-----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,
 IaUIUJzd9MpN/T1VAsxYMUy46ugymgEWnvTlxMxFcH2pMBwkqbRqhNmFsl2I9YY4
 lCCJVceawZu399RoyjMYGg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000072207-04-000027.txt : 20040202
<SEC-HEADER>0000072207-04-000027.hdr.sgml : 20040202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040202103835
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000072207-04-000027
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNSON ARNOLD J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001276420

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07964
		FILM NUMBER:		04557943

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NOBLE ENERGY INC
		STREET 2:		100 GLENBOROUGH DR STE 100
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2818723352

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>f3100040040202_103720710.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000072207</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOBLE ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NBL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001276420</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSON ARNOLD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 GLENBOROUGH DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77067-3610</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>V.P. Gen. Counsel &amp; Secretary</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Noble Energy Inc</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>689</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2001 Stock Option Grant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>43.21</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-01-29</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>NOBLE ENERGY INC/COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2002 Stock Option Grant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.54</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-02-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>NOBLE ENERGY INC/COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2003 Stock Option Grant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>35.37</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-02-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>NOBLE ENERGY INC/COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest 1/3 each year for 3 years</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James McElvany Attorney in Fact for Arnold Johnson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Charles Davidson Attorney in Fact for Arnold Johnson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Arnold Johnson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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