-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246360-06-000443.txt : 20060203
<SEC-HEADER>0001246360-06-000443.hdr.sgml : 20060203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060203170614
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246360-06-000443
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060203
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNSON ARNOLD J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001276420

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07964
		FILM NUMBER:		06578727

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NOBLE ENERGY INC
		STREET 2:		100 GLENBOROUGH DR STE 100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2818723352

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOBLE ENERGY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000072207
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				730785597
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 GLENBOROUGH
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2818723100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 GLENBOROUGH
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77067

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NOBLE AFFILIATES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020426

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NOBLE AFFILIATES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>false</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000072207</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOBLE ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NBL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001276420</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSON ARNOLD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 GLENBOROUGH DRIVE, SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP General Counsel &amp; Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Noble Energy, Inc., Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-02-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2034</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Noble Energy, Inc., Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-02-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2770</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9408</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>45.94</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-02-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12571</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-02-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Noble Energy, Inc., Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12571</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12571</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest 1/3 each year for three years.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">See remarks for description of price and share calculations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Restricted shares of Noble Energy, Inc. Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Holdings under the Company's 401(k) Plan are reported in units by the plan administrator. The units represent shares of Company common stock. The number of shares represented by the units is calculated by dividing the aggregate unit balance under the 401(k) by the closing price of the Company's common stock on the applicable date. Using this calculation, holdings under the 401(k) plan have increased by approximately 1,084 shares of Company common stock since the last reportable transaction in the Company's common stock on Form 4.

Column 5. of Table I includes 9,408 restricted shares of Noble Energy, Inc. Common stock</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Arnold J. Johnson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-02-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Charles D. Davidson, POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-02-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Chris Tong, POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-02-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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