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                                  UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                        PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED: August 30, 2005


                              ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-13167


        Internal Revenue Service - Employer Identification No. 74-1611874


                15835 Park Ten Place Drive, Houston, Texas, 77084
                                 (281) 749-7800

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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS

     On August 30, 2005, the Company announced that the ATWOOD HUNTER, owned and
operated by its wholly owned subsidiary  Atwood Oceanics  Pacific  Limited,  has
been awarded a two (2) year firm contract plus two six-month options by Woodside
Energy  Ltd.  ("Woodside")  for their  international  operations.  The  contract
provides for an  operating  dayrate  ranging  from  $240,000 to $245,000 and the
dayrates for the option periods are to be mutually agreed six months in advance.
All rig moves  will be on a dayrate  basis and  Woodside  will  provide  all tow
vessels.  This contract will commence  immediately  upon the rig  completing its
current  contract  commitments  with Burullus Gas Co. offshore Egypt  (estimated
April to May 2006).

     A copy of the press release  announcing the ATWOOD HUNTER contract is filed
with the Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.01 EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT NO.

EX-99.1  Press Release dated August 30, 2005

     Statements  contained  in  this  report  with  respect  to the  future  are
forward-looking  statements.  These statements reflect  management's  reasonable
judgment with respect to future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks
and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated
as a result of various  factors:  the  Company's  dependence  on the oil and gas
industry;  the  risks  involved  in  the  construction  and  repair  of  a  rig;
competition;  operating  risks;  risks  involved  in foreign  operations;  risks
associated  with  possible  disruption in  operations  due to  terrorism;  risks
associated with a possible disruption in operations due to war; and governmental
regulations and environmental  matters. A list of additional risk factors can be
found in the Company's  annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended  September
30, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


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SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                             ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC.
                             (Registrant)



                             /s/ James M. Holland
                             James M. Holland
                             Senior Vice President

                             DATE: August 30, 2005



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO.                      DESCRIPTION


EX - 99.1          Press Release dated August 30, 2005




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                                                             EXHIBIT EX. - 99.1

             ATWOOD OCEANICS ANNOUNCES ATWOOD HUNTER CONTRACT AWARD

Houston, Texas
30 August 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     Atwood  Oceanics,  Inc. (a Houston based  International  Offshore  Drilling
Contractor  - NYSE  ATW)  announced  today  that the  ATWOOD  HUNTER,  owned and
operated by its wholly owned subsidiary  Atwood Oceanics  Pacific  Limited,  has
been awarded a two (2) year firm contract plus two six-month options by Woodside
Energy  Ltd.  ("Woodside")  for their  international  operations.  The  contract
provides for an  operating  dayrate  ranging  from  $240,000 to $245,000 and the
dayrates for the option periods are to be mutually agreed six months in advance.
All rig moves  will be on a dayrate  basis and  Woodside  will  provide  all tow
vessels.  This contract will commence  immediately  upon the rig  completing its
current  contract  commitments  with Burullus Gas Co. offshore Egypt  (estimated
April to May 2006).



     Statements  contained  in this  release  with  respect  to the  future  are
forward-looking  statements.  These statements reflect  management's  reasonable
judgment with respect to future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks
and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated
as a result of various  factors;  the  Company's  dependence  on the oil and gas
industry;  the risks  involved in upgrade to the  Company's  rigs;  competition;
operating  risks;  risks involved in foreign  operations;  risks associated with
possible   disruptions  in  operations  due  to  terrorism;   and   governmental
regulations and environmental  matters. A list of additional risk factors can be
found in the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  September
30, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                                          Contact:  Jim Holland
                                                                 (281) 749-7804

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