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<TITLE>Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance</TITLE>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 14pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
<FONT style="font-size: 12pt">Washington, D.C. 20549
</FONT></B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 18pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 21, 2009</B>

<P align="center">

<P align="center" style="font-size: 24pt"><B>NOBLE CORPORATION<BR></B>
<FONT style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
</FONT>

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    <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="33%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Cayman Islands</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>001-31306</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>98-0366361</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD>(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>(Commission File Number)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
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    <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>13135 South Dairy Ashford, Suite 800<BR>Sugar Land, Texas<BR></B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>77478</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>(Zip Code)</TD>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: <B>(281) 276-6100</B>


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</TR>
<TR>
    <TD nowrap>(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)</TD>
</TR>
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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant
under any of the following provisions:

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<BR><BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR><BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<BR><BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<BR>


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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; display: none">1
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<P align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>ITEM 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.</B>


<P align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">On January&nbsp;21, 2009, the Noble Corporation (&#147;Company&#148; &#147;we,&#148; &#147;us,&#148; and &#147;our&#148;) issued a press release announcing its
financial results for the three and 12&nbsp;months ended December&nbsp;31, 2008. A copy of such press release is included as
Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 and will be published in the &#147;Newsroom&#148; area on the Company&#146;s Web site at http://www.noblecorp.com.


<P align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">Statements made herein, including the accompanying exhibit, regarding contract commitments, dayrates, contract
commencements, newbuilds, industry fundamentals, global economic conditions, financial strength, contract backlog,
customer base, future performance, growth opportunities, market outlook, as well as any other statements that are not
historical facts, are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These
include but are not limited to operating hazards and delays, risks associated with operations outside of the U.S.,
actions by customers and other third parties, factors affecting the level of activity in the oil and gas industry,
supply and demand of drilling rigs, factors affecting the duration of contracts, the actual amount of downtime, factors
that reduce applicable dayrates, violations of anti-corruption laws, hurricanes and other weather conditions, the
future price of oil and gas and other factors detailed in our most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should
underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated.


<P align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the press release is being
furnished and shall not be deemed to be &#147;filed&#148; under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.


<P align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>ITEM 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.</B>


<P>
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    <TD width="8%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(d)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><DIV style="text-align: justify">Exhibits</DIV></TD>
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    <TD width="12%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%" nowrap align="left">Exhibit&nbsp;99.1</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><DIV style="text-align: justify"> Noble Corporation Press Release dated January&nbsp;21, 2009, announcing the financial
results for the three and 12&nbsp;months ended December&nbsp;31, 2008.</DIV></TD>
</TR>

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>



<P align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" valign="top" align="left">NOBLE CORPORATION</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Date: January&nbsp;21, 2009
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">By:
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ THOMAS L. MITCHELL</TD>
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<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Thomas L. Mitchell,</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer and Controller</TD>
</TR>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">3
<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; display: none">3
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>INDEX TO EXHIBITS</B>


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    <TD width="18%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="77%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Description</TD>
</TR>

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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="18%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="77%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Exhibit&nbsp;99.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Noble Corporation Press Release dated January&nbsp;21, 2009,
announcing the financial results for the three and 12&nbsp;months
ended December&nbsp;31, 2008.</TD>
</TR>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; display: none">4




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Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 21, 2009
NOBLE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Cayman Islands
001-31306
98-0366361
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
13135 South Dairy Ashford, Suite 800
Sugar Land, Texas
77478
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(281) 276-6100
(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant
under any of the following provisions:
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
ITEM 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On January 21, 2009, the Noble Corporation ("Company" "we," "us," and "our") issued a press release announcing its
financial results for the three and 12 months ended December 31, 2008. A copy of such press release is included as
Exhibit 99.1 and will be published in the "Newsroom" area on the Company's Web site at http://www.noblecorp.com.
Statements made herein, including the accompanying exhibit, regarding contract commitments, dayrates, contract
commencements, newbuilds, industry fundamentals, global economic conditions, financial strength, contract backlog,
customer base, future performance, growth opportunities, market outlook, as well as any other statements that are not
historical facts, are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These
include but are not limited to operating hazards and delays, risks associated with operations outside of the U.S.,
actions by customers and other third parties, factors affecting the level of activity in the oil and gas industry,
supply and demand of drilling rigs, factors affecting the duration of contracts, the actual amount of downtime, factors
that reduce applicable dayrates, violations of anti-corruption laws, hurricanes and other weather conditions, the
future price of oil and gas and other factors detailed in our most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should
underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated.
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the press release is being
furnished and shall not be deemed to be "filed" under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
ITEM 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits
Exhibit 99.1
Noble Corporation Press Release dated January 21, 2009, announcing the financial
results for the three and 12 months ended December 31, 2008.
2
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
NOBLE CORPORATION
Date: January 21, 2009
By:
/s/ THOMAS L. MITCHELL
Thomas L. Mitchell,
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer and Controller
3
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
Description
Exhibit 99.1
Noble Corporation Press Release dated January 21, 2009,
announcing the financial results for the three and 12 months
ended December 31, 2008.