Forbes Energy Services Reports Selected Operating Data for September 2010 and
Announces Pemex Contract Extension

    
    RIG HOURS UP 66% YEAR-OVER-YEAR

    TRUCK HOURS UP 41% YEAR-OVER-YEAR






    
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<p>ALICE, Texas, <span class="xn-chron">Oct. 12</span> /CNW/ -- Forbes Energy Services Ltd. (TSX: FRB) today announced its rig and trucking hours for the month of <span class="xn-chron">September 2010</span>.</p>
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                      September 30, 2010 August 30, 2010 September 30, 2009
                      ------------------ --------------- ------------------
    Working days                       20               22                21
    Rig hours
      U.S.                         27,867           26,985            15,520
      Mexico                        5,472            6,480             4,608
                                    -----            -----             -----
      Total rig hours              33,339           33,465            20,128
    
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    Truck hours                   100,912           97,115            71,343


    
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<p><span class="xn-person">John Crisp</span>, Forbes Energy's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are very pleased with the continued activity levels in the energy services space.  Although South Texas experienced substantial rain fall in September, activity levels still allowed us to post increased hours as strength continues in the liquids rich Eagle Ford play.  With the majority of our top ten customers in the Eagle Ford we see continued expansion for the foreseeable future.  Many customers and industry sources are projecting increases in Eagle Ford drilling activity of fifty percent or more through 2011.</p>
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<p>"Our <span class="xn-location">Mexico</span> operation also experienced down-time in September due to rain related to the recent hurricane and customer delays.  Although we will receive partial payment for a portion of these delays, we would rather have been adding value to our customer.  In addition we had one rig down for the entire month as we re-certified it in compliance with our <span class="xn-location">Mexico</span> contract.</p>
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<p>"Pemex extended Forbes' well service contract in <span class="xn-location">Mexico</span> through <span class="xn-chron">December 31, 2010</span>, providing additional time to continue discussions regarding a longer extension."</p>
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<p>U.S. rigs generally work all weekdays except holidays.  <span class="xn-location">Mexico</span> rigs generally work every day except holidays.  Trucks generally operate every day except Sundays and holidays.   Rig and truck hours represent actual hours billed to customers.</p>
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<p>Forbes Energy Services cautions that several factors other than those discussed above may impact the Company's operating results and that a particular trend regarding the factors above may or may not be indicative of the Company's current or future financial performance.</p>
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<p>Forbes Energy Services Ltd. is an independent oilfield services contractor that provides a broad range of drilling-related and production-related services to oil and natural gas companies, primarily onshore in Texas, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and <span class="xn-location">Mexico</span>.</p>
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    Forward-Looking Statements
    
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<p>This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as contemplated by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, in which the Company discusses factors it believes may affect its performance in the future. The accuracy of the Company's assumptions, expectations, beliefs and projections depend on events or conditions that change over time and are thus susceptible to change based on actual experience, new developments and known and unknown risks. The Company gives no assurance that the forward-looking statements will prove to be correct and does not undertake any duty to update them. The Company's actual future results might differ from the forward-looking statements made in this press release for a variety of reasons, which include: supply and demand for oilfield services and the level of oil and natural gas prices; the continued uncertainty in the global financial markets and its effect on domestic spending in the oil and natural gas industry; the Company's ability to maintain or improve pricing on its core services; the potential for excess capacity in the industry; competition and the ability to obtain additional cash resources through a financing or other permitted transaction. Should one or more of the foregoing risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the Company's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company's actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in its forward-looking statements, and the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.  Additional factors that you should consider are set forth in detail in the Risk Factors section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended <span class="xn-chron">December 31, 2009</span> (the "Form 10-K") as well as other filings the Company has made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.</p>
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    Contacts:     Forbes Energy Services Ltd.
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                  L. Melvin Cooper, SVP & CFO
                  361-664-0549
    
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                  DRG&E
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                  Ken Dennard, Managing Partner
                  Ben Burnham, AVP
                  713-529-6600






    

For further information: L. Melvin Cooper, SVP & CFO of Forbes Energy Services Ltd., [phone]; or Ken Dennard, Managing Partner, or Ben Burnham, AVP, both of DRG&E, [phone], for Forbes Energy Services Ltd.