8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

____________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED: December 9, 2011

ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

TEXAS

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-13167

Internal Revenue Service – Employer Identification No. 74-1611874

15835 Park Ten Place Drive

Houston, Texas, 77084

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(281) 749-7800

(Registrant’s Telephone Number,

Including Area Code)

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

____________

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

On December 9, 2011, the Company issued a press release announcing a contract for the Atwood Aurora.  A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d)   EXHIBITS

99.1           Press Release dated December 9, 2011

EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO.                                        DESCRIPTION

99.1                                Press Release dated December 9, 2011

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/ Mark L. Mey

Mark L. Mey

Senior Vice President

DATE: December 9, 2011

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

ATWOOD OCEANICS ANNOUNCES CONTRACT FOR THE

ATWOOD AURORA

Houston, Texas

December 9, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC., announced today that one of its subsidiaries has been awarded a drilling services contract by a subsidiary of Bowleven Plc. for the Atwood Aurora. The day rate for work offshore Cameroon will be approximately $134,000, with contract commencement expected in May 2012 in direct continuation of the current contract.  The award has an estimated firm duration of 120 days plus a one well option at the contract day rate if exercised by December 31, 2011, or at $139,000 if exercised by March 31, 2012. With the award of this contract, the firm contractual commitments for the Atwood Aurora are expected to extend through October 2012.

Atwood Oceanics, Inc. is an international offshore drilling contractor engaged in the drilling and completion of exploratory and developmental oil and gas wells.  The company currently owns ten mobile offshore drilling units located in the United States Gulf of Mexico, South America, the Mediterranean Sea, West Africa, southeast Asia and Australia, and is constructing an ultra-deepwater semisubmersible, two ultra-deepwater drillships and three high-specification jackups for deliveries in 2012, 2013 and 2014.   The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.  Atwood Oceanics, Inc. ordinary shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ATW”.

Contact: Mark L. Mey

(281) 749-7902

Statements contained in this press release with respect to the future, including the expected delivery of the vessel, arrival of the vessel and the length of the firm contractual commitment, are forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's reasonable judgment with respect to future events. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated as a result of various factors including: uncertainties related to the level of activity in offshore oil and gas exploration and development; oil and gas prices; competition and market conditions in the contract drilling industry; the risks inherent in the construction of a rig; delays in the commencement of operations of a rig following delivery; our ability to enter into and the terms of future contracts; possible cancelation or suspension of drilling contracts; the availability of qualified personnel; labor relations; operating hazards and risks; terrorism and political and other uncertainties inherent in foreign operations (including risk of war, civil disturbances, seizure or damage to equipment and exchange and currency fluctuations); the impact of governmental and industry laws and regulations; and environmental matters. These factors and others are described and discussed in our most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K, in our Forms 10-Q for subsequent periods and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available on the SEC's website as www.sec.gov. Each forward looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement and we undertake no duty to update the content of this press release or any forward-looking statement contained herein to conform the statement to actual results or to reflect changes in our expectations.