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 18, 2012

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

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(918)742-5531

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(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 (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

The Board of Directors of the Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (the “Company”) previously authorized the repurchase of up to 4,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to a stock repurchase program.  Under such a program, share purchases may be made from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions depending on market conditions, share price, trading volume and other factors, and such purchases, if any, will be made in accordance with applicable insider trading and other securities laws and regulations.  These repurchases may be commenced or suspended at any time or from time to time without prior notice.  No repurchases have been made to date.

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.

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