Helmerich & Payne, Inc. Announces Appointment of New Director

Helmerich & Payne, Inc. Announces Appointment of New Director

TULSA, Okla., June 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
(NYSE:HP) today announced that Thomas A. Petrie was appointed to the Company's
Board of Directors effective June 6, 2012. He is Chairman of Strategic Energy
Advisors, a Denver-based investment banking firm that offers financial
advisory services to the oil and gas industry.  Mr. Petrie served as a Vice
Chairman of Bank of America until April of 2012. He was also a Vice Chairman
of Merrill Lynch until its acquisition by Bank of America in 2009. Mr. Petrie
was a co-founder of Petrie Parkman & Co., a Denver and Houston based energy
investment banking firm that merged with Merrill Lynch in 2006. Mr. Petrie is
also a former managing director and senior oil analyst of First Boston
Corporation and, throughout his career, he has been an active advisor on more
than $200 billion of energy related mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.   

Company Chairman and CEO, Hans Helmerich commented, "We are very pleased to
have Tom Petrie join the Company's Board. Tom is well known and respected for
his deep understanding and experience in the energy industry and will provide
valuable insight and leadership as a Board member."

Helmerich & Payne, Inc. is primarily a contract drilling company.  As of June
12, 2012, the Company's existing fleet included 273 land rigs in the U.S., 29
international land rigs and nine offshore platform rigs. In addition, the
Company is scheduled to complete another 31 new H&P-designed and operated
FlexRigs under long-term contracts with customers. Upon completion of these
commitments, the Company's global fleet is expected to have a total of 342
land rigs, including 296 FlexRigs.

CONTACT: Roberta Montgomery
         (918) 588-5202

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