FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HOUSTON, May 14, 2013 -- Atwood Oceanics, Inc.  (NYSE: ATW) announced today that
one  of its subsidiaries has been awarded  a drilling services contract by Addax
Petroleum  Cameroon Limited  for the  jack-up drilling  unit Atwood Aurora.  The
contract  is for a  one year term  and will be  performed offshore Cameroon at a
dayrate  of approximately  $193,000 (inclusive  of the  15% Cameroon withholding
tax)  or $164,000 (exclusive of the  15% Cameroon withholding tax), depending on
the  well location.  Contract commencement is expected to be in February 2014 in
direct  continuation of previously announced  contractual commitments.  With the
award of this contract, the firm contractual commitment for the Atwood Aurora is
expected to extend to February 2015.

Atwood  Oceanics, Inc. is  a global offshore  drilling contractor engaged in the
drilling  and completion of exploratory and developmental oil and gas wells. The
company  currently owns  13 mobile offshore  drilling units  and is constructing
three  ultra-deepwater  drillships.  The  company  was  founded  in  1968 and is
headquartered  in Houston, Texas.  Atwood Oceanics,  Inc. common stock is traded
on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ATW."

                                                            Contact: Mark L. Mey
                                                                  (281) 749-7902

Forward Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release with respect to the future, including
the  expected contractual commencement and  contractual commitment, are forward-
looking  statements. These  statements reflect  management's reasonable judgment
with  respect  to  future  events.  Forward-looking  statements  are  subject to
numerous  risks, uncertainties and  assumptions and actual  results could differ
materially  from those  anticipated as  a result  of various  factors including:
uncertainties  related  to  the  level  of  activity  in  offshore  oil  and gas
exploration  and  development;  oil  and  gas  prices;  competition  and  market
conditions  in  the  contract  drilling  industry;  the  risks  inherent  in the
construction  of  a  rig;  delays  in  the  commencement  of operations of a rig
following delivery; our ability to enter into and the terms of future contracts;
possible  cancelation or suspension  of drilling contracts;  the availability of
qualified personnel; labor relations; operating hazards and risks; terrorism and
political and other uncertainties inherent in foreign operations (including risk
of  war, civil  disturbances, seizure  or damage  to equipment  and exchange and
currency  fluctuations);  the  impact  of  governmental  and  industry  laws and
regulations;  and environmental matters. These  factors and others are described
and  discussed in  our most  recently filed  annual report  on Form 10-K, in our
Forms  10-Q for subsequent periods and in  our other filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
Each  forward looking  statement speaks  only as  of the  date of the particular
statement  and we undertake no duty to  update the content of this press release
or  any forward-looking statement  contained herein to  conform the statement to
actual results or to reflect changes in our expectations.


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Source: Atwood Oceanics, Inc. via Thomson Reuters ONE
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