Pioneer Energy Services (NYSE: PES) today announced it has renewed its drilling contracts with Ecopetrol for all eight of its drilling rigs in Colombia effective January 1, 2014. Pioneer recently operated six rigs for Ecopetrol under contracts that expired on December 31, 2013. The renewed contracts have a one-year fixed term and a slight improvement in day rates as compared to the current contracts.

"We are very pleased to renew these contracts for our eight drilling rigs in Colombia with Ecopetrol," said Wm. Stacy Locke, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Energy Services.  "Colombia has been a strong market for us since we began operating there in 2007, and we look forward to continuing our good working relationship with Colombia's largest oil company. We believe that our exceptional safety record and history of solid operating performance with Ecopetrol were important factors in their decision to renew contracts with Pioneer."

The new contracts require Pioneer to upgrade one of its drilling rigs from 1,000 horsepower to 1,500 horsepower and outfit another rig with an automatic catwalk at a total estimated cost of approximately $7 million.  After these upgrades are complete, all eight rigs in Colombia will be 1,500 horsepower electric rigs with walking or skidding systems, top drives and automatic catwalks.

Pioneer's six drilling rigs that are currently working for Ecopetrol will continue working uninterrupted under the renewed drilling contracts. The seventh rig is expected to begin working in late March after it completes its current contract with Ecopetrol in another region of Colombia.  The eighth rig will begin working for Ecopetrol in March after the 1,500 horsepower upgrade is complete.

About Pioneer

Pioneer Energy Services provides contract land drilling services to independent and major oil and gas operators in Texas, Louisiana, the Mid-Continent, Rocky Mountain and Appalachian regions and internationally in Colombia through its Drilling Services Segment. Pioneer also provides well, wireline, coiled tubing and fishing and rental services to producers in the U.S. Gulf Coast, offshore Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions through its Production Services Segment.

SOURCE Pioneer Energy Services