UNAUDITED INTERIM INFORMATION	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
UNAUDITED INTERIM INFORMATION	UNAUDITED INTERIM INFORMATION The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Atwood Oceanics, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of June 30, 2017 and for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information. Unless otherwise indicated, references to “we”, “us”, “our” and the “Company” refer collectively to Atwood Oceanics, Inc. and subsidiaries. The year-end Consolidated Balance Sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements as of September 30, 2016. Although these financial statements and related information have been prepared without audit and certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S.") have been condensed or omitted, we believe that the note disclosures are adequate to make the information not misleading. The interim financial results may not be indicative of results that could be expected for a full fiscal year. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016. In our opinion, the unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of our financial position, results of operations, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the periods presented. Recently adopted accounting pronouncements In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The ASU is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance clarifies the classification of cash activity related to: (1) debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, (2) settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments, (3) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, (4) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, (5) proceeds from the settlement of corporate and bank-owned life insurance policies, (6) distributions received from equity-method investments, and (7) beneficial interests in securitization transactions. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Effective October 1, 2016, we elected to early adopt ASU 2016-15. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have an impact on our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, as part of its simplification initiative. The ASU simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, classification of excess tax benefits on the statements of cash flows, forfeitures, statutory tax withholding requirements, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification of employee taxes paid on the statements of cash flows when an employer withholds shares for tax-withholding purposes. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The standard contains various amendments, each requiring a specific method of adoption, and designates whether each amendment should be adopted using a retrospective, modified retrospective, or prospective transition method. Effective October 1, 2016, we elected to early adopt the ASU. The amendments within the ASU relate to the timing of when excess tax benefits are recognized and the accounting for forfeitures. We adopted this ASU using a modified retrospective method. In accordance with this method, we have recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment in our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of October 1, 2016, relating to the timing of recognition of excess tax benefits, of $6.6 million to the beginning Retained earnings that was offset by an equal increase to Deferred tax assets valuation allowance of the same amount resulting in no impact on Retained earnings. We also recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment in our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of October 1, 2016, to reflect actual forfeitures versus the previously-estimated forfeiture rate, of $1.0 million reduction to the Retained earnings with an offset to Paid-in capital. The amendments within the ASU related to the recognition of excess tax benefits and tax shortfalls in the income statement and presentation of excess tax benefits on the statements of cash flows were adopted prospectively, with no impact to prior periods. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Amendments for the Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Income Taxes. The amended guidance requires the classification of all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent on the balance sheet instead of separating deferred taxes into current and noncurrent amounts. Deferred tax assets and liabilities will continue to be offset and presented as a single amount under the amended guidance. The effective date for public business entities is for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Effective October 1, 2016, we elected to early adopt the ASU on a prospective basis. The adoption of the ASU did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Recently issued accounting pronouncements In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. The amendments in this ASU provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The new guidance clarifies that no new measurement date will be required if there is no change to the fair value, vesting conditions, and classification. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial statements or disclosures in our financial statements. In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. The ASU eliminates the exception to defer the tax effect for all intra-entity sales of assets other than inventory until the transferred asset is sold to a third party or otherwise recovered through use. As a result, a reporting entity would recognize the tax expense from the sale of the asset in the seller’s tax jurisdiction when the transfer occurs, even though the pre-tax effects of that transaction are eliminated in consolidation. Any deferred tax asset that arises in the buyer’s jurisdiction would also be recognized at the time of the transfer. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial statements or disclosures in our financial statements. In June 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The ASU introduces a new model for recognizing credit losses on financial instruments based on an estimate of current expected credit losses. The new model will apply to: (1) loans, accounts receivable, trade receivables, and other financial assets measured at amortized cost, (2) loan commitments and certain other off-balance sheet credit exposures, (3) debt securities and other financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income/(loss), and (4) beneficial interests in securitized financial assets. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. We are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial statements or disclosures in our financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842): Amendments to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The amendments require an entity to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and to disclose key qualitative and quantitative information about the entity's leasing arrangements. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. A modified retrospective approach is required. We are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial statements or disclosures in our financial statements. In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The new guidance requires management to assess a company’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. Disclosures are required when conditions give rise to substantial doubt. Substantial doubt is deemed to exist when it is probable that the company will be unable to meet its obligations within one year from the financial statement issuance date. The new guidance is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and all annual and interim periods thereafter. We are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial statements or disclosures in our financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenues from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): A new guidance intended to change the criteria for recognition of revenue. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to clients in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. We have not yet adopted nor selected a transition method and are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial statements or disclosures in our financial statements.

UNAUDITED INTERIM INFORMATION

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Atwood Oceanics, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of June 30, 2017 and for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information. Unless otherwise indicated, references to “we”, “us”, “our” and the “Company” refer collectively to Atwood Oceanics, Inc. and subsidiaries. The year-end Consolidated Balance Sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements as of September 30, 2016. Although these financial statements and related information have been prepared without audit and certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S.") have been condensed or omitted, we believe that the note disclosures are adequate to make the information not misleading. The interim financial results may not be indicative of results that could be expected for a full fiscal year. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016. In our opinion, the unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of our financial position, results of operations, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the periods presented.

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The ASU is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance clarifies the classification of cash activity related to: (1) debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, (2) settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments, (3) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, (4) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, (5) proceeds from the settlement of corporate and bank-owned life insurance policies, (6) distributions received from equity-method investments, and (7) beneficial interests in securitization transactions. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Effective October 1, 2016, we elected to early adopt ASU 2016-15. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have an impact on our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, as part of its simplification initiative. The ASU simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, classification of excess tax benefits on the statements of cash flows, forfeitures, statutory tax withholding requirements, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification of employee taxes paid on the statements of cash flows when an employer withholds shares for tax-withholding purposes. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The standard contains various amendments, each requiring a specific method of adoption, and designates whether each amendment should be adopted using a retrospective, modified retrospective, or prospective transition method. Effective October 1, 2016, we elected to early adopt the ASU. The amendments within the ASU relate to the timing of when excess tax benefits are recognized and the accounting for forfeitures. We adopted this ASU using a modified retrospective method. In accordance with this method, we have recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment in our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of October 1, 2016, relating to the timing of recognition of excess tax benefits, of $6.6 million to the beginning Retained earnings that was offset by an equal increase to Deferred tax assets valuation allowance of the same amount resulting in no impact on Retained earnings. We also recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment in our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of October 1, 2016, to reflect actual forfeitures versus the previously-estimated forfeiture rate, of $1.0 million reduction to the Retained earnings with an offset to Paid-in capital. The amendments within the ASU related to the recognition of excess tax benefits and tax shortfalls in the income statement and presentation of excess tax benefits on the statements of cash flows were adopted prospectively, with no impact to prior periods.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Amendments for the Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Income Taxes. The amended guidance requires the classification of all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent on the balance sheet instead of separating deferred taxes into current and noncurrent amounts. Deferred tax assets and liabilities will continue to be offset and presented as a single amount under the amended guidance. The effective date for public business entities is for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Effective October 1, 2016, we elected to early adopt the ASU on a prospective basis. The adoption of the ASU did not have a material impact on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. The amendments in this ASU provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The new guidance clarifies that no new measurement date will be required if there is no change to the fair value, vesting conditions, and classification. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial statements or disclosures in our financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. The ASU eliminates the exception to defer the tax effect for all intra-entity sales of assets other than inventory until the transferred asset is sold to a third party or otherwise recovered through use. As a result, a reporting entity would recognize the tax expense from the sale of the asset in the seller’s tax jurisdiction when the transfer occurs, even though the pre-tax effects of that transaction are eliminated in consolidation. Any deferred tax asset that arises in the buyer’s jurisdiction would also be recognized at the time of the transfer. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial statements or disclosures in our financial statements.

In June 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The ASU introduces a new model for recognizing credit losses on financial instruments based on an estimate of current expected credit losses. The new model will apply to: (1) loans, accounts receivable, trade receivables, and other

financial assets measured at amortized cost, (2) loan commitments and certain other off-balance sheet credit exposures, (3) debt

securities and other financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income/(loss), and (4) beneficial interests in securitized financial assets. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. We are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial statements or disclosures in our financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842): Amendments to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The amendments require an entity to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and to disclose key qualitative and quantitative information about the entity's leasing arrangements. This update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. A modified retrospective approach is required. We are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial statements or disclosures in our financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The new guidance requires management to assess a company’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. Disclosures are required when conditions give rise to substantial doubt. Substantial doubt is deemed to exist when it is probable that the company will be unable to meet its obligations within one year from the financial statement issuance date. The new guidance is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and all annual and interim periods thereafter. We are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial statements or disclosures in our financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenues from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): A new guidance intended to change the criteria for recognition of revenue. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to clients in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. We have not yet adopted nor selected a transition method and are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial statements or disclosures in our financial statements.