8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

____________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED:  OCTOBER 1, 2010

ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-13167

TEXAS

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

Internal Revenue Service – Employer Identification No. 74-1611874

15835 Park Ten Place Drive, Houston, Texas, 77084

(281) 749-7800

____________

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))

ITEM 7.01 REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

Information with respect to the Company’s Fleet Status Report at October 1, 2010 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.  Such information is being furnished under Regulation FD and should not be deemed to be filed under Section 19 of the Exchange Act.

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 including the Company’s dependence on the oil and gas industry; the risks involved in the construction of a rig and commencement of operations of the rig following delivery; competition; operating risks; risks involved in foreign operations; risks associated with possible disruption in operations due to terrorism, acts of piracy, embargoes, war or other military operations; and governmental and industry 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, 2009, and the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, both filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ITEM 9.01                      EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT 99.1    Fleet Status Report at October 1, 2010

EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO.                                        DESCRIPTION

99.1                                Fleet Status Report at October 1, 2010

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/ Mark L. Mey

Mark L. Mey

Senior Vice President

DATE: October 1, 2010

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

FLEET STATUS REPORT

Atwood Oceanics, Inc. And Subsidiaries Fleet Status Report As of October 1, 2010

As used herein, “we”, “us”, and “our” refers to Atwood Oceanics, Inc. and its subsidiaries, except where the context indicates otherwise.  Statements contained in this Fleet Status Report, including information regarding our estimated rig availability, contract duration, future dayrates, future daily operating costs, future effective tax rates, customer or contract status 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 including: our dependence on the oil and gas industry; the risks involved in upgrade, repair and construction of our rigs; competition; operating risks; risks involved in foreign operations; risks associated with possible disruptions in operations due to terrorism; risks associated with a possible disruption in operations due to the war with Iraqand governmental regulations and environmental matters.  A list of additional risk factors can be found in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  All information in this Fleet Status Report is as of the date indicated above.  We undertake no duty to update the content of this Fleet Status Report or any forward-looking statement contained herein to conform the statement to actual results or to reflect changes in our expectations.

Rig Name	Rated Water Depth	Location	Customer	Estimated Contract End Date	Estimated Contract Day Rate	Additional Comments
ULTRA-DEEPWATER SEMISUBMERSIBLES
ATWOOD CONDOR	10,000’	Under construction in Singapore with delivery expected in the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.	---	AVAILABLE	N/A
ATWOOD OSPREY	8,200’	Under construction in Singapore with delivery expected in the second quarter of fiscal year 2011 at which time the rig will be mobilized to Australia.	CHEVRON AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD.	FIRM WORK – Second quarter fiscal year 2014 if three-year commitment or second quarter fiscal year 2017 if six-year commitment.  (Contract provides option to extend to six years at time of delivery of rig)	$470,000 (if three-year commitment) $450,000 (if six-year commitment)	Day rate subject to change due to cost escalation and currency exchange provisions in the contract.
DEEPWATER SEMISUBMERSIBLES
ATWOOD EAGLE	5000’	Australia	---	REGULATORY INSPECTIONS & MAINTENANCE – Mid October 2010	N/A	The rig is expected to incur approximately fifteen (15) zero rate days in October to complete its regulatory inspections and planned maintenance.
		Australia	CHEVRON	FIRM WORK – September/October 2011 (Six months after the ATWOOD OSPREY commences operations in Australia)	$450,000 (until the ATWOOD OSPREY commences operations in Australia)/$390,000 thereafter	Day rate subject to change due to cost escalation and currency exchange provisions in the contract.
ATWOOD FALCON	5,000’	Malaysia	SHELL	FIRM WORK – August 2011	$431,000	Day rate subject to change due to cost escalation provisions in the contract.
ATWOOD HUNTER	5,000’	Equatorial Guinea	NOBLE ENERGY INC (“NOBLE”)	FIRM WORK - November 2010	$545,000	Day rate subject to change due to cost escalation provisions in the contract.
		Ghana/ Equatorial Guinea	KOSMOS ENERGY GHANA INC/NOBLE	FIRM WORK - October 2012	$538,000 to $545,000	Day rate subject to change due to cost escalation provisions in the contract.

JACK-UPS
ATWOOD BEACON	400’	Suriname/Guyana	MURPHY SURINAME OIL COMPANY, LTD./REPSOL EXPLORATION S.A./TEIKOKU OIL (SURINAME) CO. LTD. (INPEX) (“BEACON OPERATOR GROUP”)	MOBILIZATION –  Mid October 2010	N/A	The contract provides for a lump sum mobilization fee of $4.5 million.  This fee will be amortized over the 210 day minimum contract period.
		Suriname/Guyana	“BEACON OPERATOR GROUP”	FIRM WORK – May 2011 (4 wells – minimum 210 days)	$115,000	The contract provides an option to drill one (1) additional well at the current contracted dayrate.  This option must be exercised by 10 days after the start of the second firm well.
ATWOOD AURORA	350’	Egypt	RWE DEA NILE GmbH	FIRM WORK – April 2011	$133,000	Day rate subject to change due to cost escalation provisions in the contract.
VICKSBURG	300’	Thailand	NUCOASTAL (THAILAND) LIMITED	FIRM WORK – June 2011	$90,000	The rig is expected to incur ten (10) zero rate days in October for regulatory inspections.
OTHER
ATWOOD SOUTHERN CROSS	2,000’	Malta	---	AVAILABLE	N/A
SEAHAWK	1,800’	Ghana	---	AVAILABLE	N/A
RICHMOND	70’	US Gulf of Mexico	---	AVAILABLE	N/A