SUGAR LAND, Texas, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Noble Corporation (NYSE: NE) announced today that James C. Day, the company's Chairman and CEO, will be a part of a panel discussing Offshore Drilling Industry Outlook at the Goldman Sachs Global Energy Conference. This panel discussion will begin on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 at 2:30 p.m., eastern standard time.

A copy of Mr. Day's presentation handout will be available on Noble Corporation's website http://www.noblecorp.com within 24 hours of the presentation.

Noble Corporation is a leading provider of diversified services for the oil and gas industry. Contract drilling services are performed with the Company's fleet, which stands at 59* mobile offshore drilling units located in key markets worldwide. The Company's fleet of floating deepwater units consists of 13 semisubmersibles and three dynamically positioned drillships, seven of which are designed to operate in water depths greater than 5,000 feet. The Company's premium fleet of 40* independent leg cantilever jackup rigs includes 26* units that operate in water depths of 300 feet or greater, four of which operate in water depths of 360 feet or greater, and 11 units that operate in water depths up to 250 feet. In addition, the Company's fleet includes three submersible units. Nine of the Company's units are capable of operating in harsh environments. Approximately 75 percent of the fleet is currently deployed in international markets, principally including the North Sea, Brazil, West Africa, the Middle East, Mexico and India. The Company provides technologically advanced drilling-related products and services designed to create value for our customers. The Company also provides labor contract drilling services, well site and project management services, and engineering services. The Company's ordinary shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NE".

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" about the business, financial performance and prospects of the Company. Statements about the Company's or management's plans, intentions, expectations, beliefs, estimates, predictions, or similar expressions for the future are forward- looking statements. No assurance can be given that the outcomes of these forward-looking statements will be realized, and actual results could differ materially from those expressed as a result of various factors. A discussion of these factors, including risks and uncertainties, is set forth from time to time in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Additional information on Noble Corporation is available via the worldwide web at http://www.noblecorp.com .

* Assumes that the Company exercises its options to purchase two

additional premium, independent leg, cantilever jackup rigs capable of

operating in 300 feet of water.

SOURCE  Noble Corporation
    -0-                             01/09/2004
    /CONTACT:  John T. Rynd, Vice President - Investor Relations, Noble
Drilling Services Inc. of Noble Corporation, +1-281-276-6100/
    /Photo:  Newscom:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020424/NEDLOGO
             AP Archive:  http://photoarchive.ap.org
             PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com /
    (NE)

CO:  Noble Corporation
ST:  Texas
IN:  OIL
SU:  MAV

AH-CD 
-- DAF029 --
5470 01/09/2004 16:12 EST http://www.prnewswire.com