FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * DAY JAMES C   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NOBLE CORP [NE] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chairman of the Board & CEO (Last) (First) (Middle) 13135 SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD, SUITE 800 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 04/29/2005 (Street) SUGAR LAND, TX 77478 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Ordinary Shares 04/29/2005   A   25,200 A $ 0 0 D   Ordinary Shares 04/29/2005   A   43,500 A $ 0 404,063.7311 (1) D   Ordinary Shares               7,829.5803 (2) I By Trust

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Stock Options

$ 51.55

04/29/2005

A

51,400

(3)

04/29/2015

Ordinary Shares

51,400

$ 0

51,400

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
DAY JAMES C 13135 SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD SUITE 800 SUGAR LAND, TX 77478	X		Chairman of the Board & CEO

Signatures

/s/ James C. Day		04/29/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Includes 24,511.4511 shares related to phantom stock units allocated to the Reporting Person under the Noble Drilling Corporation 401(k) Savings Restoration Plan and 528.28 to be awarded to the Reporting Person on the last business day of May 2005 and June 2005 by this issuer in lieu of a portion of the Reporting Person's cash salary at the election of the Reporting Person, which units are payable to the Reporting Person in Ordinary Shares or cash upon any distribution of such units from such plan. Also includes 25,200 ordinary shares granted as Time Vested Restricted Stock and 43,500 ordinary shares granted as Performance Vested Restricted Stock.
(2)	Shares are held in the Noble Drilling Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan Trust.
(3)	Represents option to purchase 51,400 shares with a vesting schedule of 17,133 shares on 04/29/06; 17,133 shares on 04/29/07; and 17,134 shares on 04/29/08.

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