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  <p align="center" style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
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  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED
  STATES</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES
  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">WASHINGTON, D.C.&#160; 20549</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center"></div>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM&nbsp;8-K</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">PURSUANT TO SECTION&nbsp;13 OR 15 (d)</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED:&#160;
  May&nbsp;21, 2008</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">HELMERICH&nbsp;&amp;
  PAYNE, INC.</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact name of
  registrant as specified in its charter)</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">State of Incorporation:&#160; <b>Delaware</b></font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-4221</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Internal Revenue Service &#151; Employer Identification No.&nbsp;73-0679879</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">1437 South Boulder Avenue, Suite&nbsp;1400, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">(918)742-5531</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Check the appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;8-K
  filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the
  registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.
  below):</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> &#160;Written
  communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
  230.425)</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;
  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act
  (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></p>
  
  <div style="border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 6.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">
  
  <p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
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  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
  
  </div>
  <!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\bekue\08-15525-2\task2964880\15525-2-ba.htm',USER='bekuehe',CD='May 29 09:07 2008' -->
  
  
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  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase;">Item 8.01 &#151; Other
  Events.</font></b></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On May&nbsp;28, 2008, the Company issued a press release announcing that the Company has signed long-term contracts to operate twelve new FlexRigs<sup>&#174;</sup> for two exploration and production companies.&#160; In addition, the Company also announced the acquisition of a small private firm, TerraVici Drilling Solutions, which is currently developing a patented rotary steerable system to enhance horizontal and directional drilling.&#160; The transaction which closed May&nbsp;21, 2008 includes a three part cash payment of up to $22 million, plus certain earn-out provisions based on future earnings.&#160; A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 to this Report on Form&nbsp;8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase;">Item
  9.01 &#151; Financial Statements and Exhibits</font></b></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(d)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Exhibits.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="93%" style="border-collapse:collapse;margin-left:36.7pt;width:93.22%;">
   <tr>
    <td width="15%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:15.62%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Exhibit&nbsp;Number</font></u></p>
    </td>
    <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="78%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:78.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Description</font></u></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="15%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:15.62%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="78%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:78.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="15%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:15.62%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="78%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:78.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Helmerich&nbsp;&amp; Payne,&nbsp;Inc. press release dated
    May&nbsp;28, 2008.</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 2.0in;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;text-indent:-1.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></u></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Pursuant to the requirements of
  the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly authorized the
  undersigned to sign this report on its behalf.</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <div align="center">
  
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    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="39%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:39.64%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">HELMERICH&nbsp;&amp;
    PAYNE, INC.</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
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    <td width="57%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:57.76%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="39%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:39.64%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Registrant)</font></p>
    </td>
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    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="39%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:39.64%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
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    <td width="57%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:57.76%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="39%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:39.64%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/
    Steven R. Mackey</font></p>
    </td>
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    <td width="57%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:57.76%;">
    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="39%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:39.64%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Steven
    R. Mackey</font></p>
    </td>
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    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="39%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:39.64%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Vice
    President</font></p>
    </td>
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    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="39%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:39.64%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
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    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="39%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:39.64%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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    <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="39%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:39.64%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">DATE:
    May&nbsp;29, 2008</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  </div>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">EXHIBIT INDEX</font></b></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 2.0in;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;text-indent:-1.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
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   <tr>
    <td width="15%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:15.62%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Exhibit&nbsp;Number</font></u></p>
    </td>
    <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="78%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:78.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Description</font></u></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="15%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:15.62%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="78%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:78.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
    <td width="15%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:15.62%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.78%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
    </td>
    <td width="78%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:78.6%;">
    <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Helmerich&nbsp;&amp; Payne,&nbsp;Inc. press release dated
    May&nbsp;28, 2008.</font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>
  
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "a08-15525_28k.htm", "description": "CURRENT REPORT OF MATERIAL EVENTS OR CORPORATE CHANGES", "secsgml_size_bytes": 25258}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HELMERICH & PAYNE INC", "cik": "0000046765", "assigned-sic": "1381", "irs-number": "730679879", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-04221", "film-number": "08865159"}, "business-address": {"street1": "UTICA AT 21ST ST", "city": "TULSA", "state": "OK", "zip": "74114", "phone": "9187425531"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "UTICA AT 21ST ST", "city": "TULSA", "state": "OK", "zip": "74114"}}
text: UNITED
  STATES
  SECURITIES
  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
  FORM 8-K
  CURRENT REPORT
  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d)
  OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED: 
  May 21, 2008
  HELMERICH &
  PAYNE, INC.
  (Exact name of
  registrant as specified in its charter)
  State of Incorporation:
  Delaware
  COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-4221
  Internal Revenue Service — Employer Identification No. 73-0679879
  1437 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 1400, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119
  (918)742-5531
  Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K
  filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the
  registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.
  below):
  o
  Written
  communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
  230.425)
  o
  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
  (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
  the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
  Item 8.01 — Other
  Events.
  On May 28, 2008, the Company issued a press release announcing that the Company has signed long-term contracts to operate twelve new FlexRigs
  ®
  for two exploration and production companies.  In addition, the Company also announced the acquisition of a small private firm, TerraVici Drilling Solutions, which is currently developing a patented rotary steerable system to enhance horizontal and directional drilling.  The transaction which closed May 21, 2008 includes a three part cash payment of up to $22 million, plus certain earn-out provisions based on future earnings.  A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
  Item
  9.01 — Financial Statements and Exhibits
  (d)           Exhibits.
  Exhibit Number
  Description
  99.1
  Helmerich & Payne, Inc. press release dated
    May 28, 2008.
  SIGNATURES
  Pursuant to the requirements of
  the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly authorized the
  undersigned to sign this report on its behalf.
  HELMERICH &
    PAYNE, INC.
  (Registrant)
  /s/
    Steven R. Mackey
  Steven
    R. Mackey
  Vice
    President
  DATE:
    May 29, 2008
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  Exhibit Number
  Description
  99.1
  Helmerich & Payne, Inc. press release dated
    May 28, 2008.
  2