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<P style="font-size: 14pt" align="center"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
<FONT
style="font-size: 12pt">Washington, D.C. 20549 </FONT></B>

<P style="font-size: 18pt" align="center"><B>FORM 8-K</B>

<P style="font-size: 12pt" align="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 5, 2009</B>


<P style="font-size: 24pt" align="center"><B>ALLIS-CHALMERS ENERGY INC.<BR>
</B><FONT style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter) </FONT>
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  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="33%">&nbsp;</TD>
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  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>001-02199</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>39-0126090</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Commission File Number)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>5075 Westheimer<BR>
Suite 890<BR>
Houston, Texas<BR>
</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>77056</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Zip Code)</TD>
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">Registrant&#8217;s telephone number, including area code: <B>(713)
369-0550</B>
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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
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 <TR>
  <TD nowrap>(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)</TD>
 </TR>

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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">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:

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Written communications pursuant to Rule 425
under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant to Rule
14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))<BR>


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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;8.01.&nbsp;&nbsp; Other Events.</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">John E. McConnaughy, a current director of Allis-Chalmers
Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;), serves on the audit committee of more than three audit
committees. As required by Section&nbsp;303A.07 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, the Company&#8217;s board of
directors affirmatively determined that Mr.&nbsp;McConnaughy&#8217;s service on such audit committees does not impair
his ability to effectively serve on the Company&#8217;s Audit Committee. The Company will include any such disclosure,
if applicable, in its next annual proxy statement.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">As required by Section&nbsp;303A.09 of the NYSE Listed Company
Manual, the Company&#8217;s corporate governance principles are posted on its website at www.alchenergy.com. Such
corporate governance principles are available on the Company&#8217;s website at <U>www.alchenergy.com</U> and are
available in print to any shareholder who requests it. In addition, the Company&#8217;s audit committee,
compensation committee, corporate governance and nominating committee charter and code of business conduct and ethics
are available on the Company&#8217;s website and are available in print to any shareholder who requests it. The Company
will also include such disclosure in its next annual proxy statement.

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>SIGNATURES</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="left">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 46%" align="left">ALLIS-CHALMERS ENERGY INC.

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Date: January&nbsp;5, 2009

<P style="margin-top: -11pt; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 46%" align="left">By: <U>/s/ Theodore F. Pound
III&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U>
<BR>
Name: Theodore F. Pound III <BR>
Title: General Counsel and Secretary

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<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">2
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "Allis Chalmers Energy Inc.", "cik": "0000003982", "assigned-sic": "1389", "irs-number": "390126090", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-02199", "film-number": "09506464"}, "business-address": {"street1": "5075 WESTHEIMER", "street2": "SUITE 890", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77056", "phone": "713-369-0550"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "5075 WESTHEIMER", "street2": "SUITE 890", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77056"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "ALLIS CHALMERS CORP", "date-changed": "19920703"}, {"former-conformed-name": "ALLIS CHALMERS MANUFACTURING CO", "date-changed": "19710614"}]}
Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
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 Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 5, 2009
ALLIS-CHALMERS ENERGY INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-02199
39-0126090
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
5075 Westheimer
Suite 890
Houston, Texas
77056
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(713)
369-0550
(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)
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:
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.
John E. McConnaughy, a current director of Allis-Chalmers
Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), serves on the audit committee of more than three audit
committees. As required by Section 303A.07 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, the Company's board of
directors affirmatively determined that Mr. McConnaughy's service on such audit committees does not impair
his ability to effectively serve on the Company's Audit Committee. The Company will include any such disclosure,
if applicable, in its next annual proxy statement.
As required by Section 303A.09 of the NYSE Listed Company
Manual, the Company's corporate governance principles are posted on its website at www.alchenergy.com. Such
corporate governance principles are available on the Company's website at
www.alchenergy.com
and are
available in print to any shareholder who requests it. In addition, the Company's audit committee,
compensation committee, corporate governance and nominating committee charter and code of business conduct and ethics
are available on the Company's website and are available in print to any shareholder who requests it. The Company
will also include such disclosure in its next annual proxy statement.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ALLIS-CHALMERS ENERGY INC.
Date: January 5, 2009
By:
/s/ Theodore F. Pound
III
Name: Theodore F. Pound III
Title: General Counsel and Secretary