December 12, 2005


Mr. Mark Jackson
Chief Financial Officer
Noble Corporation
13135 South Dairy Ashford, Suite 800
Sugar Land, TX 77478



      Re:	Noble Corporation
Form 10-K for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2004
		Filed March 8, 2005
		File No. 0-13857


Dear Mr. Jackson:

      We have reviewed your filing and have the following
comments.
We have limited our review of your filing to those issues we have
addressed in our comments.  Where indicated, we think you should
revise your document in response to these comments.  If you
disagree,
we will consider your explanation as to why our comment is
inapplicable or a revision is unnecessary.  Please be as detailed
as
necessary in your explanation.  In some of our comments, we may
ask
you to provide us with information so we may better understand
your
disclosure.  After reviewing this information, we may raise
additional comments.

	Please understand that the purpose of our review process is
to
assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure
requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your filing.
We look forward to working with you in these respects.  We welcome
any questions you may have about our comments or any other aspect
of
our review.  Feel free to call us at the telephone numbers listed
at
the end of this letter.







Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2004

Financial Statements

Statements of Cash Flows, page 41

1. We understand that you defer expense recognition of repair and
maintenance costs when the expenditures that are incurred relate
to
large scale maintenance projects or overhauls.  Please expand your
disclosure to explain your rationale for selecting a three year
amortization period for such costs (indicate how this relates to
the
frequency of your projects and overhauls); and disclose the extent
to
which amortization of the deferred balances is either reflected in
or
excluded from the figures that you identify as total maintenance
and
repair expenses.  If the amounts reflected in your line item
"Deferred repair and maintenance expenditures" in the investing
section of your statement of cash flow reflect actual cash
expenditures, as we would expect, the deferred expenditures
labeling
would seem imprecise.

Closing Comments

      As appropriate, please amend your filing and respond to
these
comments within 10 business days or tell us when you will provide
us
with a response.  You may wish to provide us with marked copies of
the amendment to expedite our review.  Please furnish a cover
letter
with your amendment that keys your responses to our comments and
provides any requested information.  Detailed cover letters
greatly
facilitate our review.  Please understand that we may have
additional
comments after reviewing your amendment and responses to our
comments.

	We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and
adequacy of the disclosure in the filing to be certain that the
filing includes all information required under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and that they have provided all information
investors require for an informed investment decision.  Since the
company and its management are in possession of all facts relating
to
a company`s disclosure, they are responsible for the accuracy and
adequacy of the disclosures they have made.

	In connection with responding to our comments, please
provide,
in writing, a statement from the company acknowledging that:

* the company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the
disclosure in the filing;

* staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff
comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action
with
respect to the filing; and

* the company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any
proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the
federal securities laws of the United States.

      In addition, please be advised that the Division of
Enforcement
has access to all information you provide to the staff of the
Division of Corporation Finance in our review of your filing or in
response to our comments on your filing.

      You may contact Tracie Towner at (202) 551-3744 if you have
questions regarding comments on the financial statements and
related
matters.  Please contact me at (202) 551-3686 with any other
questions.

								Sincerely,



								Karl Hiller
								Branch Chief
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Mr. Mark Jackson
Noble Corporation
December 12, 2005
Page 1




UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-7010

   DIVISION OF
CORPORATION FINANCE
MAIL STOP 7010