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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED: JANUARY 13, 2009

ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-13167

TEXAS
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

Internal Revenue Service – Employer Identification No. 74-1611874

15835 Park Ten Place Drive, Houston, Texas, 77084
(281) 749-7800

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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 7.01 REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

     The ATWOOD FALCON is currently in a shipyard in Singapore undergoing approximately $5 million of capital equipment upgrades in addition to certain required inspections and maintenance all of which could take up to 45 days to complete. For the first 37 days of this shipyard period, Shell will pay a dayrate of approximately $155,000. Any shipyard days exceeding 37 could be at zero rate. We currently estimate that the rig could incur seven (7) to ten (10) zero rate days during this shipyard period. Shell will pay for approximately $3.3 million of the capital equipment upgrades in additional to the 37 days of dayrate. The $3.3 million will be amortized into revenue (approximately $4,000 per day) over the remaining firm contract commitment period which extends into August 2011.

     The ATWOOD SOUTHERN CROSS has been idle since the end of December 2008. During this idle period, certain equipment is being replaced and general maintenance is being performed. Contract opportunities are currently being pursued for the rig; however, we expect the rig will be idle all of the second quarter of fiscal year 2009.

     The ATWOOD AURORA is preparing to commence its mobilization to Egypt, which is expected to take around 25 days to complete. The rig should commence drilling operations under its two-year contract commitment in late February 2009.

     During our market conference call on November 25, 2008, we stated that, at that time, we expected total drilling costs for the first quarter of fiscal year 2009 to be around $56 million. We now expect that drilling costs for the first quarter of fiscal year 2009 will be around $52 million. This decline in operating costs primarily results from lower than anticipated operating costs being incurred in the quarter by the ATWOOD FALCON, ATWOOD SOUTHERN CROSS and ATWOOD EAGLE due primarily to repairs and maintenance projects being deferred from the first quarter of 2009 to the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 and from strengthening of the U.S. dollar against foreign currency. With certain repairs and maintenance projects deferred to the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 coupled with the anticipated commencement of the ATWOOD AURORA, we currently anticipate that operating costs for the quarter ending March 31, 2009 will be around $60 million.

     The construction of our two deepwater semisubmersibles continues on schedule. The conventionally moored semisubmersible which will commence working for Chevron Australia Pty. Ltd. immediately upon completion of its construction (estimated early 2011) has been named the ATWOOD OSPREY. A name has not yet been selected for our dynamically positioned semisubmersible scheduled for completion of construction in mid-2012.

     Additional information with respect to the Company’s Fleet Status Report at January 13, 2009 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. Such information is being furnished under Regulation FD and should not be deemed to be filed under Section 19 of the Exchange Act.

Statements contained in this report with respect to the future are forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's reasonable judgment with respect to future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated as a result of various factors including; the Company's dependence on the oil and gas industry; the risks involved the construction of a rig; competition; operating risks; risks involved in foreign operations; risks associated with possible disruption in operations due to terrorism; risks associated with a possible disruption in operations due to a war with Iraq; and governmental regulations and environmental matters. A list of additional risk factors can be found in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ITEM 9.01 EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT 99.1 Fleet Status Report at January 13, 2009

EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION

99.1

Fleet Status Report at January 13, 2009

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC
		(Registrant)



		/s/ James M. Holland James M. Holland Senior Vice President

		DATE: January 13, 2009

RIG NAME		RATED WATER DEPTH	LOCATION	CUSTOMER	ESTIMATED CONTRACT END DATE		ESTIMATED CONTRACT DAYRATE	UNAUDITED AVERAGE PER DAY OPERATING COSTS (NOT INCLUDING TAX) FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2008/MONTH ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 200 8 ONLY	ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
SEMISUBMERSIBLES:
ATWOOD EAGLE		5000’	Australia	WOODSIDE ENERGY LTD (“WOODSIDE”)	FIRM WORK – (2 years) June 2010		Approximately $405,000	$104,000/$93,000	A portion of the dayrate is subject to some change due to currency exchange rate variance.
			Australia	BHP BILLITON PETROLEUM	FIRM WORK – (One well deferred from previous drilling program which cannot be drilled before January 1, 2009 but must be drilled by the end of calendar year 2009.)		Approximately $170,000 for 35 days and $465,000 thereafter until completion.	N/A
			Australia	CHEVRON AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD. (“CHEVRON”)	FIRM WORK – (Until new semisubmersible arrives in Australia) February/March 2011		$430,000/$450,000	N/A	Subject to change due to cost escalation provisions in the contract.
			Australia	CHEVRON	OPTION WORK – Has option to continue to use rig for a mutually agreed term after the new semisubmersible arrives in Australia.		$405,000/$425,000	N/A	Subject to change due to cost escalation provisions in the contract.
			TBD	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	The rig could incur ten (10) zero rate days in the first quarter of 2010 for regulatory inspections.
ATWOOD HUNTER		5,000’	Eastern Mediterranean Sea	NOBLE ENERGY, INC. (“NOBLE”)	FIRM WORK - February/April 2009		$511,000 plus approximately $15,800 of amortizing revenues per day	$85,000/$94,000	Subject to change due to cost escalation provisions in the contract.
			Mobilizing to Ghana	KOSMOS ENERGY GHANA HC (“KOSMOS”)	FIRM WORK - March/June 2009 (Estimated to take 55 days)		$460,000	N/A	Subject to change due to cost escalation provisions in the contract.
			Ghana	KOSMOS	FIRM WORK - December 2009/March 2010 (Estimated to take 270 days)		$538,000	N/A	Subject to change due to cost escalation provisions in the contract.
			Other West Africa Designated Areas	NOBLE/KOSMOS	FIRM WORK - October/November 2012		$538,000 to $545,000 while operating and $460,000 during all mobilization periods	N/A	Subject to change due to cost escalation provisions in the contract.
			TBD	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	The rig could incur ten (10) zero rate days in the third quarter of fiscal year 2009 for regulatory inspections.
ATWOOD FALCON		5,000’	Malaysia	SARAWAK SHELL BERHAD (“SHELL”)	FIRM WORK – February 2009 (Rig is currently in a shipyard in Singapore undergoing certain equipment upgrades and required inspections which could take up to 45 days to complete. For the first 37 days of this shipyard period, Shell will pay a dayrate of approximately $155,000. Any shipyard days exceeding 37 will be at zero rate.)		$155,000/plus approximately $24,000 of amortized per day revenues	$66,000/$62,000	The rig could incur seven (7) to ten (10) zero rate days during this shipyard time while undergoing required regulatory inspections.
			Malaysia	SHELL	FIRM WORK – August 2009		$160,000/ plus approximately $28,000 of amortized per day revenue
			Malaysia	SHELL	FIRM WORK – August 2011 (Two years from completion of current firm work which is expected to be August 2009)		$425,000/plus approximately $4,000 of amortized per day revenues		Subject to change due to cost escalation provisions in the contract.
ATWOOD SOUTHERN CROSS	2,000’				FIRM WORK – NONE		NONE	$90,000/$75,000	Contract opportunities are currently being pursued.
	TBD		N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A	The rig could incur then (10) zero rate days in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010 for regulatory inspections.
ATWOOD OSPREY	6,000’		Under construction in Singapore with Delivery Expected in early 2011 at which time the rig will be mobilized to Australia.	CHEVRON AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD.	FIRM WORK – Early 2014 if three-year commitment or early 2017 if six-year commitments. (Contract provides for a commitment of three years with option to extend to six years at time of delivery of rig)		$470,000 (if three-year commitment) $450,000 (if six-year commitment)	N/A	Subject to change due to cost escalation provisions in the contract.
CANTILEVER JACK-UPS:
ATWOOD BEACON	400’		India	GUJARAT STATE PETROLEUM CORPORATION LTD (“GSPC”)	FIRM WORK – Completion of well in progress at the end of January 2009 (Estimated May/June 2009		$133,500	$48,000/$46,000		The rig incurred 3 zero rate days during the first quarter of fiscal year 2009 for required regulatory inspections.
VICKSBURG	300’		Thailand	CHEVRON OVERSEAS PETROLEUM	FIRM WORK – June 2009		$154,000	$44,000/$41,000
			TBD	N/A	N/A		N/A	N/A		The rig could incur four (4) weeks of zero rate days during the third or fourth quarters of fiscal year 2009 for required maintenance and equipment upgrades.
ATWOOD AURORA	350’		Preparing to commence mobilization to Egypt	RWE DEA NILE GmbH (“RWE”)	FIRM WORK – February 2011		$165,000/plus approximately $6,000 per day of amortized per day revenue	N/A		Subject to change due to cost escalation provisions in the contract.
			Egypt	RWE	OPTIONS – (1 Year)		TBD	N/A
SEMISUBMERSIBLE TENDER ASSIST UNIT:
SEAHAWK	1,800’		Equatorial Guinea	AMERADA HESS EQUATORIAL GUINEA, INC. (“HESS”)		FIRM WORK – August 2009	$85,000	$61,000/$62,000		Contract provides for dayrate increases based upon certain cost escalations as well as an approximately $15,000 per day reduction during periods when the rig is being relocated to a new drilling site.
			Equatorial Guinea	HESS		OPTIONS – (2 six-month options) September 2010 (if the two (2) six-month options are exercised)	$85,000	N/A		Dayrate subject to increase due to contract cost escalations.
			Equatorial Guinea	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A		The rig could incur three (3) to five (5) zero rate days during fiscal year 2009 for required maintenance.
SUBMERSIBLE:
RICHMOND	70’		US Gulf of Mexico	Newfield Exploration Company from assignment from CONTANGO OPERATIONS INC. (“CONTANGO”)		FIRM WORK – (One well) January 2009	$78,000	$36,000/$40,000
			US Gulf of Mexico	CONTANGO		FIRM WORK – (One well) March 2009	$85,000	N/A
			US Gulf of Mexico	CONTANGO		OPTION – May 2009	TBD	N/A
			TBD	N/A		N/A	N/A	N/A		The rig could incur ten (10) zero rate days in the third quarter of fiscal year 2010 for regulatory inspections.