UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): SEPTEMBER 26, 2005
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DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
DELAWARE 1-13926 76-0321760
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(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) Identification No.)
15415 KATY FREEWAY
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77094
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (281) 492-5300
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NOT APPLICABLE
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(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:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS
On September 26, 2005, Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (the "Company")
issued a press release announcing that the drilling rigs Ocean Saratoga and
Ocean Star broke free from their moorings as Hurricane Rita passed west of both
semisubmersibles. Both of the units and their well operations were secured and
personnel were evacuated well in advance of the storm.
Both rigs were tracked during the storm by onboard locator beacons.
The press release reported that the Ocean Saratoga was currently grounded in
approximately 35 feet of water on Vermilion block 111. The site is
approximately 100 miles northwest of the rig's original location on Green
Canyon block 157. The press release reported that the Ocean Star was also
aground in approximately 35 feet of water on Eugene Island block 142. The site
is approximately 100 miles north of the unit's original location on Green
Canyon block 768. Start-up crews re-boarded the Saratoga and Star on Sunday,
September 25, 2005 in order to secure the units and to further assess their
condition.
Initial fly-bys of other Company rigs in the path of Hurricane Rita
did not indicate any significant damage, but the press release reported that
the Company will not be able to make a complete assessment of the condition of
all of its rigs until personnel are able to re-board the units over the next
few days.
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, may
include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the location of the
Company's drilling rigs, related search efforts, condition and damage
assessments, securing the rigs, damages to the Company's drilling rigs and
re-boarding the rigs. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation,
statements which project, indicate or imply future results and may contain
words like "expect," "intend," "plan," "will," "would," "estimated" and
"budgeted," among others. Such statements are inherently subject to a variety
of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those anticipated or projected. These factors include, among others,
potential damage to or loss of equipment and resulting loss of contracted
revenue due to Hurricane Rita, as well as general economic and business
conditions, changes in oil and natural gas prices, 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 this report. The
Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly
any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change
in the
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Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions
or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based. A further
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 filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(c) Exhibits.
Exhibit number Description
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99.1 Press release of September 26, 2005
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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.
DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC.
By: /s/ William C. Long
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William C. Long
Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
Dated: September 26, 2005
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit number Description
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99.1 Press release of September 26, 2005
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