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                       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): August 23, 2004




                           DAWSON GEOPHYSICAL COMPANY
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




         TEXAS                         2-71058                   75-0970548
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(State of Incorporation)       (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
                                                            Identification No.)


                              508 W WALL, SUITE 800
                                MIDLAND, TX 79701
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                    (Address of Principle Executive Officers)



                                  432/684-3000
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              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


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ITEM 8.01 The Registrant has issued a press release announcing its intention to field an additional seismic data acquisition crew. ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS (c) Exhibits 99.1 - Press Release dated August 23, 2004. 2

SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant duly caused this report to be signed by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Date: August 23, 2004 DAWSON GEOPHYSICAL COMPANY By: /s/ L. Decker Dawson -------------------------------- L. Decker Dawson CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER By: /s/ Christina W. Hagan -------------------------------- Christina W. Hagan CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 3

EXHIBIT INDEX EXHIBIT NO. EXHIBIT - ----------- ------- 99.1 Press Release dated August 23, 2004. 4

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1
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DAWSON GEOPHYSICAL PLANS ADDITIONAL EXPANSION


MIDLAND, Texas, August 23, 2004/PRNewswire/-The following was released by Dawson
Geophysical Company (NASDAQ DWSN-news)

Dawson Geophysical Company (NASDAQ DWSN) today announced its intention to field
its ninth high resolution seismic data acquisition crew in early September,
2004. The Company's eighth crew, planning for which was announced on June 3,
2004, was deployed July 12, 2004. The Company is responding to increased client
requirements emanating from increased prices received for crude oil and natural
gas.

Founded in 1952, Dawson Geophysical Company acquires and processes 2-D, 3-D and
multi-component seismic data used in analyzing subsurface geologic conditions
for the potential of oil and natural gas accumulation. Dawson's clients-major
and intermediate-sized oil and gas companies and independent oil
operators-retain exclusive rights to the information obtained.

The Company operates highly mobile, land-based acquisition crews throughout the
lower 48 states. Data processing is performed by geophysicists at Dawson's
computer center in the Midland, Texas headquarters. The Company also provides
data processing services through its Houston, Texas office.

In accordance with the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Dawson Geophysical Company cautions that
statements in this press release which are forward-looking and which provide
other than historical information involve risks and uncertainties that may
impact the Company's actual results of operations. Please see the Company's Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 for a more complete discussion
of such risk factors.


Contact:
L. Decker Dawson or Christina W. Hagan, both of Dawson Geophysical Company
1-432-684-3000