================================================================================
                                  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: December 12, 2003


                              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
                                       N/A
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
================================================================================








ITEM 7. EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT 99.1     PRESS RELEASE DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003

EXHIBIT 99.2     CONTRACT STATUS SUMMARY AT DECEMBER 12, 2003


ITEM 5.

     On December 11, 2003, the Company announced that the ATWOOD HUNTER had been
awarded a contract by Burullus Gas Company to drill ten firm wells, plus options
to drill  six  additional  wells,  off the  coast of  Egypt.  The  Company  also
announced  that it has  commitments  from BHP Billiton  Petroleum  Pty. Ltd. And
Apache  Company  Limited to enter into contracts for the use of the ATWOOD EAGLE
to drill three firm wells, plus options for four additional wells, off the coast
of Australia.  A copy of the press release  announcing  these contracts is filed
with the Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 9.    REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

     The ATWOOD SOUTHERN CROSS completed its mobilization from Egypt to India on
December 2, 2003 and has  commenced a drilling  program for Cairn  Energy  India
Pty.  Limited,  which  includes  one firm well plus  options to drill one or two
additional  wells. The one firm well is expected to take 60 days to complete and
if the two option wells are drilled, an additional 70 days could be added to the
drilling program.  Contract  opportunities for additional work in Southeast Asia
are being pursued.

     The ATWOOD  FALCON has  completed  its drilling  program for Sarawak  Shell
("Shell")  and is  preparing  to  mobilize to Japan to drill two wells for Japan
Energy Development Co., LTD. ("JED"). The JED contract provides for a dayrate of
$83,300,  with  mobilization  and  demobilization  payments  of  $1.35  million,
respectively. The time to move the rig plus perform certain required inspections
is expected to take approximately four weeks thus,  anticipated  commencement of
drilling  operations in Japan is mid-January 2004. The drilling of the two wells
in Japan is estimated to take around 100 to 120 days to complete.

     The  ATWOOD  FALCON  has been  awarded a  contract  by Husky Oil China Ltd.
("Husky") to drill one well offshore China. The rig will immediately move to the
Husky drilling location  following  completion of its drilling program in Japan.
The  contract  provides  for a dayrate of $83,300,  with a  mobilization  fee of
$400,000. The one well is expected to take 20 to 25 days to complete.

     The ATWOOD  BEACON is currently  drilling for Petronas  Carigali  SDN. BHD.
"Petronas"  under a contract  assignment  from Murphy Sarawak Oil Company,  Ltd.
("Murphy").  In early August 2003,  the rig  commenced  working under a contract
with Murphy which  provided for the drilling of three firm wells plus options to
drill five  additional  wells off the coast of Malaysia.  Murphy  exercised  its
options to extend the contract for the additional five wells. Murphy used one of
the options and then  assigned the  remaining  four to Petronas.  Petronas  then
awarded  the rig four more firm wells for a current  total of eight  wells to be
drilled. The dayrate for the Murphy assigned wells is $52,250, with a dayrate of
$56,000 for the four additional wells awarded by Petronas. Petronas is presently
drilling  its first well.  It should take until  April/May  2004 to complete the
drilling of eight wells for Petronas.


     Additional  information  with  respect  to the  Company's  Contract  Status
Summary at December  12, 2003 is attached  hereto as Exhibit 99.2 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  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 war; 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,  2002,
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: December 12, 2003








                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO.                          DESCRIPTION
-----------                          -----------

99.1               Press Release dated December 11, 2003

99.2               Contract Status Summary at December 12, 2003








                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1

                       ATWOOD OCEANICS ANNOUNCES CONTRACTS


Houston, Texas
11 December 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     Atwood  Oceanics,  Inc. (a Houston based  International  offshore  Drilling
Contractor - NYSE:  ATW) announced today that the ATWOOD HUNTER has been awarded
a contract by Burullus  Gas  Company  ("Burullus")  to drill ten firm wells plus
options to drill six additional  wells offshore Egypt.  Drilling of the ten firm
wells is  expected  to take  around 400 days to  complete  and if all six option
wells are drilled,  the contract  could extend to around 550 days.  The contract
provides  for a  dayrate  of  $62,400  for all firm  and  option  wells,  with a
mobilization  fee of $100,000  plus towing  vessels to tow the rig to Egypt from
its present location in Tunisia  provided by Burullus.  The rig will move to the
first  Burullus  drilling  location  immediately  upon  completing  its  current
contract in Tunisia,  which should be completed in late  December  2003 or early
January 2004.

     The  ATWOOD  EAGLE  is  currently  idle  offshore  Angola  preparing  to be
mobilized  in  January  2004 to its next  contract  location.  The  Company  has
commitments  from BHP Billiton  Petroleum  Pty.  Ltd.  ("BHP") and Apache Energy
Limited  ("Apache")  to equally  share  $5.5  million  of  mobilization  fees to
relocate the ATWOOD EAGLE from Angola to Australia for drilling  programs  which
include  three firm wells plus four  option  wells.  Drilling  of the three firm
wells is expected to take three to four months to  complete.  These  commitments
provide for a dayrate of $109,000  for all wells  drilled in water depths of 600
meters or more and a dayrate of $89,000  for all wells  drilled in water  depths
below 600  meters.  The first  three  wells are planned to be in over 600 meters
water depth. A  demobilization  fee ranging from $4 million if no more than four
wells are drilled to zero if twelve or more wells are drilled is also  provided.
In accordance  with these  commitments,  the Company has entered into a contract
with a towing  company to transport the rig from Angola to  Australia,  which is
estimated  to take  approximately  30 days,  with the tow  scheduled to commence
around  mid-January  2004.  Drilling  contracts  with BHP and  Apache  should be
formalized by late December 2003 or early January 2004.

     Statements  contained  in this  release  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, 2002, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                                     Contact:  Jim Holland
                                                            (281) 749-7804






EXHIBIT 99.2

                                               ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                      CONTRACT STATUS SUMMARY
                                                        AT DECEMBER 12, 2003





NAME OF RIG               LOCATION           CUSTOMER                   CONTRACT STATUS
-----------               --------           --------                   ----------------
SEMISUBMERSIBLES -
------------------
                                                               
ATWOOD FALCON             MALAYSIA           JAPAN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT   The rig is preparing to be mobilized to Japan to
                          PREPARING TO BE    CO. LTD. ("JED")           commence its two-well drilling program for JED.  The
                          MOBILIZED TO                                  rig should arrive in Japan around mid-January 2004,
                          JAPAN                                         with the drilling program estimated to take around 100
                                                                        to 120 days to complete.  Immediately upon completing
                                                                        the JED contract, the rig will be moved to China to
                                                                        drill one well for Husky Oil China Ltd.


ATWOOD HUNTER             TUNISIA            MP ZARAT                   The rig is drilling a one-well program for MP Zarat
                                                                        which should be completed by late December 2003 or
                                                                        early January 2004.  Immediately upon completing the
                                                                        MP Zarat contract, the rig will be moved to Egypt to
                                                                        commence a drilling program for Burullus Gas Co.,
                                                                        which includes ten firm wells, plus options to drill
                                                                        six additional wells. The drilling of the ten firm
                                                                        wells are expected to take around 400 days to complete
                                                                        and if all the option wells are drilled, the contract
                                                                        could extend for around 550 days.


ATWOOD EAGLE              ANGOLA PREPARING   BHP BILLITON PETROLEUM     The rig is currently idle offshore Angola preparing to
                          TO MOBILIZE IN     PTY. LTD. ("BHP") AND      be mobilized in January 2004 to Australia.  The
                          JANUARY 2004 TO    APACHE ENERGY  LIMITED     Company has commitments from BHP and Apache to drill
                          AUSTRALIA          ("APACHE")                 three firm wells plus options to drill an additional
                                                                        four wells.  Drilling of the three firm wells is
                                                                        expected to take three to four months to complete.  In
                                                                        accordance with these commitments, the Company has
                                                                        entered into a contract with a towing company to
                                                                        transport the rig from Angola to Australia which is
                                                                        estimated to take approximately 30 days, with the tow
                                                                        scheduled to commence around mid-January 2004.
                                                                        Drilling contracts with BHP and Apache should be
                                                                        formalized by late December 2003 or early January 2004.


SEAHAWK                   MALAYSIA           EXXONMOBIL EXPLORATION &   The rig's current contract terminates in December
                                             PRODUCTION MALAYSIA        2004, with an option for the Operator to extend.
                                             INC.  ("EMEPMI")           EMEPMI has the right to terminate the contract after
                                                                        the completion of the first six months of the
                                                                        extension period (which commences in December 2003)
                                                                        with 120 days written notice.


ATWOOD SOUTHERN CROSS     INDIA              CAIRN ENERGY INDIA PTY.    The rig is currently drilling a firm one-well plus an
                                             LIMITED  ("CAIRN")         option of one or two wells program for Cairn.  The one
                                                                        firm well is expected to take 60 days to complete and,
                                                                        if the two options are exercised, an additional 70
                                                                        days could be added to the drilling program.  Contract
                                                                        opportunities for additional work in  Southeast Asia
                                                                        are being pursued.

SEASCOUT                  UNITED STATES                                 The SEASCOUT was purchased in December 2000 for future
                          GULF OF MEXICO                                conversion to a tender-assist unit, similar to the
                                                                        SEAHAWK, once an acceptable contract opportunity is
                                                                        secured.  The rig is currently coldstacked.
CANTILEVER JACK-UPS -
----------------------
VICKSBURG                 MALAYSIA          EXXONMOBIL EXPLORATION &    In October 2002, the rig commenced a two-year drilling
                                            PRODUCTION MALAYSIA INC.    program (with an option by EMEPMI for one additional
                                            ("EMEPMI")                  year), with EMEPMI having the right to terminate the
                                                                        drilling program after one year with at least 120 days
                                                                        notice period.



ATWOOD BEACON             MALAYSIA          PETRONAS CARIGALI SDN.      In early August 2003, the rig commenced working under
                                            BHD. ("PETRONAS")           a contract with Murphy Sarawak Oil Company, Ltd.
                                                                        ("Murphy")  which provided for the drilling of three
                                                                        firm wells plus options to drill five additional wells
                                                                        off the coast of Malaysia.  Murphy exercised its
                                                                        option to extend the contract for the additional five
                                                                        wells and then assigned four of the option wells to
                                                                        Petronas.  Petronas has awarded the rig four more firm
                                                                        wells for a current total of eight wells to be
                                                                        drilled. Petronas is presently drilling its first
                                                                        well.  It should take until April/May 2004 to complete
                                                                        the drilling of the eight wells.  Contract
                                                                        opportunities for additional work following completion
                                                                        of the Petronas contract are being pursued in Malaysia
                                                                        as well as other areas outside of Malaysia.

SUBMERSIBLE -
--------------
RICHMOND                  UNITED STATES      UNION OIL COMPANY OF       In September 2003, the rig commenced a two-well plus
                          GULF OF MEXICO     CALIFORNIA ("UNOCAL")      one option well contract for UNOCAL.  UNOCAL has
                                                                        exercised the option well and in addition, has awarded
                                                                        the rig two more firm wells; thus, providing for a
                                                                        total of five wells to be drilled under the contract.
                                                                        It should take until around February 2004 to complete
                                                                        the drilling of the five wells.

MODULAR PLATFORMS -
--------------------
GOODWYN 'A' /NORTH        AUSTRALIA          WOODSIDE ENERGY LTD.       There is currently an indefinite planned break in
RANKIN 'A'                                                              drilling activity for the two client-owned rigs
                                                                        managed by the Company.  The Company is involved in
                                                                        maintenance of the two rigs for future drilling
                                                                        programs.