<PAGE>

                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


                MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.

                      POWER OF ATTORNEY

     WHEREAS, Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), intends to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, an annual report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 and quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30
and September 30, 1996, with such amendment or amendments
thereto in each case as may be necessary or appropriate,
together with any and all exhibits and other documents having
relation to said reports;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a
director of the Company, does hereby appoint each of WILLIAM H.
FLORES and JOAN R. SMITH, signing singly, the undersigned's
true and lawful attorney with power to act with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place
and stead, in his capacity as Director the reports referred to
above, together with any and all amendments thereto as said
attorney shall deem necessary or incidental in connection
therewith, and to file the same with the Commission.  Such
attorney shall have full power and authority to do and perform
in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all
capacities every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be
done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes
as the undersigned might or could do in person, the undersigned
hereby ratifying and approving the acts of such attorney.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this
instrument as of this 23rd day of January 1996.


                                    /s/  Robert L. Barbanell
                                 -------------------------------
                                 Robert L. Barbanell






<PAGE>

                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


                      MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.

                           POWER OF ATTORNEY

     WHEREAS, Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), intends to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, an annual report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 and quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30
and September 30, 1996, with such amendment or amendments
thereto in each case as may be necessary or appropriate,
together with any and all exhibits and other documents having
relation to said reports;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a
director of the Company, does hereby appoint each of WILLIAM H.
FLORES and JOAN R. SMITH, signing singly, the undersigned's
true and lawful attorney with power to act with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place
and stead, in his capacity as Director the reports referred to
above, together with any and all amendments thereto as said
attorney shall deem necessary or incidental in connection
therewith, and to file the same with the Commission.  Such
attorney shall have full power and authority to do and perform
in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all
capacities every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be
done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes
as the undersigned might or could do in person, the undersigned
hereby ratifying and approving the acts of such attorney.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this
instrument as of this 23rd day of January 1996.


                                    /s/  David A. B. Brown
                                 -------------------------------
                                 David A. B. Brown







<PAGE>

                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


              MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.

                    POWER OF ATTORNEY

     WHEREAS, Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), intends to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, an annual report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 and quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30
and September 30, 1996, with such amendment or amendments
thereto in each case as may be necessary or appropriate,
together with any and all exhibits and other documents having
relation to said reports;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a
director of the Company, does hereby appoint each of WILLIAM H.
FLORES and JOAN R. SMITH, signing singly, the undersigned's
true and lawful attorney with power to act with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place
and stead, in his capacity as Director the reports referred to
above, together with any and all amendments thereto as said
attorney shall deem necessary or incidental in connection
therewith, and to file the same with the Commission.  Such
attorney shall have full power and authority to do and perform
in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all
capacities every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be
done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes
as the undersigned might or could do in person, the undersigned
hereby ratifying and approving the acts of such attorney.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this
instrument as of this 23rd day of January 1996.


                                    /s/  Howard I. Bull
                                 -------------------------------
                                 Howard I. Bull




<PAGE>

                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


                      MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.

                             POWER OF ATTORNEY

     WHEREAS, Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), intends to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, an annual report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 and quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30
and September 30, 1996, with such amendment or amendments
thereto in each case as may be necessary or appropriate,
together with any and all exhibits and other documents having
relation to said reports;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a
director of the Company, does hereby appoint each of WILLIAM H.
FLORES and JOAN R. SMITH, signing singly, the undersigned's
true and lawful attorney with power to act with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place
and stead, in his capacity as Director the reports referred to
above, together with any and all amendments thereto as said
attorney shall deem necessary or incidental in connection
therewith, and to file the same with the Commission.  Such
attorney shall have full power and authority to do and perform
in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all
capacities every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be
done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes
as the undersigned might or could do in person, the undersigned
hereby ratifying and approving the acts of such attorney.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this
instrument as of this 23rd day of January 1996.


                                    /s/  Nathaniel A. Gregory
                                 -------------------------------
                                 Nathaniel A. Gregory






<PAGE>

                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


                   MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.

                         POWER OF ATTORNEY

     WHEREAS, Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), intends to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, an annual report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 and quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30
and September 30, 1996, with such amendment or amendments
thereto in each case as may be necessary or appropriate,
together with any and all exhibits and other documents having
relation to said reports;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a
director of the Company, does hereby appoint each of WILLIAM H.
FLORES and JOAN R. SMITH, signing singly, the undersigned's
true and lawful attorney with power to act with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place
and stead, in his capacity as Director the reports referred to
above, together with any and all amendments thereto as said
attorney shall deem necessary or incidental in connection
therewith, and to file the same with the Commission.  Such
attorney shall have full power and authority to do and perform
in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all
capacities every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be
done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes
as the undersigned might or could do in person, the undersigned
hereby ratifying and approving the acts of such attorney.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this
instrument as of this 23rd day of January 1996.


                                   /s/  David E. Libowitz
                                 -------------------------------
                                 David E. Libowitz



<PAGE>

                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


                MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY

     WHEREAS, Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), intends to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, an annual report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 and quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30
and September 30, 1996, with such amendment or amendments
thereto in each case as may be necessary or appropriate,
together with any and all exhibits and other documents having
relation to said reports;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a
director of the Company, does hereby appoint each of WILLIAM H.
FLORES and JOAN R. SMITH, signing singly, the undersigned's
true and lawful attorney with power to act with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place
and stead, in his capacity as Director the reports referred to
above, together with any and all amendments thereto as said
attorney shall deem necessary or incidental in connection
therewith, and to file the same with the Commission.  Such
attorney shall have full power and authority to do and perform
in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all
capacities every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be
done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes
as the undersigned might or could do in person, the undersigned
hereby ratifying and approving the acts of such attorney.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this
instrument as of this 23rd day of January 1996.


                                   /s/  Christopher M. Linneman
                                 -------------------------------
                                 Christopher M. Linneman






<PAGE>

                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


                    MARINE DRILLING COMPANIES, INC.

                         POWER OF ATTORNEY

     WHEREAS, Marine Drilling Companies, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), intends to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, an annual report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 and quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30
and September 30, 1996, with such amendment or amendments
thereto in each case as may be necessary or appropriate,
together with any and all exhibits and other documents having
relation to said reports;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned in his capacity as a
director of the Company, does hereby appoint each of WILLIAM H.
FLORES and JOAN R. SMITH, signing singly, the undersigned's
true and lawful attorney with power to act with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his name, place
and stead, in his capacity as Director the reports referred to
above, together with any and all amendments thereto as said
attorney shall deem necessary or incidental in connection
therewith, and to file the same with the Commission.  Such
attorney shall have full power and authority to do and perform
in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all
capacities every act whatsoever necessary or desirable to be
done in the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes
as the undersigned might or could do in person, the undersigned
hereby ratifying and approving the acts of such attorney.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this
instrument as of this 23rd day of January 1996.


                                   /s/  Howard H. Newman
                                 -------------------------------
                                 Howard H. Newman