SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549


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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of report:                          JULY 17, 2001
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Date of earliest event reported:         JULY 16, 2001
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                         DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC.
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



   DELAWARE                         1-13926                      76-0321760
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(State or Other             (Commission File Number)           (IRS Employer
Jurisdiction of                                              Identification No.)
 Incorporation)


15415 KATY FREEWAY, HOUSTON, TEXAS                                77094
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                        (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code         (281) 492-5300
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                                 NOT APPLICABLE
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          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


                    INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT



ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

           (c)       Exhibits.

       Exhibit number          Description
       --------------          -----------

           99.1                Rig Status Report as of July 16, 2001


ITEM 9.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

         The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Item 9 the
summary report of the status, as of July 16, 2001, of the offshore drilling rigs
of the Registrant attached as Exhibit 99.1, which is being furnished in
accordance with Rule 101(e)(1) under Regulation FD and shall not be deemed to be
filed.

         Statements in this report that contain "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, include, but are
not limited to, statements regarding the current term, start and end dates and
comments concerning future contracts and availability and other aspects of the
Registrant's drilling rigs. Such statements are inherently subject to a variety
of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those anticipated or projected. A discussion of the risk factors that could
impact these areas and the Registrant's overall business and financial
performance can be found in the Registrant's reports filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. These factors include, among others, general economic
and business conditions, casualty losses, industry fleet capacity, changes in
foreign and domestic oil and gas exploration and production activity,
competition, changes in foreign, political, social and economic conditions,
regulatory initiatives and compliance with governmental regulations, customer
preferences and various other matters, many of which are beyond the Registrant's
control. Given these concerns, investors and analysts should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks
only as of the date of the rig status report, and the Registrant undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.


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                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                    DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC.

                                    By: /s/ William C. Long
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        William C. Long
                                        Vice President, General Counsel and
                                        Secretary


Dated: July 16, 2001











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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


       Exhibit number          Description
       --------------          -----------

           99.1                Rig Status Report as of July 16, 2001














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