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Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2008 Results; Also Reports Four New Letters of Intent

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2008--Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE:DO) today reported net income for the second quarter of 2008 of $416.3 million, or $2.99 per share on a diluted basis, compared with net income of $251.9 million, or $1.81 per share on a diluted basis, in the same period a year earlier. Revenues in the second quarter of 2008 were $954.4 million, compared with revenues of $648.9 million for the second quarter of 2007.

For the six months ended June 30, 2008, the Company reported net income of $706.9 million, or $5.08 per share on a diluted basis, compared with net income of $476.1 million, or $3.46 per share on a diluted basis, for the same period in 2007. Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2008 was $1.7 billion, compared with $1.3 billion for the first six months of 2007.

The Company also announced that it has received Letters of Intent (LOIs) for four semisubmersible rigs that could earn maximum revenue, excluding un-priced options, totaling approximately $900 million and provide 6.5 rig years of work. The LOIs, which are subject to customary conditions, including the execution of a definitive agreement, include:

International -- Ocean Ambassador - three years, plus un-priced option, commencing June 2009. Maximum total revenue $285 million. U.S. Gulf of Mexico -- Ocean Star - 18 months commencing November 2008. Maximum total revenue $285 million. -- Ocean America - one year commencing July 2009. Maximum total revenue $190 million. -- Ocean Victory - one year minimum term commencing May 2009. Maximum total revenue $197 million.

Diamond Offshore provides contract drilling services to the energy industry and is a leader in deepwater drilling. Maximum contract revenue as stated above assumes 100% rig utilization. Generally, rig utilization rates approach 95-98% during contracted periods; however, utilization rates can be adversely impacted by additional downtime due to unscheduled repairs, maintenance and weather. Additional information on Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. and access to the Company's SEC filings is available on the Internet at www.diamondoffshore.com.

As previously announced, Diamond Offshore will provide a simulcast and rebroadcast of its second quarter 2008 earnings release conference call. The live broadcast of the Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. quarterly conference call will be available online at www.diamondoffshore.com on July 24, 2008, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. The online replay will follow immediately and continue for the remainder of the second calendar quarter after the original call. Please go to the web site at least 15 minutes before the broadcast to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

Statements in this press release may 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. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements concerning future earnings, future cash flows, market conditions, future market improvements, future growth in demand for equipment types or in any region and future contracts. 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, including, among others, the risk that a Letter of Intent will not be converted to a contract, the risk that full rig utilization may not be achieved during a contract period, the risk that the fleet's available days may be reduced by unscheduled downtime, the risk that these and other factors outside of the Company's control may adversely impact the amount of profit realized from a contract, the risk that the markets for the Company's services will not continue to improve, the risk that the Company's market position may deteriorate, or the risk that the Company may not be able to participate fully in any future market improvements. A discussion of additional risk factors that could impact these areas and the Company's overall business and financial performance can be found in the Company's reports and other filings 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 Company'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 this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

           DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                             (Unaudited)
                (In thousands, except per share data)

                       Three Months Ended        Six Months Ended
                            June 30,                 June 30,
                    --------------------------------------------------
                       2008         2007         2008         2007
                    ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------

Revenues:
  Contract drilling $  936,626  $   635,927  $ 1,706,966  $ 1,225,839
    Revenues
     related to
     reimbursable
     expenses           17,746       12,948       33,508       31,220
                    ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
      Total
       revenues        954,372      648,875    1,740,474    1,257,059
                    ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------

Operating expenses:
  Contract drilling    273,436      221,941      558,443      434,398
  Reimbursable
   expenses             17,346       12,361       32,534       29,977
  Depreciation          70,661       58,335      139,711      114,040
  General and
   administrative       15,768       12,174       31,490       24,140
  Gain on
   disposition of
   assets                 (226)      (3,553)        (277)      (5,055)
                    ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
      Total
       operating
       expenses        376,985      301,258      761,901      597,500
                    ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------

Operating income       577,387      347,617      978,573      659,559

Other income
 (expense):
  Interest income        2,941        7,599        7,314       17,392
  Interest expense      (1,895)      (3,770)      (3,237)     (14,625)
  Loss on sale of
   marketable
   securities               (2)          (5)          (3)          (8)
  Other, net            12,490        1,012       14,196          405
                    ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------

Income before
 income tax expense    590,921      352,453      996,843      662,723

Income tax expense    (174,638)    (100,526)    (289,935)    (186,646)
                    ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------

Net Income          $  416,283  $   251,927  $   706,908  $   476,077
                    =========== ============ ============ ============

Income per share:
  Basic             $     3.00  $      1.82  $      5.09  $      3.48
                    =========== ============ ============ ============
  Diluted           $     2.99  $      1.81  $      5.08  $      3.46
                    =========== ============ ============ ============

Weighted average
 shares
 outstanding:
  Shares of common
   stock               138,959      138,447      138,916      136,875
  Dilutive
   potential shares
   of common stock         124          481          152        2,004
                    ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
      Total
       weighted
       average
       shares
       outstanding     139,083      138,928      139,068      138,879
                    =========== ============ ============ ============

           DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                            (In thousands)

                                               June 30,   December 31,
                                             ------------ ------------
                                                 2008         2007
                                             ------------ ------------
                                             (unaudited)
ASSETS

Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                  $    541,580 $    637,961
  Marketable securities                           199,086        1,301
  Accounts receivable                             674,091      522,808
  Prepaid expenses and other                      135,999      103,120
                                             ------------ ------------
    Total current assets                        1,550,756    1,265,190

Drilling and other property and equipment,
 net of accumulated depreciation                3,278,724    3,040,063

Other assets                                       37,055       36,212
                                             ------------ ------------
    Total assets                             $  4,866,535 $  4,341,465
                                             ============ ============

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
  Payable for securities purchased           $    197,837 $         --
  Other current liabilities                       425,032      453,011
                                             ------------ ------------
    Total current liabilities                     622,869      453,011

Long-term debt                                    503,158      503,071

Deferred tax liability                            419,894      397,629

Other liabilities                                 109,731      110,687

Stockholders' equity                            3,210,883    2,877,067

                                             ------------ ------------
    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                                  $  4,866,535 $  4,341,465
                                             ============ ============

           DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                        RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
                             (Unaudited)
                            (In thousands)

                                                Three Months Ended
                                                     June 30,
                                             -------------------------
                                                 2008         2007
                                             -------------------------

REVENUES
  High Specification Floaters                $   354,218  $   264,027
  Intermediate Semisubmersibles                  464,598      246,232
  Jack-ups                                       117,810      125,668
                                             -------------------------
Total Contract Drilling Revenue              $   936,626  $   635,927
                                             =========================

Revenues Related to Reimbursable Expenses    $    17,746  $    12,948
                                             =========================

CONTRACT DRILLING EXPENSE
  High Specification Floaters                $    89,503  $    69,722
  Intermediate Semisubmersibles                  131,539      108,049
  Jack-ups                                        48,834       42,362
  Other                                            3,560        1,808
                                             -------------------------
Total Contract Drilling Expense              $   273,436  $   221,941
                                             =========================

Reimbursable Expenses                        $    17,346  $    12,361
                                             =========================

OPERATING INCOME
  High Specification Floaters                $   264,715  $   194,305
  Intermediate Semisubmersibles                  333,059      138,183
  Jack-ups                                        68,976       83,306
  Other                                           (3,560)      (1,808)
  Reimbursable expenses, net                         400          587
  Depreciation                                   (70,661)     (58,335)
  General and administrative expense             (15,768)     (12,174)
  Gain on disposition of assets                      226        3,553
                                             -------------------------
    Total Operating Income                   $   577,387  $   347,617
                                             =========================

           DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   AVERAGE DAYRATES AND UTILIZATION

                               Second Quarter       First Quarter
                                    2008                2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Dayrate Utilization Dayrate Utilization
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      (Dayrate in thousands)
High Specification Floaters   $385       92%      $323       87%
Intermediate Semis            $285       93%      $249       85%
Jack-ups                      $103       92%      $102       90%

           DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   AVERAGE DAYRATES AND UTILIZATION

                                                  Second Quarter
                                                       2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Dayrate    Utilization
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              (Dayrate in thousands)
High Specification Floaters                      $307         86%
Intermediate Semis                               $157         90%
Jack-ups                                         $109         88%

CONTACT: Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc., Houston
Les Van Dyke, 281-492-5370
Director, Investor Relations

SOURCE: Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.