CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
REVENUES:
Contract drilling	$ 976,348	$ 1,342,052	$ 1,103,397
Revenues related to reimbursable expenses	44,296	53,799	70,556
Total revenues	1,020,644	1,395,851	1,173,953
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Contract drilling	378,535	520,421	506,128
Reimbursable expenses	28,291	38,744	56,225
Depreciation	165,669	171,947	147,358
General and administrative	50,550	57,229	61,461
Asset impairment	103,539	60,777	0
(Gain)/loss on sale of assets	77	15,303	(34,139)
Other, net	(299)	0	(1,864)
Total costs and expenses	726,362	864,421	735,169
OPERATING INCOME	294,282	531,430	438,784
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	(68,566)	(52,551)	(41,803)
Interest income	21	91	312
Gains on extinguishment of debt	69,041	0	0
Other income	17,977	0	0
Total other income (expense)	18,473	(52,460)	(41,491)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	312,755	478,970	397,293
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	47,483	46,397	56,471
NET INCOME	$ 265,272	$ 432,573	$ 340,822
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 4.09	$ 6.70	$ 5.31
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 4.09	$ 6.65	$ 5.24
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (NOTE 2):
Basic (in shares)	64,789	64,581	64,240
Diluted (in shares)	64,839	65,030	65,074