<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-03-06</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001038914</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GLOBALSANTAFE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GSF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001392388</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Morrison Stephen E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>15375 MEMORIAL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77079</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Pres, ADTI</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4449</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares, $0.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1017</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>49.72</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-11-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-09-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Ordinary Shares, $0.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>23940</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>44.29</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-11-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-02-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Ordinary Shares, $0.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5438</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.02</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-01-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-01-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Ordinary Shares, $0.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3712</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.73</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-01-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Ordinary Shares, $0.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8580</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.48</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-02-28</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Ordinary Shares, $0.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2698</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>49.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-01-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-01-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Ordinary Shares, $0.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2600</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>61.24</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-12-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-12-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Ordinary Shares, $0.01 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2400</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">First vesting date.  The option vests and becomes exercisable in three annual increments of 33.333% each on the first three anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">First vesting date.  The option vests and becomes exercisable in three annual increments of 33.333% each on the first three anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">First vesting date.  The option vests and becomes exercisable in three annual increments of 33.333% each on the first three anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">First vesting date.  The stock appreciation rights vest and become exercisable in three equal increments on the first three anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">First vesting date.  The stock appreciation rights vest and become exercisable in three equal increments on the first three anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stephen E Morrison</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-03-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
