-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DccSXmqUMbQ4Hems69Pev3B2DQFTQQt9e1e8d31Y4Kwnf8OitwGQRH3psA1bIOXh
 eCBrgmKNFC7mIu384z8S6g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000072207-03-000023.txt : 20030729
<SEC-HEADER>0000072207-03-000023.hdr.sgml : 20030729
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030729134637
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000072207-03-000023
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030725
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030729

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOBLE ENERGY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000072207
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				730785597
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		350 GLENBOROUGH
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2818723100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		350 GLENBOROUGH
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77067

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NOBLE AFFILIATES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020426

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NOBLE AFFILIATES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILEY KENNETH P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188664
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07964
		FILM NUMBER:		03808110

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		350 GLENBOROUGH
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2818723100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		350 GLENBOROUGH DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77067
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>f4100040030729_134403747.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-25</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000072207</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOBLE ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NBL</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188664</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILEY KENNETH P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 GLENBOROUGH DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>VP Information Systems</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable>
<nonDerivativeTransaction>
<securityTitle>
<value>Noble Energy Inc/Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-25</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>2644</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare>
<value>20.625</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>2716</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction>
<securityTitle>
<value>Noble Energy Inc/Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-25</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>2644</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare>
<value>36.75</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>72</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Noble Energy Inc/Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>2043</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>By 401(k)</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable>
<derivativeTransaction>
<securityTitle>
<value>1999 Stock Option Grant</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>20.0625</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-25</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>2644</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare>
<value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2001-02-01</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2009-02-01</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Noble Energy Common Stock 3.33-1/3</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>2644</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>2644</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Wiley Kenneth</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-25</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Hoppe Albert</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-25</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>McElvany James</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-25</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----