UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 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 17, 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

As previously  reported on the Company's Form 8-K filed with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission on March 2, 2006, on that date,  Atwood Oceanics,  Inc.
(the "Company") announced that its Board of Directors had approved a two-for-one
stock split of its common  stock (the "Stock  Split") to be effected in the form
of a 100% stock dividend payable April 7, 2006 (the "Split Date"), on all shares
of its  common  stock  (the  "Common  Shares")  outstanding  as of the  close of
business on March 24, 2006.

Rights Agreement

     The Company  and  Continental  Stock  Transfer & Trust  Company,  as Rights
Agent,  are parties to a Rights  Agreement  dated  October 18, 2002 (the "Rights
Agreement").  A Right (as defined in the Rights  Agreement) is  associated  with
each outstanding  Common Share. Prior to the Stock Split, upon the occurrence of
certain events,  each Right entitles the holder to purchase from the Company one
one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock, no
par value,  of the Company (the "Preferred  Shares"),  at a price of $150.00 per
one  one-thousandth  of a Preferred  Share.  In connection with the Stock Split,
pursuant to Section 11(n) of the Rights  Agreement,  the number of the Preferred
Shares  purchasable  upon the exercise of each Right will be decreased  from one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share to one  two-thousandth of a Preferred Share,
and the number of  outstanding  Rights will be  increased by 100% such that each
Common  Share  outstanding  immediately  after the Stock Split shall have issued
with  respect to it one Right.  In  addition,  pursuant to Section  23(a) of the
Rights  Agreement,  the  Redemption  Price of each  Right will be  decreased  by
one-half from $0.01 to $0.005 in connection with the Stock Split.

A copy of the Certificate of Adjustment  delivered on March 17, 2006 by the
Company to the Rights Agent and a form of the letter to be sent to the Company's
shareholders  on or about the Split Date in connection  with the Stock Split and
providing notice of adjustment to the Rights,  each pursuant to the terms of the
Rights Agreement, are attached as Exhibits 4.1 and 99.1,  respectively,  to this
Form 8-K and are incorporated in this Item 3.03 by reference.

The Rights Agreement was filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration
Statement  on Form 8-A filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on
October 21, 2002.  Reference is made to the Rights Agreement for a more complete
description  of the  terms  of the  Rights  and  the  adjustments  to be made in
connection with the Stock Split.

Shares Registered on Form S-8

In  connection  with the Stock  Split,  the  remaining  number of shares of
Common Stock registered  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  pursuant
to the following  registration  statements on Form S-8 filed by the Company with
the Securities and Exchange Commission will be proportionately  adjusted to give
effect to the Stock Split:



                                       
Registration Statement No 333-74255       Atwood Oceanics, Inc. 1996 Incentive Equity Plan

Registration Statement No. 333-87786      Atwood Oceanics, Inc. 2001 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan



In addition, adjustments will be made to outstanding awards under each plan, in
accordance with the terms of each such plan, in order to preserve the rights of
the holders of such awards following the Stock Split.


                                      -2-



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:  the  Company's  dependence  on the oil and gas
industry;  the  risks  involved  in  the  construction  and  repair  of  a  rig;
competition;  operating  risks;  risks  involved  in foreign  operations;  risks
associated  with a possible  disruption  in operations  due to terrorism;  risks
associated with a possible disruption in operations due to war; 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, 2005, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ITEM 9.01         EXHIBITS

(d)      Exhibits

         Exhibit No.      Description of Exhibit

         4.1              Certificate of Adjustment dated as of March 17, 2006
                          delivered by the Company to Continental  Stock
                          Transfer & Trust Company.

         99.1             Proposed Letter from John R. Irwin, President of the
                          Company, to shareholders of the Company.

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 23, 2006

                                      -3-



                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.1



                            CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTMENT
                                       OF
                              ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC.

TO:      Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, Rights Agent
         17 Battery Place
         New York, NY  10004-1123
         Attention: Mark Zimkind
         Facsimile: 212-616-7616

     Atwood Oceanics,  Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws
of the State of Texas (the "Company"), does hereby certify as follows:

     1. The Company is a party to the Rights Agreement (the "Rights  Agreement")
entered into as of October 18, 2002,  between the Company and Continental  Stock
Transfer & Trust Company (the "Rights Agent").

     2. On March 2, 2006,  the  Company  announced  that its Board of  Directors
declared a  two-for-one  stock  split to be effected in the form of a 100% stock
dividend (the "Stock  Split"),  pursuant to which,  on April 7, 2006 (the "Split
Date"),  the Company will  distribute  to each holder of record of Common Stock,
par value  $1.00 per  share,  of the  Company  ("Common  Stock") at the close of
business on March 24, 2006 (the "Record Date"),  one additional  share of Common
Stock for each  outstanding  share of Common Stock held of record by such holder
on the  Record  Date (and with one Right,  as  defined in the Rights  Agreement,
attached to each such additional share of Common Stock).

     3. In accordance with the Rights  Agreement,  each share of Common Stock is
currently  accompanied  by a one  one-thousandth  of a share of  Series A Junior
Participating  Preferred Stock purchase right (a "Right").  Subject to the terms
and conditions of the Rights Agreement, each Right, after it becomes exercisable
pursuant to the terms of the Rights Agreement, and until such time as it expires
or is redeemed,  entitles the holder to purchase  Series A Junior  Participating
Preferred  Stock from the Company at a Purchase  Price (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) of $150.00, before giving effect to the Stock Split.

     4. As a result of the Stock  Split and  pursuant  to  Section  11(n) of the
Rights Agreement,  effective as of March 24, 2006, (a) each outstanding share of
Common  Stock  (including  shares  issued in  respect of the Stock  Split)  will
continue  to have one Right  associated  with it, and (b) each  Right,  after it
becomes  exercisable  pursuant to the terms of the Rights  Agreement,  and until
such  time  as it  expires  or is  redeemed,  will,  subject  to the  terms  and
conditions  of  the  Rights  Agreement,  entitle  the  holder  to  purchase  one
two-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating  Preferred Stock from
the Company at a Purchase Price of $150.00.

     5.  Pursuant  to  Section  11(n) of the  Rights  Agreement,  the  number of
outstanding  Rights will be deemed increased by 100% such that each Common Share
outstanding  immediately after the Stock Split shall have issued with respect to
it one Right upon the Split Date.

                                       1


     6. Pursuant to Section 23 of the Rights Agreement,  the Redemption Price of
each Right will be deemed  decreased  by one-half  from $0.01 to $0.005 upon the
Split Date.

     7. Upon and  following  the Split  Date,  pursuant  to the  Certificate  of
Designations  setting  forth the  rights,  preferences  and  limitations  of the
Preferred  Shares, as a result of the Stock Split, each Preferred Share shall be
entitled to an aggregate dividend of 2000 multiplied times the dividend declared
per Common Share. If no dividend is declared in a quarter,  the Preferred Shares
are entitled to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend of $0.01 per share. In
the event of liquidation, the holder of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to
the greater of a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $1.00 per share and
an aggregate payment of 2000 multiplied times the payment made per Common Share.
Each  Preferred  Share will have 2000  votes,  voting  together  with the Common
Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger,  consolidation or other transaction
in which Common Shares are exchanged,  each Preferred  Share will be entitled to
receive 2000 multiplied times the amount received per Common Share.

     8. Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Rights Agreement, this
Certificate  of Adjustment is being  delivered to  Continental  Stock Transfer &
Trust Company as rights agent under the Rights  Agreement and as transfer  agent
for the Common Stock.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  has executed  this  Certificate  of
Adjustment this 17th day of March, 2006.

ATWOOD OCEANICS, INC.




By:/s/ James M. Holland
       James M. Holland
       Senior Vice President and Secretary




                                       2


                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1


                       [Atwood Oceanics, Inc. Letterhead]


                                  April 7, 2006

Dear Shareholder:

     We are  pleased  to  enclose a stock  certificate  representing  additional
shares of the Common Stock as well as Rights (as defined below)  associated with
such  shares  (collectively,   the  "Shares")  of  Atwood  Oceanics,  Inc.  (the
"Company") to which you are entitled as a result of the two-for-one  stock split
effected  as  a  100%  stock  dividend.  This  new  certificate  represents  one
additional  Share for each Share of Common  Stock held by you as of the close of
business  on March 24,  2006,  the record  date for the stock  split.  Any stock
certificate  held by you prior to the stock split is still  valid,  representing
the number of Shares stated thereon, and does not need to be exchanged for a new
certificate.  Do not destroy or return to the Company any stock  certificates in
your possession.

     The Company's Board of Directors believes that a stock split in the form of
a stock dividend is in the best interests of  shareholders.  A transfer of $1.00
for each additional  Share issued,  or $_______ in the aggregate,  was made from
the Company's  additional paid-in capital account to its Common Stock account on
the record date of March 24, 2006. Both current  earnings and retained  earnings
of the  Company  exceed  the  aggregate  amount  capitalized  as a result of the
distribution.  Any sale of the Shares issued pursuant to the  distribution  will
result in a reduction of your proportionate equity interest in the Company.

     Notice Regarding Rights Agreement:  In accordance with the Rights Agreement
dated as of October 18, 2002 (the "Rights  Agreement"),  between the Company and
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent, in order to reflect
the stock split each share of  outstanding  Common Stock  (including  the shares
issued in connection  with the stock split) will be  accompanied by the right to
purchase  one  two-thousandth  of a  share  of  Series  A  Junior  Participating
Preferred  Stock (a "Right").  In addition,  the redemption  price of each Right
will be decreased by one-half from $0.01 to $0.005 in connection  with the stock
split.  The  Rights  Agreement  was  filed  as  Exhibit  4.1  to  the  Company's
Registration  Statement  on Form 8-A  filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  on October 21, 2002 (File No.  001-13167).  Reference is made to the
Rights Agreement,  the Form 8-A referenced above and any admendments thereto for
a more complete  description of the terms of the Rights and the adjustments made
in connection with the stock split.

     Any questions  about share  transfer  requirements,  lost  certificates  or
address changes may be directed to the Company's transfer agent and registrar of
the Company's Common Stock as follows:



                   Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
                                17 Battery Place
                             New York, NY 10004-1123



   We appreciate your continued interest and your continued support of the
Company.

                                                     Very truly yours,



                                                     John R. Irwin
                                                     President