first amendment to the employment agreement

first amendment
to the
employment agreement

MARCH 15, 2009

WHEREAS , TESCO CORPORATION, a corporation organized under the laws of the province of Alberta, Canada (the "Company") and JEFFREY L. FOSTER ("Executive") entered into the Employment Agreement effective on December 31, 2007 (the "Agreement"); and

WHEREAS , notwithstanding the approval by the compensation committee and the board of directors of the Company of an increase in Executive's Base Annual Salary commencing January 1, 2009 to $270,000, the parties recognize that Executive has voluntarily refrained from drawing that increased Base Annual Salary to date; and

WHEREAS, Executive and the Company have now agreed that commencing March 15, 2009, Executive's Base Annual Salary to be actually paid for the remainder of 2009 shall be equal to the amount of Executive's Base Annual Salary for the same portion of 2008, reduced by 10% ("Reduction"); and

WHEREAS , the Company and Executive agree that such Reduction alone shall not co