Noble Corporation

Type: Public
On the web: http://www.noblecorp.com
Employees: 7,300
Employee growth: 23.7%

Noble Corporation may be heir to a fortune as demand increases for deepwater oil and gas contract drilling services. The company, with operations in waters off the coasts of five continents, has a fleet of 73 offshore drilling units: two submersibles, 12 drillships, 14 semisubmersibles, 2 submersibles, 1 floating production storage and offloading unit, and 43 jack-up rigs. Many of its rigs are capable of operating in depths greater than 5,000 feet. About 81% of the company's drilling fleet is deployed in international markets, primarily in Brazil, India, Mexico, the Middle East, the North Sea, and West Africa. Noble also provides labor contract drilling, well site, and project management services.

Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2011:
Sales: $2,695.8M
One year growth: (4.0%)
Net income: $370.9M
Income growth: (52.0%)

Officers:
Chairman, President, and CEO: David W. Williams
SVP Operations: D. E. (Don) Jacobsen
SVP Marketing and Contracts: Roger B. Hunt

Competitors:
Diamond Offshore
Nabors Industries
Transocean