Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
REVENUES:
Contract drilling	$ 294,615	$ 336,761
Revenues related to reimbursable expenses	13,204	14,965
Total revenues	307,819	351,726
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Contract drilling	130,652	136,465
Reimbursable expenses	8,286	11,907
Depreciation	42,827	44,575
General and administrative	15,177	17,409
Asset impairment	64,724	60,777
Loss on sale of assets	77	9,806
Total costs and expenses	261,743	280,939
OPERATING INCOME	46,076	70,787
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	(13,761)	(15,504)
Interest income	4	57
Other income	17,976	0
Other income (expense) total	4,219	(15,447)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	50,295	55,340
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	11,214	9,122
NET INCOME	$ 39,081	$ 46,218
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.60	$ 0.72
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.60	$ 0.71
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Basic (in shares)	64,765	64,405
Diluted (in shares)	64,921	65,015