CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Operating revenues:
Drilling - U.S. Land	$ 706,786	$ 539,372	$ 1,983,369	$ 1,511,649
Drilling - Offshore	41,617	54,569	135,830	150,022
Drilling - International Land	67,482	46,051	192,305	169,689
Other	3,900	4,103	10,851	11,783
Total operating revenues	819,785	644,095	2,322,355	1,843,143
Operating costs and other:
Operating costs, excluding depreciation	463,935	365,586	1,303,175	1,035,671
Depreciation	95,182	79,109	272,404	228,450
General and administrative	25,576	24,071	79,544	68,366
Research and development	4,299	4,399	11,378	11,509
Income from asset sales	(1,862)	(3,488)	(14,365)	(10,262)
Total operating costs and other	587,130	469,677	1,652,136	1,333,734
Operating income from continuing operations	232,655	174,418	670,219	509,409
Other income (expense):
Interest and dividend income	329	903	1,021	1,573
Interest expense	(2,411)	(3,221)	(7,293)	(13,185)
Gain on sale of investment securities		913		913
Other	309	(190)	288	208
Total other income (expense)	(1,773)	(1,595)	(5,984)	(10,491)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	230,882	172,823	664,235	498,918
Income tax provision	80,939	62,995	240,232	185,764
Income from continuing operations	149,943	109,828	424,003	313,154
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes	(18)	(2)	(154)	(393)
Income tax provision			(81)	(5)
Loss from discontinued operations	(18)	(2)	(73)	(388)
NET INCOME	$ 149,925	$ 109,826	$ 423,930	$ 312,766
Basic earnings per common share:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.40	$ 1.02	$ 3.94	$ 2.93
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.40	$ 1.02	$ 3.94	$ 2.93
Diluted earnings per common share:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.38	$ 1.01	$ 3.88	$ 2.87
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.38	$ 1.01	$ 3.88	$ 2.87
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	107,016	106,962	107,196	106,501
Diluted (in shares)	108,425	108,784	108,798	108,550
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.21	$ 0.19