Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
REVENUES:
Contract drilling	$ 217,818	$ 317,531	$ 794,979	$ 992,913
Revenues related to reimbursable expenses	9,979	13,031	36,988	39,762
Total revenues	227,797	330,562	831,967	1,032,675
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Contract drilling	80,524	134,258	301,094	401,847
Reimbursable expenses	5,489	9,066	22,898	29,634
Depreciation	41,084	42,534	124,964	129,637
General and administrative	12,028	10,473	38,693	42,619
Asset impairment	(659)	0	64,773	60,777
Loss on sale of assets	0	27	77	15,362
Other, net	16	0	(1,044)	0
Total costs and expenses	138,482	196,358	551,455	679,876
OPERATING INCOME	89,315	134,204	280,512	352,799
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	(19,674)	(11,677)	(50,533)	(40,028)
Interest income	9	12	19	84
Gains on extinguishment of debt	50,466	0	58,863	0
Other income	0	0	17,976	0
Other income (expense) total	30,801	(11,665)	26,325	(39,944)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	120,116	122,539	306,837	312,855
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	20,611	9,547	45,814	30,976
NET INCOME	$ 99,505	$ 112,992	$ 261,023	$ 281,879
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.54	$ 1.75	$ 4.03	$ 4.37
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.53	$ 1.73	$ 4.02	$ 4.33
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Basic (in shares)	64,795	64,649	64,750	64,557
Diluted (in shares)	64,847	65,130	64,852	65,063