Noble Drilling's roots trace back to 1921, when Lloyd Noble formed the Noble Drilling Company. Though the company began with only a single rig, Lloyd Noble was a careful planner as well as a man with a vision. Against the odds, the company survived the ups and downs of the economy. Then in 1985 Noble Drilling was spun off from Noble Affiliates, and CEO Jim Day held the reins of the newly independent company. Like Noble Drilling's founder, Day made farsighted decisions and announced the company's commitment to flourish. Under Day's leadership, Noble Drilling evolved into one of the world's premier offshore drilling companies.
Noble Drilling has not been immune to the boom-and-bust cycle of a highly cyclical industry, but it has carried on through expertise, loyalty, and plain old common sense. The company has turned its focus to the future, making intelligent acquisitions and developing innovative drilling methods and rig designs that have helped it survive even the most depressed oil market.
