EXHIBIT 23.1



            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM



         We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (No. 33-52065; No. 333-74255 and No. 333-87786) and on
Form S-3 (No. 333-92388 and 333-117534) of Atwood Oceanics, Inc. of our report
dated December 12, 2006 relating to the consolidated financial statements,
management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting,
which appears in the Annual Report to Shareholders and which is incorporated in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K.



/S/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP



Houston, Texas
December 13, 2006