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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 E6ifYwngvLUpk1ui7AgN+ykgrKzVCFIfGThSmhh5twsIxMekx8Zu8c91hzdCGARa
 oJi2Q3PjUC/dR++rbMNxAQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-003206.txt : 20030507
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-003206.hdr.sgml : 20030507
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030507112721
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-003206
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030505
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030507

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOBLE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001169055
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DRILLING OIL & GAS WELLS [1381]
		IRS NUMBER:				980366361
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		13135 S DAIRY ASHFORD
		CITY:			SUGAR LAND
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77478
		BUSINESS PHONE:		281 276 6100

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SEARS WILLIAM A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214249

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31306
		FILM NUMBER:		03685462

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		357 EDGEWOOD DR
		CITY:			MONTGOMERY
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77356
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>sears.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion><documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-05</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>1169055</issuerCik>        <issuerName>NOBLE CORP</issuerName><issuerTradingSymbol>NE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>1214249</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>SEARS WILLIAM A</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>        </reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option
</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>32.11</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-05</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7500</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>240825</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-04-25</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-04-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Ordinary Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><dire
ctOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><ownerSignature><signatureName>William A. Sears</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName> /s/ Julie J. Robertson by Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>1999-02-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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