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: February 9, 2006



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



                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-13167


        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))

                                      -1-



ITEM 3.03         MATERIAL MODIFICATION TO RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS

     On  February  9,  2006,  at  the  annual  meeting  of   shareholders,   the
shareholders of Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (the "Company") approved proposals for the
adoption of an Amended and Restated  Certificate of Formation and an increase in
the number of authorized  shares of common stock from  20,000,000 to 50,000,000.
The  definitive  proxy  statement  which included both proposals was sent to the
Company's  shareholders  in  advance of the  annual  meeting  and filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission on January 13, 2006. The primary purposes of
the  Amended  and  Restated  Certificate  of  Formation  are (1) to reflect  the
approved  increase in the  authorized  number of shares of common stock,  (2) to
reflect  the  effectiveness,  as of  January  1,  2006,  of the  Texas  Business
Organizations  Code  ("TBOC"),  and  (3) to  consolidate  prior  amendments  and
designations  relating to the Company's  Restated Articles of Incorporation into
one document.  (Under the TBOC,  "articles of incorporation"  have been replaced
with  a  "certificate  of  formation.")  TBOC-related  amendments  included  (1)
modernization  of  language,  (2)  deletion  of  provisions  that are no  longer
necessary, ineffective, or inappropriate, and (c) inclusion of language ensuring
that the Company's  shareholders  will maintain their right to cumulative voting
for the election of directors.

     The TBOC was  primarily  enacted to modernize and  consolidate  the laws of
Texas  governing  business  organizations.  For  corporations  existing prior to
January 1, 2006,  the TBOC applies  effective  January 1, 2010,  unless an early
election to be governed  by the TBOC is filed  before that date.  Except for the
increase  in the  authorized  number of shares of common  stock  approved by the
shareholders,  no  substantive  change to the rights of  shareholders  under the
previously in effect Restated  Articles of Incorporation (as amended or modified
by designation, the "Prior Articles") is intended by the adoption of the Amended
and Restated Certificate of Formation.

     The Board of Directors of the Company had  approved  early  election by the
Company to be governed by the TBOC,  subject to approval of the  shareholders of
the Amended and  Restated  Certificate  of  Formation.  The Amended and Restated
Certificate of Formation amends and restates in its entirety the Prior Articles.
On February 10,  2006,  the Company  filed with the Texas  Secretary of State an
early  election to be  governed by the TBOC as well as the Amended and  Restated
Certificate  of  Formation.  A copy of the Amended and Restated  Certificate  of
Formation as filed with the Texas  Secretary of State is attached as Exhibit 3.1
hereto.

ITEM 9.01         FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND EXHIBITS

(d) 3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Formation

                                      -2-



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: February 14, 2006





                                      -3-



                                                                   Exhibit 3.1

                  AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION

                                       OF

                              ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC.

                                   ARTICLE I.

      The name of the corporation is Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (the "Corporation").

                                  ARTICLE II.

      The Corporation is a for-profit corporation.

                                  ARTICLE III.

      The purpose or purposes for which the Corporation is organized are:

     The  transaction  of  any or  all  lawful  business  for  which  for-profit
corporations  may be incorporated  under the Texas Business  Organizations  Code
(the "TBOC").

     To do  everything  necessary,  proper,  advisable  or  convenient  for  the
accomplishment  or  furtherance  of such  purposes,  provided  the  same  not be
prohibited by the laws of the State of Texas.

                                  ARTICLE IV.

                     A. AUTHORIZED AMOUNT OF CAPITAL STOCK

     The aggregate  number of shares which the Corporation  shall have authority
to issue is fifty-one  million  (51,000,000)  shares of capital stock,  of which
fifty million  (50,000,000)  shares shall be common stock (the "Common  Shares")
each with a par value of $1.00 per share,  and of which one million  (1,000,000)
shares,  each  without  par value,  shall be  preferred  stock  (the  "Preferred
Shares").

                B. SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

Section 1.  Designation  and Amount.  The  Corporation  has designated five
hundred  thousand  (500,000)  shares of preferred  stock as the "Series A Junior
Participating  Preferred Stock" (the "Series A Preferred Stock").  The number of
shares  initially  constituting  the Series A Preferred  Stock shall be 500,000;
provided,  however,  that if more  than a total of  500,000  shares  of Series A
Preferred  Stock shall be  issuable  upon the  exercise of Rights (the  "Right")
issued  pursuant to the Rights  Agreement  dated  October  18, 2002  between the
Corporation and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the
"Rights  Agreement"),  the Board of  Directors of the  Corporation,  pursuant to
Sections  21.155  and  21.156  of  the  TBOC,  shall  direct  by  resolution  or
resolutions  that a statement  be  properly  executed,  acknowledged,  filed and
recorded,  in  accordance  with the  provisions  of Sections  21.155 and 21.156,
providing for the total number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock  authorized
to be issued to be  increased  (to the  extent  that the  Amended  and  Restated
Certificate  of Formation  then  permits) to the largest  number of whole shares
(rounded up to the nearest whole share) issuable upon exercise of such Rights.

                                      1


Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.

     (a)  Subject to the prior and  superior  rights of the holders of shares of
any other series of Preferred  Stock or other class of stock of the  Corporation
ranking  prior and  superior  to the Series A  Preferred  Stock with  respect to
dividends,  the holders of shares of Series A Preferred  Stock shall be entitled
to  receive,  when,  as and if declared  by the Board of  Directors,  out of the
assets of the Corporation legally available therefor,

     (i)  quarterly  dividends  payable  in cash on the last day of each  fiscal
quarter  in each  year,  or such other  dates as the Board of  Directors  of the
Corporation  shall  approve  (each  such  date  being  referred  to  herein as a
"Quarterly  Dividend Payment Date"),  commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment  Date after the first  issuance  of a share or a fraction  of a share of
Series A Preferred  Stock, in the amount of $.01 per whole share (rounded to the
nearest  cent) less the amount of all cash  dividends  declared  on the Series A
Preferred  Stock  pursuant to the  following  clause (ii) since the  immediately
preceding  Quarterly  Dividend  Payment  Date  or,  with  respect  to the  first
Quarterly  Dividend  Payment  Date,  since  the first  issuance  of any share or
fraction of a share of Series A  Preferred  Stock (the total of which shall not,
in any event, be less than zero) and

     (ii)  dividends  payable in cash on the payment date for each cash dividend
declared  on the  Common  Stock in an amount  per whole  share  (rounded  to the
nearest  cent)  equal to the Formula  Number (as  hereinafter  defined)  then in
effect  multiplied  times the cash  dividends  then to be paid on each  share of
Common Stock. In addition, if the Corporation shall pay any dividend or make any
distribution on the Common Stock payable in assets, securities or other forms of
noncash consideration (other than dividends or distributions solely in shares of
Common Stock), then, in each such case, the Corporation shall simultaneously pay
or make on each  outstanding  whole share of Series A Preferred Stock a dividend
or  distribution  in like  kind  equal  to the  Formula  Number  then in  effect
multiplied  times  such  dividend  or  distribution  on each share of the Common
Stock. As used herein,  the "Formula Number" shall be 1000;  provided,  however,
that, if at any time after November 5, 2002, the  Corporation  shall (x) declare
or pay any  dividend on the Common  Stock  payable in shares of Common  Stock or
make any  distribution  on the  Common  Stock in  shares of  Common  Stock,  (y)
subdivide (by a stock split or otherwise) the outstanding shares of Common Stock
into a larger  number of shares of  Common  Stock or (z)  combine  (by a reverse
stock split or otherwise) the outstanding  shares of Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares of Common  Stock,  then in each such event the  Formula  Number
shall be adjusted to a number  determined by  multiplying  the Formula Number in
effect immediately prior to such event by a fraction,  the numerator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that are outstanding immediately after such
event and the  denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that
are outstanding  immediately prior to such event (and rounding the result to the
nearest whole number); and provided further, that, if at any time after November
5,  2002,  the  Corporation  shall  issue  any  shares of its stock in a merger,

                                      2



reclassification,  or change of the outstanding  shares of Common Stock, then in
each such  event the  Board of  Directors  (or,  if the  Corporation  is not the
surviving  corporation  in any such  transaction,  the board of directors of the
surviving  corporation)  shall  make  adjustments,  determined  by the  Board of
Directors in its discretion to be appropriate,  to the Formula Number to reflect
such merger, reclassification or change.

     (b) The Corporation  shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series
A Preferred  Stock as provided in paragraph  (a) of this  Section 2  immediately
prior to or at the same time it  declares  a  dividend  or  distribution  on the
Common Stock (other than a dividend or  distribution  solely in shares of Common
Stock); provided, however, that, in the event no dividend or distribution (other
than a dividend or  distribution  solely in shares of Common  Stock)  shall have
been  declared  on the Common  Stock  during the period  between  any  Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a
dividend of $.01 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be
payable  on such  subsequent  Quarterly  Dividend  Payment  Date.  The  Board of
Directors  may fix a record date for the  determination  of holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a dividend or distribution declared
thereon,  which  record  date  shall be not more than 60 days  prior to the date
fixed for the payment thereof.

     (c) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares
of Series A Preferred Stock from and after the Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date
next  preceding the date of original  issue of such shares of Series A Preferred
Stock;  provided,  however,  that  dividends on such shares which are originally
issued  after the  record  date for the  determination  of  holders of shares of
Series A Preferred  Stock  entitled to receive a  quarterly  dividend  and on or
prior to the next  succeeding  Quarterly  Dividend  Payment  Date shall begin to
accrue and be cumulative  from and after such Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  dividends on shares of Series A Preferred Stock
which are originally  issued prior to the record date for the  determination  of
holders of shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock  entitled to receive a quarterly
dividend on the first Quarterly  Dividend Payment Date shall be calculated as if
cumulative  from and after the last day of the fiscal quarter next preceding the
date of original issuance of such shares. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not
bear interest.  Dividends  paid on the shares of Series A Preferred  Stock in an
amount  less than the total  amount of such  dividends  at the time  accrued and
payable on such shares shall be  allocated  pro rata on a  share-by-share  basis
among all such shares at the time outstanding.

     (d) So long as any shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are  outstanding,
no dividends or other distributions shall be declared,  paid or distributed,  or
set aside for payment or distribution, on the Common Stock unless, in each case,
the dividend required by this Section 2 to be declared on the Series A Preferred
Stock shall have been declared and the Corporation shall have paid such dividend
or shall have set apart a sum sufficient for the payment thereof.

     (e) The  holders of the  shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall not be
entitled  to receive any  dividends  or other  distributions  except as provided
herein.


                                       3


Section 3. Voting Rights.  The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall have the following voting rights:

     (a) Each holder of Series A  Preferred  Stock shall be entitled to a number
of votes equal to the Formula Number then in effect,  for each share of Series A
Preferred  Stock  held of record on each  matter on which  holders of the Common
Stock or  shareholders  generally  are  entitled to vote,  multiplied  times the
maximum  number of votes  per share  which  any  holder of the  Common  Stock or
shareholders  generally  then have with  respect to such  matter  (assuming  any
holding  period  or other  requirement  to vote a  greater  number  of shares is
satisfied).

     (b) Except as otherwise  provided  herein or by applicable law, the holders
of shares of Series A Preferred  Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock
shall  vote  together  as  one  class  for  the  election  of  directors  of the
Corporation and on all other matters  submitted to a vote of shareholders of the
Corporation.

     (c) If, at the time of any annual meeting of shareholders  for the election
of  directors,  the  equivalent  of  six  quarterly  dividends  (whether  or not
consecutive)  payable on any share or shares of Series A Preferred  Stock are in
default,  the number of  directors  constituting  the Board of  Directors of the
Corporation  shall be increased by two. In addition to voting  together with the
holders of Common Stock for the election of other directors of the  Corporation,
the holders of record of the Series A Preferred  Stock,  voting  separately as a
class to the exclusion of the holders of Common Stock, shall be entitled at said
meeting of shareholders  (and at any subsequent annual meeting of shareholders),
unless all  dividends  in arrears  have been paid or declared  and set apart for
payment  prior  thereto,  to  vote  for the  election  of two  directors  of the
Corporation,  the holders of any Series A Preferred Stock being entitled to cast
a number of votes per share of Series A  Preferred  Stock  equal to the  Formula
Number.  Until the default in  payments of all  dividends  which  permitted  the
election of said  directors  shall cease to exist,  any  director who shall have
been so elected  pursuant to the next  preceding  sentence may be removed at any
time,  either with or without cause, only by the affirmative vote of the holders
of the  shares  of  Series A  Preferred  Stock at the  time  entitled  to cast a
majority of the votes  entitled to be cast for the election of any such director
at a special  meeting of such holders  called for that purpose,  and any vacancy
thereby  created  may be  filled by the vote of such  holders.  If and when such
default shall cease to exist,  the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall
be divested of the foregoing special voting rights,  subject to revesting in the
event of each and every  subsequent like default in payments of dividends.  Upon
the termination of the foregoing  special voting rights,  the terms of office of
all persons who have been  elected  directors  pursuant to said  special  voting
rights shall forthwith terminate,  and the number of directors  constituting the
Board of Directors  shall be reduced by two. The voting  rights  granted by this
Section  3(c) shall be in addition  to any other  voting  rights  granted to the
holders of the Series A Preferred Stock in this Section 3.

     (d) Except as  provided  herein,  in Section 11 of Article IV, Part B or by
applicable law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting
rights and their  consent  shall not be required  (except to the extent they are
entitled  to vote  with  holders  of  Common  Stock  as set  forth  herein)  for
authorizing or taking any corporate action.

                                      4



Section 4.        Certain Restrictions.

     (a)  Whenever  quarterly  dividends  or other  dividends  or  distributions
payable on the Series A Preferred  Stock as provided in Section 2 of Article IV,
Part B are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions,  whether or not declared,  on shares of Series A Preferred  Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

     (i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem
or purchase or otherwise  acquire for  consideration any shares of stock ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon  liquidation,  dissolution or winding up)
to the Series A Preferred Stock;

     (ii)  declare or pay  dividends,  or make any other  distributions,  on any
shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred  Stock,  except dividends
paid ratably on the Series A Preferred  Stock and all such parity stock on which
dividends  are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which
the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

     (iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for  consideration  shares of
any stock  ranking on a parity  (either  as to  dividends  or upon  liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock;  provided that the
Corporation may at any time redeem,  purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any
such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon  dissolution,  liquidation or winding up)
to the Series A Preferred Stock; or

     (iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A
Preferred  Stock,  or any shares of stock  ranking on a parity with the Series A
Preferred  Stock,  except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or
by publication  (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such
shares upon such terms as the Board of  Directors,  after  consideration  of the
respective  annual  dividend rates and other relative  rights and preferences of
the respective series and classes,  shall determine in good faith will result in
fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.

     (b) The  Corporation  shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to
purchase  or  otherwise  acquire  for  consideration  any shares of stock of the
Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of this Section 4,
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

     Section  5.  Reacquired  Shares.  Any  shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock
purchased  or otherwise  acquired by the  Corporation  in any manner  whatsoever
shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition  thereof.  All such
shares shall upon their  cancellation  become  authorized but unissued shares of

                                      5



Preferred Stock,  without designation as to series, and may thereafter be issued
as part of a new  series  of  Preferred  Stock  subject  to the  conditions  and
restrictions  on  issuance  set forth  herein,  or in any other  Certificate  of
Designations  creating a series of Preferred  Stock or any similar  stock of the
Corporation or as otherwise required by law.

     Section 6.  Liquidation,  Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon the  liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,  whether voluntary or involuntary,
no  distribution  shall be made (i) to the  holders  of shares of stock  ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon  liquidation,  dissolution or winding up)
to the Series A Preferred Stock unless,  prior thereto, the holders of shares of
Series A  Preferred  Stock shall have  received  an amount  equal to accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date
of such  payment,  plus an amount  equal to the  greater  of (x) $1.00 per whole
share and (y) an aggregate  amount per share equal to the Formula Number then in
effect  multiplied  times the aggregate  amount to be  distributed  per share to
holders of Common  Stock,  or (ii) to the  holders of stock  ranking on a parity
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Preferred  Stock,  except  distributions  made  ratably on the Series A
Preferred  Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to
which the  holders  of all such  shares  are  entitled  upon  such  liquidation,
dissolution or winding up.

     Section 7. Consolidation,  Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter
into any  consolidation,  merger,  combination or other transaction in which the
shares  of  Common  Stock are  exchanged  for or  changed  into  other  stock or
securities,  cash or any other property, or any combination thereof, then in any
such case the then  outstanding  shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the
same time be similarly  exchanged  for or changed into an amount per share equal
to the Formula Number then in effect  multiplied  times the aggregate  amount of
stock, securities, cash or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may
be, into which or for which each share of Common  Stock is exchanged or changed.
In the event both this  Section 7 and  Section 2 of Article IV, Part B appear to
apply to a transaction, this Section 7 shall control.

Section 8.        No Redemption; No Sinking Fund.

     (a) The  shares  of  Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall  not be  subject  to
redemption by the  Corporation;  provided,  however,  that the  Corporation  may
purchase or otherwise acquire  outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock in
the open  market  or by offer to any  holder  or  holders  of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock.

     (b) The  shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall not be  subject  to or
entitled to the operation of a retirement or sinking fund.


     Section 9. Ranking.  The Series A Preferred  Stock shall rank, with respect
to the payment of dividends and as to distributions of assets upon  liquidation,
dissolution  or winding  up of the  Corporation,  junior to all other  series of
Preferred Stock of the Corporation,  if any, unless the Board of Directors shall
specifically determine otherwise in fixing the powers, preferences and relative,
participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of any such other
series and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof.

                                      6


     Section  10.  Fractional  Shares.  The Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall be
issuable upon exercise of the Rights issued pursuant to the Rights  Agreement in
whole shares or in any fraction of a share that is one one-thousandth of a share
or any integral  multiple of such fraction  which shall  entitle the holder,  in
proportion to such holder's  fractional shares, to receive  dividends,  exercise
voting rights, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other
rights of holders of Series A Preferred Stock. In lieu of fractional shares, the
Corporation,  prior to the first issuance of a share or a fraction of a share of
Series A Preferred  Stock,  may elect (i) to make a cash  payment as provided in
the Rights Agreement for fractions of a share other than one one-thousandth of a
share or any  integral  multiple  thereof or (ii) to issue  depository  receipts
evidencing  such  authorized  fraction  of a share of Series A  Preferred  Stock
pursuant to an appropriate  agreement  between the  Corporation and a depository
selected by the Corporation; provided that such agreement shall provide that the
holders of such  depository  receipts shall have all the rights,  privileges and
preferences  to which they are  entitled  as  holders of the Series A  Preferred
Stock.

     Section  11.  Amendment.  None  of the  powers,  preferences  or  relative,
participating,  optional or other special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock
as provided  in this  Amended  and  Restated  Certificate  of  Formation  of the
Corporation  shall be  amended  in any  manner  that  would  alter or change the
powers,  preferences,  rights or privileges of the holders of Series A Preferred
Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders
of at least  66-2/3  percent  of the  outstanding  shares of Series A  Preferred
Stock, voting as a separate class.

                           C. OTHER PREFERRED SHARES

     Section 1. General.  Other Preferred Shares  authorized by this Amended and
Restated Certificate of Formation may be issued from time to time in one or more
series. The Board of Directors is hereby expressly  authorized from time to time
to  divide  all or any part of the  Preferred  Shares,  other  than any  already
designated  series  of  Preferred  Shares,  in  series  thereof  and to fix  and
determine  variations,  if any, between any series so established as to dividend
rates,  conversion rights, rights and terms of redemption including sinking fund
provisions,  the redemption price or prices,  the liquidation  preferences,  the
conversion  privileges,  and the voting rights of any wholly  unissued series of
preferred shares, and the number of shares  constituting any such series and the
designation  thereof,  or any of them. The provisions of Sections 2 to 6 of this
Article IV, Part C shall apply to all Preferred  Shares except to the extent any
designation  shall otherwise  provide,  and in such event, the designation shall
govern to the extent of any inconsistency.

     Section  2.  Preferred  Dividends.  The  holders of all  Preferred  Shares,
regardless of series, at the time outstanding shall be entitled to receive, when
and as  declared  to be  payable  by the  Board of  Directors,  out of any funds
legally  available for the payment  thereof,  dividends at the rate  theretofore
fixed by the Board of Directors  for each series of such  Preferred  Shares that
have theretofore been  established,  and no more,  payable on dates  theretofore
fixed by the Board of Directors for each series of such Preferred Shares.


                                      7


     Section  3.  Dividends  Other  Than  Preferred  Dividends.  After  adequate
provision has been made for payment of full  dividends on all  Preferred  Shares
then  outstanding  for all past  dividend  periods and for the current  dividend
period,  the Board of  Directors  may  declare  such  further  dividends  as are
permitted by law, and the Board of Directors shall have the absolute  discretion
in fixing the fashion in which holders of Preferred Shares and holders of Common
Shares shall  participate in such further  dividends,  with provision being made
for one class  participating more fully than the other or to the total exclusion
of the other.

     Section  4.  Cumulativeness  of  Preferred  Dividends.   Dividends  on  all
Preferred Shares,  regardless of series, shall be cumulative. No dividends shall
be declared  on any shares of any series of  Preferred  Shares for any  dividend
period unless all dividends  accumulated  for all prior  dividend  periods shall
have been declared or shall then be declared at the same time upon all Preferred
Shares then  outstanding.  No  dividends  shall be declared on any shares of any
series of  Preferred  Shares  unless a  dividend  for the same  period  shall be
declared at the same time upon all Preferred  Shares  outstanding at the time of
such  declaration  in like  proportion  to the dividend rate then  declared.  No
dividends  shall be declared or paid on the Common Shares unless full  dividends
on all the Preferred  Shares then  outstanding for all past dividend periods and
for the current  dividend  period shall have been  declared and the  Corporation
shall have paid such  dividends or shall have set apart a sum sufficient for the
payment thereof.

     Section 5.  Preference  on  Liquidation.  In the event of any  dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of the Corporation,  whether voluntary or involuntary,
the holders of each series of the then  outstanding  Preferred  Shares  shall be
entitled  to receive  the amount  fixed for such  purpose in the  resolution  or
resolutions  of the Board of Directors  establishing  the  respective  series of
Preferred  Shares that might then be  outstanding,  together with a sum equal to
the amount of all accumulated and unpaid dividends  thereon at the dividend rate
fixed therefore in the aforesaid  resolution or resolutions.  After such payment
to such  holders of  Preferred  Shares,  the  remaining  assets and funds of the
Corporation  shall be  distributed  pro rata  among the  holders  of the  Common
Shares. A consolidation,  merger or other reorganization of the Corporation with
any other  corporation or corporations or a sale of all or substantially  all of
the  assets  of  the   Corporation   shall  not  be  considered  a  dissolution,
liquidation,  or  winding  up of the  Corporation  within  the  meaning of these
provisions.

     Section 6. Redemption Privileges of the Corporation.  The whole or any part
of the  outstanding  Preferred  shares  or the  whole or any part of any  series
thereof may be called for  redemption  and redeemed at any time at the option of
the  Corporation,  exercisable  by the Board of Directors upon thirty (30) days'
notice by mail to the  holders of such shares as are to be  redeemed,  by paying
therefore in cash the  redemption  price fixed for such shares in the resolution
or resolutions of the Board of Directors  establishing the respective  series of
which the shares to be  redeemed  are a part,  together  with a sum equal to the


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amount of all  accumulated  and unpaid  dividends  thereon at the dividend  rate
fixed therefore in the aforesaid resolution or resolutions to the date fixed for
such redemption.  The Corporation may redeem the whole or any part of the shares
of any series, or of several series,  without redeeming the whole or any part of
the shares of any other series; provided, however, that if at any time less than
the whole of the  Preferred  Shares of any  particular  series then  outstanding
shall be called for  redemption,  the Preferred  Shares to be redeemed  shall be
determined by lot or by such other equitable  method as may be determined by the
Board of Directors. If on the redemption date specified in any such notice funds
necessary  for such  redemption  shall  have been set aside by the  Corporation,
separate and apart of its other funds,  in trust for the pro rata benefit of the
holders of the Preferred Shares so called for redemption,  then, notwithstanding
that any  certificate  for shares so called for  redemption  shall not have been
surrendered  for  cancellation,  the  shares so called for  redemption  shall no
longer be deemed to be outstanding, the right to receive dividends thereon shall
cease to accrue from and after the date so fixed, and all rights of shareholders
of Preferred Shares so called for redemption shall,  after such redemption date,
cease and terminate,  excepting only the right of the holders thereof to receive
the  redemption  price  thereof,  but  without  interest;  and  if,  before  the
redemption  date  specified  in any notice of the  redemption  of any  Preferred
Shares the Corporation shall deposit with a bank or trust company in the City of
Houston,  Texas, having a capital and surplus of at least $10,000,000  according
to its last  published  statement  of  condition,  in trust to be applied to the
redemption of the Preferred Shares so called for redemption, the funds necessary
for such redemption,  then, from and after the date of such deposit,  the shares
so called for  redemption  shall no longer be deemed to be  outstanding  and all
rights of the  holders of the shares so called for  redemption  shall  cease and
terminate, excepting only the right of holders thereof to receive the redemption
price  thereof,  without  interest.  Any interest  accrued on funds so deposited
shall be paid to the Corporation from time to time. In case the holder of shares
which shall have been called for redemption  shall not,  within five years after
the making of such  deposit,  claim the  amount  deposited  with  respect to the
redemption  of such shares,  the bank or trust company in which such deposit was
made shall be relieved of all  responsibility in respect thereof to such holder.
Preferred  Shares  which  are  redeemed  shall be  cancelled  and  shall  not be
reissued.

                                   ARTICLE V.

     The street  address of the  registered  office of the  Corporation is 15835
Park Ten Place,  Houston,  Texas 77084,  and the name of its registered agent at
such address is James M. Holland.

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                                  ARTICLE VI.

     The number of directors  constituting  the board of directors is seven (7),
but there is currently a vacancy. The names and addresses of the persons who are
to serve as  directors  until the next annual  meeting of the  shareholders,  or
until their successors are duly elected and qualified are:


        NAME                                      ADDRESS

        Deborah A. Beck                     15835 Park Ten Place Drive
                                            Houston, Texas  77084

        Robert W. Burgess                   15835 Park Ten Place Drive
                                            Houston, Texas  77084

        George S. Dotson                    15835 Park Ten Place Drive
                                            Houston, Texas  77084

        Hans Helmerich                      15835 Park Ten Place Drive
                                            Houston, Texas  77084

        John R. Irwin                       15835 Park Ten Place Drive
                                            Houston, Texas  77084

        William J. Morrissey                15835 Park Ten Place Drive
                                            Houston, Texas  77084

                                  ARTICLE VII.

     A director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its
shareholders  for  monetary  damages for an act or  omission  in the  director's
capacity as a director,  except for liability for (i) a breach of the director's
duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its shareholders,  (ii) an act or omission
not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation
of the law,  (iii) a  transaction  from which the director  received an improper
benefit,  whether or not the benefit  resulted  from an action  taken within the
scope  of the  director's  office,  or (iv) an act or  omission  for  which  the
liability of a director is expressly provided for by statute.

     If the TBOC is amended after approval by the  shareholders  of this Article
VII to authorize  corporate action further  eliminating or limiting the personal
liability of  directors,  then the  liability  of a director of the  Corporation
shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest  extent  permitted by the TBOC, as
so amended.


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     Any repeal or modification of the foregoing  paragraph by the  shareholders
of the  Corporation  shall not  adversely  affect any right or  protection  of a
director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

                                 ARTICLE VIII.

     The right to cumulate votes in the election of directors by any shareholder
of the Corporation is hereby expressly authorized.

                            [Signature page follows]





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    DATED:  February 9, 2006

                                             ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC.


                                             By: /s/ James M. Holland
                                             James M. Holland
                                             Secretary



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