and no assessment, deficiency or adjustment has been asserted or proposed with
respect to any Tax Return of or with respect to the Company, other than those
disclosed in Exhibit 3.10 (and to which are attached true and complete copies
of all audit or similar reports).

                 (c)      Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.10, there is not in
force any extension of time with respect to the due date for the filing of any
Tax Return of or with respect to the Company or any waiver or agreement for any
extension of time for the assessment or payment of any Tax of or with respect
to the Company.





                                      -19-
<PAGE>   24
                 (d)      The total amounts set up as liabilities for current
and deferred Taxes in the Company's Closing Date balance sheet will be
sufficient to cover the payment of all Taxes, whether or not assessed or
disputed, which are, as of the Closing Date, or which could thereafter be found
to be, due by or with respect to the Company up to and through the periods
covered thereby.

                 (e)      The Company is not and has never been a member of an
affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated Tax
Return in any jurisdiction.

                 (f)      Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.10, none of the
property of the Company is held in an arrangement that could be classified as a
partnership for Tax purposes, and the Company  does not own any interest in any
controlled foreign corporation (as defined in section 957 of the Code), passive
foreign investment company (as defined in section 1296 of the Code) or other
entity the income of which is required to be included in the income of the
Company.

                 (g)      Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.10, none of the
property of the Company is subject to a safe- harbor lease (pursuant to section
168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as in effect after the Economic
Recovery Tax Act of 1981 and before the Tax Reform Act of 1986) or is
"tax-exempt use property" (within the meaning of section 168(h) of the Code) or
"tax-exempt bond financed property" (within the meaning of section 168g(5) of
the Code).

                 (h)      Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.10, the Company will
not be required to include any amount in income for any taxable period
beginning on the Closing Date as a result of a change in accounting method for
any taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date or pursuant to any
agreement with any Tax authority with respect to any such taxable period.





                                      -20-
<PAGE>   25
                 (i)      The Company has not consented to have the provisions
of  section 341(f)(2) of the Code apply with respect to a sale of its stock.

                 (j)      Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.10, the transfer of
the Shares contemplated by this Agreement will not result in any Tax liability
or gain to the Company, except, however, that the change of control effected by
the transfer of the Shares at Closing could, under IRS rules, restrict the
Company's future use of any net operating losses, which could have an indirect
effect on the Company's Tax liability.

         3.11    Regulatory Filings.

                 All regulatory filings with any Governmental Agency relating
to the operations of the Company (including but not limited to all
environmental filings) required to be made have been made in material
compliance with applicable law, and no material deficiencies have been asserted
by any such authority with respect to such a filing.

         3.12    Litigation.

                 Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.12, there is no action, suit,
proceeding, claim or investigation pending, or to the best of Seller's
knowledge, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its Assets
before any court or Governmental Agency or regulatory authority.

         3.13    No Defaults; Contracts.

                 Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.13, no event or condition has
occurred which constitutes, or with the lapse of time or the giving of notice
or both, would constitute a material default or a basis of force majeure or
other claim of excusable delay or non-performance by the Company  or any other
person under the IOLP Charter, the Bareboat Charters, the Rig 25





                                      -21-
<PAGE>   26
Mortgage or  under any other Contract, agreement, instrument or obligation to
which the Company is a party or by which it is bound and which is material to
the Company.

         3.14    Government Regulations.

                 The Company has no, and is not required by applicable law to
have any, franchises, licenses, permits, certificates and other governmental
approvals necessary to enable the Company to carry on its business in all
material respects as presently conducted except for a Certificate of
Documentation for Rig 25 which is current and in full force and effect; and the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby will not materially affect such Certificate of
Documentation.  All certificates of financial responsibility, Coast Guard and
class certificates for the Rigs have been taken out in the name of, and are
currently in full force and effect and maintained by HOC.  The Company is not
in material violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, permit, certificate,
writ, judgment, stipulation, injunction, decree, determination, award or
decision of any court, government, or Governmental Agency or instrumentality,
domestic or foreign, or arbitrator binding upon the Company.

         3.15    Assets and Liabilities.

                 Set forth in Exhibits to this Section 3.15 are true and
correct lists of the following Assets and Liabilities as of March 31, 1997:

                 (a)      Rig 25, which is owned by the Company and described
in more detail in Exhibit 3.15(a);

                 (b)      Rig 22, which is chartered to the Company and
described in more detail in Exhibit 3.15(b);





                                      -22-
<PAGE>   27
                 (c)      all Rig Equipment and Inventory, itemized by Rig
number in Exhibit 3.15(c), and all other personal property by category owned by
the Company;

                 (d)      the Bareboat Charters and all other Contracts between
the Company and others which are in force as of the date hereof (including,
without limitation, mortgages, charters, leases, deeds of trust, loan and
credit agreements, security agreements, pledge agreements, employment
contracts, labor union contracts, contracts or commitments for the purchase or
sale of shares, products or services) which impose an obligation on the
Company, or to which the Company's properties are subject, in an amount
exceeding $100,000, all as set forth in Exhibit 3.15(d);

                 (e)      the IOLP Charter, a description of which appears in
Exhibit 3.15(e); and

                 (f)      all Liabilities (including, but not limited to,
indebtedness for borrowed money and obligations under the IOLP Charter) of the
Company, as set forth in Exhibit 3.15(f).

         3.16    Employees.

                 The Company has no employees and has never employed any
persons other than its officers and Seller has caused the Company to give Buyer
true and correct lists of all  present directors and officers of the Company.
None of the directors or officers has an employment contract with the Company
or Seller or is entitled to any salary or benefits or severance compensation
from the Company or Seller.





                                      -23-
<PAGE>   28

         3.17    Minute Books.

                 The minute books of the Company made available to Buyer and
its representatives contain true and correct copies of the minutes of each
meeting of and all resolutions passed by the board of directors of the Company
and no meeting or resolution of such board has been held or passed for which
minutes are not contained therein.

         3.18    Payment of Expenses of Brokers or Finders.

                 Seller has hired Jefferies & Co. in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and Seller hereby indemnifies and
holds harmless Buyer from any brokerage or finders' fees or agents' commissions
or their like payment in connection with this Agreement alleged to be due by or
through Seller or as a result of the action of Seller.

         3.19    Undisclosed Liabilities.

                 The Company has no, and the Company's Assets are not subject
to, any liability, commitment, indebtedness or obligation of any kind
whatsoever (whether liquidated or unliquidated, actual or contingent), on the
Company or its Assets, and which (a) is not shown and adequately reserved
against in the Financial Statements or (b) has not been disclosed to Buyer in
writing.

         3.20    Patents, Trademarks, Licenses and Permits.

                 The Company is not presently being challenged for infringement
of patents, patent rights or licenses, trademarks or trade names, or copyrights
or copyright registrations, nor to the best of Seller's knowledge, is the
Company in conflict with the rights of others with respect to patents, patent
rights or licenses, trademarks, trade names or copyrights.





                                      -24-
<PAGE>   29
         3.21    Powers of Attorney.

                 No person or company holds any power of attorney or blank
transfer form from the Seller on any of the Shares.

         3.22    Use of Names.

                 Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
Buyer shall acquire from Seller all of its respective right, title and interest
to use the name "Hercules  Rig Corp."  and all derivatives of such name, except
such derivatives as set forth in the HOC Agreement (the "Name"), and shall
obtain the exclusive right to use the Name; and Seller shall not have any right
to use the Name.

         3.23    Books and Records.

                 All of the books and records of the Company are substantially
complete and correct, have been maintained in accordance with good business
practice and all applicable laws, and, in the case of the books of account,
have been prepared and maintained in accordance with GAAP.  Such books and
records accurately and fairly reflect, in reasonable detail, all material
transactions, Assets and Liabilities of the Company.

         3.24    Performance Bonds; Letters of Credit.

                 The Company has no outstanding performance or similar bonds
and letters of credit currently posted by, or any certificate of financial
responsibility or similar evidence of financial accountability obtained or
procured by, the Company for the purpose of owning and operating the Rigs or
otherwise conducting its business.  All such certificates relating to the
operation of the Rigs are in the name of HOC.





                                      -25-
<PAGE>   30
         3.25    Certain Property on Rigs.

                 After the date hereof, subject to normal wear and tear and
consumption in the ordinary course of business, neither Seller nor the Company
shall remove or permit to be removed any tangible property from any Rig, which
tangible property has a value equal to or greater than $50,000 in the aggregate
for both Rigs except for (a) Rig Rental Equipment, (b) any equipment owned by
oil and gas operators or other operators or contractors working for the Company
in the ordinary course of business, (c)  any such tangible property relocated
by HOC from one Rig to another Rig or transferred to storage and held for use
on or in connection with the Rigs and HOC's rigs, and (d) any equipment or
tangible property removed and later returned or replaced as part of the Agreed
CAPEX program under the HOC Agreement approved by Buyer.

         3.26    Rig Classifications and Certifications; Shipping Laws.

                 (a)      The classification of each Rig and, if applicable,
the flag under which is documented, together with a summary of the
recommendations to class for each of the Rigs based on the most recent survey
of such Rig as of the date of this Agreement, as well as a listing of required
certifications and the expiration date for each such certification, has been
identified and disclosed to Buyer under the HOC Agreement.  Each of the Rigs
has and Seller shall cause the Rigs to have at Closing all required class and
Coast Guard certifications (subject to any listed recommendations) necessary
for its present operations in full force and effect (with the exception of any
Rig that may be affected by any loss or damage referred to in Section 8.5).

                 (b)      Each Rig is duly and correctly documented under the
laws of the jurisdiction where same is required to be documented.





                                      -26-
<PAGE>   31
                 (c)      The Company qualifies as a "citizen" of the United
States of America for purposes of the documentation of vessels in the United
States under the Shipping Laws.

         3.27    Title to Assets.

                 The Company has good and marketable title to Rig 25 and, at
Closing, to Rig 22 (provided Buyer does not assume the Rig Debt), and all other
Assets, real and personal, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, except
for Permitted Liens, and such other imperfections of title, easements,
restrictions, liens, and encumbrances, if any, do not, individually or in the
aggregate, materially affect the value or intended use or enjoyment of Rig 25
or the other Assets.  The Company has not received notice of any violation of,
or default under, any law, ordinance, order, certificate, regulation or
requirement relating to the Rigs or other Assets which remains uncured or has
not been dismissed.  The Bareboat Charters, IOLP Charter and other leases and
licenses pursuant to which the Company charters, leases or licenses from or to
others any Rigs, Rig Equipment, Inventory or other material real or personal
property are in all material respects in good standing and valid and effective
in accordance with their respective terms.

         3.28    Rig Equipment; Inventory.

                 As of the date of this Agreement, the Company owns good and
marketable title to the Rig Equipment and Inventory, except for Rig Rental
Equipment and other equipment belonging to third parties, free and clear of all
encumbrances except for Permitted Liens.  As of the Closing Date, the Company
will own good and marketable title to the Rig Equipment and Inventory, except
for Rig Rental Equipment and other third party equipment described above, as
such Rig Equipment or Inventory may be reduced through the consumption thereof,
or increased through replacement thereof or additions thereto, in the ordinary
course of the maintenance and





                                      -27-
<PAGE>   32
operation of the Rigs by HOC through the Closing Date, free and clear of all
liens and encumbrances except for Permitted Liens, if any, created or permitted
to be imposed by Buyer.

         3.29    Contracts.

                 Seller has caused the Company to deliver to Buyer for review
complete and correct copies of all Contracts, and all  amendments thereto and
assignments thereof.  Except for IOLP consent to the Rig 22 Bareboat Charter to
HOC, no consents are needed for any Contracts.  As of the date of this
Agreement, each of the Contracts is valid, binding and in full force and effect
against the Company and, as of the Closing, each of the Contracts will be
valid, binding and in full force and effect against the Company.  As of the
date hereof, the Company is not in default in any material respect, no notice
of alleged default has been received by Seller or the Company under any of the
Contracts, and no other party thereto is in default thereunder in any material
respect, and there exists no condition or event which, with or without notice
or lapse of time or both, would (i) constitute a material default under any of
the Contracts by the Company, or (ii) otherwise give any other party to such a
Contract the right to charge any material penalties to Seller or the Company or
reduce the rates that would otherwise be payable to the Company under such a
Contract.

         3.30    Insurance.

                 Under the terms of the Bareboat Charters, HOC maintains with
sound and reputable insurers policies of insurance with respect to the Rigs
against such casualties and contingencies of such types and in such amounts as
are customary for drilling contractors of similar size engaged in similar
operations.  All premiums due and payable with respect to such policies have
been timely paid and no notice of cancellation of, or any intention not to
renew, any such policy has





                                      -28-
<PAGE>   33
been received by the Company.  Set forth in Exhibit 3.15(h) of the HOC
Agreement is a summary description of (a) the insurance maintained by the
Company covering each of the Rigs and/or the operation of its business and (b)
all outstanding insurance claims.

         3.31    Environmental Matters.

                 The Company is in material compliance with all Environmental
Laws applicable to its operations.  No notice, citation, summons or order has
been issued, no complaint has been filed, no penalty has been assessed and no
investigation or review is pending or threatened by any Governmental Agency or
other governmental entity or person with respect to any generation, treatment,
storage, recycling, transportation, release or disposal of any Hazardous
Substances by the Company or, to the best of Seller's knowledge on behalf of
the Company.  The Company has (a) not received any request for information,
notice of claim, demand, or other  notification that the Company is or may be
potentially responsible with respect to any investigation or clean-up of any
threatened or actual release of any Hazardous Substance and (b) received no
notice of, and neither knows of nor suspects, facts or conditions which might
constitute any violation of, give rise to or result in, any remedial
obligations of the Company under any United States Environmental Laws.  The
Company has been issued all necessary permits and governmental authorizations
in order to carry on its business as currently operated, and, to the extent
necessary, agrees to transfer all such permits and authorizations to Buyer at
the Closing.  To the best of Seller's knowledge, there have been no
environmental inspections, investigations, studies, audits, tests, reviews, or
other analyses conducted in relation to any property or business now or
previously owned, operated or leased by the Company except as set forth in
Exhibit 3.31 hereof.  There is no material liability to any non-governmental
third party in tort in connection with any





                                      -29-
<PAGE>   34
release into the environment of, or any exposure to, any Hazardous Substances
as a result of or with respect to the properties which are now or previously
owned or leased by the Company or with respect to the businesses of the
Company.

         3.32    Consents.

                 No consent, approval, or authorization of, or registration or
filing with, any person, including any governmental authority or other
regulatory agency is required of the Seller or the Company in connection with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby except for: (a) a pre-merger notification
filing under HSR and any further filings or Governmental Agency requirements in
connection therewith, and (b) approval of the shareholders of Seller.

         3.33    LIMITATION OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  EXCEPT AS
SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH HEREIN, SELLER MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPANY, THE RIGS, THE CONTRACTS,
THE BAREBOAT CHARTERS, THE IOLP CHARTER OR ANY OTHER ASSETS OF THE COMPANY OR
THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY, VALUE, REPAIR, SEAWORTHINESS, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR USE, OR QUALITY, OR AS TO THE ABSENCE OF ANY DEFECTS THEREIN,
WHETHER LATENT OR PATENT, IT BEING UNDERSTOOD THAT THE RIGS AND ASSETS OF THE
COMPANY ARE BEING TRANSFERRED WITH THE SHARES  HEREUNDER "AS IS AND WHERE IS"
WITH ALL FAULTS AND IN THEIR PRESENT STATE AND CONDITION.  BUYER ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT IT HAS EXAMINED, AND MADE ITS OWN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE
COMPANY, THE RIGS AND OTHER ASSETS





                                      -30-
<PAGE>   35
AND HAS NOT RELIED ON ANY STATEMENTS OF ANY COMPANY OFFICER OR REPRESENTATIVE
AS TO VALUES, OR CONDITION OR APPRAISALS OF, OR REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES
(OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT) IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SHARES, THE
COMPANY, THE RIGS, CONTRACTS OR THE OTHER ASSETS.

4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY BUYER.

         Buyer hereby represents and warrants to Seller as follows:

         4.1     Organization and Good Standing.

                 Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of Delaware and is duly authorized to carry on
business and is in good standing in the States of Oklahoma and Texas.  Buyer is
a "citizen" of the United States for vessel documentation purposes under the
Shipping Laws.

         4.2     Authority.

                 Buyer has all the requisite power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement, and to perform its obligations hereunder and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.  The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Buyer and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no
other corporate action of, including any action by the shareholders of Buyer,
is necessary to authorize this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer and is a
legal, valid and binding obligation of Buyer enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms.  Buyer will have at the





                                      -31-
<PAGE>   36
Closing full corporate power and authority to make and perform this Agreement,
purchase and take delivery of the Shares and perform all other transactions
contemplated herein.

         4.3     No Violation; Enforceability.

                 This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of Buyer, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the terms hereto will
violate or conflict with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation,
bylaws and other applicable organizational documents of Buyer, or violate the
provisions of or result in the acceleration of performance under any material
mortgage, lien, lease, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to
which Buyer is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound, and will
not violate or conflict with any other material restriction to which Buyer is
subject.

         4.4     Brokers or Finders.

                 Buyer has incurred no obligation or liability, contingent or
otherwise, for brokerage or finders' fees or agents' commissions or other like
payment in connection with this Agreement and WILL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS
Seller from any such payment alleged to be due by or through Buyer as a result
of the action of Buyer.

         4.5     Notice; Approvals.

                 Except for filings and any necessary approvals under HSR, and
the obtaining of the necessary financing to complete its purchase of the Shares
hereunder, Buyer need not give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain
any authorization or consent or approval of any person





                                      -32-
<PAGE>   37
or Governmental Authority in order to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby.

         4.6     No Section 338 Election.

                 Buyer will not make an election under Section 338(g) of the
Code with regard to the purchase of the Shares.

5.       SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; INDEMNIFICATION.

         5.1     Survival.

         None of the express representations and warranties of the parties
hereto contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing, except for
representations and warranties under (a) Section 3.4, which shall survive until
the close of business on the date which is ten (10) years after the Closing
Date, (b) Sections 3.9 and 3.10 and the tax representations and agreements
contained in Section 10.4, which shall each survive until five (5) days after
the end of any applicable statutes of limitation, and (c) Section 3.31, which
shall survive for a period of six (6) months after the Closing Date.

         5.2     Indemnification by Seller.

                 (a)      SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5.1 ABOVE, AND
THE LIMITATIONS IN  5.2(b) & (c) BELOW, SELLER SHALL AND DOES HEREBY AGREE TO
DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS BUYER AND ITS AFFILIATES AND THEIR
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS FROM
AND AGAINST:

                          (i) ANY LOSS, LIABILITY, CLAIM, OBLIGATION, DAMAGE,
DEFICIENCY (AND, WITH RESPECT TO SECTION 3.9 ONLY, ANY TAX), OR ANY JUDGMENT,
ASSESSMENT, INTEREST, PENALTY OR DEFICIENCY ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM
ANY MISREPRESENTATION, BREACH OF WARRANTY, OR NON-FULFILMENT OF ANY AGREEMENT
OR COVENANT ON THE PART OF SELLER CONTAINED IN THIS





                                      -33-
<PAGE>   38
AGREEMENT OR ANY INACCURACY IN ANY STATEMENT OR CERTIFICATE FURNISHED OR TO BE
FURNISHED TO BUYER IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY;

                          (ii)  ANY INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLES AND ANY UNINSURED
LOSS, LIABILITY, CLAIM, OBLIGATION, DAMAGES (PHYSICAL OR MONETARY), JUDGMENTS
OR ORDERS ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM THE OPERATION BY SELLER OF THE
BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY OR THE RIGS OR OTHER ASSETS PRIOR TO CLOSING, UNLESS
THE FULL AMOUNT OF ANY SUCH UNINSURED LOSS(ES) HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN ANY
WORKING CAPITAL ADJUSTMENTS AT CLOSING UNDER SECTION 2.2 ABOVE, IN WHICH EVENT
NO INDEMNITY SHALL APPLY TO SUCH LOSS; OR

                          (iii) ANY ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, COSTS, AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND ALL OTHER EXPENSES INCURRED IN
INVESTIGATING, PREPARING, OR DEFENDING ANY LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING, COMMENCED
OR THREATENED) INCIDENT TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS
SECTION 5.2.

                 THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF SUCH LOSSES, LIABILITIES, CLAIMS,
DEFICIENCIES, COSTS, EXPENSES, FEES, DAMAGES (AND, WITH RESPECT TO SECTION 3.9
ONLY, ANY TAX), AND ANY JUDGMENT, ASSESSMENTS, INTEREST AND PENALTIES ARE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS "DAMAGES".

                 (b)      NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, SELLER SHALL HAVE NO
LIABILITY UNTIL THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF ALL DAMAGES PURSUANT TO SECTION 5.2(a)
EXCEEDS $500,000; THEREAFTER, INDEMNIFICATION SHALL BE PAID AS PROVIDED FOR
HEREIN FOR ALL DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF $500,000; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY
DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 3.4, 3.9, 3.10, 3.31 AND 10.4
SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS.





                                      -34-
<PAGE>   39
         5.3     Indemnification by Buyer.

                 (a)      SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5.1 ABOVE AND
THE LIMITATIONS IN 5.3(b) BELOW, BUYER SHALL AND DOES HEREBY AGREE TO DEFEND,
INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS SELLER AND ITS AFFILIATES AND THEIR OFFICERS,
DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS FROM AND AGAINST:

                          (i)     ANY LOSS, LIABILITY, CLAIM, OBLIGATION,
DAMAGE, OR DEFICIENCY ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM ANY MISREPRESENTATION,
BREACH OF WARRANTY, OR NON-FULFILMENT OF ANY AGREEMENT OR COVENANT ON THE PART
OF BUYER CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY INACCURACY IN ANY STATEMENT OR
CERTIFICATE FURNISHED OR TO BE FURNISHED TO SELLER IN CONNECTION WITH THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY;

                          (ii)    ANY LOSS, LIABILITY, CLAIM, OBLIGATION,
DAMAGES (PHYSICAL OR MONETARY), JUDGMENTS, ORDERS ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING
FROM THE OPERATION BY BUYER OF THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY OR OF THE RIGS OR
OTHER ASSETS, SUBSEQUENT TO CLOSING; AND

                          (iii)   ANY ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, COSTS, AND EXPENSES
(INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND ALL OTHER EXPENSES INCURRED IN
INVESTIGATING, PREPARING, OR DEFENDING ANY LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING, COMMENCED
OR THREATENED) INCIDENT TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS
SECTION 5.3.

                 THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF SUCH LOSSES, LIABILITIES, CLAIMS,
COSTS, EXPENSES, AND FEES ARE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS "DAMAGES".

                 (b)      NOTWITHSTANDING, THE FOREGOING, BUYER SHALL HAVE NO
LIABILITY UNTIL THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF ALL DAMAGES PURSUANT TO SECTION 5.3(a)
EXCEEDS $500,000; THEREAFTER, INDEMNIFICATION SHALL BE PAID AS PROVIDED FOR
HEREIN FOR ALL DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF $500,000;





                                      -35-
<PAGE>   40
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS
10.1 AND 10.2 SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS.

         5.4     Matters Involving Third Parties.

                 (a)      If any third party shall notify any party to this
Agreement (the "Indemnified Party") with respect to any matter (a "Third Party
Claim") that may give rise to a claim for indemnification  against any other
party (the "Indemnifying Party") under this Section 5.4, then the Indemnified
Party shall promptly notify the Indemnifying Party thereof in writing;
provided, however, that no delay on the part of the Indemnified Party in
notifying the Indemnifying Party shall relieve the Indemnifying Party from any
obligation hereunder unless (and then solely to the extent) the Indemnifying
Party thereby is materially prejudiced.

                 (b)      The Indemnifying Party will have the right to defend
the Indemnified Party against the Third Party Claim with counsel of its choice
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party so long as (i) the
Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party in writing within 15 days
after the Indemnified Party has given notice of the Third Party Claim that the
Indemnifying Party will indemnify the Indemnified Party from and against any
Damages the Indemnified Party may suffer resulting from, arising out of,
relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the Third Party Claim; (ii) the
Indemnifying Party provides the Indemnified Party with evidence reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnified Party that the Indemnifying Party will have the
financial resources to defend against the Third Party Claim and fulfill its
indemnification obligations hereunder; (iii) the Third Party Claim involves
only money damages and does not seek an injunction or other equitable relief;
(iv) settlement of, or an adverse judgment with respect to, the Third Party
Claim is not in the good faith judgment of the Indemnified Party, likely to
establish a precedential





                                      -36-
<PAGE>   41
custom or practice materially adverse to the continuing business interests of
the Indemnified Party; and (v) the Indemnifying Party conducts the defense of
the Third Party Claim actively and diligently.

                 (c)      So long as the Indemnifying Party is conducting the
defense of the Third Party Claim in accordance with Section 5.4(b), (i) the
Indemnified Party may retain separate co-counsel at its sole cost and expense
and participate in the defense of the Third Party Claim, (ii) the Indemnified
Party will not consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement with respect to the Third Party Claim without the prior written
consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld); and (iii) the Indemnifying Party will not consent to the entry of
any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect to the Third Party Claim
without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld).

                 (d)      In the event any of the conditions in Section 5.4(b)
is or becomes unsatisfied, however, (i) the Indemnified Party may defend
against the Third Party Claim in any manner it reasonably may deem appropriate;
provided, however, that the Indemnified Party shall not consent to the entry of
any judgment or enter into any settlement or agreement to settle a Third Party
Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld; (ii) the Indemnifying Party will reimburse
the Indemnified Party promptly and periodically for the reasonable costs of
defending against the Third Party Claim (including reasonable attorneys' fees
and expenses); and (iii) the Indemnifying Party will remain responsible for any
Damages the Indemnified Party actually suffers resulting from, arising out of,





                                      -37-
<PAGE>   42
relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the Third Party Claim to the
fullest extent provided in this Section 5.4 subject to any limitations set
forth in Sections 5.2 and 5.3 above.

                 (e)      THE INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL
HEREIN APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO SUCH INDEMNITY
MAY RELATE TO THE ORDINARY, SOLE OR CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE BY ANY INDEMNIFIED
PARTY, ITS SUBSIDIARIES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS.

6.       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF BUYER.

         The obligations of Buyer hereunder are, subject to waiver at the
option of Buyer, subject to the satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date,
of the following conditions:

         6.1     Representations.

                 The representations and warranties of Seller contained in this
Agreement shall be true in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date
with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been
made on and as of such date; all of the covenants and agreements of Seller and
approvals on Seller's part to be complied with and performed on or before the
Closing pursuant to the terms hereof shall have been complied with and
performed in all material respects; and Seller shall have delivered to Buyer a
certificate to such effect dated the Closing Date and signed by its authorized
representative.

         6.2     Litigation.

                 No action, suit, investigation, or other proceeding or claim
shall have been threatened in writing or instituted before any court or by any
Governmental Agency or instrumentality either (a) to restrain, prohibit or
invalidate the transactions contemplated by this





                                      -38-
<PAGE>   43
Agreement, (b) to impose any material restrictions, limitations or conditions
with respect thereto or with respect to Buyer's ownership interests in the
Company or any of the Rigs or material Assets of the Company, or (c) to obtain
any material damages or other relief in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.  No action, suit, investigation, other
proceeding or claim against the Company shall have been instituted or shall be
threatened in writing before any court or before or by any government or
Governmental Agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, under any
Environmental Laws or other applicable laws, which might have a material effect
on the business or financial condition of the Company.

         6.3     No Material Adverse Change.

                 No Material Adverse Change shall have occurred; provided
however, that for the purposes of this Section 6.3 only, no Material Adverse
Change shall be deemed to have occurred as a result of any casualty loss
(whether partial or total) of or to any of the Rigs, which loss shall be
governed solely by the provisions of Section 8.5 hereof.

         6.4     Approvals.

                 Seller shall have obtained all regulatory approvals required
(including, if necessary, approvals under HSR) to be obtained by it as a
condition to the lawful consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

         6.5     Legal Opinions.

                 Buyer shall have received an opinion from independent outside
Malaysian and Texas counsel to Seller and the Company, acceptable to Buyer, to
the matters set forth in Exhibit 6.5 hereof.





                                      -39-
<PAGE>   44
         6.6     Deliveries.

                 Seller shall have effected delivery of all of the items
required to be delivered by it at the Closing.

         6.7     Casualty Losses.

                 No Buyer Termination Event has occurred; provided, however,
that if the Buyer is satisfied that any casualty losses or damages amounting to
a Buyer Termination Event are adequately covered by insurance, it may, at its
option, waive this condition and, pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.5
hereof, proceed with the Closing.

         6.8     Board and Shareholder Approvals.

                 Seller shall have delivered to Buyer a copy of resolutions of
(a) the board of directors of Seller and (b) Seller's shareholders, duly
certified by its Secretary to be true and correct copies, and approving of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         6.9     HOC Agreement; Financing.

                 Buyer shall have obtained the necessary financing to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and,  prior to or
contemporaneously with the sale of the Shares under this Agreement, Buyer shall
have taken delivery and possession of the HOC shares and paid the full purchase
price therefor, as same may be adjusted under the terms of the HOC Agreement.

7.       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF SELLER.

         The obligations of Seller hereunder are, subject to waiver at the
option of Seller, subject to the satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing, of
the following conditions:





                                      -40-
<PAGE>   45
         7.1     Representations.

                 The representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this
Agreement shall be true in all material respects on and as of the Closing with
the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on
and as of such date; all of the covenants and agreements of Buyer to be
complied with and performed on or before the Closing Date pursuant to the terms
hereof shall have been complied with and performed in all material respects;
and Buyer shall have delivered to Seller a certificate to such effect dated the
Closing and signed by its authorized representatives.

         7.2     Litigation.

                 No action, suit, investigation, other proceeding or claim
shall have been threatened or instituted before any court or before or by any
government or Governmental Agency or instrumentality either (a) to restrain,
prohibit or invalidate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) to
impose any material restrictions, limitations or conditions with respect
thereto, or (c) to obtain any material damages or other relief in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         7.3     Approvals; Financing.

                 Buyer shall have obtained all regulatory approvals required
(including, if necessary, approvals under HSR) and all required financing to be
obtained by them as a condition to the lawful consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.





                                      -41-
<PAGE>   46
         7.4     Deliveries.

                 Buyer shall have effected delivery of all of the items
required to be delivered by it on or before the Closing.

         7.5     Board Approval.

                 Buyer shall have delivered to Seller a copy of the resolutions
of its board of directors duly certified by the Secretary of Buyer, as being
true and correct and all other items and documents required to be delivered by
Buyer hereunder.

         7.6     HOC Agreement.

                 The HOC share purchase transaction shall have been consummated
and the purchase price for the HOC Agreement paid to the shareholders of HOC by
Buyer, as set forth in Section 6.9 above.

8.       COVENANTS OF SELLER PRIOR TO CLOSING.

                 Seller covenants and agrees that, between the date of this
Agreement and the Closing:

         8.1     Access.

                 Seller will furnish Buyer with such additional financial and
operating data, books and records and other information as Buyer shall from
time to time reasonably request; provided that all such access and information
shall be supplied in such a way as to minimize disruption of the business of
Seller and the Company.   No further inspections of the Rigs and other Assets
and properties of the Company shall be made by Buyer without Seller's prior
consent (which, in the case of the Rigs, should be in writing), which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that (i) any access to
the Rigs and Assets shall be subject to the supervision





                                      -42-
<PAGE>   47
of Seller, the Company and HOC, (ii) Buyer's representatives shall, prior to
any Rig inspections, have executed all standard indemnity forms of HOC and
shall follow all safety procedures required by HOC and the Company, and (iii)
Buyer and its representatives shall strictly comply with the provisions of
Section 9.2 hereof.

         8.2     Governmental Approvals.

                 Seller will take all steps necessary to apply for any consent,
approval or authorization required by applicable law to allow the sale of the
Shares to Buyer and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
including, without limitation, the approval and authorization of  its
shareholders and the applicable Governmental Agency under HSR, and any other
national, state or local Governmental Agency or authority having jurisdiction
over the sale and the transactions contemplated hereby, and such steps shall be
taken as soon as practicable after the date hereof.

         8.3     Operations.

                 Seller will cause the Company to:

                 (a)      continue to conduct its business in its usual and
regular manner and not engage in any material new activity or transaction
including, without limitation, the lease, sale, disposal or purchase of any Rig
or other material Asset;

                 (b)      comply in all material respects with all laws
applicable to it and the conduct of its business;

                 (c)      duly and punctually perform in all material respects
all of its contractual obligations in accordance with the terms thereof;





                                      -43-
<PAGE>   48
                 (d)      maintain or cause to be maintained the Rigs in good
condition and working order, except for ordinary wear and tear and damage
directly attributable to natural disasters;

                 (e)      use its best efforts to preserve the goodwill of its
customers and others having business relations with it;

                 (f)      give prompt written notice to Buyer of any notice
received by it of any  default or breach or alleged default or breach under any
material contract, instrument or agreement to which it is a party or by which
it is bound;

                 (g)      give prompt written notice to Buyer of the
commencement of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation or the assertion
of any claim or threat to commence any action, suit, proceeding or
investigation; keep Buyer fully and promptly informed as to any developments in
any pending action, suit, proceeding or investigation;

                 (h)      fully cooperate with Buyer in its efforts to obtain
all necessary governmental consents, authorizations, orders and approvals
required to be obtained by Buyer in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;

                 (i)      use its best efforts to preserve its business
organization intact and retain the services of its officers and agents; and

                 (j)      cause to be maintained in full force and effect
insurance policies providing coverage and amounts of coverage comparable to the
coverage and amounts of coverage provided under its policies of insurance now
in effect.

         8.4     Restrictions.

                 (a)      Certain Actions.  Seller agrees, and will cause the
Company, not to without the prior written consent of Buyer which shall not be
unreasonably withheld:





                                      -44-
<PAGE>   49
                          (i)     enter into any contract or commitment, or
incur or agree to incur any liability or make any capital expenditure, except
in the ordinary course of business where the aggregate payments involved may
reasonably be expected not to exceed $100,000;

                          (ii)    amend its Corporate Charter Documents
(including, without limitation, to change its authorized or issued share
capital by reclassification, subdivision, reorganization or otherwise) or amend
its bylaws;

                          (iii)   incur, or agree to incur, or otherwise
guarantee or become liable for any indebtedness for money borrowed except for
continuing obligations under the IOLP Charter, or money borrowed from HOC in
the ordinary course of business;

                          (iv)    cause or suffer any of the Company's Rigs, or
their other Assets or real or personal property to become subject to any lien
other than Permitted Liens; or

                          (v)     except as may be required in connection with
any required approval of the Seller's shareholders or as otherwise required by
applicable law, make any public announcements concerning the transactions
contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of Buyer, and in all
cases any such public announcement shall be of acceptable form to Buyer; or

                          (vi)    hire any employees.

                 (b)      No Shop.  Seller will not, in any way, (i) solicit,
directly or indirectly, or cause any other person to solicit, any offer to
acquire all or any part of the Shares or all or any part of the business or
Assets of the Company, whether by merger, purchase of assets, tender offer or
otherwise, (ii) enter into any discussions, negotiations or agreements which
contemplate the merger of the Company or the sale of all or any part of the
business or Assets of the Company to any person or entity, other than Buyer or
(iii) provide any person or entity other than Buyer





                                      -45-
<PAGE>   50
with any information or data of any nature whatsoever relating to the Shares or
the business or Assets of the Company for the purpose of enabling such person
or entity to develop a proposal for the acquisition of the Shares or all or any
part of the business or Assets of the Company.  Seller and the Company, as
applicable, shall immediately advise Buyer in writing, directly or indirectly,
of any inquiries, discussions, negotiations of proposals from or with third
parties including the specific terms thereof and the identification of the
other parties involved.

         8.5     Rig Loss.

                 (a)(1)   If any Rig shall become an actual, constructive,
arranged or compromised total loss (as determined by the Company's insurance
underwriter's marine surveyor) prior to the Closing: (i) all insurance proceeds
received for such Rig prior to the Closing shall be held in trust by Seller and
the Company for the use and benefit of Buyer and such proceeds shall be
transferred to Buyer with the Shares and belong to Buyer at the Closing in
addition to any Working Capital covenants herein, and shall not be subject to
or cause any Purchase Price adjustments at Closing, (ii) the terms "Rigs" or
"Assets" shall be deemed not to include such Rig, and (iii) Buyer shall be
required to purchase the Rig at Closing.  Additionally, in each case, (x) Buyer
shall be entitled to retain all proceeds of insurance received subsequent to
the Closing which are associated with such loss; (y) the other provisions of
this Agreement shall continue to be in effect; and (z) the Closing shall take
place in the manner contemplated herein; provided, however, that if the
insurance proceeds, net of salvage and removal costs, received by Buyer at or
subsequent to Closing for such Rig loss shall be less than an amount equal to
4.382 times the gross profit attributable to such Rig in the report prepared by
Jefferies & Company, Inc. dated March 1997 (page 9, gross profit run rate),
Seller shall, either at Closing or, if subsequent to Closing, within





                                      -46-
<PAGE>   51
fifteen (15) days after receipt of written demand by Buyer, pay Buyer in cash
an amount equal to the difference between such gross profit multiplier and the
lower amount of insurance proceeds received; provided, further, that if Buyer
has not received the full insurance proceeds attributable to such Rig on or
before the sixtieth (60th) day after the Closing Date (as reasonably verified
to Seller by Buyer), Seller agrees to pay to Buyer, on written demand by Buyer,
interest on an amount equal to the gross profit multiplier set out above for
such Rig (as same may be reduced by any partial proceeds received by Buyer), at
the prime rate of interest (as same may change from time to time) announced by
Citibank, N.A. at its offices in New York, New York, from the Closing Date
until the receipt by Buyer of such full amount of insurance proceeds (based on
a 365 day year and actual days elapsed).

                          (2)     The actual, constructive, arranged or
compromised total loss (as determined by the Company's insurance underwriter's
marine surveyor) of two (2) or more of the Company's Rigs will, however,
constitute a Buyer Termination Event.

                 (b)      Without limiting Seller's obligations under Section
8.5(a), if a Rig sustains damage in an amount exceeding $250,000 but not
amounting to an actual, constructive, arranged or compromised total loss prior
to the Closing, either (i) Seller shall cause the Company to commence repairs
to the Rig using any insurance proceeds recovered by the Company for that Rig
prior to Closing, or  (ii) Buyer, at its option exercised by notice in writing
to Seller within twenty-one (21) days after receipt by Buyer of written notice
of any casualty loss from Seller or the Company, may request Seller or the
Company not to commence such repairs and instead to hold any recovered
insurance proceeds in trust for Buyer and to transfer same to Buyer at the
Closing in the same manner and under the same terms as set forth in Section
8.5(a)(i) above.   In the case





                                      -47-
<PAGE>   52
of either subclauses 8.5(a) or (b) above, Buyer shall remain obligated to
purchase the Shares at the Closing and the Purchase Price shall not be reduced.

                 (c)      If Seller has commenced repairs on a Rig prior to
Closing under (b)(i) above and if the repairs have not been completed on or
before the Closing Date, Buyer and Seller shall nevertheless proceed with
Closing, the Rig shall be transferred with the Shares at Closing and Buyer
shall pay Seller the full Purchase Price, unless otherwise adjusted pursuant to
Section 2.1(b) above.  Buyer and Seller, within fifteen (15) days after
Closing, shall cause a mutually agreed licensed surveyor to perform an audit of
the unrepaired damage and determine the total amount of money ("Rig Restoration
Amount") necessary to complete the repairs in order to restore the Rig to its
state and condition immediately prior to such Rig casualty event ("Rig Casualty
Event").  Promptly upon receipt of the report, Buyer and Seller shall cause the
Company's insurance underwriters to review such report and determine whether
the balance of insurance proceeds attributable to the Rig Casualty Event will
be sufficient to cover in full the Rig Restoration Amount, less any deductibles
("Restoration Shortfall").  Seller agrees to pay to Buyer in cash by wire
transfer, within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the insurance underwriter's
report, the total amount of (a) any deductibles not already paid by Seller or
the Company prior to Closing and (b) any Restoration Shortfall.

         8.6     Seller Assistance.

                 At Buyer's cost, Seller shall, and shall cause the Company, to
cooperate and provide  Buyer with true and correct financial statements,
documents or other information reasonably necessary for Buyer's use in
connection with any prospectus, offering memorandum or  regulatory filing
required to be issued or made by Buyer in obtaining the financing needed to





                                      -48-
<PAGE>   53
complete the transactions contemplated hereby.  Seller agrees to and does
hereby indemnify and hold harmless Buyer from and against any action, claim or
loss arising out of Seller's failure to comply with the provisions of this
Section 8.6.

         8.7     False Representations.

                 Seller will promptly notify Buyer in writing if it becomes
aware of any fact or condition which makes untrue, or causes to be untrue, any
representation or warranty made by Seller in this Agreement.

9.       COVENANTS OF BUYER PRIOR TO CLOSING.

         Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing:

         9.1     Governmental Approvals.

                 Buyer will cooperate with Seller in taking all steps necessary
by Buyer to obtain any consent, approval or authorization required, pursuant to
HSR, if necessary, of its lenders, if applicable, and as otherwise required by
law to allow the consummation of this  Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, including the approval and authorization of any national,
state or local Governmental Agency or authority having jurisdiction over the
transactions contemplated hereby as may be required, and such steps will be
taken as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement.

         9.2      Due Care.

                 Buyer shall and shall cause its employees, representatives and
agents to take due  care and use its and their best efforts to ensure that no
actions or statements by it, its employees or representatives are made which
directly or indirectly materially adversely interfere, or could with the
passage of time, materially adversely interfere with the ordinary course and
operation





                                      -49-
<PAGE>   54
of the business of the Company or its Rigs.

         9.3     False Representations.

                 Buyer will promptly notify Seller in writing if it becomes
aware of any fact or condition which makes untrue, or causes to be untrue, any
representation or warranty made by Buyer in this Agreement.

         9.4     Buyer Assistance.

                 At Seller's cost, Buyer shall cooperate and provide Seller
with true and correct financial statements, documents or other information
reasonably necessary for Seller's use in connection with any approvals or
regulatory filings to be obtained or made by Seller, as set forth in Section
3.32 above, for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Buyer agrees to and does hereby indemnify and hold harmless Seller from and
against any action, claim or loss arising out of Buyer's failure to comply with
the provisions of this Section 9.4.

10.      OTHER COVENANTS.

         10.1    Post Closing Assistance.

                 After the Closing, Buyer shall give Seller and its authorized
representatives reasonable access, upon prior written notice and during normal
business hours, to books and records of  the Company relating to periods prior
to the Closing, and Buyer shall permit such persons to examine and copy at
Seller's expense such books and records to the extent requested by Seller.
Buyer agrees that it shall preserve and keep the records of the business of the
Company and of the Assets for a period of three years from the Closing Date, or
for any longer period as





                                      -50-
<PAGE>   55
may be required by any Governmental Agency or ongoing litigation or as
requested by Seller in connection with any Tax examination.

         10.2    Stand Alone Entities.

                 Buyer acknowledges Seller's significant interest in the
stability, and continued smooth operation and profitability of the Company
through the Closing Date and for a reasonable period beyond.  Accordingly,
Buyer agrees that as and from the Closing Date until the close of business on
January 31, 1998, unless otherwise required for tax reasons or to mitigate or
take advantage of any legal requirements under applicable law:

                 (a)      Buyer will treat and keep the Company as a stand
alone and independent entity and subsidiary of Buyer;

                 (b)      Buyer will not merge, consolidate, reorganize or
amalgamate the Company into any other company or entity other than HOC; and

                 (c)      Buyer will not transfer the controlling interest in
the Shares to any other entity within the group of companies or entities
controlled by or affiliated with Buyer, other than to HOC, nor shall it
liquidate the Company unless in connection with a merger or consolidation of
the Company with HOC.

         10.3    [Intentionally Deleted].

         10.4    Certain Tax Matters.

                 (a)      With respect to each Tax Return covering a taxable
period beginning on or before the Closing Date that is required to be filed
after the Closing Date for, by or with respect to the Company (other than the
Tax Returns described in Section 3.10, Buyer shall cause such Tax Return to be
prepared and shall cause to be included in such Tax Return all Tax items
required





                                      -51-
<PAGE>   56
to be included therein.  Buyer shall determine (by an interim closing of the
books as of the Closing Date except for ad valorem Taxes and franchise Taxes
based on capital which shall be prorated on a daily basis) the portion, if any,
of the Tax due with respect to the period covered by such Tax Return which is
attributable to the Company for the Pre-Closing Taxable Period.

                 (b)      At least thirty (30) days prior to the due date
(including extensions) of such Tax Return, Buyer shall deliver to Seller a copy
of such Tax Return and its pre-closing allocation determinations.  If Seller
disagrees with such allocation, it shall notify Buyer in writing within seven
(7) days after receipt by Seller of the Buyer's Tax Return and allocation
determinations, listing the items disputed and detailed reasons for its
dispute.  If Seller and Buyer cannot agree on the disputed items within five
(5) days after receipt by Buyer of Seller's dispute notice, Buyer and Seller
shall appoint a mutually agreeable independent "Big Six" accounting firm to
review the Tax Return and Buyer's determinations.  The findings and allocations
of such independent accounting firm shall be conclusive and binding on Buyer
and Seller.

                 (c)      Buyer and Seller shall cause such independent review
to be completed within fifteen (15) days after the appointment of the
independent accounting firm, if possible.  If the independent accounting firm's
report determines that Buyer's Tax Return and allocation determinations are
incorrect, Seller and Buyer shall share the costs of such report equally.  If
the report determines that Buyer's determinations are correct, Seller alone
shall pay the costs of such report.  If the amount of Tax so determined to be
attributable to the Pre-Closing Taxable Period exceeds the amount reflected as
a current liability for such Tax on the Working Capital Statement, Seller shall
pay to Buyer the amount of such excess Tax not more than ten (10) days after
Seller either (i) agrees with Buyer's determinations or (ii) receives the
independent auditor's final





                                      -52-
<PAGE>   57
determinations, whichever is earlier.  If the amount of tax determined to be
attributable to the Pre-Closing Taxable Period is less than the amount
reflected as a liability for such Tax Return on the Working Capital Statement,
Buyer shall pay Seller the amount of such deficiency within ten (10) days after
the allocation was finally determined in the manner set forth above.  Buyer
shall cause the Company to file timely such Tax Return with the appropriate
taxing authority and to pay timely the amount of Taxes shown to be due on such
Tax Return.

                 (d)      Any Tax Return to be prepared pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 10.4 shall be prepared in a manner consistent with
practices followed in prior years with respect to similar Tax Returns, unless
otherwise agreed by the Parties hereto or except for changes required by
changes in law.

                 (e)      Seller shall grant to Buyer (or its designees) access
at all reasonable times to all of the information, books and records relating
to the Company within the possession of Seller (including workpapers and
correspondence with taxing authorities), and shall afford Buyer (or its
designees) the right (at Buyer's expense) to take extracts therefrom and to
make copies thereof, to the extent reasonably necessary to permit Buyer (or its
designees) to prepare Tax Returns, to conduct negotiations with Tax
authorities, and to implement the provisions of, or to investigate or defend
any claims between the parties arising under, this Agreement.

                 (f)      Buyer shall grant or cause the Company to grant
Seller (or its designees) access at all reasonable times to all of the
information, books and records relating to the Company within the possession of
Buyer, (including workpapers and correspondence with taxing authorities), and
shall afford Seller (or its designees) the right (at Seller's expense) to take
extracts therefrom and to make copies thereof, to the extent reasonably
necessary to permit Seller (or its





                                      -53-
<PAGE>   58
designees) to prepare Tax Returns, to conduct negotiations with Tax
authorities, and to implement the provisions of, or to investigate or defend
any claims between the parties arising under, this Agreement.

                 (g)      If subsequent to the Closing, the Company or any
other entity within Buyer's group of Companies should be audited with respect
to any taxable period (including the Pre-Closing Taxable Period) prior to the
Closing Date, Buyer shall permit Seller's representatives to participate fully
(including attending all auditing discussions or meetings with the IRS) in any
such audit.

                 (h)      Each of the parties hereto will preserve and retain
all schedules, workpapers and other documents relating to any Tax Returns of or
with respect to the Company or to any claims, audits or other proceedings
affecting the Company until the expiration of the statute of limitations
(including extensions) applicable to the taxable period to which such documents
relate or until the final determination of any controversy with respect to such
taxable period, and until the final determination of any payments that may be
required with respect to such taxable period under this Agreement.

                 (i)      The Tax matters set forth in this Section 10.4 shall
survive until the close of business on the date which is five (5) days after
the end of any applicable statutes of limitation.  In the event of a conflict
between the provisions of Section 3.10 or this Article 10 and any other
provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of Section 3.10 or this  Article
10 shall control.





                                      -54-
<PAGE>   59
         10.5    Taking of Necessary Action.

                 The parties hereto shall take all such reasonable and lawful
action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to effectuate the
transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as possible.

         10.6    Press Releases and Public Announcements.

                 Neither Buyer nor Seller shall issue any press release or make
any public announcement relating to the subject matter of this Agreement prior
to the Closing without prior written approval of both Buyer or Seller;
provided, however, that either party may make any public disclosure it believes
in good faith is required by applicable law (in which case the disclosing party
will use all reasonable efforts to advise the other party prior to making the
disclosure).

11.      EXPENSES.

         Buyer and Seller shall each pay their own expenses in connection with
the preparation, execution and consummation of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, all legal and accounting expenses and fees and other fees
of their representatives or agents.  The parties shall each pay their own
filing fees and other expenses in connection with any required HSR filings
required by applicable law and any other regulatory or governmental filings and
approvals required for the transactions contemplated hereby.

12.      TERMINATION.

         12.1    Causes for Termination.

                 This Agreement may be terminated at or at any time prior to
the Closing:

                 (a)      by mutual consent in writing of Buyer and Seller;

                 (b)      by Buyer (a "Buyer Termination Event"), as follows:





                                      -55-
<PAGE>   60
                          (i)     if for any reason not the fault or cause or
within the control of Buyer or its representatives, the Closing does not occur
prior to December 31, 1997;

                          (ii)    if the Buyer is entitled to terminate 
pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.5;

                          (iii)   upon a breach on the part of Seller of any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement, or
if any representation or warranty of Seller shall have become untrue, and such
breach or change causes, or would with the passage of time cause, a Material
Adverse Effect to the Company; or

                          (iv)    Seller terminates or takes any affirmative
action seeking to terminate this Agreement for any reason other than a Seller
Termination Event.

                 (c)      by Seller (a "Seller Termination Event"), as follows:

                          (i)     if for any reason not the fault or cause or
within the control of Seller or its representatives, the Closing does not occur
prior to December 31, 1997;

                          (ii)    upon a material breach on the part of Buyer
of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this
Agreement, or if any material representation or warranty of Buyer shall have
become untrue in any material respect; or

                          (iii)   Buyer terminates or takes any affirmative
action seeking to terminate this Agreement for any reason other than a Buyer
Termination Event; or

                 (d)      by either Buyer or Seller, as follows:

                          (i)     Buyer is unable to obtain the financing
necessary to close and otherwise consummate this transaction;





                                      -56-
<PAGE>   61
                          (ii)    for any reason, not the fault or cause or
within the control of the party seeking to terminate, the parties are unable to
complete the purchase of the HOC shares on or prior to the Closing Date under
the provisions of the HOC Agreement; or

                          (iii)   Seller is unable, despite best efforts, to
obtain the necessary approval of its shareholders, or either Buyer or Seller
are unable to obtain the approval, if necessary, of any  Governmental Agency
under HSR.

         12.2    Effect of Termination.

                 (a)      In the event of termination of this Agreement, this
Agreement shall forthwith become null and void and, except as otherwise
specifically provided herein, there shall be no liability on the part of either
Buyer or Seller or their respective officers, directors, employees or agent.

                 (b)      In no event shall either Seller or Buyer be liable
for any consequential damages; provided, however that nothing contained in this
Agreement shall relieve any party from liability for damages actually incurred
as a result of any breach of this Agreement.

13.      NOTICES.

         All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or
permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given and delivered, when given in person or by prepaid telegram or
telefax, acknowledgment received, or mailed first class, postage prepaid,
registered or certified mail, as follows:





                                      -57-
<PAGE>   62

                 If to Buyer:

                          Parker Drilling Company
                          Eight East Third Street
                          Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103
                          Attn: Robert L. Parker, Jr.
                          Telephone: (918) 631-1212
                          Facsimile: (918) 631-1253

                 With a copy to:

                          Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P.
                          1001 Fannin, Suite 2300
                          Houston, Texas 77002
                          Attn: T. Mark Kelly
                          Telephone: (713) 758-4592
                          Facsimile: (713) 615-5531

                 If to Seller:

                          Rashid & Lee Nominees SDN BHD
                          Tingkat 6 No. 56, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
                          50100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
                          Telephone: 011-603-293-4800
                          Facsimile: 011-603-293-4826

                 With a copy to:

                          M.A. (Tony) Nunes
                          Griggs & Harrison, P.C.
                          1301 McKinney, Suite 3200
                          Houston, Texas  77010
                          Facsimile: (713) 651-1944
                          Telephone: (713) 651-0600


14.      GENERAL.

         14.1    Entire Agreement.

                 This Agreement, together with all exhibits hereto, constitutes
the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes all prior and





                                      -58-
<PAGE>   63
contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions,
whether written or oral, among the parties concerning such subject matter, with
the exception of the Confidentiality Agreement executed by Seller, the Company,
HOC and Buyer on April 11, 1997, as extended, which shall continue in full
force and effect and bind Buyer and Seller hereunder.

         14.2    Amendments.

                 This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in
writing specifically amending same signed by Seller and Buyer.

         14.3    Waivers.

                 No waiver by a party of any default by the other party in the
performance of any provision of this Agreement shall operate or be construed as
a waiver of any future default whether of a like or of a different character.

         14.4    Headings.

                 The headings used in this Agreement are for the convenience of
reference only and shall not be construed to define or limit any of the
provisions hereof.

         14.5    Severability.

                 In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained
in this Agreement or in any other instrument referred to herein, shall, for any
reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision
of this Agreement or any other such instrument.





                                      -59-
<PAGE>   64
15.      ARBITRATION.

         15.1    Rules.

                 All disputes arising in connection with this Agreement shall
be finally settled by binding arbitration under the general Commercial
Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), as same is
supplemented and modified by its International Arbitration Rules and
Procedures, by three arbitrators appointed in accordance with Section 15.2 of
this Agreement.  All arbitration proceedings  shall be conducted, and any
awards handed down shall be, in the English language.

         15.2    Powers and Selection.

                 (a)      The party that submits a dispute to the AAA under
this Agreement shall name in its submission one arbitrator.  The party against
whom the request for arbitration is filed must select an arbitrator and notify
the other party and the AAA of its selection within ten (10) days of receipt of
written notice from the AAA of the other party's demand for arbitration.  If
either party fails to notify the AAA of its selection, within ten (10) days
after written notice by the AAA to do so, the AAA is empowered to select an
arbitrator for such party.  The two arbitrators selected by the parties shall
mutually select a third arbitrator to chair the arbitral panel and notify the
AAA of their selection within fifteen (15) days after the appointment of the
two party-appointed arbitrators.  If the arbitrators selected by the parties
are unable to agree on a third arbitrator within such time period, then the AAA
shall appoint the third arbitrator.

                 (b)      The arbitrators shall have the power to gather such
materials, documents, information, testimony and evidence as they deem relevant
to the dispute and the parties shall provide such materials, documents,
information, testimony and evidence requested by the arbitrators, except to the
extent that it is proprietary, subject to third-party confidentiality





                                      -60-
<PAGE>   65
restrictions or subject to an attorney-client or other legal privilege.  Any
challenge to a claim of privilege shall be resolved by the arbitrators.

         15.3    Venue.

                 Arbitration conducted pursuant to this Agreement shall be held
in New York, New York.  Judgment on any award resulting therefrom may be
entered in and enforced by any court having jurisdiction over any of the
parties (or the assets of any of the parties) against whom such award is
rendered, and the parties hereby waive any claim of immunity to such
enforcement.  Any awards hereunder shall be deemed to be non-domestic and may
also be enforced in accordance with the provisions of the New York Convention
on the Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (1958), as adopted and codified
by the United States of America.

         15.4    Award.

                 The arbitrators shall commence and conclude the arbitration
and render their award within one hundred twenty (120) days of either party's
demand for arbitration.  The award rendered by the arbitrators shall be the
sole and exclusive remedy of the parties regarding any claims, counterclaims,
issues or accounting arising under this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby (whether sounding in contract or tort).  The arbitrators
may make any award of money damages or provide specific performance or
injunctive relief, including awarding interest and attorneys' fees.  Any award
shall be final and binding on the parties and non-appealable and the
arbitrators shall give written reasons for their award.

         15.5    Service.

                 Service of any and all notices of arbitration hereunder may be
made by either party on the other in the manner and to the address set forth in
Section 13 hereof and service thus made





                                      -61-
<PAGE>   66
shall be taken and held to be valid personal service upon such party by any
party to this Agreement on whose behalf such service is made.

         15.6    Costs.

                 All administrative costs of the American Arbitration
Association together with all fees and expenses of the arbitrators shall be
borne equally by the parties and all costs, fees and expenses incident to
enforcing any award shall be charged to and borne by the party resisting the
award.

16.      GOVERNING LAW.

         16.1    Arbitration Provisions.

                 Section 15 shall be governed by the procedural rules of the
American Arbitration Association and, to the extent applicable, the United
States Federal Arbitration Act, Title 9, United States Code.

         16.2    Other Provisions.

                 Except as provided in Section 16.1, this Agreement shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, excluding,
however, any Texas conflict of laws' rules that would refer the resolution of
any issue to the law of a jurisdiction other than the State of Texas.

17.      COUNTERPARTS.

         This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.





                                      -62-
<PAGE>   67
18.      NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES.

         This Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any person
other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns.

19.      SUCCESSION AND ASSIGNMENT.

         This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties named herein and their respective heirs, successors and permitted
assigns.  No party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights,
interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the
other parties hereto; provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of
Section 10.2, Buyer may assign its rights hereunder to any of its affiliates,
but such assignment shall not relieve Buyer of any of its obligations or
indemnities hereunder, and Seller may assign its rights and interests in and to
any of the Purchase Price to any other party provided such assignment of
proceeds shall not relieve Seller of any of its obligations or indemnities
hereunder.

20.      CONSTRUCTION.

         The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting
of this Agreement.  In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or
interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly
by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or
disfavoring either party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions
of this Agreement.  Any reference to any federal, state, local, or foreign
statute or law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise.  The word
"including" shall mean including without limitation.

21.      INCORPORATION OF EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES.

         The Exhibits identified in this Agreement are incorporated herein by
reference and made a part hereof.





                                      -63-
<PAGE>   68
22.      SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.

         The parties hereto agree that this Agreement and any provisions hereof
(including but not limited to the provisions of Section 10.2) shall be
specifically enforceable and the parties hereto hereby waive any defense to
such a proceeding in equity that monetary damages are sufficient.          IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, Buyer and Seller have each caused this Stock Purchase
Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by its duly
authorized officers.

                      ALL SIGNATURES ARE ON FOLLOWING PAGE





                                      -64-
<PAGE>   69


                                           PARKER DRILLING COMPANY


                                           By                             
                                             -----------------------------
                                           Name                           
                                               ---------------------------
                                           Title                          
                                                --------------------------
                                                                          

                                                                          
                                           RASHID & LEE NOMINEES SDN BHD  

                                                                          
                                           By                             
                                             -----------------------------
                                           Name                           
                                               ---------------------------
                                           Title                          
                                                --------------------------
                                                                          

                                           PARKER DRILLING OFFSHORE COMPANY 

                                                                          
                                           By                             
                                             -----------------------------
                                           Name                           
                                               ---------------------------
                                           Title                          
                                                --------------------------
                                                                          





                                      -65-
<PAGE>   70
                                LIST OF EXHIBITS



3.3             Required Consents.

3.5             Authorized and Issued Capital of the Company.

3.7(a)          Financial Statements.

3.10            Tax Returns.

3.12            Litigation/Claims.

3.13            Material Defaults/Force Majeure.

3.15(a)         Rigs owned by the Company.

3.15(b)         Rigs Chartered to or operated by the Company.

3.15(c)         Personal Property owned by the Company.

3.15(d)         Other Contracts.

3.15(e)         Description of the IOLP Charter.

3.15(f)         Liabilities of the Company.

3.31            Environmental Studies/Investigations.

6.5             Legal Opinion Matters.





                                      -66-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 15



                                 June 27, 1997



Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 10549

                                       Re:  Parker Drilling Company
                                            Registration on Form S-8


We are aware that our report dated June 27, 1997, on our review of the interim
financial information of Parker Drilling Company for the period ended May 31,
1997, and included in this Form 10-Q is incorporated by reference in the
Company's registration statements on Form S-8 (File No. 2-87944, 33-24155,
33-56698 and 33-57345). Pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of
1933, this report should not be considered a part of the registration statement
prepared or certified by us within the meaning of Section 7 and 11 of that Act.



                                         By: /s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
                                         --------------------------------
                                         COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.




                                     - 17 -

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET AS OF MAY 31, 1997 AND THE CONSOLIDATED
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 1997 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-1997
<CASH>                                          88,798
<SECURITIES>                                     2,877
<RECEIVABLES>                                   84,130
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,125
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               202,891
<PP&E>                                         777,937
<DEPRECIATION>                                 372,530
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 795,601
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           65,189
<BONDS>                                        379,565
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                        12,778
<OTHER-SE>                                     328,189
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   795,601
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               216,193
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  138,096
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              22,037
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 14,002
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,290
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              8,712
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,712
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .12
        

</TABLE>


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