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[edit] INTRO
Atwood Oceanics Inc. is an offshore oil and gas drilling company that participates in drilling in exploratory regions around the world.3 Atwood Oceanics Pacific Limited (A.O.P.L.) and related subsidiaries of Atwood Oceanics Inc. make up what is referred to as the “Atwood Group.”1
[edit] HISTORY
The “Atwood Group” owns and operates eight offshore oil and gas drilling rigs.1 Organized in 1968 Atwood Oceanics inc. began operation by 1970.3 In 1972 Atwood was placed on the stock market and is currently under the symbol “ATW” on the New York Stock Exchange.1 The Atwood Group has conducted drilling operations in the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, Black Sea, Australia, East and West Africa, Southeast Asia, Mediterranean Sea, China, Far East, Papua New Guinea, India, Central and South America and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.4 The Atwood Group’s headquarters in the U.S. is in Houston. It also operates from Australia, Malaysia, Malta, Indonesia, Egypt and the United Kingdom.1
[edit] GAS AND OIL RIGS
Atwood Oceanics owns two jack-up rigs, four semisubmersible rigs, one submersible rig, and one semisubersible tender assist vessel.2 Constructed in 1974, and located off the coast of West Africa, The “Seahawk” is the oldest of all the rigs.1 Both the “Vicksburg” and the “Southern Cross” were built in 1976.1 The “Vicksburg” is in the waters of Thailand and the “Southern cross” is in the Black Sea.1 In 1981 the “Hunter” was constructed and is now stationed in Muritania, drilling at a depth of up to 28,000 feet.1 The “Eagle” was built in 1982 and is off the coast of Australia.1 The cantilever submersible rig named “Richmond” was also built in 1982 and is the only one of Atwood’s rigs currently stationed in U.S. waters, the Gulf of Mexico.1 The “Falcon” was built in 1983 and now operates in the waters of Malaysia.1 The “Beacon,” constructed in 2003, is located in Singapore and is scheduled to be moved to India in December.1 Atwood Oceanics Inc. has plans for a ninth drilling unit, the “Atwood Aurora,” currently being constructed at the Keppel AmFELS, Inc. yard in Brownsville Texas at a cost of 160 million dollars; planned to be in operation upon delivery in September, 2008.1 Since 1996, the Atwood group has spent over 400 million dollars in upgrading seven of its’ eight offshore drilling units.1 It also has plans for a ninth drilling unit, the “Atwood Aurora,” at a cost of 160 million dollars; planned to be in operation upon delivery in September, 2008.1
References:
1 http://www.atwd.com/ 2 http://www.answers.com/topic/atwood-oceanics-inc?cat=biz-fin 3 http://www.marketwatch.com/tools/quotes/profile.asp?symb=ATW&sid=671 4 http://wrightreports.ecnext.com/coms2/reportdesc_COMPANY_050095108
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