ATW Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (delisted)

HOUSTON, March 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC., a Houston-based international drilling contractor (the "Company" or "Atwood") (NYSE: ATW), announced that Mr. George S. Dotson was appointed non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors effective March 10, 2011.  He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since February 1988. From 1990 until his retirement in 2006, Mr. Dotson was a director of Helmerich & Payne, Inc. ("H&P"). Previously he was Vice President, Drilling of H&P and President of Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of H&P.

In connection with the appointment of Mr. Dotson, Mr. Hans Helmerich, a director of Atwood since February 1989, will discontinue his role as Lead Independent Director but will remain an active member of the Board of Directors.

SOURCE Atwood Oceanics, Inc.