Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
REVENUES:
Contract drilling	$ 317,531	$ 264,925	$ 992,913	$ 798,544
Revenues related to reimbursable expenses	13,031	27,852	39,762	52,036
Total revenues	330,562	292,777	1,032,675	850,580
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Contract drilling	134,258	128,586	401,847	388,715
Reimbursable expenses	9,066	23,493	29,634	41,095
Depreciation	42,534	37,601	129,637	107,376
General and administrative	10,473	12,844	42,619	47,688
Asset impairment	0	0	60,777	0
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	27	7	15,362	(34,072)
Other, net	0	(212)	0	(1,815)
Total costs and expenses	196,358	202,319	679,876	548,987
OPERATING INCOME	134,204	90,458	352,799	301,593
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	(11,677)	(11,219)	(40,028)	(30,932)
Interest income	12	126	84	247
Other income (expense) total	(11,665)	(11,093)	(39,944)	(30,685)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	122,539	79,365	312,855	270,908
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	9,547	7,440	30,976	42,286
NET INCOME	$ 112,992	$ 71,925	$ 281,879	$ 228,622
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (NOTE 2):
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.75	$ 1.12	$ 4.37	$ 3.56
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.73	$ 1.11	$ 4.33	$ 3.52
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (NOTE 2):
Basic (in shares)	64,649	64,309	64,557	64,204
Diluted (in shares)	65,130	65,060	65,063	65,023