The transaction, which is expected to be completed in the early 2014, is subject to customary closing conditions.
Atwood Oceanics president and CEO Rob Saltiel said, "The sale of theVicksburg supports our strategy of high-grading the quality and capability ofour drilling rig fleet through newbuild construction and selective assetdivestitures."
Atwood has currently 13 mobile offshore drilling units , and is also building four ultra-deepwater drillships.
The company is engaged in the drilling and completion of exploratory and developmental oil and gas wells.
