CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
REVENUES:
Contract drilling	$ 111,803	$ 217,818	$ 423,906	$ 794,979
Revenues related to reimbursable expenses	5,431	9,979	18,590	36,988
Total revenues	117,234	227,797	442,496	831,967
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Contract drilling	48,182	80,524	178,129	301,094
Reimbursable expenses	3,245	5,489	14,521	22,898
Depreciation	38,500	41,084	121,751	124,964
General and administrative	15,557	12,028	43,193	38,693
Asset impairment	211	(659)	59,173	64,773
Loss on sale of assets	379	0	261	77
Other, net	0	16	0	(1,044)
Costs and Expenses	106,074	138,482	417,028	551,455
OPERATING INCOME	11,160	89,315	25,468	280,512
OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME:
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	(13,636)	(19,674)	(43,464)	(50,533)
Interest income	708	9	975	19
Gains on extinguishment of debt	0	50,466	0	58,863
Other income	0	0	0	17,976
Other income (expense) total	(12,928)	30,801	(42,489)	26,325
(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(1,768)	120,116	(17,021)	306,837
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	2,581	20,611	6,520	45,814
NET (LOSS) INCOME	$ (4,349)	$ 99,505	$ (23,541)	$ 261,023
(LOSS) EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (NOTE 3):
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ 1.54	$ (0.32)	$ 4.03
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ 1.53	$ (0.32)	$ 4.02
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (NOTE 3):
Basic (in shares)	80,542	64,795	74,515	64,750
Diluted (in shares)	80,542	64,847	74,515	64,852