EXHIBIT 99.1

Houston, Texas

18 November 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EARNINGS-

ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC., Houston-based international drilling contractor, announced today that the Company earned net income of $64,229,000 or $0.99 per diluted share, on revenues of $160,613,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 compared to 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.  For the twelve months ended September 30, 2010, the Company earned net income of $256,996,000 or $3.95 per diluted share, on revenues of $650,562,000 compared to net income of $250,745,000 or $3.89 per diluted share, on revenues of $586,507,000 for the twelve months ended September 30, 2009.

	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED  SEPTEMBER 30,
	2010			2009
Revenues	$	160,613,000		$	131,044,000
Income before Income Taxes		76,859,000			59,438,000
Provision for Income Taxes		(12,630,000	)		(11,154,000	)
Net Income		64,229,000			48,284,000
Earnings per Common Share -
Basic		1.00			0.75
Diluted		0.99			0.75
Weighted Average Shares
Outstanding -
Basic		64,439,000			64,212,000
Diluted		64,951,000			64,786,000
	FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
		2010			2009
Revenues	$	650,562,000		$	586,507,000
Income before Income Taxes		319,979,000			296,431,000
Provision for Income Taxes		(62,983,000	)		(45,686,000	)
Net Income		256,996,000			250,745,000
Earnings per Common Share -
Basic		3.99			3.91
Diluted		3.95			3.89
Weighted Average Shares
Outstanding -
Basic		64,391,000			64,167,000
Diluted		65,028,000			64,493,000