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                                                                      EXHIBIT 23



INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


Rowan Companies, Inc.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Post-Effective Amendment No. 4
to Registration Statement No. 2-58700, Amendment No. 1 to Registration
Statement No. 33-33755, Registration Statement No. 33-61444, Registration
Statement No. 33-51103, Registration Statement No. 33-51105 and Registration
Statement No. 33-51109, each on Form S-8, and to the incorporation by reference
in Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 33-15721, Amendment No. 2 to
Registration Statement No. 33-30057, Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement
No. 33-61696, and Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 33-62885, each
on Form S-3, of our report dated March 1, 1996 incorporated by reference in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Rowan Companies, Inc., for the year ended
December 31, 1995.  We also consent to the reference to us under the heading
"Experts" in Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 33-62885.




DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Houston, Texas
March 29, 1996