News Releases

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR
    DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

    TSX SYMBOL:  TDG; TDG.DBCALGARY, July 16 /CNW/ - Trinidad Drilling Ltd. ("Trinidad" or the
"Corporation") is pleased to announce that they will release their second
quarter 2009 results prior to market open on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. The
news release will provide consolidated second quarter operating information
and financial statements.
    A conference call and webcast to discuss the results will be held for the
investment community the same day beginning at 9:00 a.m. MT (11:00 a.m. ET).
To participate, please dial (800) 733-7560 (toll-free in North America) or
(416) 644-3414 approximately 10 minutes prior to the conference call. An
archived recording of the call will be available from approximately 12:00 p.m.
MT on August 11 until midnight August 18, 2009 by dialing (877) 289-8525 or
(416) 640-1917 and entering replay access code 21311218 followed by the pound
sign.
    A live audio webcast of the conference call will also be available on the
investor relations page of Trinidad's website, www.trinidaddrilling.com.

    Trinidad is a growth-oriented corporation that trades on the Toronto
Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol TDG and TDG.DB. Trinidad's divisions
operate in the drilling, well-servicing, coring and barge-drilling sectors of
the North American oil and natural gas industry. With the completion of the
2009 rig construction program, Trinidad will have 119 land drilling rigs
ranging in depths from 1,000 - 6,500 metres and operations in Canada, the
United States and Mexico. In addition to its land drilling rigs, Trinidad has
23 service rigs, 20 pre-set and coring rigs and 4 barge rigs currently
operating in the Gulf of Mexico. Trinidad is focused on providing modern,
reliable, expertly designed equipment operated by well-trained and experienced
personnel. Trinidad's drilling fleet is one of the most adaptable,
technologically advanced and competitive in the industry.

    This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy the shares in any jurisdiction.  The shares
offered will not be and have not been registered under the United States
Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States or
to a United States person, absent registration, or an applicable exemption
therefrom.