Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 360,909	$ 447,868
Accounts receivable, less reserve of $4,597 in 2014 and $4,795 in 2013	705,214	621,420
Inventories	106,241	88,866
Deferred income taxes	16,519	16,414
Prepaid expenses and other	81,277	79,938
Current assets of discontinued operations	7,206	3,705
Total current assets	1,277,366	1,258,211
INVESTMENTS	236,644	316,154
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, at cost:
Contract drilling equipment	7,191,281	6,493,606
Construction in progress	288,877	153,252
Real estate properties	64,812	63,542
Other	354,853	310,515
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, gross	7,899,823	7,020,915
Less-Accumulated depreciation	2,711,279	2,344,812
Net property, plant and equipment	5,188,544	4,676,103
NONCURRENT ASSETS:
Other assets	19,307	14,359
TOTAL ASSETS	6,721,861	6,264,827
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	182,031	144,379
Accrued liabilities	282,278	189,684
Long-term debt due within one year	40,000	115,000
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	3,217	3,210
Total current liabilities	507,526	452,273
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt	40,000	80,000
Deferred income taxes	1,215,259	1,222,981
Other	64,110	65,351
Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations	3,989	495
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,323,358	1,368,827
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock, $.10 par value, 160,000,000 shares authorized, 110,508,605 and 108,738,577 shares issued as of September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 108,232,284 and 106,716,970 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively	11,051	10,874
Preferred stock, no par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued
Additional paid-in capital	383,972	288,758
Retained earnings	4,525,797	4,102,663
Accumulated other comprehensive income	83,126	132,530
Total shareholders' equity before treasury stock	5,003,946	4,534,825
Less treasury stock, 2,276,321 shares in 2014 and 2,021,607 shares in 2013, at cost	112,969	91,098
Total shareholders' equity	4,890,977	4,443,727
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$ 6,721,861	$ 6,264,827