Just to get some actual thoughts on the ground here:
there are 11 US based drillers in this group from what Ive learned...tickers are:
ATW, DO, ESV, HERO, HP, NBR, NE, PDE, RDC, RIG, VTG
does HERO have a market niche among this group in Shallow Water Drilling and Nat. Gas. Operators?
Would the recent NAT Gas activity in historic low price and political/green environmental banter about US based energy production be attracting more players into the field hence using drillers like HERO.
Not to ruin a good question by bringing up Boone Pickens but his idea about Nat Gas trucking fleets cutting a large chunk of the foreign imported oil flow and of course the US apparently having the largest NAT gas reserves...are these factors that are perhaps gaining traction in states and in Congress...all heating up the market?
(for any punters who suspect loaded questions...yes I do hold HERO...so yes my interest is biased)