SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G
                                 (Rule 13d-102)


             INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
           TO RULES 13d-1(b)(c), AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
                            PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b)

                                (Amendment No. )


                             Parker Drilling Company


 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                                  Common Stock
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    701081101

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                February 20, 2004
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)


     Check the  appropriate  box to  designate  the rule  pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:

          [ ]  Rule 13d-1(b)

          [x]  Rule 13d-1(c)

          [ ]  Rule 13d-1(d)


----------
     The  information  required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed"  for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 or otherwise  subject to the  liabilities of that section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).



CUSIP No. 701081101
          ---------------------


1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

     Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C.

2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
                                                                 (a)  [_]
                                                                 (b)  [x]

3.   SEC USE ONLY



4.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

     Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH

5.   SOLE VOTING POWER

     0

6.   SHARED VOTING POWER

     9,346,900

7.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

     0

8.   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

     9,346,900

9.   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

     9,346,900

10.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

                                                                          [_]

11.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

     9.9%

12.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

     IA; OO



CUSIP No. 701081101
          ---------------------


1.   NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

     Contrarian Equity Fund, L.P.

2.   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
                                                                 (a)  [_]
                                                                 (b)  [x]

3.   SEC USE ONLY



4.   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

     Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH

5.   SOLE VOTING POWER

     0

6.   SHARED VOTING POWER

     5,473,687

7.   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

     0

8.   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

     5,473,687

9.   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

     5,473,687

10.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

                                                                          [_]

11.  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

     5.8%

12.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

     CO



 CUSIP No. 701081101
           ---------------------


Item 1(a).  Name of Issuer:


            Parker Drilling Company

            ____________________________________________________________________

Item 1(b).  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:


            1401 Enclave Parkway
            Suite 600
            Houston, TX 77077
            ____________________________________________________________________


Item 2(a).  Name of Persons Filing:

            Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C.
            Contrarian Equity Fund, L.P.
            ____________________________________________________________________

Item 2(b).  Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence:

            411 West Putnam Avenue
            Suite 225
            Greenwich, CT 06830
            ____________________________________________________________________

Item 2(c).  Citizenship:


            Delaware
            ____________________________________________________________________

Item 2(d).  Title of Class of Securities:


            Common Stock
            ____________________________________________________________________

Item 2(e).  CUSIP Number:


            701081101
            ____________________________________________________________________


Item 3.     If This Statement  is Filed  Pursuant to  Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b)
            or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:

     (a)  [_]  Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.

     (b)  [_]  Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.

     (c)  [_]  Insurance  company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange
               Act.

     (d)  [_]  Investment  company  registered under Section 8 of the Investment
               Company Act.

     (e)  [_]  An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

     (f)  [_]  An employee  benefit plan or endowment  fund in  accordance  with
               Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

     (g)  [_]  A parent  holding  company or control  person in accordance  with
               Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

     (h)  [_]  A savings  association  as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
               Deposit Insurance Act;

     (i)  [_]  A  church  plan  that  is  excluded  from  the  definition  of an
               investment  company  under  Section  3(c)(14)  of the  Investment
               Company Act;

     (j)  [_]  Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

Item 4.  Ownership.

     Provide  the  following  information  regarding  the  aggregate  number and
percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.

     (a)  Amount beneficially owned:

          Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C. 9,346,900
          Contrarian Equity Fund, L.P. 5,473,687
______________________________________________________________________

     (b)  Percent of class:

          Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C.  9.9%
          Contrarian Equity Fund, L.P. 5.8%
______________________________________________________________________

     (c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:

          (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
                      Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C. 0
                      Contrarian Equity Fund, L.P. 0

          (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
                     Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C. 9,346,900
                     Contrarian Equity Fund, L.P. 5,473,687

          (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the
                disposition of:
                    Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C. 0
                    Contrarian Equity Fund, L.P. 0

          (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the
                disposition of
                    Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C. 9,346,900
                    Contrarian Equity Fund, L.P. 5,473,687


Item 5.  Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

         N/A
         _______________________________________________________________________


Item 6.  Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

         N/A
         _______________________________________________________________________


Item 7.  Identification and  Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
         Security  Being  Reported on by the Parent  Holding  Company or Control
         Person.

         N/A
         _______________________________________________________________________


Item 8.  Identification  and  Classification  of Members of the Group.

         N/A
         _______________________________________________________________________


Item 9.  Notice of Dissolution of Group.

         N/A
         _______________________________________________________________________

Item 10.  Certifications.


     By signing below,  each reporting person certifies that, to the best of its
knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are
not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing  or  influencing  the
control of the issuer of the  securities  and were not acquired and are not held
in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or
effect.



                                    SIGNATURE

     After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my  knowledge  and belief,  I
certify that the information  set forth in this statement is true,  complete and
correct.

CONTRARIAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.*

/s/ Jon R. Bauer
___________________
By: Jon R. Bauer
Title:  Managing Member


CONTRARIAN EQUITY FUND, L.P.*
By: Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C.

/s/ Jon R. Bauer
___________________
By: Jon R. Bauer
Title:  Managing Member


Date:  March 9, 2005




*The  Reporting  Persons  disclaim  beneficial  ownership  in the  common  stock
reported herein except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.



                                                                      EXHIBIT A

                                    AGREEMENT

The undersigned agree that this Schedule 13G dated March 9, 2005 relating to the
Common  Stock of  Parker  Drilling  Company  shall be  filed  on  behalf  of the
undersigned.

CONTRARIAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.

/s/ Jon R. Bauer
_____________________________
By: Jon R. Bauer
Title:  Managing Member

Date:  March 9, 2005


CONTRARIAN EQUITY FUND, L.P.
By: Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C.

/s/ Jon R. Bauer
_____________________________
By: Jon R. Bauer
Title:  Managing Member

Date: March 9, 2005

01385.0001 #553867