1
                                                                    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 3, 1997 incorporated by reference in this Annual Report
on Form 10-K of Rowan Companies, Inc., for the year ended December 31, 1996. 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 28, 1997