Akita Drilling Ltd. Class ATSX: AKT.A

AKITA Drilling Ltd. Announces Record Results

· Issued by Akita Drilling Ltd. Class A via CNW
CALGARY, July 27 /CNW/ - AKITA Drilling Ltd. announced second quarter
earnings and funds flow today. AKITA Drilling Ltd.'s net earnings for the six
months ended June 30, 2006 were $18,550,000 or $1.00 per share on revenue of
$94,124,000. Comparative figures for 2005 were $12,580,000 or $0.68 per share
of net earnings on revenue of $74,729,000. Funds flow from operations for the
period was $25,277,000 compared to $19,515,000 in 2005.
Earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2006 were $7,548,000 ($0.41
per share) on revenue of $32,929,000 compared with $3,895,000 ($0.21 per
share) on revenue of $24,840,000 in 2005. Funds flow from operations for the
quarter ended June 30, 2006 was $8,758,000 compared to $5,984,000 in the
corresponding quarter in 2005.

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                                          Number of
                                            Wells   Operating  Operating
                         Number of Rigs   Drilled or   Days      Hours
                           at June 30      Serviced (Drilling)(Servicing)
                        ----------------   (Year to  (Year to  (Year to
                        Gross       Net      Date)     Date)     Date)
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Canadian        2006      37      34.075      632      4,253      N/A
Drilling        2005      37      34.075      586      3,656      N/A
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Canadian Well   2006       3        1.5        30       N/A      2,898
Servicing       2005       3        1.5        23       N/A      3,019
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Alaskan         2006       1        0.5        3         88       N/A
Drilling        2005      N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A
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>>

Federal, provincial and territorial government tax rate reductions that
will become effective over the next few years resulted in a $1,800,000
reduction of future income taxes.
AKITA currently has four rigs under construction, including one that is
scheduled to commence operations during the third quarter of 2006.
Construction on the additional three rigs is proceeding on schedule, and such
rigs are expected to be integrated into AKITA's fleet over the next six to
nine months.
Demand for rigs in most depth ranges has been reasonably strong, despite
the recent reduction in natural gas prices. Activity levels for deep capacity
rigs, and to a lesser extent shallow capacity rigs, will likely soften if gas
prices remain at current or lower levels for a prolonged period. In addition
to finding ways to optimize rig utilization for its existing fleet, management
is focused on seeking opportunities that meet AKITA's current strengths
related to drilling in the North and in heavy oil regions in Alberta.
Financial results for the second quarter and on a year-to-date basis are
as follows:


<<
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND
RETAINED EARNINGS
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Unaudited
($000's except per
share amounts)                    Three Months           Six Months
                                      Ended                 Ended
                                     June 30               June 30
                                 2006       2005       2006       2005
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REVENUE                        $ 32,929   $ 24,840   $ 94,124   $ 74,729
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COSTS AND EXPENSES
  Operating and maintenance      18,358     13,945     52,885     42,950
  Depreciation                    3,093      2,259      7,855      6,441
  Selling and administrative      3,653      3,462      9,259      7,139
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                 25,104     19,666     69,999     56,530
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
OPERATING INCOME                  7,825      5,174     24,125     18,199

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
  Interest on long-term debt        -          (41)       -         (106)
  Interest income                   525        333        909        546
  Gain on sale of joint venture
   interests in rigs and other
   capital assets                   335        527        443        714
  Unrealized gain (loss) on
   foreign currency
   translation                     (131)         -       (101)       -
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                    729        819      1,251      1,154
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES      8,554      5,993     25,376     19,353
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

INCOME TAXES
  Current                         2,633      1,828      7,668      5,739
  Future                         (1,627)       270       (842)     1,034
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                  1,006      2,098      6,826      6,773
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NET EARNINGS                      7,548      3,895     18,550     12,580
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Retained earnings,
 beginning of period            133,981    108,167    124,343    100,871
Dividends                        (1,113)    (1,023)    (2,225)    (2,048)
Adjustment on repurchase and
 cancellation of share capital     (604)      (425)      (856)      (789)
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RETAINED EARNINGS,
 END OF PERIOD                 $139,812   $110,614   $139,812   $110,614
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EARNINGS PER CLASS A
 AND CLASS B SHARE
  Basic                        $   0.41   $   0.21   $   1.00   $   0.68
  Diluted                      $   0.40   $   0.21   $   0.99   $   0.67
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
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Unaudited
($000's)
                                  Three Months           Six Months
                                      Ended                 Ended
                                     June 30               June 30
                                 2006       2005       2006       2005
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OPERATING ACTIVITIES
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Net earnings                   $  7,548   $  3,895   $ 18,550   $ 12,580
Non-cash items included in
 earnings
  Depreciation                    3,093      2,259      7,855      6,441
  Future income taxes            (1,627)       270       (842)     1,034
  Expense for defined benefit
   pension plan                      66         63        135        126
  Stock options charged to
   expense                           13         24         22         48
  Gain on sale of joint venture
   interests in rigs and other
   capital assets                  (335)      (527)      (443)      (714)
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Funds flow from operations        8,758      5,984     25,277     19,515
Change in non-cash working
 capital                         19,067     17,367      6,426      9,577
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                 27,825     23,351     31,703     29,092
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
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INVESTING ACTIVITIES
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Capital expenditures            (13,300)    (4,771)   (18,259)    (5,898)
Proceeds on sales of joint
 venture interests in rigs
 and other capital assets           432      1,306        572      1,655
Change in non-cash working
 capital                            902       (125)       658         52
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                (11,966)    (3,590)   (17,029)    (4,191)
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
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FINANCING ACTIVITIES
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Repayment of long-term debt         -       (1,417)       -       (2,812)
Dividends                        (1,113)    (1,023)    (2,225)    (2,048)
Proceeds received on exercise
 of stock options                    82        -          205        -
Repurchase of share capital        (623)      (463)      (879)      (860)
Change in non-cash working
 capital                          1,846         (2)        77         90
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                    192     (2,905)    (2,822)    (5,630)
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
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INCREASE IN CASH                 16,051     16,856     11,852     19,271
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Cash position, beginning of
 period                          38,486     29,867     42,685        -

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CASH POSITION,
 END OF PERIOD                 $ 54,537   $ 46,723   $ 54,537   $ 19,271
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Interest paid during the
 period                        $    -     $     37   $    -     $     94
Income taxes paid during
 period                        $  2,391   $  2,368   $  9,871   $  5,383
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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
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($000's)
                                            June 30          December 31
                                       2006        2005          2005
                                          (Unaudited)         (Audited)
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ASSETS
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Current assets
  Cash                               $  54,537   $  46,723     $  42,685
  Accounts receivable                   33,746      20,919        50,900
  Other                                  1,761         693            98
                                     ----------  ----------    ----------
                                        90,044      68,335        93,683
Investments                                 55          55            55
Capital assets                         116,389      98,936       106,114
                                     ----------  ----------    ----------
                                     $ 206,488   $ 167,326     $ 199,852
                                     ----------  ----------    ----------

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LIABILITIES
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Current liabilities
  Bank indebtedness                  $     -     $     -       $   4,400
  Accounts payable and accrued
   liabilities                          22,184      12,515        23,923
  Income taxes payable                   3,670       1,881         5,861
  Current portion of
   long-term debt                            -       1,161             -
                                     ----------  ----------    ----------
                                        25,854      15,557        34,184
Future income taxes                     13,358      14,147        14,200
Pension liability                        3,237       2,976         3,102

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CLASS A AND CLASS B
 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Class A and Class B shares            23,722      23,598        23,540
  Contributed surplus                      505         434           483
  Retained earnings                    139,812     110,614       124,343
                                     ----------  ----------    ----------
                                       164,039     134,646       148,366
                                     ----------  ----------    ----------
                                     $ 206,488   $ 167,326     $ 199,852
                                     ----------  ----------    ----------

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%SEDAR: 00002868E