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                       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: November 4, 2002


                              ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-13167

                   TEXAS                                 74-1611874
      (State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
      incorporation or organization)

        15835 Park Ten Place Drive                          77084
              Houston, Texas                             (Zip Code)
 (Address of principal executive offices)

               Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                  281-749-7800


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ITEM 7.  EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT 99.1      CONTRACT STATUS SUMMARY AT NOVEMBER 4, 2002


ITEM 9.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

     The ATWOOD HUNTER has been awarded two  additional  wells under its current
contract with Burullus Gas Company  ("Burullus") and has entered into a contract
with  German  Oil & Gas  Egypt  ("German  Oil")  to  drill  one  well  following
completion  of its  current  extended  contract.  The  Company  will  receive an
effective  dayrate of $50,000 for the two  additional  wells for  Burullus and a
dayrate of $55,000 for the one well for German  Oil.  This  additional  contract
work is expected to take around 100 days to complete.


     The ATWOOD SOUTHERN CROSS is currently in Italy completing certain upgrades
to meet Italian  requirements before it can commence its contract for Eni S.P.A.
- AGIP division  ("AGIP").  These upgrades are expected to cost approximately $1
million,  with AGIP  covering  $550,000 of these costs.  Except for the ten days
required to mobilize  the rig to Italy,  the rig has earned no dayrate  revenues
since it completed its prior  contract on September 6, 2002. The rig is expected
to commence the AGIP  contract  sometime  during  November  2002.  The operating
dayrate for the AGIP work is $60,000,  with the work estimate4d to take three to
five months to complete.

     The ATWOOD  FALCON has  completed  its work for Shell in  Malaysia  and has
commenced  its  mobilization  to  Australia  (expected  to take three  weeks) to
commence two wells plus three option wells contract for Woodside  Energy Ltd. In
early October 2002, the VICKSBURG  completed its  modifications and upgrades and
commenced its two year drilling project in Malaysia.

     Additional  information  with  respect  to the  Company's  contract  status
summary at November 4, 2002 is attached  hereto as EXHIBIT 99.1,  which is being
furnished in accordance with Rule 101 (e)(1) under  Regulation FD and should not
be deemed to be filed.

     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;  the  Company's  dependence  on the oil and gas
industry;  the risks  involved in upgrade to the  Company's  rigs;  competition;
operating  risks;  risks involved in foreign  operations;  risks associated with
possible   disruptions  in  operations  due  to  terrorism;   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, 2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.




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:      November 4, 2002



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO.             DESCRIPTION

99.1                    Contract Status Summary at November 4, 2002