Independence Contract Drilling, Inc. (NYSE:ICD) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

So I think one thing, Don, that probably isn’t appreciated as much as it should is the benefits that the super-spec rig fleet provides our customers. I was at a dinner last week here in Houston and was talking with a CEO of an E&P company. Of course, I am in sales mode, right. I am always in sales mode. And he is telling me that he has taken advantage of an opportunity to pickup a couple of super-spec rigs and replace some lower-spec AC rigs that he had running. And the comment he made was already on the first pad, they are seeing the benefits of the super-spec equipment. And I’d point out for our investors that, that’s 100% of our fleet super-spec pad-optimal. And when I think about rigs moving into the Haynesville, of course, we are going to move a few in, we have talked about that.

We really think it’s the SCR rigs that are running and the lower-spec AC rigs that are running that’s going to bear the brunt of the flattish rig count with the increasing supply. And I’d close with this comment, Don and you know this, remember how small the rig cost is and the total cost of a well. So day rate since €“ I mean, look, our customers have to do their job and make sure they are spending money wisely. But when you look at the typical Permian well, a 15-day well, that cost $6 million to $8 million, the rig is less than 10% of that. So I would question just how sensitive they will be or how sensitive the day rates will be to the overall economics of what they are doing.

Don Crist: I appreciate all the color. I will jump back in queue. Thanks.

Anthony Gallegos: Yes, sure. Thanks, Don.

Operator: The next question comes from Steve Ferazani with Sidoti. Please go ahead.

Steve Ferazani: Good morning, everyone. Appreciate all the detail on the call this morning. A lot of data here. I do want to follow the previous questions in terms of your confidence level that you can get 5 of your Haynesville rigs into the Permian given there will be some competition there and is that your thinking that there is so many rigs, but can you replace drilling programs just you have a better rig or how are you thinking about that? It just seems challenging to think that many rigs can move over to the Permian at similar day rates.

Anthony Gallegos: Yes and thank you for the question, Steve. I do think we are going to be successful. In fact, 2 of the 5, 1 is already basin. And the second one we signed the contract this morning for. So it’s going to start moving next week. And when you compare what its day rate was and in the Haynesville to what it’s going to earn on the new contract, it’s an increase in day rates. So that’s 2 out of the 5 right there. We have got a couple more that are going to come to me here in the first part of the second quarter. Team is doing a great job. But look, it’s a function of having the right equipment, the super-spec pad-optimal equipment. It’s a function of the reputation that ICD has in both basins. We are very concentrated in terms of our target market.