e10vq
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission file number 1-13926
DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization)
  76-0321760
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
15415 Katy Freeway
Houston, Texas
77094
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(281) 492-5300
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
     Yes þ No o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
     Yes þ No o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
     Yes o No þ
     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
         
As of October 20, 2011   Common stock, $0.01 par value per share   139,027,209 shares
 
 

 


 

DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
         
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 EX-31.1
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 EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
 EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Financial Statements.
DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 348,003     $ 464,393  
Marketable securities
    801,931       612,346  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for bad debts
    622,949       609,606  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    157,389       177,153  
 
           
Total current assets
    1,930,272       1,863,498  
Drilling and other property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
    4,605,748       4,283,792  
Long-term receivable
          35,361  
Other assets
    303,215       544,333  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 6,839,235     $ 6,726,984  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 59,169     $ 99,236  
Accrued liabilities
    279,209       469,190  
Taxes payable
    34,583       57,862  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    372,961       626,288  
 
               
Long-term debt
    1,495,765       1,495,593  
Deferred tax liability
    519,980       542,258  
Other liabilities
    189,914       201,133  
 
           
Total liabilities
    2,578,620       2,865,272  
 
           
 
               
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
           
 
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Common stock (par value $0.01, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 143,944,009 shares issued and 139,027,209 shares outstanding at September 30, 2011; 143,943,624 shares issued and 139,026,824 shares outstanding at December 31, 2010)
    1,439       1,439  
Additional paid-in capital
    1,976,294       1,972,550  
Retained earnings
    2,406,188       1,998,995  
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)
    (8,893 )     3,141  
Treasury stock, at cost (4,916,800 shares at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010)
    (114,413 )     (114,413 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    4,260,615       3,861,712  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 6,839,235     $ 6,726,984  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
Revenues:
                               
Contract drilling
  $ 861,511     $ 748,998     $ 2,520,030     $ 2,405,175  
Revenues related to reimbursable expenses
    16,666       50,726       54,032       76,833  
 
                       
Total revenues
    878,177       799,724       2,574,062       2,482,008  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating expenses:
                               
Contract drilling, excluding depreciation
    391,369       350,555       1,141,739       1,008,551  
Reimbursable expenses
    16,206       50,313       52,443       75,397  
Depreciation
    101,175       99,117       303,523       297,265  
General and administrative
    14,879       16,999       48,976       50,502  
Bad debt expense (recovery)
    4,734       (2,048 )     (5,413 )     (5,946 )
Gain on disposition of assets
    (463 )     (32,392 )     (4,344 )     (33,425 )
 
                       
Total operating expenses
    527,900       482,544       1,536,924       1,392,344  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating income
    350,277       317,180       1,037,138       1,089,664  
 
                               
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest income
    2,024       395       3,565       2,154  
Interest expense
    (15,874 )     (22,567 )     (60,144 )     (66,221 )
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)
    (1,442 )     3,724       (4,603 )     194  
Other, net
    (136 )     (166 )     (232 )     (287 )
 
                       
 
                               
Income before income tax expense
    334,849       298,566       975,724       1,025,504  
 
                               
Income tax expense
    (77,995 )     (100,042 )     (201,672 )     (311,734 )
 
                       
Net income
  $ 256,854     $ 198,524     $ 774,052     $ 713,770  
 
                       
 
                               
Income per share:
                               
Basic
  $ 1.85     $ 1.43     $ 5.57     $ 5.13  
 
                       
Diluted
  $ 1.85     $ 1.43     $ 5.57     $ 5.13  
 
                       
 
                               
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
                               
Shares of common stock
    139,027       139,027       139,027       139,026  
Dilutive potential shares of common stock
    14       10       21       55  
 
                       
Total weighted-average shares outstanding
    139,041       139,037       139,048       139,081  
 
                       
 
                               
Cash dividends declared per share of common stock
  $ 0.875     $ 0.875     $ 2.625     $ 4.375  
 
                       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
                 
    Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    2011     2010  
Operating activities:
               
Net income
  $ 774,052     $ 713,770  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation
    303,523       297,265  
Gain on disposition of assets
    (4,344 )     (33,425 )
(Gain) loss on sale of marketable securities, net
    (780 )     5  
Gain on foreign currency forward exchange contracts
    (9,593 )     (1,924 )
Deferred tax provision
    (15,798 )     14,918  
Accretion of discounts on marketable securities
    (39 )     (421 )
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    659       665  
Amortization of debt discounts
    172       222  
Stock-based compensation expense
    3,749       4,821  
Deferred income, net
    (46,127 )     41,768  
Deferred expenses, net
    62,836       (77,372 )
Other assets, noncurrent
    (165 )     7,804  
Other liabilities, noncurrent
    964       10,413  
Proceeds from settlement of foreign currency forward exchange contracts designated as accounting hedges
    9,593       1,924  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    20,055       141,726  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (20,137 )     (16,023 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (43,845 )     10,146  
Taxes payable
    44,368       (166,389 )
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    1,079,143       949,893  
 
           
 
               
Investing activities:
               
Capital expenditures (including rig construction)
    (643,305 )     (312,995 )
Proceeds from disposition of assets, net of disposal costs
    5,128       186,333  
Proceeds from sale and maturities of marketable securities
    4,862,108       3,700,176  
Purchases of marketable securities
    (5,051,538 )     (4,099,525 )
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (827,607 )     (526,011 )
 
           
 
               
Financing activities:
               
Redemption of zero coupon debentures
          (4,238 )
Payment of dividends
    (367,930 )     (611,668 )
Other
    4       41  
 
           
Net cash used in financing activities
    (367,926 )     (615,865 )
 
           
 
               
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    (116,390 )     (191,983 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    464,393       376,417  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 348,003     $ 184,434  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. General Information
     The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. and subsidiaries, which we refer to as “Diamond Offshore,” “we,” “us” or “our,” should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (File No. 1-13926).
     As of October 20, 2011, Loews Corporation, or Loews, owned 50.4% of the outstanding shares of our common stock.
Interim Financial Information
     The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S., or GAAP, for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, pursuant to such rules and regulations, they do not include all disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The consolidated financial information has not been audited but, in the opinion of management, includes all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and statements of cash flows at the dates and for the periods indicated. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the respective full years.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimated.
Reclassifications
     Certain amounts applicable to the prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the classifications currently followed. Such reclassifications do not affect earnings.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Marketable Securities
     We consider short-term, highly liquid investments that have an original maturity of three months or less and deposits in money market mutual funds that are readily convertible into cash to be cash equivalents. See Note 6.
     We classify our investments in marketable securities as available for sale, and they are stated at fair value in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Accordingly, any unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, are reported in our Consolidated Balance Sheets in “Accumulated other comprehensive gain” until realized. The cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity and such adjustments are included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations in “Interest income.” The sale and purchase of securities are recorded on the date of the trade. The cost of debt securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Realized gains or losses, as well as any declines in value that are judged to be other than temporary, are reported in our Consolidated Statements of Operations in “Other income (expense) — Other, net.”
     The effect of exchange rate changes on cash balances held in foreign currencies was not material for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

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Provision for Bad Debts
     We record a provision for bad debts on a case-by-case basis when facts and circumstances indicate that a customer receivable may not be collectible. In establishing these reserves, we consider historical and other factors that predict collectability, including write-offs, recoveries and the monitoring of credit quality. Such provision is reported as a component of “Operating expenses” in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 2.
Derivative Financial Instruments
     Our derivative financial instruments consist of foreign currency forward exchange, or FOREX, contracts which we may designate as cash flow hedges. In accordance with GAAP, each derivative contract is stated in the balance sheet at its fair value with gains and losses reflected in the income statement except that, to the extent the derivative qualifies for and is designated as an accounting hedge, the gains and losses are reflected in income in the same period as offsetting gains and losses on the qualifying hedged positions. We report such realized gains and losses as a component of “Contract drilling, excluding depreciation” expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations to offset the impact of foreign currency fluctuations in our expenditures in local foreign currencies in the countries in which we operate.
     Realized gains or losses upon settlement of derivative contracts not designated as cash flow hedges are reported as “Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)” in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, we recognized no foreign currency transaction gain (loss) attributable to FOREX contracts not designated as cash flow hedges. See Notes 5 and 6.
Capitalized Interest
     We capitalize interest cost for the construction and upgrade of qualifying assets. Commencing in August 2011, we began capitalizing interest on qualifying expenditures related to the construction of three drillships with expected deliveries in 2013 and 2014. There were no qualifying expenditures during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. See Note 7.
     A reconciliation of our total interest cost to “Interest expense” as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Operations is as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
     
Total interest cost including amortization of debt issuance costs
  $ 20,364     $ 22,567     $ 64,634     $ 66,221  
Capitalized interest
    (4,490 )           (4,490 )      
     
Total interest expense as reported
  $ 15,874     $ 22,567     $ 60,144     $ 66,221  
     
Property, Plant and Equipment
     We carry our drilling and other property and equipment at cost. Maintenance and routine repairs are charged to income currently while replacements and betterments, which upgrade or increase the functionality of our existing equipment and that significantly extend the useful life of an existing asset, are capitalized. Significant judgments, assumptions and estimates may be required in determining whether or not such replacements and betterments meet the criteria for capitalization and in determining useful lives and salvage values of such assets. Changes in these judgments, assumptions and estimates could produce results that differ from those reported. Historically, the amount of capital additions requiring significant judgments, assumptions or estimates has not been significant. Depreciation is amortized up to applicable salvage values by applying the straight-line method over the remaining estimated useful lives. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010, we capitalized $136.3 million and $379.8 million, respectively, in replacements and betterments of our drilling fleet, resulting from numerous projects ranging from $25,000 to $50 million per project.
     We evaluate our property and equipment for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable (such as cold stacking a rig or excess spending over budget on a new-build or major rig upgrade). We utilize a probability-weighted cash flow analysis in testing an asset for potential impairment. Our assumptions and estimates underlying this analysis include the following:
    dayrate by rig;

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    utilization rate by rig (expressed as the actual percentage of time per year that the rig would be used);
 
    the per day operating cost for each rig if active, ready-stacked or cold-stacked;
 
    the estimated annual cost for rig replacements and/or enhancement programs;
 
    the estimated maintenance, inspection or other costs associated with a rig returning to work;
 
    salvage value for each rig; and
 
    estimated proceeds that may be received on disposition of the rig.
     Based on these assumptions and estimates, we develop a matrix using several different utilization/dayrate scenarios, to each of which we have assigned a probability of occurrence. The sum of our utilization scenarios (which include active, warm stacked and cold stacked) and probability of occurrence scenarios both equal 100% in the aggregate. We reevaluate our cold-stacked rigs annually, and we update the matrices for each of our cold stacked rigs at each year end and modify our assumptions giving consideration to the length of time the rig has been cold stacked, the current and expected market for the type of rig and expectations of future oil and gas prices. Further, to test sensitivity, we consider the impact of a 5% reduction in assumed dayrates for the cold-stacked rigs (holding all other assumptions and estimates in the model constant). We would not necessarily record an impairment if the sensitivity analysis indicated potential cash flows would be insufficient to recover our carrying value. We would assess other qualitative factors including industry, regulatory and other relevant conditions to determine whether an impairment or further disclosure is warranted.
     As of September 30, 2011, we had eight cold stacked rigs with an aggregate net book value of approximately $87.6 million. Of our cold stacked rigs, four were jack-up rigs, consisting of three mat-supported rigs and one independent-leg, cantilevered rig (all in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, or GOM), and four were intermediate semisubmersible rigs (two in the GOM and two in Malaysia), including the Ocean Epoch, which was cold stacked in the first quarter of 2011. As of December 31, 2010, we had seven cold stacked rigs with an aggregate net book value of approximately $78.0 million. We performed an impairment review for each of these rigs using the methodology described above. Based on our analyses, we have concluded that these rigs were not subject to impairment at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
     Management’s assumptions are an inherent part of our asset impairment evaluation and the use of different assumptions could produce results that differ from those reported.
Comprehensive Income
     A reconciliation of net income to comprehensive income is as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
     
Net income
  $ 256,854     $ 198,524     $ 774,052     $ 713,770  
Other comprehensive gains (losses), net of tax:
                               
FOREX contracts:
                               
Unrealized holding (loss) gain
    (11,221 )     3,608       (3,538 )     348  
Reclassification adjustment for loss (gain) included in net income
    (3,115 )     (116 )     (8,064 )     (845 )
Investments in marketable securities:
                               
Unrealized holding (loss) gain
    (55 )     (9 )     (54 )     (31 )
Reclassification adjustment for loss (gain) included in net income
    1       13       (378 )     14  
     
Comprehensive income
  $ 242,464     $ 202,020     $ 762,018     $ 713,256  
     
Foreign Currency
     Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are reported as “Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)” in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, we recognized net foreign currency transaction (losses) of $(1.4) million and $(4.6) million, respectively. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010, we recognized net foreign currency transaction gains of $3.7 million and $0.2 million, respectively. See Note 5.

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Revenue Recognition
     Revenue from our dayrate drilling contracts is recognized as services are performed. In connection with such drilling contracts, we may receive fees (either lump-sum or dayrate) for the mobilization of equipment. These fees are earned as services are performed over the initial term of the related drilling contracts. We defer mobilization fees received, as well as direct and incremental mobilization costs incurred, and amortize each, on a straight line basis, over the term of the related drilling contracts (which is the period we estimate to be benefited from the mobilization activity). Straight line amortization of mobilization revenues and related costs over the initial term of the related drilling contracts (which generally range from 2 to 60 months) is consistent with the timing of net cash flows generated from the actual drilling services performed. Absent a contract, mobilization costs are recognized as incurred.
     From time to time, we may receive fees from our customers for capital improvements to our rigs (either lump-sum or dayrate). We defer such fees received in “Accrued liabilities” and “Other liabilities” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and recognize these fees into income on a straight-line basis over the period of the related drilling contract. We capitalize the costs of such capital improvements and depreciate them over the estimated useful life of the asset.
     We record reimbursements received for the purchase of supplies, equipment, personnel services and other services provided at the request of our customers in accordance with a contract or agreement, for the gross amount billed to the customer, as “Revenues related to reimbursable expenses” in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Income Taxes
     Certain of our international rigs are owned and operated, directly or indirectly, by Diamond Offshore International Limited, or DOIL, a Cayman Islands subsidiary which we wholly own. Since forming this subsidiary in 2002, it has been our intention to indefinitely reinvest the earnings of the subsidiary to finance foreign activities. Consequently, no U.S. federal income taxes have been provided on these earnings except to the extent that such earnings were immediately subject to U.S. federal income taxes and except for the earnings of Diamond East Asia Limited, or DEAL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DOIL. It had been our intention to repatriate the earnings of DEAL to the U.S. and, accordingly, we provided U.S. income taxes on its earnings. However, a tax law provision that expired at the end of 2009, but was subsequently signed back into law by the President of the United States on December 17, 2010, in conjunction with our decisions in late 2010 and the first half of 2011 to build three new drillships overseas, caused us to reassess our intent to repatriate the earnings of DEAL to the U.S. We now plan to reinvest the earnings of DEAL internationally through another of our foreign companies, and consequently, we are no longer providing U.S. income taxes on its earnings. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we reversed approximately $15.0 million of U.S. income taxes that had been provided in prior periods for the earnings of DEAL.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
     In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income,” or ASU 2011-05, which eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income, or OCI, as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity, requires the presentation of each component of net income and each component of OCI either in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements and also requires presentation of reclassification adjustments on the face of the financial statement. ASU 2011-05 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011; however, early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2011-05 will not have an effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
     In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs,” or ASU 2011-04. ASU 2011-04 clarifies existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements, amends certain fair value measurement principles and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. ASU 2011-04 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. We will incorporate any additional disclosures in our annual financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2012.

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2. Supplemental Financial Information
Consolidated Balance Sheet Information
     Accounts receivable, net of allowance for bad debts, consists of the following:
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
     
Trade receivables
  $ 621,012     $ 633,224  
Value added tax receivables
    6,952       5,003  
Unbilled third party claims
    445       45  
Related party receivables
    2,443       538  
Other
    264       2,704  
     
 
    631,116       641,514  
Allowance for bad debts
    (8,167 )     (31,908 )
     
Total
  $ 622,949     $ 609,606  
     
     In September 2011, we recorded a $5.7 million provision for bad debts to reserve a portion of the uncollected balance of receivables from one of our current customers in Egypt. During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, we recovered $1.0 million and $11.1 million, respectively, in previously reserved bad debts. Recoveries during the first nine months of 2011 included $8.5 million in final payments from a previous customer in the North Sea and $2.6 million from another customer in Egypt for whom we no longer work. In addition, during 2011, we offset $18.4 million in previously reserved trade receivables against the allowance for bad debts as we had exhausted all methods of recovery against the North Sea customer.
     During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010, we recovered $2.0 million and $5.9 million, respectively, in previously reserved bad debts. Recoveries during the first nine months of 2010 included $1.0 million from a previous customer in the North Sea and $4.9 million from a previous customer in Egypt. No allowances were deemed necessary for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010.
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following:
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
     
Rig spare parts and supplies
  $ 50,857     $ 50,288  
Deferred mobilization costs
    60,005       76,868  
Prepaid insurance
    20,409       9,587  
Deferred tax assets
    9,557       9,557  
Deposits
    1,574       827  
Prepaid taxes
    5,515       20,347  
FOREX contracts
    236       4,326  
Other
    9,236       5,353  
     
Total
  $ 157,389     $ 177,153  
     
     Accrued liabilities consist of the following:
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
     
Accrued capital project/upgrade costs
  $ 11,905     $ 28,947  
Payroll and benefits
    69,741       76,041  
Deferred revenue
    47,149       69,825  
Rig operating expenses
    92,944       81,820  
Interest payable
    29,617       21,219  
Personal injury and other claims
    8,955       11,758  
Accrued drillship construction installment
          154,427  
Other
    18,898       25,153  
     
Total
  $ 279,209     $ 469,190  
     

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     At December 31, 2010, we had accrued the first installment payable under a turnkey construction agreement with Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., or Hyundai, of $154.4 million and recorded the related noncurrent asset in an equal amount in “Other assets” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Notes 7 and 9.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows Information
     We paid interest on long-term debt totaling $54.0 million and $54.6 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we paid $0.9 million in interest on assessments from the Internal Revenue Service.
     We made estimated U.S. federal income tax payments of $64.0 million and $362.5 million during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. We paid $121.9 million and $88.5 million in foreign income taxes, net of foreign tax refunds, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. We paid state income taxes, net of refunds, of $0.2 million and $1.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
     Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 included $28.9 million that was accrued but unpaid at December 31, 2010. Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 included $64.9 million that was accrued but unpaid at December 31, 2009. Capital expenditures that were accrued but not paid as of September 30, 2011 totaled $11.9 million. We have included this amount in “Accrued liabilities” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2011.
3. Earnings Per Share
     A reconciliation of the numerators and the denominators of our basic and diluted per-share computations follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
Net income — basic (numerator):
  $ 256,854     $ 198,524     $ 774,052     $ 713,770  
Effect of dilutive potential shares Convertible debentures
                      56  
     
Net income including conversions — diluted (numerator)
  $ 256,854     $ 198,524     $ 774,052     $ 713,826  
     
 
                               
Weighted average shares — basic (denominator):
    139,027       139,027       139,027       139,026  
Effect of dilutive potential shares Convertible debentures
                      28  
Stock options and stock appreciation rights.
    14       10       21       27  
     
Weighted average shares including conversions — diluted (denominator)
    139,041       139,037       139,048       139,081  
     
 
                               
Earnings per share:
                               
Basic
  $ 1.85     $ 1.43     $ 5.57     $ 5.13  
     
Diluted
  $ 1.85     $ 1.43     $ 5.57     $ 5.13  
     
The following table sets forth the share effects of stock options and the number of stock appreciation rights excluded from our computations of diluted earnings per share, or EPS, as the inclusion of such potentially dilutive shares would have been antidilutive for the periods presented:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Employee and director:
                               
Stock options
    19       19       10       9  
Stock appreciation rights
    815       621       719       579  

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4. Marketable Securities
     We report our investments as current assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets in “Marketable securities,” representing the investment of cash available for current operations. See Note 6.
     Our investments in marketable securities are classified as available for sale and are summarized as follows:
                         
    September 30, 2011  
    Amortized     Unrealized     Market  
    Cost     Gain (Loss)     Value  
    (In thousands)  
     
U.S. Treasury Bills (due within one year)
  $ 801,543     $ (79 )   $ 801,464  
Mortgage-backed securities
    425       42       467  
     
Total
  $ 801,968     $ (37 )   $ 801,931  
     
                         
    December 31, 2010  
    Amortized     Unrealized     Market  
    Cost     Gain     Value  
    (In thousands)  
     
U.S. Treasury Bills (due within one year)
  $ 599,965     $ 15     $ 599,980  
Corporate bonds
    11,200       560       11,760  
Mortgage-backed securities
    553       53       606  
     
Total
  $ 611,718     $ 628     $ 612,346  
     
     Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities and gross realized gains and losses are summarized as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Proceeds from sales
  $ 19     $ 88     $ 12,108     $ 176  
Proceeds from maturities
    1,550,000       1,150,000       4,850,000       3,700,000  
Gross realized gains
                784        
Gross realized losses
    (1 )     (3 )     (3 )     (5 )
5. Derivative Financial Instruments
Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts
     Our international operations expose us to foreign exchange risk associated with our costs payable in foreign currencies for employee compensation, foreign income tax payments and purchases from foreign suppliers. We may utilize FOREX contracts to manage our foreign exchange risk. Our FOREX contracts may obligate us to exchange predetermined amounts of foreign currencies on specified dates or to net settle the spread between the contracted foreign currency exchange rate and the spot rate on the contract settlement date, which, for most of our contracts, is the average spot rate for the contract period.
     We enter into FOREX contracts when we believe market conditions are favorable to purchase contracts for future settlement with the expectation that such contracts, when settled, will reduce our exposure to foreign currency gains/losses on foreign currency expenditures in the future. The amount and duration of such contracts is based on our monthly forecast of expenditures in the significant currencies in which we do business and for which there is a financial market (i.e., Australian dollars, Brazilian reais, British pounds sterling, Mexican pesos and Norwegian kroner). These forward contracts are derivatives as defined by GAAP.
     We have adopted a hedging strategy whereby certain of our qualifying FOREX contracts are designated as cash flow hedges based on our expected future foreign currency requirements. These hedges are expected to be highly effective, and therefore, adjustments to record the carrying value of the effective portion of our derivative financial instruments to their fair value are recorded as a component of “Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss),” or AOCGL, in our Consolidated Financial Statements. The effective portion of the cash flow hedge will remain in AOCGL until it is reclassified into earnings in the period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings or it is determined that the hedged transaction will not occur. Adjustments to record the carrying value of

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the ineffective portion of our derivative financial instruments to fair value are recorded as “Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)” in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
     During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, we settled FOREX contracts with an aggregate notional value of approximately $224.8 million and $251.1 million, respectively, all of which were designated as accounting hedges. During the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, we did not enter into or settle any FOREX contracts that were not designated as accounting hedges.
     The following table presents the amounts recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Operations related to our FOREX contracts designated as accounting hedges for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
                                 
    Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income  
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
Location of Gain (Loss)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Recognized in Income   (In thousands)  
Contract drilling expense
  $ 2,362     $ 1,467     $ 9,593     $ 1,924  
     As of September 30, 2011, we had FOREX contracts outstanding in the aggregate notional amount of $191.0 million, consisting of $30.7 million in Australian dollars, $102.9 million in Brazilian reais, $33.6 million in British pounds sterling, $10.9 million in Mexican pesos and $12.9 million in Norwegian kroner. These contracts generally settle monthly through March 2012. As of September 30, 2011, all outstanding derivative contracts had been designated as cash flow hedges. See Note 6.
     The following table presents the fair values of our derivative FOREX contracts designated as hedging instruments at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
                                         
    Fair Value   Balance Sheet Location   Fair Value  
    September 30,     December 31,             September 30,     December 31,  
Balance Sheet Location   2011     2010             2011     2010  
    (In thousands)           (In thousands)  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
  $ 236     $ 4,326     Accrued liabilities   $ (13,880 )   $ (121 )

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     The following table presents the amounts recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Operations related to our FOREX contracts designated as cash flow hedges for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
                                 
    For The Three Months Ended     For The Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
            (In thousands)          
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in AOCGL on derivative (effective portion)
  $ (17,263 )   $ 5,550     $ (5,443 )   $ 535  
 
                               
Location of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCGL into income (effective portion)
  Contract drilling expense   Contract drilling expense   Contract drilling expense   Contract drilling expense
 
                               
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCGL into income (effective portion)
  $ 4,792     $ 178     $ 12,407     $ 1,300  
 
                               
Location of Gain Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)
  Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)   Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)   Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)   Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)
 
                               
Amount of Gain Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)
  $     $     $     $  
     As of September 30, 2011, the estimated amount of net unrealized gains associated with our FOREX contracts that will be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months was $13.6 million. The net unrealized gains associated with these derivative financial instruments will be reclassified to contract drilling expense.
6. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Disclosures
Concentrations of Credit and Market Risk
     Financial instruments which potentially subject us to significant concentrations of credit or market risk consist primarily of periodic temporary investments of excess cash, trade accounts receivable and investments in debt securities, including residential mortgage-backed securities. We place our excess cash investments in high quality short-term money market instruments through several financial institutions. At times, such investments may be in excess of the insurable limit. We periodically evaluate the relative credit standing of these financial institutions as part of our investment strategy.
     Most of our investments in debt securities are U.S. government securities with minimal credit risk. However, we are exposed to market risk due to price volatility associated with interest rate fluctuations.
     Concentrations of credit risk with respect to our trade accounts receivable are limited primarily due to the entities comprising our customer base. Since the market for our services is the offshore oil and gas industry, this customer base consists primarily of major and independent oil and gas companies and government-owned oil companies. Our two customers in Brazil, Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (a Brazilian multinational energy company that is majority-owned by the Brazilian government) and OGX Petróleo e Gás Ltda. (a privately owned Brazilian oil and natural gas company), accounted for $143.6 million and $62.4 million, or 23% and 10%, respectively, of our total consolidated gross trade accounts receivable balances as of September 30, 2011, and $180.8 million and $52.4 million, or 29% and 8%, respectively, as of December 31, 2010.
     In general, before working for a customer with whom we have not had a prior business relationship and/or whose financial stability may be uncertain to us, we perform a credit review on that company. Based on that analysis, we may require that the customer present a letter of credit, prepay or provide other credit enhancements. Historically, we have not experienced significant losses on our trade receivables. We record a provision for bad debts on a case-by-case basis when facts and circumstances indicate that a customer receivable may not be collectible. Our allowance for bad debts was $8.2 million and $31.9 million at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. See Note 2.

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     One of our drilling contracts obligates our customer to pay us, over the term of the drilling program, an aggregate drilling rate of $560,000 per day, consisting of $75,000 per day payable in accordance with our normal credit terms (due 30 days after receipt of invoice) and the remainder of the contractual dayrate, $485,000 per day, payable through the conveyance of a 27% net profits interest, or NPI, in certain developmental oil-and-gas producing properties.
     At September 30, 2011, $102.7 million was payable to us from the NPI. Based on current production payout estimates, we expect to collect the entire $102.7 million receivable within the next twelve months and have presented this amount in “Accounts receivable, net of allowance for bad debts” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. At September 30, 2011, we believe that collectability of the amount owed pursuant to the NPI arrangement was reasonably assured.
     At December 31, 2010, $85.0 million was payable to us from the NPI, of which $49.6 million and $35.4 million are presented as “Accounts receivable, net of allowance for bad debts” and “Long-term receivable,” respectively, in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Fair Values
     The amounts reported in our Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, accounts receivable, forward exchange contracts and accounts payable approximate fair value. Fair values and related carrying values of our debt instruments are shown below.
                                 
    September 30, 2011     December 31, 2010  
    Fair Value     Carrying Value     Fair Value     Carrying Value  
            (In millions)          
4.875% Senior Notes
  $ 276.3     $ 249.8     $ 270.0     $ 249.7  
5.15% Senior Notes
    272.8       249.8       271.1       249.7  
5.70% Senior Notes
    540.7       496.8       493.1       496.8  
5.875% Senior Notes
    579.2       499.4       550.9       499.4  
     We have estimated the fair value amounts by using appropriate valuation methodologies and information available to management as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. Considerable judgment is required in developing these estimates, and accordingly, no assurance can be given that the estimated values are indicative of the amounts that would be realized in a free market exchange. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument for which it was practicable to estimate that value:
    Cash and cash equivalents — The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.
 
    Marketable securities — The fair values of the debt securities, including residential mortgage-backed securities, available for sale were based on the quoted closing market prices on September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
    Accounts receivable and accounts payable — The carrying amounts approximate fair value based on the nature of the instruments.
 
    Forward exchange contracts — The fair value of our FOREX contracts is based on both quoted market prices and valuations derived from pricing models on September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
    Long-term receivable — The carrying amount approximates fair value based on the nature of the instrument.
 
    Long-term debt — The fair value of our 5.70% Senior Notes due 2039, 5.875% Senior Notes due 2019, 4.875% Senior Notes due July 1, 2015, and 5.15% Senior Notes due September 1, 2014 is based on the quoted market prices from brokers of these instruments.
     Certain of our assets and liabilities are required to be measured at fair value in accordance with GAAP. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy prescribed by GAAP requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

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Level 1   Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Level 1 assets include short-term investments such as money market funds, U.S. Treasury Bills and Treasury notes. Our Level 1 assets at September 30, 2011 consisted of cash held in money market funds of $327.2 million and investments in U.S. Treasury securities of $801.5 million. Our Level 1 assets at December 31, 2010 consisted of cash held in money market funds of $442.2 million and investments in U.S. Treasury Bills of $600.0 million.
Level 2   Quoted market prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets. Level 2 assets and liabilities include residential mortgage-backed securities and over-the-counter FOREX contracts. Our residential mortgage-backed securities were valued using a model-derived valuation technique based on the quoted closing market prices received from a financial institution. Our FOREX contracts are valued based on quoted market prices, which are derived from observable inputs including current spot and forward rates, less the contract rate multiplied by the notional amount. The inputs used in our valuation are obtained from a Bloomberg curve analysis which uses par coupon swap rates to calculate implied forward rates so that projected floating rate cash flows can be calculated. The valuation techniques underlying the models are widely accepted in the financial services industry and do not involve significant judgment.
Level 3   Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. Level 3 assets and liabilities generally include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation or for which there is a lack of transparency as to the inputs used.
     Market conditions could cause an instrument to be reclassified among Levels 1, 2 and 3. Our policy regarding fair value measurements of financial instruments transferred into and out of levels is to reflect the transfers as having occurred at the beginning of the reporting period.
     Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:
                                 
    September 30, 2011  
                             
    Fair Value Measurements Using     Assets at Fair  
      Level 1   Level 2     Level 3       Value
      (In thousands)          
Assets:
                               
Short-term investments
  $ 1,128,624     $     $     $ 1,128,624  
FOREX contracts
          236             236  
Mortgage-backed securities
          467             467  
     
Total assets
  $ 1,128,624     $ 703     $     $ 1,129,327  
     
 
                               
Liabilities:
                               
FOREX contracts
  $     $ (13,880 )   $     $ (13,880 )
     
                                 
    December 31, 2010  
                             
    Fair Value Measurements Using     Assets at Fair  
      Level 1   Level 2     Level 3       Value
      (In thousands)          
Assets:
                               
Short-term investments
  $ 1,042,224     $     $     $ 1,042,224  
FOREX contracts
          4,327             4,327  
Corporate bonds
          11,760             11,760  
Mortgage-backed securities
          606             606  
     
Total assets
  $ 1,042,224     $ 16,693     $     $ 1,058,917  
     
 
                               
Liabilities:
                               
FOREX contracts
  $     $ (121 )   $     $ (121 )
     

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7. Drilling and Other Property and Equipment
     Cost and accumulated depreciation of drilling and other property and equipment are summarized as follows:
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Drilling rigs and equipment
  $ 7,298,695     $ 7,163,196  
Construction work-in-progress
    483,046        
Land and buildings
    60,449       56,536  
Office equipment and other
    47,622       44,689  
     
Cost
    7,889,812       7,264,421  
Less: accumulated depreciation
    (3,284,064 )     (2,980,629 )
     
Drilling and other property and equipment, net
  $ 4,605,748     $ 4,283,792  
     
     In August 2011, we transferred $478.3 million in deposits related to the construction of three drillships, of which $154.4 million had been accrued at December 31, 2010, from “Other assets” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets into construction work-in-progress and commenced capitalization of interest on qualifying expenditures. See Notes 1 and 2.
8. Long-Term Debt
     Long-term debt consists of the following:
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
5.15% Senior Notes (due 2014)
  $ 249,795     $ 249,745  
4.875% Senior Notes (due 2015)
    249,765       249,724  
5.875% Senior Notes (due 2019)
    499,398       499,351  
5.70% Senior Notes (due 2039)
    496,807       496,773  
     
Total
  $ 1,495,765     $ 1,495,593  
     
     The aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt are as follows:
         
(Dollars in thousands)  
2012
  $  
2013
     
2014
    249,795  
2015
    249,765  
2016
     
Thereafter
    996,205  
 
     
Total
  $ 1,495,765  
 
     
     On October 12, 2011, we terminated our $285 million syndicated, senior unsecured revolving credit facility.
9. Commitments and Contingencies
     Various claims have been filed against us in the ordinary course of business, including claims by offshore workers alleging personal injuries. We have assessed each claim or exposure to determine the likelihood that the resolution of the matter might ultimately result in an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. When we determine that an unfavorable resolution of a matter is probable and such amount of loss can be determined, we record a reserve for the estimated loss at the time that both of these criteria are met. Our management believes that we have established adequate reserves for any liabilities that may reasonably be expected to result from these claims.
     Litigation. We are one of several unrelated defendants in 30 lawsuits filed in Louisiana and Mississippi state courts alleging that defendants manufactured, distributed or utilized drilling mud containing asbestos and, in our case, allowed such drilling mud to have been utilized aboard our offshore drilling rigs. The plaintiffs seek, among other things, an award of unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. The manufacture and use of asbestos-

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containing drilling mud had already ceased before we acquired any of the drilling rigs addressed in these lawsuits. We believe that we are not liable for the damages asserted and we expect to receive complete defense and indemnity with respect to a majority of the lawsuits from Murphy Exploration & Production Company pursuant to the terms of our 1992 asset purchase agreement with them. We also believe that we are not liable for the damages asserted in the remaining lawsuits pursuant to the terms of our 1989 asset purchase agreement with Diamond M Corporation, and we have filed a declaratory judgment action in Texas state court against NuStar Energy LP, the successor to Diamond M Corporation, seeking a judicial determination that we did not assume liability for these claims. We are unable to estimate our potential exposure, if any, to these lawsuits at this time but do not believe that ultimate liability, if any, resulting from this litigation will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
     Various other claims have been filed against us in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of our management, no pending or known threatened claims, actions or proceedings against us are expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
     We intend to defend these matters vigorously; however, we cannot predict with certainty the outcome or effect of any litigation matters specifically described above or any other pending litigation or claims. There can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome of these lawsuits.
     Personal Injury Claims. Our deductibles for marine liability coverage, including personal injury claims, which primarily result from Jones Act liability in the Gulf of Mexico, are currently $10.0 million per the first occurrence, with no aggregate deductible, and vary in amounts ranging between $5.0 million and, if aggregate claims exceed certain thresholds, up to $100.0 million for each subsequent occurrence, depending on the nature, severity and frequency of claims which might arise during the policy year. The Jones Act is a federal law that permits seamen to seek compensation for certain injuries during the course of their employment on a vessel and governs the liability of vessel operators and marine employers for the work-related injury or death of an employee. We engage outside consultants to assist us in estimating our aggregate reserve for personal injury claims based on our historical losses and utilizing various actuarial models. We allocate a portion of the aggregate reserve to “Accrued liabilities” based on an estimate of claims expected to be paid within the next twelve months with the residual recorded as “Other liabilities.” At September 30, 2011, our estimated liability for personal injury claims was $36.2 million, of which $8.4 million and $27.8 million were recorded in “Accrued liabilities” and “Other liabilities,” respectively, in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2010, our estimated liability for personal injury claims was $35.0 million, of which $11.1 million and $23.9 million were recorded in “Accrued liabilities” and “Other liabilities,” respectively, in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The eventual settlement or adjudication of these claims could differ materially from our estimated amounts due to uncertainties such as:
    the severity of personal injuries claimed;
 
    significant changes in the volume of personal injury claims;
 
    the unpredictability of legal jurisdictions where the claims will ultimately be litigated;
 
    inconsistent court decisions; and
 
    the risks and lack of predictability inherent in personal injury litigation.
     Purchase Obligations. Since December 2010, we have entered into three separate turnkey contracts with Hyundai for the construction of three dynamically positioned, ultra-deepwater drillships, with deliveries scheduled for late in the second and fourth quarters of 2013 and in the second quarter of 2014. The aggregate cost of the three drillships, including commissioning, spares and project management, is expected to be approximately $1.8 billion.
     The contracted price of each drillship is payable in two installments. The first installments, aggregating $478.3 million, were paid in the first and second quarters of 2011 and are reported in “Drilling and other property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as construction work-in-progress. At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we had no other purchase obligations for major rig upgrades or any other significant obligations, except for those related to our direct rig operations, which arise during the normal course of business.
     Letters of Credit and Other. We were contingently liable as of September 30, 2011 in the amount of $65.1 million under certain performance, bid, supersedeas, tax appeal and custom bonds and letters of credit. At September 30, 2011, two of our outstanding bonds, totaling $19.6 million, had been purchased from a related party after obtaining competitive quotes. Agreements relating to approximately $51.6 million of performance bonds can require collateral at any time. As of September 30, 2011, we had not been required to make any collateral deposits with respect to these agreements. The remaining agreements cannot require collateral except in events of default. On our behalf, banks have issued letters of credit securing certain of these bonds.

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10. Segments and Geographic Area Analysis
     Although we provide contract drilling services with different types of offshore drilling rigs and also provide such services in many geographic locations, we have aggregated these operations into one reportable segment based on the similarity of economic characteristics among all divisions and locations, including the nature of services provided and the type of customers of such services, in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 280, Segment Reporting.
     Revenues from contract drilling services by equipment-type are listed below:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
            (In thousands)          
High-Specification Floaters
  $ 464,512     $ 305,335     $ 1,277,867     $ 1,029,510  
Intermediate Semisubmersibles
    350,409       380,438       1,086,748       1,150,233  
Jack-ups
    46,540       63,133       155,270       225,305  
Other
    50       92       145       127  
     
Total contract drilling revenues
    861,511       748,998       2,520,030       2,405,175  
Revenues related to reimbursable expenses
    16,666       50,726       54,032       76,833  
     
Total revenues
  $ 878,177     $ 799,724     $ 2,574,062     $ 2,482,008  
     
Geographic Areas
     Our drilling rigs are highly mobile and may be moved to other markets throughout the world in response to market conditions or customer needs. At September 30, 2011, our drilling rigs were en route to or located offshore eleven countries in addition to the United States. Revenues by geographic area are presented by attributing revenues to the individual country or areas where the services were performed.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
            (In thousands)          
United States
  $ 93,870     $ 146,229     $ 245,365     $ 573,796  
 
                               
International:
                               
South America
    454,350       318,117       1,339,674       913,440  
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    121,450       181,550       344,572       482,942  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    198,551       120,113       597,701       396,796  
Mexico
    9,956       33,715       46,750       115,034  
     
Total revenues
  $ 878,177     $ 799,724     $ 2,574,062     $ 2,482,008  
     

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ITEM 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
     The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements (including the notes thereto) included elsewhere in this report and our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Item 1A, “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. References to “Diamond Offshore,” “we,” “us” or “our” mean Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries.
     We provide contract drilling services to the energy industry around the globe and are a leader in offshore drilling. Our current fleet of 46 offshore drilling rigs consists of 32 semisubmersibles, 13 jack-ups and one drillship. We currently have three drillships on order. The Ocean BlackHawk and Ocean BlackHornet are expected to be delivered late in the second and fourth quarters of 2013, respectively. The third drillship, the Ocean BlackRhino, is expected to be delivered at the end of the second quarter of 2014.
     Of our fleet, eight rigs are currently cold stacked, consisting of four intermediate semisubmersibles (two in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, or GOM, and two in Malaysia) and four jack-up rigs (all in the GOM). We are preparing to stack an additional jack-up rig, the Ocean Sovereign, in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Overview
Industry Conditions
     U.S. Gulf of Mexico — The drilling moratorium in the GOM was lifted in the fourth quarter of 2010; however, the return of deepwater drilling activity to pre-Macondo levels has been hampered by the continued slow issuance of oil and gas drilling permits despite improvements in the permit application process. Absent an increase in permitting activity, weakness in the GOM market is likely to continue throughout the remainder of 2011 and into 2012, with the possibility of additional rigs being cold stacked by us and others in the industry, as well as rigs leaving the GOM for international opportunities. We are unable to predict when or if the pace of permitting in the GOM will return to pre-Macondo levels.
     Since the Macondo well blowout, new rules for oil and gas operations on the Outer Continental Shelf have been implemented, including new standards for well design, casing and cementing and well control procedures, as well as rules requiring operators to systematically identify risks and establish safeguards against those risks through a comprehensive safety and environmental management system, or SEMS. New regulations continue to be announced, including recently proposed rules regarding employee training, engaging personnel in safety management and requiring third party audits of SEMS programs.
Our Fleet
     As of the date of this report, we are actively marketing three rigs in the GOM market, consisting of two semisubmersible rigs and one jack-up rig. Given the ongoing uncertainty with respect to drilling activity in the GOM, we are continuing to actively seek international opportunities to employ our rigs outside the GOM. However, we can provide no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to employ our remaining impacted rigs in the GOM or elsewhere in the near term.
     As of October 17, 2011, our contract backlog was approximately $8.1 billion, of which our contracts in the GOM and Brazil represented approximately $2.0 billion, or 25%, and $4.6 billion, or 56%, respectively.
     Floaters
     Our intermediate and high-specification floater rigs, both domestic and international, accounted for approximately 95% of our contract drilling revenue during the third quarter of 2011. This market remains stable with industry floater utilization reportedly nearing 90%. Approximately 84% of the time for our intermediate and high-specification floater rigs is committed for the remainder of 2011. Additionally, 61% of the time on our floating rigs is committed in 2012.

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     Jack-ups
     As a result of a recent increase in tender activity in the Mexican Gulf of Mexico, we received new term contracts, totaling 3.8 years and $163.0 million, on two jack-up units previously working offshore in the GOM and in Brazil, the Ocean Titan and Ocean Scepter, respectively. These rigs are scheduled to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, respectively. Additional tendering activity is ongoing.
Contract Drilling Backlog
     The following table reflects our contract drilling backlog as of October 17, 2011, February 1, 2011 (the date reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010) and October 18, 2010 (the date reported in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010). Contract drilling backlog is calculated by multiplying the contracted operating dayrate by the firm contract period and adding one-half of any potential rig performance bonuses. Our calculation also assumes full utilization of our drilling equipment for the contract period (excluding scheduled shipyard and survey days); however, the amount of actual revenue earned and the actual periods during which revenues are earned will be different than the amounts and periods shown in the tables below due to various factors. Utilization rates, which generally approach 95-98% during contracted periods, can be adversely impacted by downtime due to various operating factors including, but not limited to, weather conditions and unscheduled repairs and maintenance. Contract drilling backlog excludes revenues for mobilization, demobilization, contract preparation and customer reimbursables. No revenue is generally earned during periods of downtime for regulatory surveys. Changes in our contract drilling backlog between periods are a function of the performance of work on term contracts, as well as the extension or modification of existing term contracts and the execution of additional contracts.
                         
    October 17,     February 1,     October 18,  
    2011     2011     2010(4)  
            (In thousands)          
Contract Drilling Backlog
                       
High-Specification Floaters (1)
  $ 5,652,000     $ 3,838,000     $ 4,371,000  
Intermediate Semisubmersibles (2)
    2,195,000       2,700,000       3,009,000  
Jack-ups (3)
    290,000       107,000       122,000  
 
                 
Total
  $ 8,137,000     $ 6,645,000     $ 7,502,000  
 
                 
 
(1)   Contract drilling backlog as of October 17, 2011 for our high-specification floaters includes (i) $3.0 billion attributable to our contracted operations offshore Brazil for the years 2011 to 2016 and (ii) $2.0 billion attributable to our contracted operations in the GOM for the years 2011 to 2019, including $1.8 billion in the aggregate for the years 2013 to 2019 attributable to contracts for two of our drillships under construction.
 
(2)   Contract drilling backlog as of October 17, 2011 for our intermediate semisubmersibles includes $1.6 billion attributable to our contracted operations offshore Brazil for the years 2011 to 2015.
 
(3)   Contract drilling backlog as of October 17, 2011 for our jack-ups includes $5.0 million attributable to our contracted operations in the GOM during 2011.
 
(4)   Contract drilling backlog as of October 18, 2010 included $394.0 million attributable to a contract for the Ocean Monarch that we and the customer mutually agreed to terminate in May 2011.

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     The following table reflects the amount of our contract drilling backlog by year as of October 17, 2011.
                                         
    For the Years Ending December 31,  
    Total     2011(1)     2012     2013     2014 - 2019  
                    (In thousands)                  
Contract Drilling Backlog
                                       
High-Specification Floaters (2)
  $ 5,652,000     $ 400,000     $ 1,157,000     $ 1,104,000     $ 2,991,000  
Intermediate Semisubmersibles (3)
    2,195,000       268,000       864,000       581,000       482,000  
Jack-ups (4)
    290,000       29,000       137,000       97,000       27,000  
 
                             
Total
  $ 8,137,000     $ 697,000     $ 2,158,000     $ 1,782,000     $ 3,500,000  
 
                             
 
(1)   Represents a three-month period beginning October 1, 2011.
 
(2)   Contract drilling backlog as of October 17, 2011 for our high-specification floaters includes (i) $188.0 million, $779.0 million and $863.0 million for the years 2011 to 2013, respectively, and $1.2 billion in the aggregate for the years 2014 to 2016, attributable to our contracted operations offshore Brazil and (ii) $33.0 million, $78.0 million and $138.0 million for the years 2011 to 2013, respectively, and $1.8 billion in the aggregate for the years 2014 to 2019 attributable to our contracted operations in the GOM.
 
(3)   Contract drilling backlog as of October 17, 2011 for our intermediate semisubmersibles includes $172.0 million, $536.0 million and $402.0 million for the years 2011 to 2013, respectively, and $454.0 million in the aggregate for the years 2014 to 2015, attributable to our contracted operations offshore Brazil.
 
(4)   Contract drilling backlog as of October 17, 2011 for our jack-ups includes $5.0 million for 2011 attributable to our contracted operations in the GOM.
     The following table reflects the percentage of rig days committed by year as of October 17, 2011. The percentage of rig days committed is calculated as the ratio of total days committed under contracts, as well as scheduled shipyard, survey and mobilization days for all rigs in our fleet, to total available days (number of rigs multiplied by the number of days in a particular year). Total available days have been calculated based on the final commissioning dates for the Ocean BlackHawk and Ocean BlackHornet and does not include available days for the Ocean BlackRhino.
                                 
    For the Years Ending December 31,  
    2011(1)     2012     2013     2014 - 2019  
     
Rig Days Committed (2)
                               
High-Specification Floaters
    99 %     73 %     63 %     19 %
Intermediate Semisubmersibles
    72 %     52 %     33 %     4 %
Jack-ups
    38 %     28 %     20 %     1 %
 
(1)   Represents a three-month period beginning October 1, 2011.
 
(2)   Includes approximately 530 and 780 scheduled shipyard, survey and mobilization days for 2011 and 2012, respectively, and also includes 125 final commissioning and mobilization days for each of the years 2013 and 2014 for the Ocean BlackHawk and Ocean BlackHornet.
General
     The two most significant variables affecting our revenues are dayrates for rigs and rig utilization rates, each of which is a function of rig supply and demand in the marketplace. Demand for drilling services is dependent upon the level of expenditures set by oil and gas companies for offshore exploration and development, as well as a variety of political, regulatory and economic factors. The availability of rigs in a particular geographical region also affects both dayrates and utilization rates. These factors are not within our control and are difficult to predict.
     Demand affects the number of days our fleet is utilized and the dayrates earned. As utilization rates increase, dayrates tend to increase as well, reflecting the lower supply of available rigs. Conversely, as utilization rates decrease, dayrates tend to decrease as well, reflecting the excess supply of rigs. When a rig is idle, no dayrate is earned and revenues will decrease as a result. Revenues can also be affected as a result of the acquisition or disposal of rigs, required surveys and shipyard upgrades. In order to improve utilization or realize higher dayrates, we may mobilize our rigs from one market to another. However, during periods of mobilization, revenues may be adversely affected. As a response to changes in demand, we may withdraw a rig from the market by stacking it or may reactivate a rig stacked previously, which may decrease or increase revenues, respectively.
     Operating Income. Our operating income is primarily affected by revenue factors, but is also a function of varying levels of operating expenses. Our operating expenses represent all direct and indirect costs associated with the operation and maintenance of our drilling equipment. The principal components of our operating costs are,

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among other things, direct and indirect costs of labor and benefits, repairs and maintenance, freight, regulatory inspections, boat and helicopter rentals and insurance. Labor and repair and maintenance costs represent the most significant components of our operating expenses. In general, our labor costs increase primarily due to higher salary levels, rig staffing requirements and costs associated with labor regulations in the geographic regions in which our rigs operate. Costs to repair and maintain our equipment fluctuate depending upon the type of activity the drilling unit is performing, as well as the age and condition of the equipment and the regions in which our rigs are working.
     Our operating income is negatively impacted when we perform certain regulatory inspections, which we refer to as a 5-year survey, or special survey, that are due every five years for each of our rigs. Operating revenue decreases because these special surveys are performed during scheduled downtime in a shipyard. Operating expenses increase as a result of these special surveys due to the cost to mobilize the rigs to a shipyard, inspection costs incurred and repair and maintenance costs. Repair and maintenance activities may result from the special survey or may have been previously planned to take place during this mandatory downtime. The number of rigs undergoing a 5-year survey will vary from year to year, as well as from quarter to quarter.
     In addition, operating income may be negatively impacted by intermediate surveys, which are performed at interim periods between 5-year surveys. Intermediate surveys are generally less extensive in duration and scope than a 5-year survey. Although an intermediate survey may require some downtime for the drilling rig, it normally does not require dry-docking or shipyard time, except for rigs located in the United Kingdom, or U.K., and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea.
     During the remainder of 2011, five of our rigs will require or complete 5-year surveys, and we expect that they will be out of service for approximately 120 rig days in the aggregate. We also expect to spend an additional approximately 430 rig days during 2011 for intermediate surveys, the mobilization of rigs, contract preparation activities and extended maintenance projects. We can provide no assurance as to the exact timing and/or duration of downtime associated with regulatory inspections, planned rig mobilizations and other shipyard projects. Fluctuations between periods in the number of surveys performed and the amount of downtime associated with those surveys could have a material impact on our results of operations. See “ — Overview — Contract Drilling Backlog.”
     We renewed our principal insurance policies effective May 1, 2011. Our coverage and policy limits for both physical damage and marine liability insurance are substantially similar to those of our previous policies. We believe that our current policy limit for our marine liability insurance is within the range that is customary for companies of our size in the offshore drilling industry and at levels appropriate for our business.
     Under our protection and indemnity policy, which expires on May 1, 2012, we carry marine liability insurance covering certain legal liabilities, including coverage for certain personal injury claims, with no exclusions for pollution and/or environmental risk. Our deductibles for marine liability coverage, including for personal injury claims, are $10.0 million for the first occurrence and vary in amounts ranging between $5.0 million and, if aggregate claims exceed certain thresholds, up to $100.0 million for each subsequent occurrence, depending on the nature, severity and frequency of claims which might arise during the policy year, which under our current policy commenced on May 1, 2011.
     We are self-insured for physical damage to rigs and equipment caused by named windstorms in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. If a named windstorm in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico causes significant damage to our rigs or equipment, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. However, under our insurance policy that expires on May 1, 2012, we carry physical damage insurance for certain losses other than those caused by named windstorms in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico for which our deductible for physical damage is $25.0 million per occurrence. We do not typically retain loss-of-hire insurance policies to cover our rigs.
Critical Accounting Estimates
     Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 1 of our notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report and in Note 1 of our notes to audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. There were no material changes to these policies during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 except that we no longer expect to repatriate the earnings of Diamond East Asia Limited, or DEAL, to the U.S. Accordingly, we are no longer providing U.S. income taxes on its earnings and have reversed U.S. income taxes on its earnings provided in previous years. For further discussion, see Note 1 “General Information” to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

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Results of Operations
     Although we perform contract drilling services with different types of drilling rigs and in many geographic locations, there is a similarity of economic characteristics among all our divisions and locations, including the nature of services provided and the type of customers for our services. We believe that the combination of our drilling rigs into one reportable segment is the appropriate aggregation in accordance with applicable accounting standards on segment reporting. However, for purposes of this discussion and analysis of our results of operations, we provide greater detail with respect to the types of rigs in our fleet and the geographic regions in which they operate to enhance the reader’s understanding of our financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations.
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010
     Comparative data relating to our revenue and operating expenses by equipment type are listed below.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
            (In thousands)          
CONTRACT DRILLING REVENUE
                               
High-Specification Floaters
  $ 464,512     $ 305,335     $ 1,277,867     $ 1,029,510  
Intermediate Semisubmersibles
    350,409       380,438       1,086,748       1,150,233  
Jack-ups
    46,540       63,133       155,270       225,305  
Other
    50       92       145       127  
     
Total Contract Drilling Revenue
  $ 861,511     $ 748,998     $ 2,520,030     $ 2,405,175  
     
 
                               
Revenues Related to Reimbursable Expenses
  $ 16,666     $ 50,726     $ 54,032     $ 76,833  
 
                               
CONTRACT DRILLING EXPENSE
                               
High-Specification Floaters
  $ 188,071     $ 148,503     $ 572,568     $ 392,158  
Intermediate Semisubmersibles
    153,416       154,731       430,031       450,776  
Jack-ups
    43,281       43,940       123,933       149,285  
Other
    6,601       3,381       15,207       16,332  
     
Total Contract Drilling Expense
  $ 391,369     $ 350,555     $ 1,141,739     $ 1,008,551  
     
 
                               
Reimbursable Expenses
  $ 16,206     $ 50,313     $ 52,443     $ 75,397  
 
                               
OPERATING INCOME
                               
High-Specification Floaters
  $ 276,441     $ 156,832     $ 705,299     $ 637,352  
Intermediate Semisubmersibles
    196,993       225,707       656,717       699,457  
Jack-ups
    3,259       19,193       31,337       76,020  
Other
    (6,551 )     (3,289 )     (15,062 )     (16,205 )
Reimbursable expenses, net
    460       413       1,589       1,436  
Depreciation
    (101,175 )     (99,117 )     (303,523 )     (297,265 )
General and administrative expense
    (14,879 )     (16,999 )     (48,976 )     (50,502 )
Bad debt (expense) recovery
    (4,734 )     2,048       5,413       5,946  
Gain on disposition of assets
    463       32,392       4,344       33,425  
     
Total Operating Income
  $ 350,277     $ 317,180     $ 1,037,138     $ 1,089,664  
     
 
                               
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest income
    2,024       395       3,565       2,154  
Interest expense
    (15,874 )     (22,567 )     (60,144 )     (66,221 )
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)
    (1,442 )     3,724       (4,603 )     194  
Other, net
    (136 )     (166 )     (232 )     (287 )
     
Income before income tax expense
    334,849       298,566       975,724       1,025,504  
Income tax expense
    (77,995 )     (100,042 )     (201,672 )     (311,734 )
     
NET INCOME
  $ 256,854     $ 198,524     $ 774,052     $ 713,770  
     

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Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
     Operating Income. Total operating income increased $33.1 million, or 10%, during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, due to a $112.5 million, or 15%, increase in total contract drilling revenue during the third quarter of 2011. The increase in revenue was primarily the result of an increase in average utilization for our high-specification floaters from 55% during the third quarter of 2010 to 93% during the third quarter of 2011 combined with the effect of higher average daily revenue earned during the third quarter of 2011 compared to the prior year quarter. Revenue generated by our domestic and international high-specification floater rigs increased an aggregate $159.2 million, or 52%, during the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010, reflective of the return to service of three of our high specification floaters after being idled following the Macondo incident in the GOM, as well as revenue generated by the newest addition to our floater fleet, the Ocean Valor, which began operating under contract offshore Brazil in the fourth quarter of 2010. In addition, the Ocean Monarch, which was also idled in the GOM after the Macondo incident, is currently mobilizing to Vietnam where it is expected to begin working under contract late in the fourth quarter of 2011.
     In contrast, revenue for our combined domestic and international intermediate semisubmersible and jack-up fleets decreased $30.0 million and $16.6 million, or 8% and 26%, respectively, during the third quarter of 2011 compared to the same quarter of 2010. Utilization for our intermediate semisubmersible and jack-up rigs decreased from 76% and 60%, respectively, in the third quarter of 2010 to 68% and 44%, respectively, during the third quarter of 2011. In response to market conditions, we have cold stacked four intermediate semisubmersible and four jack-up rigs, inclusive of two intermediate semisubmersible rigs and one jack-up rig that were cold stacked during the third quarter of 2010 and the first quarter of 2011.
     Total contract drilling expense increased $40.8 million, or 12%, during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the third quarter of 2010, and included normal operating costs for the Ocean Valor, as well as increased amortized mobilization costs and higher other operating costs associated with rigs operating internationally rather than domestically.
     Other significant factors that affected the comparability of our operating income for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were as follows:
    Bad Debt (Expense) Recovery. During the three-month period ended September 30, 2011, we recorded a $5.7 million provision for bad debts to reserve a portion of the uncollected balance of receivables related to our operations in Egypt and recovered $1.0 million in previously recorded reserves for bad debts. During the three-month period ended September 30, 2010, we recovered $2.0 million associated with reserves for bad debts recorded in previous years.
 
    Gain on Disposition of Assets. Net gain on disposition of assets for the three-month period ended September 30, 2010 was primarily related to the sale of the Ocean Shield on July 7, 2010. The rig was sold for net proceeds of $185.3 million and resulted in a net gain on sale of $32.8 million.
     Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased $6.7 million during the three-month period ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, primarily due to $4.5 million in interest capitalized on our three drillships under construction.
     Income Tax Expense. Our estimated annual effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was 22.6%, compared to the 29.9% estimated annual effective tax rate for the same period in 2010. The lower effective tax rate in the current quarter is partially the result of differences in the mix of our domestic and international pre-tax earnings and losses, as well as the mix of international tax jurisdictions in which we operate. Also contributing to our lower effective tax rate in the 2011 quarter, compared to the prior year quarter, was the impact of a tax law provision that expired at the end of 2009 but was subsequently signed back into law by the President of the United States on December 17, 2010. This provision allows us to defer recognition of certain foreign earnings for U.S. income tax purposes. As a consequence of the extension of the tax law provision in December 2010, we were able to defer the recognition of certain of our foreign earnings for U.S. income tax purposes in the third quarter of 2011 that we were unable to defer during the third quarter of 2010.
     Return to provision adjustments recorded during the third quarter of 2011 that were associated with the filing of our 2010 tax returns in various jurisdictions resulted in a $4.3 million reduction in tax expense. Return to provision adjustments recorded during the third quarter of 2010 that were associated with the filing of our 2009 tax returns in various jurisdictions resulted in additional tax expense of $2.2 million.

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
     Operating Income. Total operating income decreased $52.5 million, or 5%, during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the first nine months of 2010, despite a $114.9 million, or 5%, increase in total contract drilling revenue during the first nine months of 2011. Revenue generated by our domestic and international high-specification floater rigs during the first nine months of 2011 increased an aggregate $248.4 million, or 24%. The two newest additions to our floater fleet, the Ocean Courage and Ocean Valor, which began operating under contract late in the first quarter and in the fourth quarter of 2010, respectively, contributed incremental revenue of $132.5 million during the first nine months of 2011. Operating income attributable to our high-specification floaters increased $67.9 million, or 11%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
     In contrast, revenue and operating income for our intermediate semisubmersible fleet for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010, both decreased by 6%, and revenue and operating income for our jack-up fleet decreased 31% and 59%, respectively, comparing the same periods.
     Total contract drilling expense increased $133.2 million, or 13%, during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, and included a full nine months of contract drilling expense for the Ocean Courage and Ocean Valor, as well as increased amortized mobilization costs and higher other operating costs associated with rigs operating internationally rather than domestically.
     Other significant factors that affected the comparability of our operating income for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were as follows:
    Bad Debt (Expense) Recovery. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, we recorded a $5.7 million provision for bad debts to reserve a portion of the uncollected balance of receivables related to our operations in Egypt and recovered $11.1 million in previously recorded reserves for bad debts. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, we recovered $5.9 million associated with reserves for bad debts recorded in previous years.
 
    Gain on Disposition of Assets. Net gain on disposition of assets for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 was primarily related to the sale of the Ocean Shield on July 7, 2010. The rig was sold for net proceeds of $185.3 million and resulted in a net gain on sale of $32.8 million.
     Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased $6.1 million during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, primarily due to $4.5 million in interest capitalized on our three drillships under construction.
     Income Tax Expense. Our estimated annual effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 22.6%, compared to the 29.9% estimated annual effective tax rate for the same period in 2010. The lower effective tax rate in the current period is partially the result of differences in the mix of our domestic and international pre-tax earnings and losses, as well as the mix of international tax jurisdictions in which we operate. Also contributing to our lower effective tax rate in the 2011 period, compared to the prior year period, was the impact of a tax law provision that expired at the end of 2009 but was subsequently signed back into law by the President of the United States on December 17, 2010. This provision allows us to defer recognition of certain foreign earnings for U.S. income tax purposes. As a consequence of the extension of the tax law provision in December 2010, we were able to defer the recognition of certain of our foreign earnings for U.S. income tax purposes in the first nine months of 2011 that we were unable to defer during the first nine months of 2010.
     As a result of the tax law provision enacted in December 2010, during early 2011, we reassessed our intent to repatriate the earnings of DEAL to the U.S. We no longer intend to repatriate the earnings of DEAL to a U.S. parent but instead we plan to reinvest its earnings internationally through another of our foreign companies. Consequently, we are no longer providing U.S. income taxes on the earnings of DEAL and, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we reversed approximately $15.0 million of U.S. income taxes provided in prior periods for the earnings of DEAL.
     Return to provision adjustments recorded during the third quarter of 2011 that were associated with the filing of our 2010 tax returns in various jurisdictions resulted in a $4.3 million reduction in tax expense. Return to provision adjustments recorded during the third quarter of 2010 that were associated with the filing of our 2009 tax returns in various jurisdictions resulted in additional tax expense of $2.2 million.

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High-Specification Floaters.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
    (In thousands, except days, percentages and average daily revenue amounts)  
HIGH-SPECIFICATION FLOATERS:
                               
REVENUE EARNING DAYS (1)
                               
GOM
    151       86       393       866  
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    181       168       466       360  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    276       74       769       254  
South America
    585       378       1,783       1,050  
 
                               
UTILIZATION (2)
                               
GOM
    82 %     35 %     72 %     72 %
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    98 %     91 %     85 %     77 %
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    99 %     35 %     94 %     64 %
South America
    91 %     59 %     93 %     63 %
 
                               
AVERAGE DAILY REVENUE (3)
                               
GOM
  $ 430,300     $ 347,500     $ 318,700     $ 397,100  
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    390,400       433,400       387,000       441,800  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    421,000       544,400       413,400       582,600  
South America
    345,100       312,300       343,600       303,400  
 
                               
CONTRACT DRILLING REVENUE
                               
GOM
  $ 64,807     $ 61,707     $ 125,125     $ 376,504  
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    72,877       74,385       186,973       160,644  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    120,991       45,250       341,090       157,957  
South America
    205,837       123,993       624,679       334,405  
     
Total Contract Drilling Revenue
  $ 464,512     $ 305,335     $ 1,277,867     $ 1,029,510  
     
 
                               
CONTRACT DRILLING EXPENSE
                               
GOM
  $ 10,907     $ 29,199     $ 42,782     $ 110,343  
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    27,523       21,335       79,469       42,945  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    38,227       18,147       117,367       40,380  
South America
    111,414       79,822       332,950       198,490  
     
Total Contract Drilling Expense
  $ 188,071     $ 148,503     $ 572,568     $ 392,158  
     
 
                               
OPERATING INCOME
  $ 276,441     $ 156,832     $ 705,299     $ 637,352  
     
 
(1)   A revenue earning day is defined as a 24-hour period during which a rig earns a dayrate after commencement of operations and excludes mobilization, demobilization and contract preparation days.
 
(2)   Utilization is calculated as the ratio of total revenue-earning days divided by the total calendar days in the period for all of the specified rigs in our fleet (including cold-stacked rigs).
 
(3)   Average daily revenue is defined as contract drilling revenue for all of the specified rigs in our fleet (excluding revenue for mobilization, demobilization and contract preparation) per revenue earning day.

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     Rig Relocations:
         
Rig   Relocation Details   Date
2011:  
 
   
Ocean Confidence  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean (Republic of Congo to Angola)
  January 2011
Ocean Monarch  
GOM to Vietnam
  September 2011
   
 
   
2010:  
 
   
Ocean Star  
GOM to South America (Brazil)
  January 2010
Ocean Valor  
Completion of construction and relocation from Singapore shipyard to South America (Brazil)
  March 2010
Ocean Courage  
GOM to South America (Brazil)
  March 2010
Ocean Baroness  
GOM to South America (Brazil)
  March 2010
Ocean America  
GOM to Australia/Asia/Middle East (Australia)
  March 2010
Ocean Confidence  
GOM to Europe/Africa/Mediterranean (Republic of Congo)
  August 2010
Ocean Endeavor  
GOM to Europe/Africa/Mediterranean (Egypt)
  August 2010
Ocean Rover  
Australia/Asia/Middle East (Malaysia to Indonesia)
  November 2010
Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
     GOM. Revenue generated by our high-specification floaters operating in the GOM increased $3.1 million during the third quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter of 2010, primarily as a result of 65 incremental revenue earning days ($22.6 million) due to the lifting of the moratorium in the fourth quarter of 2010 and an increase in average daily revenue earned ($12.5 million). The increase in revenue was partially offset by the absence of a $30.7 million contract termination fee recognized in the third quarter of 2010. Contract drilling expense for our high-specification floaters in the GOM decreased $18.3 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the third quarter of 2010, primarily due to a reduction in costs attributable to the rigs that were relocated out of the GOM near the end of the third quarter of 2010 ($12.5 million), reduced maintenance and repair costs ($2.7 million) and the absence of amortized mobilization and contract preparation fees ($1.3 million).
     At the end of the third quarter of 2011, we had begun mobilizing the Ocean Monarch to Vietnam, leaving only one of our high specification rigs currently operating in the GOM.
     Australia/Asia/Middle East. Revenue generated by our two high-specification rigs operating in the Australia/Asia/Middle East region decreased $1.5 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to a lower dayrate earned by the Ocean Rover operating offshore Indonesia during the 2011 quarter compared to the dayrate it earned operating offshore Malaysia in the prior year quarter ($7.7 million). The negative impact of lower average daily revenue earned was partially offset by the nearly full utilization of the Ocean America in the third quarter of 2011, compared to the prior year quarter when the rig had unplanned downtime for repairs after arriving in Australia ($5.3 million). Contract drilling expense for our operations in this region increased $6.2 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to higher personnel-related expenses and higher repair, maintenance and freight costs.
     Europe/Africa/Mediterranean. Revenue generated by our high-specification floaters operating in the Europe/Africa/Mediterranean region increased $75.7 million during the third quarter of 2011. The Ocean Endeavor and Ocean Confidence mobilized to this region in August 2010 and contributed 173 incremental revenue earning days in the third quarter of 2011, generating incremental revenue of $54.3 million. The Ocean Valiant, working in this region since 2009, contributed incremental revenue of $21.4 million due to less downtime in the third quarter of 2011 for repairs and a higher average daily revenue earned. Contract drilling expense for our operations in this region increased $20.1 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to the inclusion of normal operating and amortized mobilization costs for the two additional rigs in the region during the entire third quarter of 2011.
     South America. Revenue earned by our high-specification floaters operating offshore Brazil during the third quarter of 2011 increased $81.8 million compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to 207 incremental revenue earning days ($64.7 million) and an increase in average daily revenue earned ($19.2 million). The increase in revenue earning days during the third quarter of 2011 was primarily the result of 110 additional revenue earning days for the Ocean Valor and Ocean Baroness compared to the third quarter of 2010, when the rigs were mobilized from the GOM and underwent customer acceptance before commencing operations offshore Brazil, and 98 fewer

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downtime days associated with shipyard projects and repairs. Contract drilling expense for our operations in Brazil increased $31.6 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to the inclusion of a full quarter of normal operating costs and amortized mobilization expense for the rigs relocated into the region in 2010.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
     GOM. Revenue generated by our high-specification floaters operating in the GOM decreased $251.4 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, as a result of 473 fewer revenue earning days ($188.0 million) and a decrease in average daily revenue earned ($30.8 million) during the first nine months of 2011. The decrease in revenue earning days was primarily due to the 2010 relocations of six of our high-specification rigs out of the GOM (three to Brazil and one each to Australia, the Republic of Congo and Egypt) and unplanned downtime for the Ocean Monarch due to a force majeure assertion by one of our customers in the GOM, which has now been resolved. Also in July 2010 we recognized a $30.7 million contract termination fee from a previous customer of the Ocean Endeavor. Contract drilling expense for our high-specification floaters in the GOM decreased $67.6 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, reflecting a $65.8 million reduction in expense attributable to rigs that were relocated to other regions.
     Australia/Asia/Middle East. Revenue generated by our two high-specification rigs operating in the Australia/Asia/Middle East region increased $26.3 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, and reflected 106 incremental revenue earning days, primarily due to the relocation of the Ocean America to Australia in March 2010 ($44.5 million). However, the favorable impact of the incremental revenue earning days during the first nine months of 2011 was partially offset by the impact of a decrease in average daily revenue earned during the same period. Revenue earned by the Ocean Rover decreased $18.2 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of the prior year, primarily as a result of the rig operating offshore Indonesia during 2011 at a lower dayrate than it had earned operating offshore Malaysia during the first nine months of 2010. Contract drilling expense for our operations in this region increased $36.5 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to the inclusion of an entire nine months of normal operating and amortized mobilization costs for the Ocean America ($31.0 million).
     Europe/Africa/Mediterranean. Revenue and contract drilling expense generated by our high-specification floaters operating in the Europe/Africa/Mediterranean region increased $183.1 million and $77.6 million, respectively, during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to incremental revenue and expense attributable to our two additional rigs operating in the region. The Ocean Confidence and Ocean Endeavor mobilized to this region in August 2010 and generated incremental revenue and incurred contract drilling expense of $157.5 million and $77.6 million, respectively, during the first nine months of 2011 compared to the first nine months of 2010. Our third rig operating in the region, the Ocean Valiant, generated incremental revenue of $25.6 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, due to less downtime in 2011 for repairs and higher average daily revenue earned.
     South America. Revenue earned by our high-specification floaters operating offshore Brazil during the first nine months of 2011 increased $290.3 million, compared to the first nine months of 2010, primarily due to 733 additional revenue earning days ($222.0 million) and higher average daily revenue earned ($71.7 million). The increase in revenue earning days during the first nine months of 2011 was the result of the relocation of the four additional rigs relocated to this region during 2010 and 145 fewer shipyard days for Ocean Alliance during the first nine months of 2011. Contract drilling expense for our operations in Brazil increased $134.5 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to the inclusion of normal operating costs and amortized mobilization costs for the relocated rigs for the entire first nine months of 2011, as well as higher overall contract drilling expenses for the remainder of our Brazil fleet, including personnel and related costs, repair and maintenance costs and revenue-based fees and taxes.

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Intermediate Semisubmersibles.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
    (In thousands, except days, percentages and average daily revenue  
            amounts)          
INTERMEDIATE SEMISUBMERSIBLES:
                               
REVENUE EARNING DAYS (1)
                               
GOM
    32       92       212       358  
Mexico
          45             210  
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    184       273       582       772  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    226       216       759       614  
South America
    749       701       2,325       2,123  
 
                               
UTILIZATION (2)
                               
GOM
    10 %     42 %     25 %     69 %
Mexico
          81 %           71 %
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    50 %     74 %     53 %     71 %
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    82 %     78 %     93 %     75 %
South America
    90 %     85 %     96 %     87 %
 
                               
AVERAGE DAILY REVENUE (3)
                               
GOM
  $ 209,400     $ 218,700     $ 202,700     $ 201,300  
Mexico
          159,600             194,100  
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    230,300       339,700       243,300       330,000  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    294,400       297,800       296,500       321,700  
South America
    272,300       267,800       272,400       262,200  
 
                               
CONTRACT DRILLING REVENUE
                               
GOM
  $ 7,348     $ 20,125     $ 43,699     $ 72,141  
Mexico
          9,151             47,282  
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    42,369       92,691       141,545       254,783  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    66,616       64,347       224,893       197,432  
South America
    234,076       194,124       676,611       578,595  
     
Total Contract Drilling Revenue
  $ 350,409     $ 380,438     $ 1,086,748     $ 1,150,233  
     
 
                               
CONTRACT DRILLING EXPENSE
                               
GOM
  $ 18,001     $ 9,036     $ 26,771     $ 30,867  
Mexico
    28       2,949       193       19,515  
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    18,153       29,058       60,122       78,634  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    28,946       30,563       74,600       81,773  
South America
    88,288       83,125       268,345       239,987  
     
Total Contract Drilling Expense
  $ 153,416     $ 154,731     $ 430,031     $ 450,776  
     
 
                               
     
OPERATING INCOME
  $ 196,993     $ 225,707     $ 656,717     $ 699,457  
     
 
(1)   A revenue earning day is defined as a 24-hour period during which a rig earns a dayrate after commencement of operations and excludes mobilization, demobilization and contract preparation days.
 
(2)   Utilization is calculated as the ratio of total revenue-earning days divided by the total calendar days in the period for all of the specified rigs in our fleet (including cold-stacked rigs).
 
(3)   Average daily revenue is defined as contract drilling revenue for all of the specified rigs in our fleet (excluding revenue for mobilization, demobilization and contract preparation) per revenue earning day.

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     Rig Relocations:
         
Rig   Relocation Details   Date
2011:
       
Ocean Epoch
  Australia/Asia/Middle East (cold
stacked Malaysia)
  February 2011
 
       
Ocean Yorktown
  Brazil to GOM (survey and contract preparation)   August 2011
 
       
2010:
       
Ocean Voyager
  Mexico to GOM (cold stacked June 2010)   March 2010
 
       
Ocean New Era
  Mexico to GOM (cold stacked September 2010)   August 2010
Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
     GOM. Revenue for our intermediate semisubmersible rigs working in the GOM decreased $12.8 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the same quarter of 2010, primarily due to a decrease in utilization of our GOM fleet from 42% in the third quarter of 2010 to 10% in the third quarter of 2011. We currently have only one intermediate semisubmersible unit actively marketed in the GOM; two other intermediate semisubmersible rigs were cold stacked during 2010 after their return from Mexico. Contract drilling expense increased $9.0 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to costs associated with the mobilization of the Ocean Yorktown from Brazil to the GOM for a five-year survey and contract preparation work before commencing a contract offshore Mexico.
     Mexico. The Ocean New Era operated offshore Mexico during the third quarter of 2010 and generated revenue and incurred contract drilling expense of $9.2 million and $2.9 million, respectively. The rig was relocated to the GOM and subsequently cold stacked after completing its contract during the third quarter of 2010.
     Australia/Asia/Middle East. Revenue generated by our intermediate semisubmersibles working in the Australia/Asia/Middle East region decreased $50.3 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, as a result of 89 fewer revenue earning days combined with a decrease in average daily revenue earned. Both revenue earning days and average daily revenue earned during the third quarter of 2011 were negatively impacted by the cold stacking of the Ocean Epoch after completion of its contract in early 2011 ($29.5 million). The decrease in average daily revenue earned was further impacted by a decrease in the contracted dayrate earned by the Ocean Patriot as a result of a contract extension and subsequent farm-out to another customer at lower dayrates than previously earned ($18.2 million). Contract drilling expense decreased $10.9 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to reduced costs for the cold-stacked Ocean Epoch.
     Europe/Africa/Mediterranean. Revenue earned by our intermediate semisubmersibles working in the Europe/Africa/Mediterranean region increased $2.3 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to 10 additional revenue earning days ($3.0 million) partially offset by a reduction in average daily revenue earned ($0.8 million) during the third quarter of 2011.
     South America. Both revenue earning days and average daily revenue earned by our intermediate semisubmersible fleet working in the South America region increased during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the third quarter of 2010, and resulted in the generation of incremental revenue of $12.8 million and $3.4 million, respectively. The increase in revenue earning days was primarily attributable to the nearly full utilization of the Ocean Winner (Brazil) during the third quarter of 2011 compared to the rig undergoing a shipyard project during the entire third quarter of 2010, partially offset by fewer revenue earning days for the Ocean Yorktown (Brazil) which is currently mobilizing to the GOM. In connection with the mutually agreed upon termination of the Ocean Yorktown contract, we recognized a $24.0 million mobilization fee in the third quarter of 2011. Contract drilling expense increased $5.2 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the prior year quarter, due to higher overall operating costs in the region, including labor and personnel-related costs, freight and revenue-based fees and taxes, partially offset by lower repair and maintenance costs.

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
     GOM. Revenue and contract drilling expense for our intermediate semisubmersible rigs working in the GOM decreased $28.4 million and $4.1 million, respectively, during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to a decrease in utilization of our GOM fleet from 69% in the first nine months of 2010 to 25% during the same period of 2011. As a result of the cold stacking of two intermediate semisubmersible rigs in the GOM during 2010, we have only one intermediate semisubmersible unit actively marketed in the GOM. The reduction in contract drilling expense for the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of the prior year, was attributable to the effects of cold stacking rigs, partially offset by costs associated with the mobilization of the Ocean Yorktown from Brazil.
     Mexico. Our two intermediate semisubmersible rigs operating offshore Mexico during the first nine months of 2010 generated revenue and incurred contract drilling expense of $47.3 million and $19.5 million, respectively, prior to being relocated to the GOM after the completion of their contracts offshore Mexico during 2010.
     Australia/Asia/Middle East. Revenue generated by our intermediate semisubmersibles working in the Australia/Asia/Middle East region decreased $113.2 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to cold stacking the Ocean Epoch in early 2011, as well as the effect of a lower dayrate earned by the Ocean Patriot in 2011 due to a contract extension at a lower dayrate than previously earned. Revenue earning days for our intermediate semisubmersible rigs in this region during the first nine months of 2011 decreased by 190 days ($62.8 million) and average daily revenue earned decreased from $330,000 for the first nine months of 2010 to $243,300 during the same period of 2011 ($50.4 million). Contract drilling expense decreased $18.5 million during the first nine months of 2011 compared to the same period of the prior year. Reduced costs for the cold stacked Ocean Bounty and Ocean Epoch were partially offset by increased contract drilling expense for the Ocean Patriot, primarily for personnel-related expenditures, freight, repairs and maintenance and equipment rental.
     Europe/Africa/Mediterranean. Revenue earned by our intermediate semisubmersibles working in the Europe/Africa/Mediterranean region increased $27.5 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to 145 incremental revenue earning days ($46.6 million), partially offset by a reduction in average daily revenue earned ($19.1 million). The increase in revenue earning days during the first nine months of 2011 was primarily attributable to 90 incremental revenue earning days for the Ocean Nomad, which was ready stacked during the first quarter of 2010, and 54 incremental revenue earning days attributable to a net decrease in shipyard days for surveys and projects. Average daily revenue declined to $296,500 for the first nine months of 2011, primarily due to a lower dayrate earned by two of our three rigs operating in this region, compared to $321,700 in the prior year period. Contract drilling expense for our rigs in the Europe/Africa/Mediterranean region decreased $7.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, primarily due to the absence of costs associated with the survey of the Ocean Vanguard in 2010.
     South America. Revenue earned by our intermediate semisubmersible fleet working in the South America region increased $98.1 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the first nine months of 2010, due to an increase in both revenue earning days ($52.7 million) and average daily revenue earned ($23.6 million), as well as the inclusion of $24.0 million in revenue related to the mobilization of the Ocean Yorktown from Brazil to the GOM. The increase in revenue earning days was attributable to the nearly full utilization of both the Ocean Guardian (Falkland Islands) and the Ocean Lexington (Brazil) during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the prior year period when the rigs were participating in customer acceptance activities at the beginning of 2010. In addition, utilization for the Ocean Winner increased during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, due to the completion of a shipyard project in late 2010. The increase in average daily revenue earned is primarily related to a contract extension for the Ocean Winner after completion of its 2010 survey and shipyard project at a higher dayrate than its previous contract. Contract drilling expense increased $28.4 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the prior year period, due to higher operating costs in the region, including labor and other personnel-related costs, repair costs, freight and revenue-based fees and taxes.

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Jack-Ups.
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
    (In thousands, except days, percentages and average daily revenue  
            amounts)          
JACK-UPS:
                               
REVENUE EARNING DAYS (1)
                               
GOM
    60       237       334       819  
Mexico
    99       179       439       492  
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    90       143       233       505  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    183       193       545       693  
South America
    92             242        
 
                               
UTILIZATION (2)
                               
GOM
    11 %     39 %     20 %     44 %
Mexico
    54 %     97 %     81 %     90 %
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    98 %     100 %     85 %     100 %
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    66 %     70 %     67 %     85 %
South America
    100 %           89 %      
 
                               
AVERAGE DAILY REVENUE (3)
                               
GOM
  $ 77,100     $ 54,200     $ 65,900     $ 58,000  
Mexico
    100,300       134,500       106,400       134,900  
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    69,100       101,200       62,500       133,700  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    59,800       54,600       58,200       59,700  
South America
    135,000             136,500        
 
                               
CONTRACT DRILLING REVENUE
                               
GOM
  $ 4,998     $ 13,579     $ 22,364     $ 48,191  
Mexico
    9,956       24,564       46,750       67,752  
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    6,205       14,474       16,054       67,515  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    10,944       10,516       31,718       41,407  
South America
    14,437             38,384       440  
     
Total Contract Drilling Revenue
  $ 46,540     $ 63,133     $ 155,270     $ 225,305  
     
 
                               
CONTRACT DRILLING EXPENSE
                               
GOM
  $ 7,657     $ 14,974     $ 20,192     $ 56,153  
Mexico
    12,013       9,776       30,410       29,822  
Australia/Asia/Middle East
    4,010       7,795       13,281       31,531  
Europe/Africa/Mediterranean
    9,388       10,062       29,694       28,986  
South America
    10,213       1,333       30,356       2,793  
     
Total Contract Drilling Expense
  $ 43,281     $ 43,940     $ 123,933     $ 149,285  
     
 
                               
     
OPERATING INCOME
  $ 3,259     $ 19,193     $ 31,337     $ 76,020  
     
 
(1)   A revenue earning day is defined as a 24-hour period during which a rig earns a dayrate after commencement of operations and excludes mobilization, demobilization and contract preparation days.
 
(2)   Utilization is calculated as the ratio of total revenue-earning days divided by the total calendar days in the period for all of the specified rigs in our fleet (including cold-stacked rigs).
 
(3)   Average daily revenue is defined as contract drilling revenue for all of the specified rigs in our fleet (excluding revenue for mobilization, demobilization and contract preparation) per revenue earning day.

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     Rig Relocations:
         
Rig   Relocation Details   Date
2010:
       
Ocean Shield
  Sold   July 2010
Ocean Scepter
  GOM to South America (Brazil)   August 2010
Ocean Spartan
  Cold stacked (GOM)   September 2010
Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
     GOM. Revenue generated by our jack-up rigs operating in the GOM decreased $8.6 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the third quarter of 2010, primarily due to 177 fewer revenue earning days ($9.6 million), partially offset by an increase in average daily revenue earned ($1.4 million). During the third quarter of 2010, the Ocean Scepter was relocated to Brazil and the Ocean Spartan was cold stacked in the GOM. At the end of the third quarter of 2011, the Ocean Titan, which worked for only a portion of the 2011 quarter, was in a shipyard for contract preparation work before mobilizing for a contract offshore Mexico. We currently have one jack-up rig actively marketed in the GOM (Ocean Columbia); however the rig was ready-stacked for most of the third quarter of 2011. Contract drilling expense for our jack-ups in the GOM decreased $7.3 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, consistent with the reduction in revenue.
     Mexico. Revenue earned by our jack-up fleet operating offshore Mexico during the third quarter of 2011 decreased $14.6 million, compared to same quarter of 2010, primarily due to a decrease in utilization for both of our rigs operating in this region as a result of an aggregate 68 days of downtime for regulatory inspections during the third quarter of 2011. In addition, average daily revenue earned by these two rigs decreased in the third quarter of 2011, compared to the prior year quarter, due to a contract extension (Ocean Summit) and renewal (Ocean Nugget) at current dayrates lower than dayrates previously earned by the rigs. Contract drilling expense increased $2.2 million during the third quarter of 2011, compared to the third quarter of 2010, primarily due to costs associated with the regulatory inspections of both of these rigs during the 2011 quarter.
     Australia/Asia/Middle East. Revenue generated and contract expenses incurred by our two jack-up rigs operating in the Australia/Asia/Middle East region decreased $8.3 million and $3.8 million, respectively, during the third quarter of 2011 compared to the same period of 2010. The Ocean Shield, which was sold in the third quarter of 2010, earned $7.6 million in revenue and incurred $4.0 million in contract drilling expense prior to the completion of its contract and bareboat charter from the successor rig owner in August 2010. The Ocean Sovereign, our other jack-up rig operating in the region during the third quarters of 2011 and 2010, completed its contract and is currently demobilizing to a location in Malaysia.
     Europe/Africa/Mediterranean. Contract drilling revenue and expense for our jack-up rigs operating in the Europe/Africa/Mediterranean region were relatively unchanged for the third quarter of 2011 compared to the prior year quarter. We currently have two jack-up rigs contracted offshore Egypt and the Ocean King ready stacked in Montenegro.
     South America. The Ocean Scepter, which was relocated to Brazil in the third quarter of 2010, began operating under contract in early 2011 and generated contract drilling revenue and incurred contract drilling expense of $14.4 million and $10.2 million, respectively, during the third quarter of 2011. The rig is currently mobilizing to the GOM for contract preparation work before commencing a contract offshore Mexico.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
     GOM. Revenue generated by our jack-up rigs operating in the GOM decreased $25.8 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to 485 fewer revenue earning days ($28.1 million), partially offset by an increase in average daily revenue earned ($2.7 million). The decrease in revenue earning days between periods resulted from the relocation of the Ocean Scepter to Brazil and the cold stacking of the Ocean Spartan in the GOM during the third quarter 2010, as well as an increase in downtime between jobs for the Ocean Columbia. Contract drilling expense for our jack-ups in the GOM decreased $36.0 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, consistent with the reduction in revenue.

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     Mexico. During the first nine months of 2011, revenue earned by our jack-up fleet operating offshore Mexico decreased $21.0 million, compared to same period of 2010, primarily due to a decrease in both average daily revenue earned ($12.5 million) and revenue earning days ($7.1 million). Revenue for the Ocean Summit decreased $19.2 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period in 2010, due to 38 days of downtime for regulatory inspections and a contract extension at a dayrate lower than the dayrate it earned under its previous contract.
     Australia/Asia/Middle East. Revenue generated by our two jack-up rigs operating in the Australia/Asia/Middle East region decreased $51.5 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to the sale of the Ocean Shield in 2010 ($37.9 million). Revenue generated by the Ocean Sovereign decreased $13.6 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the prior year period, due to a lower contracted dayrate beginning in May 2010 combined with 40 days of unpaid downtime, primarily related to weather conditions, during 2011. Contract drilling expense decreased $18.3 million during the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to an absence of costs for the Ocean Shield ($19.3 million).
     Europe/Africa/Mediterranean. Revenue earned by our jack-up rigs operating in the Europe/Africa/Mediterranean region decreased $9.7 million during the first nine months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. The Ocean King, which completed its bareboat charter in Croatia at the end of July 2010, earned contract drilling revenue of $9.1 million during the first nine months of 2010.
     South America. The Ocean Scepter generated contract drilling revenue and incurred contract drilling expense of $37.9 million and $27.6 million, respectively, during the first nine months of 2011.
Sources of Liquidity and Capital Resources
     Our principal sources of liquidity and capital resources are cash flows from our operations and our cash reserves. At September 30, 2011, we had $348.0 million in “Cash and cash equivalents” and $801.9 million in “Investments and marketable securities,” representing our investment of cash available for current operations.
     On October 12, 2011, we terminated our $285 million syndicated, senior unsecured revolving credit facility.
Liquidity and Capital Requirements
     Our liquidity and capital requirements are primarily a function of our working capital needs, capital expenditures and debt service requirements. We determine the amount of cash required to meet our capital commitments by evaluating the need to upgrade rigs to meet specific customer requirements, our ongoing rig equipment replacement and enhancement programs, and our obligations relating to the construction of our three new drillships. As a result of our intention to indefinitely reinvest the earnings of our wholly owned subsidiary, Diamond Offshore International Limited, or DOIL, to finance our foreign activities, we do not expect such earnings to be available for distribution to our stockholders or to finance our domestic activities. However, we believe that the operating cash flows generated by and cash reserves of DOIL, and the operating cash flows available to and cash reserves of Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc., will be sufficient to meet their respective working capital requirements and capital commitments over the next twelve months. We will, however, continue to make periodic assessments based on industry conditions and will adjust capital spending programs if required.
     In addition, we may, from time to time, issue debt or equity securities, or a combination thereof, to finance capital expenditures, the acquisition of assets and businesses or for general corporate purposes. Our ability to access the capital markets by issuing debt or equity securities will be dependent on our results of operations, our current financial condition, current market conditions and other factors beyond our control.

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Contractual Cash Obligations.
     The following table sets forth our contractual cash obligations at September 30, 2011.
                                         
    Payments Due By Period  
Contractual Obligations   Total     Less than 1 year     1 - 3 years     4 - 5 years     After 5 years  
                    (In thousands)          
Long-term debt (principal and interest) (1)
  $ 2,634,627     $ 28,938     $ 165,876     $ 653,000     $ 1,786,813  
Construction contracts
    1,116,079             720,660       395,419        
Operating leases
    3,300       1,900       1,400              
     
Total obligations
  $ 3,754,006     $ 30,838     $ 887,936     $ 1,048,419     $ 1,786,813  
     
 
(1)   See Note 8 “Long-Term Debt” to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1of Part I of this report.
     In December 2010 and during the first and second quarters of 2011, we entered into three separate turnkey contracts with Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., or Hyundai, for the construction of three dynamically positioned, ultra-deepwater drillships with delivery of the first two drillships scheduled for late in the second and fourth quarters of 2013 and the third drillship in the second quarter of 2014. See Note 9 “Commitments and Contingencies — Purchase Obligations” to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report.
     At September 30, 2011, we had foreign currency forward exchange, or FOREX, contracts in the aggregate notional amount of $191.0 million outstanding. See further information regarding these contracts in Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk — Foreign Exchange Risk” and Note 5 “Derivative Financial Instruments” to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report.
     As of September 30, 2011, the total unrecognized tax benefit related to uncertain tax positions was $50.7 million. In addition, we have recorded a liability, as of September 30, 2011, for potential penalties and interest of $28.8 million and $9.8 million, respectively, related to the tax benefit related to uncertain tax positions. Due to the high degree of uncertainty regarding the timing of future cash outflows associated with the liabilities recognized in this balance, we are unable to make reasonably reliable estimates of the period of cash settlement with the respective taxing authorities.
     We had no other purchase obligations for major rig upgrades or any other significant obligations at September 30, 2011, except for those related to our direct rig operations, which arise during the normal course of business.
Other Commercial Commitments — Letters of Credit.
     We were contingently liable as of September 30, 2011 in the amount of $65.1 million under certain performance, bid, supersedeas, tax appeal and custom bonds and letters of credit. We purchased two of these bonds totaling $19.6 million from a related party after obtaining competitive quotes. Agreements relating to approximately $51.6 million of performance bonds can require collateral at any time. As of September 30, 2011, we had not been required to make any collateral deposits with respect to these agreements. The remaining agreements cannot require collateral except in events of default. Banks have issued letters of credit on our behalf securing certain of these bonds. The table below provides a list of these obligations in U.S. dollar equivalents and their time to expiration.
                                 
            For the Years Ending December 31,  
    Total     2011     2012     Thereafter  
            (In thousands)          
Other Commercial Commitments
                               
Customs bonds
  $ 1,442     $ 542     $ 900     $  
Performance bonds
    37,339       10,609       22,863       3,867  
Other
    26,298             26,298        
     
Total obligations
  $ 65,079     $ 11,151     $ 50,061     $ 3,867  
     
Credit Ratings.
     Our current credit rating is Baa1 for Moody’s Investors Services and A- for Standard & Poor’s. Although our long-term ratings continue at investment grade levels, lower ratings could result in higher interest rates on future debt issuances.

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Capital Expenditures.
     We expect to spend approximately $300 million during 2011 on capital expenditures associated with our ongoing rig equipment replacement and enhancement programs and other corporate requirements. During the first nine months of 2011, we spent approximately $160.3 million toward these programs.
     In addition, in the first nine months of 2011, we paid $478.3 million to Hyundai as the first of two installment payments for the construction of our three new, ultra-deepwater drillships. The final installments of the contracted price are payable to Hyundai upon delivery of each respective vessel. The total cost of the three drillships, including commissioning, spares and project management, is expected to be approximately $1.8 billion in the aggregate. We had a fixed-price option from Hyundai for the construction of a fourth drillship that expired on October 24, 2011.
     We expect to finance our 2011 capital expenditures through the use of our existing cash balances or internally generated funds.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.
     At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, we had no off-balance sheet debt or other arrangements.
Historical Cash Flows
     The following is a discussion of our historical cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities.
                         
    Nine Months Ended        
    September 30,        
    2011     2010     Change  
    (In thousands)          
Net income
  $ 774,052     $ 713,770     $ 60,282  
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities
    441       (30,540 )     30,981  
Proceeds from settlement of FOREX contracts designated as accounting hedges
    9,593       1,924       7,669  
Gain on sale and disposition of assets
    (4,344 )     (33,425 )     29,081  
Loss (gain) on sale of marketable securities
    (780 )     5       (785 )
Gain on FOREX contracts
    (9,593 )     (1,924 )     (7,669 )
Deferred tax (benefit) provision
    (15,798 )     14,918       (30,716 )
Depreciation and other non-cash items, net
    325,572       285,165       40,407  
     
 
  $ 1,079,143     $ 949,893     $ 129,250  
     
     Our cash flows from operations during the first nine months of 2011 increased $129.3 million compared to the same period in 2010. This increase was primarily due to a decrease in net cash required to satisfy working capital requirements during the first nine months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.
     We used $31.0 million less cash to satisfy our working capital requirements during the first nine months of 2011 compared to the first nine months of 2010, primarily due to lower estimated income taxes paid in the U.S. federal jurisdiction. During the first nine months of 2011, we made U.S. federal income tax payments and paid foreign income taxes, net of refunds, of $64.0 million and $121.9 million, respectively. During the first nine months of 2010, we made U.S. federal income tax payments and paid foreign income taxes, net of refunds, of $362.5 million and $88.5 million, respectively. Trade and other receivables generated cash of $20.1 million during the first nine months of 2011 compared to $141.7 million during the same period of 2010. We used $54.0 million more cash during the first nine months of 2011 to satisfy accounts payable and accrued liability needs compared to the first nine months of 2010.

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Net Cash Used in Investing Activities.
                         
    Nine Months Ended September 30,        
    2011     2010     Change  
            (In thousands)          
Purchase of marketable securities
  $ (5,051,538 )   $ (4,099,525 )   $ (952,013 )
Proceeds from sale and maturities of marketable securities
    4,862,108       3,700,176       1,161,932  
Capital expenditures
    (643,305 )     (312,995 )     (330,310 )
Proceeds from disposition of assets
    5,128       186,333       (181,205 )
     
 
  $ (827,607 )   $ (526,011 )   $ (301,596 )
     
     Our investing activities used $827.6 million during the first nine months of 2011 compared to $526.0 million during the same period in 2010. During the first nine months of 2011 we purchased marketable securities, net of sales, of $189.4 million compared to net purchases of $399.3 million during the same period in 2010. Our level of investment activity is dependent on our working capital and other capital requirements during the year, as well as a response to actual or anticipated events or conditions in the securities markets.
     During the first nine months of 2011, we spent $483.0 million towards the construction of our three drillships. See “Liquidity and Capital Requirements — Contractual Cash Obligations” and “Liquidity and Capital Requirements — Capital Expenditures.”
     We spent approximately $160.3 million during the first nine months of 2011 related to our ongoing capital maintenance programs, including rig modifications to meet contractual requirements, compared to $313.0 million during the same period in 2010. Capital expenditures during the first nine months of 2010 included commissioning and initial outfitting costs of the Ocean Courage and Ocean Valor.
     On July 7, 2010, we completed the sale of the Ocean Shield for a net sale price of $184.1 million.
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities.
                         
    Nine Months Ended        
    September 30,        
    2011     2010     Change  
            (In thousands)          
Payment of dividends
  $ (367,930 )   $ (611,668 )   $ 243,738  
Redemption of zero coupon debentures
          (4,238 )     4,238  
Other
    4       41       (37 )
     
 
  $ (367,926 )   $ (615,865 )   $ 247,939  
     
     During the first nine months of 2011, we paid cash dividends totaling $367.9 million, consisting of regular and special cash dividends of $52.1 million and $315.8 million, respectively. During the first nine months of 2010, we paid cash dividends totaling $611.7 million, consisting of regular and special cash dividends of $52.1 million and $559.5 million, respectively.
     On October 19, 2011, we declared a regular quarterly cash dividend and a special cash dividend of $0.125 and $0.75, respectively, per share of our common stock. Both the quarterly and special cash dividends are payable on December 1, 2011 to stockholders of record on November 1, 2011.
     Our Board of Directors has adopted a policy to consider paying special cash dividends, in amounts to be determined, on a quarterly basis. Our Board of Directors may, in subsequent quarters, consider paying additional special cash dividends, in amounts to be determined, if it believes that our financial position, earnings, earnings outlook, capital spending plans and other relevant factors warrant such action at that time.
     Depending on market conditions, we may, from time to time, purchase shares of our common stock in the open market or otherwise. We did not repurchase any shares of our outstanding common stock during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

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Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
     In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income,” or ASU 2011-05, which eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income, or OCI, as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity, requires the presentation of each component of net income and each component of OCI either in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements and also requires presentation of reclassification adjustments on the face of the financial statement. ASU 2011-05 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011; however, early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2011-05 will not have an effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
     In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs,” or ASU 2011-04. ASU 2011-04 clarifies existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements, amends certain fair value measurement principles and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. ASU 2011-04 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. We will incorporate any additional disclosures in our annual financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2012.
Forward-Looking Statements
     We or our representatives may, from time to time, either in this report, in periodic press releases or otherwise, make or incorporate by reference certain written or oral statements that are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements, and may contain or be identified by the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” “project,” “forecast,” “budget” and similar expressions. In addition, any statement concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible actions taken by or against us, which may be provided by management, are also forward-looking statements as so defined. Statements made by us in this report that contain forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations and statements about the following subjects:
    future market conditions and the effect of such conditions on our future results of operations;
 
    future uses of and requirements for financial resources;
 
    interest rate and foreign exchange risk;
 
    future contractual obligations;
 
    future operations outside the United States including, without limitation, our operations in Mexico, Egypt and Brazil;
 
    effects of the Macondo well blowout, including, without limitation, the impact of the moratorium and its aftermath on drilling in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, related delays in permitting activities and related regulations and market developments;
 
    business strategy;
 
    growth opportunities;
 
    competitive position;
 
    expected financial position;
 
    future cash flows and contract backlog;
 
    future regular or special dividends;
 
    financing plans;
 
    market outlook;
 
    tax planning;
 
    debt levels, including impacts of the recent financial crisis and restrictions in the credit market;
 
    budgets for capital and other expenditures;
 
    timing and duration of required regulatory inspections for our drilling rigs;
 
    timing and cost of completion of rig upgrades, construction projects (including, without limitation, our three drillships under construction) and other capital projects;
 
    delivery dates and drilling contracts related to rig conversion or upgrade projects, construction projects or rig acquisitions;

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    plans and objectives of management;
 
    idling drilling rigs or reactivating stacked rigs;
 
    asset impairment evaluations;
 
    performance of contracts;
 
    outcomes of legal proceedings;
 
    compliance with applicable laws; and
 
    availability, limits and adequacy of insurance or indemnification.
     These types of statements are based on current expectations about future events and inherently are subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected, projected or expressed in forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the following:
    those described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010;
 
    general economic and business conditions, including the extent and duration of the recent financial crisis and restrictions in the credit market, the worldwide economic downturn and recession;
 
    worldwide demand for oil and natural gas;
 
    changes in foreign and domestic oil and gas exploration, development and production activity;
 
    oil and natural gas price fluctuations and related market expectations;
 
    the ability of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, commonly called OPEC, to set and maintain production levels and pricing, and the level of production in non-OPEC countries;
 
    policies of various governments regarding exploration and development of oil and gas reserves;
 
    our inability to obtain contracts for our rigs that do not have contracts;
 
    the cancellation of contracts included in our reported contract backlog;
 
    advances in exploration and development technology;
 
    the worldwide political and military environment, including in oil-producing regions;
 
    casualty losses;
 
    operating hazards inherent in drilling for oil and gas offshore;
 
    the risk of physical damage to rigs and equipment caused by named windstorms in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico;
 
    industry fleet capacity;
 
    market conditions in the offshore contract drilling industry, including dayrates and utilization levels;
 
    competition;
 
    changes in foreign, political, social and economic conditions;
 
    risks of international operations, compliance with foreign laws and taxation policies and expropriation or nationalization of equipment and assets;
 
    risks of potential contractual liabilities pursuant to our various drilling contracts in effect from time to time;
 
    the ability of customers and suppliers to meet their obligations to us and our subsidiaries;
 
    the risk that a letter of intent may not result in a definitive agreement;
 
    foreign exchange and currency fluctuations and regulations, and the inability to repatriate income or capital;
 
    risks of war, military operations, other armed hostilities, terrorist acts and embargoes;
 
    changes in offshore drilling technology, which could require significant capital expenditures in order to maintain competitiveness;
 
    regulatory initiatives and compliance with governmental regulations including, without limitation, regulations pertaining to climate change, carbon emissions or energy use;
 
    compliance with environmental laws and regulations;
 
    potential changes in accounting policies by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, or regulatory agencies for our industry which may cause us to revise our financial accounting and/or disclosures in the future, and which may change the way analysts measure our business or financial performance;
 
    development and exploitation of alternative fuels;
 
    customer preferences;
 
    effects of litigation, tax audits and contingencies and the impact of compliance with judicial rulings and jury verdicts;
 
    cost, availability, limits and adequacy of insurance;
 
    invalidity of assumptions used in the design of our controls and procedures;

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    the results of financing efforts;
 
    the risk that future regular or special dividends may not be declared;
 
    adequacy of our sources of liquidity;
 
    risks resulting from our indebtedness;
 
    public health threats;
 
    negative publicity;
 
    impairments of assets;
 
    the availability of qualified personnel to operate and service our drilling rigs; and
 
    various other matters, many of which are beyond our control.
     The risks and uncertainties included here are not exhaustive. Other sections of this report and our other filings with the SEC include additional factors that could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial performance. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements included in this report speak only as of the date of this report. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or beliefs with regard to the statement or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.
ITEM 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
     The information included in this Item 3 is considered to constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the statutory safe harbor provided in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Forward-Looking Statements” in Item 2 of Part I of this report.
     Our measure of market risk exposure represents an estimate of the change in fair value of our financial instruments. Market risk exposure is presented for each class of financial instrument held by us at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, assuming immediate adverse market movements of the magnitude described below. We believe that the various rates of adverse market movements represent a measure of exposure to loss under hypothetically assumed adverse conditions. The estimated market risk exposure represents the hypothetical loss to future earnings and does not represent the maximum possible loss or any expected actual loss, even under adverse conditions, because actual adverse fluctuations would likely differ. In addition, since our investment portfolio is subject to change based on our portfolio management strategy as well as in response to changes in the market, these estimates are not necessarily indicative of the actual results that may occur.
     Exposure to market risk is managed and monitored by our senior management. Senior management approves the overall investment strategy that we employ and has responsibility to ensure that the investment positions are consistent with that strategy and the level of risk acceptable to us. We may manage risk by buying or selling instruments or entering into offsetting positions.
Interest Rate Risk
     We have exposure to interest rate risk arising from changes in the level or volatility of interest rates. Our investments in marketable securities are primarily in fixed maturity securities. We monitor our sensitivity to interest rate risk by evaluating the change in the value of our financial assets and liabilities due to fluctuations in interest rates. The evaluation is performed by applying an instantaneous change in interest rates by varying magnitudes on a static balance sheet to determine the effect such a change in rates would have on the recorded market value of our investments and the resulting effect on stockholders’ equity. The analysis presents the sensitivity of the market value of our financial instruments to selected changes in market rates and prices which we believe are reasonably possible over a one-year period.
     The sensitivity analysis estimates the change in the market value of our interest sensitive assets and liabilities that were held on September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, due to instantaneous parallel shifts in the yield curve of 100 basis points, with all other variables held constant.
     The interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market interest rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in market rates. Accordingly, the analysis may not be indicative of, is not intended to provide, and does not provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in market interest rates on our earnings or stockholders’ equity. Further, the computations do not contemplate any actions we could undertake in response to changes in interest rates.

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     Our long-term debt, as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, was denominated in U.S. dollars. Our existing debt has been issued at fixed rates, and as such, interest expense would not be impacted by interest rate shifts. The impact of a 100-basis point increase in interest rates on fixed rate debt would result in a decrease in market value of $122.0 million and $117.0 million as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. A 100-basis point decrease would result in an increase in market value of $142.0 million and $135.5 million as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
Foreign Exchange Risk
     Foreign exchange rate risk arises from the possibility that changes in foreign currency exchange rates will impact the value of financial instruments. It is customary for us to enter into foreign currency forward exchange, or FOREX, contracts in the normal course of business. These contracts generally require us to net settle the spread between the contracted foreign currency exchange rate and the spot rate on the contract settlement date, which for certain contracts is the average spot rate for the contract period. As of September 30, 2011, we had FOREX contracts outstanding in the aggregate notional amount of $191.0 million, consisting of $30.7 million in Australian dollars, $102.9 million in Brazilian reais, $33.6 million in British pounds sterling, $10.9 million in Mexican pesos and $12.9 million in Norwegian kroner. These contracts generally settle monthly through March 2012.
     At September 30, 2011, we have presented the fair value of our outstanding FOREX contracts as a current asset of $0.2 million in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and a current liability of $(13.9) million in “Accrued liabilities” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2010, we have presented the fair value of our outstanding FOREX contracts as a current asset of $4.3 million in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and a current liability of $(0.1) million in “Accrued liabilities” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
     The following table presents our exposure to market risk by category (interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates):
                                 
    Fair Value Asset (Liability)     Market Risk  
    September 30,     December 31,     September 30,     December 31,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
            (In thousands)          
Interest rate:
                               
Marketable securities
  $ 801,900 (a)   $ 612,300 (a)   $ (5,200 ) (b)   $ (1,100 ) (b)
 
                               
Foreign Exchange:
                               
FOREX contracts — receivable positions
    200 (c)     4,300   (c)     (3,700 ) (d)     (23,500 ) (d)
FOREX contracts — liability positions
    13,900 (c)     (100 ) (c)     (28,000 ) (d)     (2,100 ) (d)
 
 
(a)   The fair market value of our investment in marketable securities, excluding repurchase agreements, is based on the quoted closing market prices on September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
 
(b)   The calculation of estimated market risk exposure is based on assumed adverse changes in the underlying reference price or index of an increase in interest rates of 100 basis points at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
 
(c)   The fair value of our FOREX contracts is based on both quoted market prices and valuations derived from pricing models on September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
 
(d)   The calculation of estimated foreign exchange risk assumes an instantaneous 20% decrease in the foreign currency exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar from their values at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, with all other variables held constant.

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ITEM 4.   Controls and Procedures.
     We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the federal securities laws, including this report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis. These disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us under the federal securities laws is accumulated and communicated to our management on a timely basis to allow decisions regarding required disclosure.
     Our Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, and Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, participated in an evaluation by our management of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of September 30, 2011. Based on their participation in that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2011.
     There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the foregoing evaluation that occurred during our third fiscal quarter of 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 6.   Exhibits.
     See the Exhibit Index for a list of those exhibits filed or furnished herewith.

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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 thereunto duly authorized.
         
  DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC.
                         (Registrant)
 
 
Date October 27, 2011  By:   \s\ Gary T. Krenek    
    Gary T. Krenek   
    Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer   
 
         
     
Date October 27, 2011     \s\ Beth G. Gordon    
    Beth G. Gordon   
    Controller (Chief Accounting Officer)   
 

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EXHIBIT INDEX
     
Exhibit No.   Description
3.1
  Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003) (SEC File No. 1-13926).
 
   
3.2
  Amended and Restated By-laws (as amended through March 15, 2011) of Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 16, 2011).
 
   
31.1*
  Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer.
 
   
31.2*
  Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Chief Financial Officer.
 
   
32.1*
  Section 1350 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
 
   
101.INS**
  XBRL Instance Document.
 
   
101.SCH**
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
 
   
101.CAL**
  XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document.
 
   
101.LAB**
  XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document.
 
   
101.PRE**
  XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document.
 
   
101.DEF**
  XBRL Definition Linkbase Document.
 
     
*
  Filed or furnished herewith.
 
   
**
  The documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) and attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act, are deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Exchange Act, and otherwise, not subject to liability under these sections.

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