EXHIBIT 99.1

Houston, Texas

23 November 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EARNINGS-

ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC., Houston-based International Drilling Contractor, announced today that the Company earned net income of $48,284,000 or $0.75 per diluted share, on revenues of $131,044,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 compared to net income of $74,753,000 or $1.16 per diluted share, on revenues of $160,654,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.  For the twelve months ended September 30, 2009, the Company earned net income of $250,745,000 or $3.89 per diluted share, on revenues of $586,507,000 compared to net income of $215,438,000 or $3.34 per diluted share, on revenues of $526,604,000 for the twelve months ended September 30, 2008.

	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
	2009			2008
Revenues	$	131,044,000		$	160,654,000
Income before Income Taxes		59,438,000			87,244,000
Provision for Income Taxes		(11,154,000	)		(12,491,000	)
Net Income		48,284,000			74,753,000
Earnings per Common Share -
Basic		0.75			1.17
Diluted		0.75			1.16
Weighted Average Shares
Outstanding -
Basic		64,212,000			64,031,000
Diluted		64,786,000			64,697,000
	FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
		2009			2008
Revenues	$	586,507,000		$	526,604,000
Income before Income Taxes		296,431,000			244,775,000
Provision for Income Taxes		(45,686,000	)		(29,337,000	)
Net Income		250,745,000			215,438,000
Earnings per Common Share -
Basic		3.91			3.38
Diluted		3.89			3.34
Weighted Average Shares
Outstanding -
Basic		64,167,000			63,756,000
Diluted		64,493,000			64,556,000