SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549


SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Amendment No. 2

Name of
Issuer:  SONAT OFFSHORE DRILLING INC
         ____________________________________________________________________

Title of Class
of Securities:  Common Stock

CUSIP Number:   835420100


 1)  NAME OF I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF REPORTING PERSON

     The Prudential Insurance Company of America    22-1211670

 2)  MEMBER OF A GROUP:  (a)  N/A
                         (b)  N/A

 3)  SEC USE ONLY:




 4)  PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:  A mutual insurance company organized
                             under the laws of the State of New Jersey

NUMBERS OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 5)  Sole Voting Power:              4,700    See Exhibit A 
 6)  Shared Voting Power:          404,645    See Exhibit A 
 7)  Sole Dispositive Power:         4,700    See Exhibit A 
 8)  Shared Dispositive Power:     404,645    See Exhibit A 

 9)  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED:  409,345 See Exhibit A

10)  AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES SHARES:  N/A

11)  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9):  1.4See Exhibit A

12)  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:  BD, IC, IA

ITEM 1(a).  NAME OF ISSUER:

            SONAT OFFSHORE DRILLING INC

ITEM 1(b).  ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S EXECUTIVE OFFICES:

            4 Greenway Plaza
            Houston TX  77046

ITEM 2(a).  NAME OF PERSON FILING:

            The Prudential Insurance Company of America

ITEM 2(b).  ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE:

            Prudential Plaza
            Newark, New Jersey  07102-3777

ITEM 2(c).  CITIZENSHIP:

            A mutual insurance company organized under the laws
            of the State of New Jersey

ITEM 2(d).  TITLE OF CLASS SECURITIES:

            Common Stock

ITEM 2(e).  CUSIP NUMBER:

            835420100

ITEM 3.     The Person filing this statement is an Insurance Company
            as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Securities Exchange
            Act of 1934, a Broker-Dealer registered under Section 15
            of that Act and an Investment Adviser registered under
            Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

ITEM 4.     OWNERSHIP:

            (a) Number of Shares
                Benefically Owned:             409,345  See Exhibit A  

            (b) Percent of Class:    1.4   See Exhibit A

                                                   Number
            (c) Powers                          Of Shares
                ---------------------           ---------
                Sole power to vote or               4,700   See Exhibit A 
                to direct the vote

                Shared power to vote or           404,645   See Exhibit A 
                to direct the vote

                Sole power to dispose or            4,700   See Exhibit A 
                to direct disposition

                Shared power to dispose           404,645   See Exhibit A 
                or to direct disposition


ITEM 5.     OWNERSHIP OF 5% OR LESS OF A CLASS:

            Prudential has ceased to be the owner of more than 5% of the
            outstanding Common Stock of this issuer.

ITEM 6.     OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN 5% ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON:

            Not Applicable

ITEM 7.     IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY
            WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE
            ULTIMATE PARENT COMPANY:

            Not Applicable

ITEM 8.     IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP:

            Not Applicable

ITEM 9.     NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP:

            Not Applicable

ITEM 10.    CERTIFICATION:  Not Applicable


                                   SIGNATURE

                 After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and
             belief, The Prudential Insurance Company of America certifies that
             the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
             correct.


             THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA

             By:  Derek D. Burke
                  Director, Securities Law Compliance

             Date:   February 14, 1996

             As of:  December 31, 1995