ATW Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (delisted)

HOUSTON, July 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC., Houston-based International Drilling Contractor (NYSE: ATW), announced today that the VICKSBURG (operated by our wholly-owned subsidiary Atwood Oceanics Pacific Limited) has been awarded a nine-month contract extension by Nucoastal (Thailand) Limited. With the extension, the rig's current contract commitment (with a dayrate of $90,000) will extend through June 30, 2011.

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 in the construction of a rig and commencement of operations of the rig following delivery; competition; operating risks; risks involved in foreign operations; risks associated with possible disruption in operations due to terrorism, acts of piracy, embargoes, war or other military operations; 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, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Atwood Oceanics, Inc.