-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 B22W5svPmF1Lycwl8xgGrU8b+RjeWJQGFRFASISRahblOE0d5SQz/v36RCZSK16a
 zkI8P1MlBJp8nIqFeYygfQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-07-003314.txt : 20070111
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-07-003314.hdr.sgml : 20070111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070111170100
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-07-003314
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070109
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070111
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070111

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:		07526367

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		357 EDGEWOOD DR
		CITY:			MONTGOMERY
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77356
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>boh42699_boh1was.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-01-09</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214249</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SEARS WILLIAM A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>357 EDGEWOOD DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTGOMERY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77356</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-01-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>127</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>78.62</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23269</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ William A. Sears</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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