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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 v41QhYf3HTWYwDyzvyMKbQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-06-026432.txt : 20060501
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-06-026432.hdr.sgml : 20060501
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060501163244
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-06-026432
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060428
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060501
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060501

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROBERTSON JULIE J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214243

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31306
		FILM NUMBER:		06795511

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		13135 S DAIRY ASHFORD
		STREET 2:		STE 800
		CITY:			SUGAR LAND
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77478

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>h35571_5jjr.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-04-28</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001169055</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOBLE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214243</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROBERTSON JULIE J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>13135 SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUGAR LAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77478</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec.VP &amp; Corp.Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24.7598</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>80.776</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-04-28</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24.7598</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24.7598</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1 for 1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Consists of 24.7598 phantom stock units to be allocated to the Reporting Person under the Noble Drilling Corporation 401(k) Savings Restoration Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;).  These phantom stock units are payable to the Reporting Person in Ordinary Shares or cash upon any distribution of such units from the Plan.  In accordance with the terms of the Plan, the price of the phantom shares was calculated as the average closing price of the Ordinary Shares during the last five trading days of the month in respect of which such match was made (April 2006).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Units of phantom stock are payable to the Reporting Person in Ordinary Shares or cash upon any distribution of such units from the Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Julie J. Robertson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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