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                                  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: SEPTEMBER 11, 2007


                              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))

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ITEM 7.01 REGULATION TO DISCLOSURE

     Thus far, during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007, the following zero
rate days have been incurred:

                  VICKSBURG                 Two (2) zero rate days for
                                            regulatory inspections - One(1)
                                            zero rate day due to equipment
                                            related issues

                  ATWOOD SOUTHERN CROSS     Eight (8) zero rate days for
                                            regulatory inspections

                  ATWOOD HUNTER             One (1) zero rate day due to
                                            equipment related issues

                  SEAHAWK                   Six (6) zero rate days due to
                                            equipment related issues

     All of the above zero rate days have reduced revenue for the fourth quarter
by approximately $3.4 million or $0.10 per diluted share.

     Additional information with respect to the Company's Fleet Status Report at
September 11, 2007 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2. Such information is being
furnished under Regulation FD and should not be deemed to be filed under Section
19 of the Exchange Act.


ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS

     The RICHMOND continues to work for Helis Oil & Gas ("Helis") in the Gulf of
Mexico at a dayrate of $80,000.  Upon  completion of the drilling of the current
well (estimated late September  2007),  Helis has a commitment to drill one more
well  (estimated  to take 25 days to  complete).  The drilling of this last well
will be  deferred  until  sometime  during the first  half of fiscal  year 2008.
Immediately upon completion of the drilling of its current well, the rig will be
moved to a shipyard  to undergo a $14 million to $15  million  life  enhancement
upgrade  estimated  to take  around 60 days to  complete,  which will extend the
depreciable  life of the rig seven years from January 2008.  Additional work for
the rig immediately following the upgrade period is currently being pursued.

     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 the  construction  of a rig;  competition;
operating  risks;  risks involved in foreign  operations;  risks associated with
possible  disruption in operations  due to terrorism;  risks  associated  with a
possible  disruption  in  operations  due to a war with Iraq;  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, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


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ITEM 9.01         EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT 99.1    Press Release dated September 11, 2007

EXHIBIT 99.2    Fleet Status Report at September 11, 2007



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO.               DESCRIPTION

99.1          Press Release dated September 11, 2007

99.2          Fleet Status Report at September 11, 2007





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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:    September 11, 2007


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