UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 27, 2011

SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction)		001-34037 (Commission File Number)		75-2379388 (IRS Employer Identification No.)

601 Poydras St., Suite 2400, New Orleans, Louisiana (Address of principal executive offices)		70130 (Zip Code)

(504) 587-7374
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o		Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o		Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Item 2.02.		Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

     On April 27, 2011, Superior Energy Services, Inc. issued a press release announcing its earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K, the information presented in this Item 2.02 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01		Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (d) Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number				Description
	99.1			Press release issued by Superior Energy Services, Inc., dated April 27, 2011.

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 hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: April 28, 2011

Exhibit 99.1

		601 Poydras St., Suite 2400 New Orleans, LA 70130 NYSE: SPN (504) 587-7374 Fax: (504) 362-1818
		FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Dunlap, CEO; Robert Taylor, CFO; Greg Rosenstein, VP of Investor Relations, (504) 587-7374

Superior Energy Services, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2011 Results
First Quarter Earnings of $0.19 Per Diluted Share

New Orleans, LA — April 27, 2011 — Superior Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: SPN) today announced net income of $15.5 million, or $0.19 per diluted share on revenue of $414.0 million for the first quarter of 2011.

These results are compared with net income of $21.5 million, or $0.27 per diluted share on revenue of $364.5 million for the first quarter of 2010.

The first quarter 2011 results include a pre-tax gain of $2.7 million from the sale of three 145-155-ft. class liftboats, and $2.1 million in non-cash, unrealized pre-tax losses from hedging contracts at the Company’s equity-method investments.

David Dunlap, CEO of Superior, commented, “Although our Gulf of Mexico revenue declined 18% sequentially due to the well-documented slow pace in permitting, our first quarter results came in toward the higher end of our guidance range due to the continued strength of the U.S. land markets.

“U.S. land revenue was a record $179 million for the first quarter, which represents a 5% sequential increase as compared with a 2% increase in the drilling rig count. More importantly, demand for some of our core products and services — coiled tubing, premium drill pipe and bottom hole assemblies — increased approximately 12% from the fourth quarter of 2010. These products and services are the major focus of our 2011 domestic capital expenditures plan.

“While our overall international revenue declined 18% due to reduced utilization of our subsea operating vessels, international revenue within our drilling products and services segment increased 1%.”

2011 Earnings Guidance Update

The Company’s recent $500.0 million, 6.375% senior note offering is expected to increase interest expense by approximately $22.0 million — or $0.18 per share — for the remainder of 2011. As a result of this incremental expense, the Company is lowering its earnings guidance range to $1.62 and $2.02 per diluted share.

Mr. Dunlap commented, “With the exception of the increase in interest expense, we are reaffirming full year guidance. Our guidance assumes that we will benefit from our capital expenditures plan during the remainder of the year, continued acceleration of domestic land

activity and from an increase in deepwater Gulf of Mexico activity. We are also encouraged by the number of deepwater permits that have been issued and are hopeful that this permitting will soon result in increased drilling activity.”

Geographic Breakdown

For the first quarter of 2011, Gulf of Mexico revenue was approximately $131.1 million, domestic land revenue was approximately $179.1 million, and international revenue was approximately $103.8 million.

Subsea and Well Enhancement Segment

First quarter revenue for the Subsea and Well Enhancement Segment was $262.0 million, as compared with $232.8 million in the first quarter of 2010 and $306.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, which represents a 13% year-over-year increase and a 15% sequential decrease.

Sequentially, domestic land revenue increased 3% due to a 10% increase in coiled tubing revenue, as well as increased demand for pumping services. These increases were partially offset by a decline in demand for pressure control services. Gulf of Mexico revenue decreased 22% sequentially due to seasonal issues, and the slow pace of permitting for drilling, intervention, and end-of-life projects. These factors led to reduced activity levels for pressure control, marine engineering projects, completion tools, and coiled tubing. Another factor impacting Gulf of Mexico revenue was the sale of a saturation diving system in the fourth quarter of 2010 that did not repeat. International revenue decreased 27% due primarily to lower demand for vessels and equipment used to support subsea inspection, repair and maintenance work.

Drilling Products and Services Segment

First quarter revenue for the Drilling Products and Services Segment was $128.3 million, as compared with $114.3 million in the first quarter of 2010 — a 12% year-over-year improvement — and $120.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, or 7% higher sequentially.

Domestic land revenue increased 10% sequentially primarily due to increased rentals of premium drill pipe, accommodations, specialty tubulars and accessories, and stabilization equipment. Gulf of Mexico revenue increased 8% due to increased rentals of accommodations partially offset by a decrease in rentals of specialty tubulars and accessories. International revenue increased 1% primarily due to increased rentals of premium drill pipe and accessories.

Marine Segment

Marine Segment revenue in the first quarter was $23.7 million, a 35% increase over the first quarter of 2010 and a 21% decrease from fourth quarter of 2010. Average fleet utilization in the first quarter of 2011 was 57% as compared with 47% in the first quarter of 2010 and 72% in the fourth quarter of 2010. The Company sold three liftboats from its 145-155 ft. class fleet during the first quarter.

Liftboat Average Dayrates and Utilization by Class Size
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
($ actual)

						Average
Class		Liftboats				Dayrate				Utilization
145’-155’			6			$	6,147				51.9	%
160’-175’			7				7,629				41.4	%
200’			5				11,045				62.7	%
230’-245’			3				23,619				64.8	%
250’			2				28,570				76.1	%
265’			2				36,985				83.3	%

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call at 10 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, April 28, 2011. The call can be accessed from Superior’s website at www.superiorenergy.com, or by telephone at 480-629-9644. For those who cannot listen to the live call, a telephonic replay will be available through Thursday, May 5, 2011 and may be accessed by calling 303-590-3030 and using the pass code 4432547. An archive of the webcast will be available after the call for a period of 60 days on http://www.superiorenergy.com.

Superior Energy Services, Inc. serves the drilling and production-related needs of oil and gas companies worldwide through its brand name rental tools and its integrated well intervention services and tools, supported by an engineering staff who plan and design solutions for customers. Offshore projects are delivered by the Company’s fleet of modern marine assets.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are volatility of the oil and gas industry, including the level of exploration, production and development activity; risks associated with the uncertainty of macroeconomic and business conditions worldwide, as well as the global credit markets; risks associated with the Company’s rapid growth; changes in competitive factors and other material factors that are described from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual events, circumstances, effects and results may be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Consequently, the forward-looking statements contained herein should not be regarded as representations by Superior or any other person that the projected outcomes can or will be achieved.

SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
(in thousands, except earnings per share amounts)
(unaudited)

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2011				2010
Revenues		$	413,981			$	364,511
Cost of services (exclusive of items shown separately below)			233,845				199,052
Depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion			59,363				51,048
General and administrative expenses			86,879				70,724
Gain on sale of businesses			2,674				—
Income from operations			36,568				43,687
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net			(12,372	)			(14,038	)
Earnings from equity-method investments, net			27				3,985
Income before income taxes			24,223				33,634
Income taxes			8,720				12,108
Net income		$	15,503			$	21,526
Basic earnings per share		$	0.20			$	0.27
Diluted earnings per share		$	0.19			$	0.27
Weighted average common shares used in computing earnings per share:
Basic			79,021				78,534
Diluted			80,759				79,353

SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
MARCH 31, 2011 AND DECEMBER 31, 2010
(in thousands)

		3/31/2011				12/31/2010
		(Unaudited)				(Audited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	71,082			$	50,727
Accounts receivable, net			375,228				452,450
Prepaid expenses			31,974				25,828
Inventory and other current assets			234,891				235,047
Total current assets			713,175				764,052
Property, plant and equipment, net			1,361,412				1,313,150
Goodwill			589,967				588,000
Notes receivable			70,135				69,026
Equity-method investments			59,350				59,322
Intangible and other long-term assets, net			121,208				113,983
Total assets		$	2,915,247			$	2,907,533
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	105,753			$	110,276
Accrued expenses			150,015				162,044
Income taxes payable			—				2,475
Deferred income taxes			23,158				29,353
Current portion of decommissioning liabilities			17,063				16,929
Current maturities of long-term debt			810				184,810
Total current liabilities			296,799				505,887
Deferred income taxes			228,107				223,936
Decommissioning liabilities			102,321				100,787
Long-term debt, net			851,822				681,635
Other long-term liabilities			118,073				114,737
Total stockholders’ equity			1,318,125				1,280,551
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	2,915,247			$	2,907,533

SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT HIGHLIGHTS
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011, DECEMBER 31, 2010 AND MARCH 31, 2010
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

		Three months ended
		March 31, 2011				December 31, 2010				March 31, 2010
Revenue
Subsea and Well Enhancement		$	262,045			$	306,496			$	232,766
Drilling Products and Services			128,270				120,366				114,277
Marine			23,666				30,034				17,468
Total Revenues		$	413,981			$	456,896			$	364,511
		March 31, 2011				December 31, 2010				March 31, 2010
Gross Profit (1)
Subsea and Well Enhancement		$	91,377			$	112,610			$	89,897
Drilling Products and Services			81,573				73,835				74,182
Marine			7,186				13,014				1,380
Total Gross Profit		$	180,136			$	199,459			$	165,459
		March 31, 2011 (2)				December 31, 2010 (3)				March 31, 2010
Income (Loss) from Operations
Subsea and Well Enhancement		$	10,979			$	23,689			$	23,697
Drilling Products and Services			21,704				16,641				23,947
Marine			3,885				(25,191	)			(3,957	)
Total Income from Operations		$	36,568			$	15,139			$	43,687