-----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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 PdSgAEux+8Z9ya28z7+zQQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246360-08-001389.txt : 20080501
<SEC-HEADER>0001246360-08-001389.hdr.sgml : 20080501
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080501170622
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246360-08-001389
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080422
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080501
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080501

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Cook Rodney D.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001433620

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07964
		FILM NUMBER:		08795527

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		281-872-3100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
		STREET 2:		100 GLENBOROUGH DRIVE, SUITE 100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77067
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-22</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001433620</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Cook Rodney D.</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>Sr. VP International</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Noble Energy, Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26801</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>72.94</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-02-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Noble Energy, Inc. Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18780</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>53.42</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-02-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Noble Energy, Inc. Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20268</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.87</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-02-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Noble Energy, Inc. Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4224</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>45.94</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-02-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Noble Energy, Inc. Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7078</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.23</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Noble Energy, Inc. Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4432</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.61</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-01-29</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Noble Energy, Inc. Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>38.34</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-06-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-06-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Noble Energy, Inc. Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <remarks>Column 2 of Table 1 includes 25,024 restricted shares of Noble Energy, Inc. Common Stock. These restricted shares generally vest as follows: 1,560 shares on 2/1/2009, 3,000 shares on 6/16/2009 (subject to satisfaction of performance goals in the case of restricted shares vesting 2/1/2009 and 6/16/2009), 10,195 shares on 2/1/2010 and 10,269 shares on 2/1/2011.

All options listed in Table II vest 1/3 each year for three years.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Arnold J. Johnson, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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