CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating revenues:
Drilling - U.S. Land	$ 890,047	$ 731,674
Drilling - Offshore	69,473	59,054
Drilling - International Land	92,885	95,341
Other	4,180	3,083
Total operating revenues	1,056,585	889,152
Operating costs and other:
Operating costs, excluding depreciation	554,243	474,048
Depreciation	137,613	120,237
General and administrative	32,907	32,243
Research and development	4,158	4,257
Income from asset sales	(4,155)	(5,664)
Total operating costs and expenses	724,766	625,121
Operating income from continuing operations	331,819	264,031
Other income (expense):
Interest and dividend income	285	453
Interest expense	(561)	(1,194)
Other	314	(345)
Total other income (expense)	38	(1,086)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	331,857	262,945
Income tax provision	128,800	89,763
Income from continuing operations	203,057	173,182
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes	(15)
Loss from discontinued operations	(15)
NET INCOME	$ 203,042	$ 173,182
Basic earnings per common share:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.87	$ 1.61
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.87	$ 1.61
Diluted earnings per common share:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.85	$ 1.59
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.85	$ 1.59
Weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic (in shares)	107,973	107,149
Diluted (in shares)	108,843	108,577
Dividends declared, per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.6875	$ 0.6250