-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BcYF8BBXvUcR5HJMAObO+BpzT7aJ19qUAdoM32fkaP5MOwOFZC4CvtdWqJ6uSa/E
 XINx21PxDuKMc1hT+Werdg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000008411-08-000106.txt : 20080609
<SEC-HEADER>0000008411-08-000106.hdr.sgml : 20080609
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080609164503
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000008411-08-000106
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080605
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080609
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080609

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ATWOOD OCEANICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000008411
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DRILLING OIL & GAS WELLS [1381]
		IRS NUMBER:				741611874
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15835 PARK TEN PL DR
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77084
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2817497845

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15835 PARK TEN PL DR
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77084

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Smith Barry Michael
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001435904

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13167
		FILM NUMBER:		08888576

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		281-749-7800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15835 PARK TEN PLACE DRIEV
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77084
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>f3barsmith_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-05</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000008411</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ATWOOD OCEANICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001435904</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Smith Barry Michael</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>15835 PARK TEN PLACE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77084</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText>Technical Services</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Atwood Oceanics, Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8348</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nonqualified Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>42.82</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-08-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2550</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nonqualified Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>89.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-12-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>912</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These options were granted for a term of ten (10) years (pursuant to Atwood Oceanics, Inc. 2001 Plan), with twenty-five (25%)
 of such options becoming exercisable at each of one (1) year, two (2) years, three (3) years and four (4) years
 respectively, from the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These options were granted for a term of ten (10) years (pursuant to Atwood Oceanics, Inc. 2007 Plan), with twenty-five (25%)
 of such options becoming exercisable at each of one (1) year, two (2) years, three (3) years and four (4) years
 respectively, from the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Barry M Smith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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