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

Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware		1-13926		76-0321760
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (281) 492-5300

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

     Check the appropriate line below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o		Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o		Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Item 8.01. Other Events

     On September 15, 2008, Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that tracking devices indicated all of the Company’s rigs maintained station during Hurricane Ike, and 10 of 12 units most impacted by the storm appeared to have suffered relatively little or no damage according to reports from start-up crews and visual air inspections. Of the remaining two, visual inspections by air indicated the 350-ft. IC jack-up rig Ocean Tower, which was directly in the path of the storm, lost its entire drilling package, including the derrick.

     Filed herewith is a copy of such press release.

     Statements in this report that contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, include, but are not limited to, statements concerning initial assessment of damage to rigs following a storm and the amount of time it may take to resume full operations. Such statements are inherently subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. A discussion of the risk factors that could impact these areas and the Company’s overall business and financial performance can be found in the Company’s reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These factors include, among others, general economic and business conditions, operating risks, casualty losses, industry fleet capacity, changes in foreign and domestic oil and gas exploration and production activity, competition, changes in foreign, political, social and economic conditions, regulatory initiatives and compliance with governmental regulations, customer preferences and various other matters, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Given these concerns, investors and analysts should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement and expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)

Exhibits.

Exhibit number				Description
	99.1			Press release dated September 15, 2008

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: September 17, 2008

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit number				Description
	99.1			Press release dated September 15, 2008