-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                  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: MARCH 6, 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))

===============================================================================
                                      -1-


ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS

     On March 6, 2007, Atwood Oceanics,  Inc. (NYSE: ATW),  announced that HELIS
OIL & GAS ("HELIS") has exercised its one remaining  option to have the RICHMOND
drill four (4)  additional  wells  immediately  following the  completion of its
current  commitment  with HELIS (May/June 2007) at an agreed dayrate of $80,000.
The  drilling  of these  four (4)  additional  wells is  expected  to take until
September/October 2007 to complete.


ITEM 9.01         EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT 99.1    Press Release dated March 6, 2007



     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.



                                      -2-




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO.                                          DESCRIPTION

99.1     Press Release dated March 6, 2007


                                      -3-




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: March 6, 2007


                                      -4-