SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of report:                             OCTOBER 4, 2002
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Date of earliest event reported:            OCTOBER 4, 2002
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                         DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC.
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


          DELAWARE                  1-13926                     76-0321760
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(State or Other Jurisdiction      (Commission                 (IRS Employer
    of Incorporation)             File Number)             Identification No.)


15415 KATY FREEWAY, HOUSTON, TEXAS                              77094
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                      (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code         (281) 492-5300
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                                 NOT APPLICABLE
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          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



                    INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT


ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

         On October 4, 2002, Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), issued a press release announcing that the
Company's semisubmersible drilling unit, Ocean Lexington, as a result of
Hurricane Lili, parted its moorings and drifted approximately 45 miles before
apparently grounding in an estimated water depth of 35 feet offshore Louisiana.
The press release reported that as a part of normal hurricane procedures, the
rig and well were secured in anticipation of storm conditions and that all
personnel had been evacuated. The press release also stated that the Company was
in the process of conducting a detailed assessment of the Ocean Lexington and
that any estimate of damages or related repairs was expected to take several
days to complete. Filed herewith is such press release.

         Statements in this report that contain "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, may include, but
are not limited to, statements concerning damage assessment of the drilling unit
and estimates of damages or repairs. Such statements are inherently subject to a
variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated or projected. A discussion of the risk factors
that could impact these areas and the Company's overall business and financial
performance can be found in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. These factors include, among others, general economic and
business conditions, casualty losses, industry fleet capacity, changes in
foreign and domestic oil and gas exploration and production activity,
competition, changes in foreign, political, social and economic conditions,
regulatory initiatives and compliance with governmental regulations, customer
preferences and various other matters, many of which are beyond the Company's
control. Given these concerns, investors and analysts should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks
only as of the date of this report, and the Company undertakes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

         (c)       Exhibits.

       Exhibit number          Description
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           99.1                Press release of October 4, 2002


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                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                         DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC.

                                         By: /s/ William C. Long
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                                             William C. Long
                                             Vice President, General Counsel &
                                             Secretary
Dated: October 4, 2002















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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


       Exhibit number          Description
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           99.1                Press release of October 4, 2002





















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