f8kaug72009.htm
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: AUGUST 7, 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
____________
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
8.01 OTHER EVENTS
The VICKSBURG (owned and operated by
our wholly-owned subsidiary, Atwood Oceanics Pacific Limited) has amended its
contract with NuCoastal (Thailand) Limited (“NuCoastal”) to extend the firm
period of the contract from ninety (90) days to one hundred twenty (120)
days. This contract provides NuCoastal with an option to extend the
program another ninety (90) days, which must be exercised no later than thirty
(30) days after commencement of the contract.
If the duration of the drilling program
is for the one hundred twenty (120) days firm period only, the operating dayrate
will be $95,000; however, if NuCoastal exercises the option to extend the
drilling program to two hundred ten (210) days, the operating dayrate will be
adjusted to $90,000 for the entire period. The VICKSBURG is currently
undergoing a life enhancing upgrade at a shipyard in Thailand which is expected
to be completed by the end of August 2009. Immediately upon the rig
completing this upgrade, it will commence working under the contract with
NuCoastal.
ITEM
9.01 EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
99.1 Press Release dated August 7, 2009
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 in the construction of a rig and
commencement of operations of the rig following delivery; competition; operating
risks; risks involved in foreign operations; risks associated with possible
disruption in operations due to terrorism, acts of piracy, embargoes, war or
other military operations; 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.
EXHIBIT
INDEX
EXHIBIT
NO. DESCRIPTION
|
99.1
|
Press
Release dated August 7, 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: August 7,
2009