CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
REVENUES:
Contract drilling	$ 162,240	$ 282,546	$ 312,103	$ 577,161
Revenues related to reimbursable expenses	5,466	13,805	13,159	27,009
Total revenues	167,706	296,351	325,262	604,170
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Contract drilling	64,277	89,918	129,947	220,570
Reimbursable expenses	4,674	9,123	11,276	17,409
Depreciation	41,443	41,053	83,251	83,880
General and administrative	12,445	11,488	27,636	26,665
Asset impairment	58,962	708	58,962	65,432
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	(51)	77	(118)	77
Other, net	0	(1,137)	0	(1,060)
Costs and Expenses	181,750	151,230	310,954	412,973
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME	(14,044)	145,121	14,308	191,197
OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME:
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	(13,537)	(17,098)	(29,828)	(30,859)
Interest income	265	6	269	10
Gains on extinguishment of debt	0	8,397	0	8,397
Other income	0	0	0	17,976
Other income (expense) total	(13,272)	(8,695)	(29,559)	(4,476)
(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(27,316)	136,426	(15,251)	186,721
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	1,546	13,989	3,940	25,203
NET (LOSS) INCOME	$ (28,862)	$ 122,437	$ (19,191)	$ 161,518
(LOSS) EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (NOTE 3):
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.37)	$ 1.89	$ (0.27)	$ 2.49
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.37)	$ 1.89	$ (0.27)	$ 2.49
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (NOTE 3):
Basic (in shares)	78,270	64,781	71,504	64,739
Diluted (in shares)	78,270	64,825	71,504	64,870
Dividend declared per share (in USD per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.075