================================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549





                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934




        Date of report (date of earliest event reported): April 24, 2002




                           NOBLE DRILLING CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


                                                                      
                DELAWARE                             0-13857                              73-0374541
        (State of incorporation)             (Commission file number)       (I.R.S. employer identification number)


                   13135 SOUTH DAIRY ASHFORD, SUITE 800
                            SUGAR LAND, TEXAS                                                 77478
                 (Address of principal executive offices)                                  (Zip code)




       REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (281) 276-6100


================================================================================






ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         (c) Exhibits

             Exhibit 99.1   Noble Drilling Corporation Press Release dated April
                            24, 2002, announcing the financial results for the
                            quarter ended March 31, 2002.

ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

         The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Item 9 the
information set forth in its press release dated April 24, 2002, which is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and will be published on the Registrant's web
site at http://www.noblecorp.com. The press release is being furnished in
accordance with Rule 101(e)(1) under Regulation FD and shall not be deemed to be
filed.

         The press release contains forward-looking statements about the
Registrant's business, financial condition and prospects. The Registrant's
actual results could differ materially from those indicated by the
forward-looking statements because of various risks and uncertainties,
including, without limitation, volatility in crude oil and natural gas prices,
the discovery of significant additional oil and/or gas reserves or the
construction of significant oil and/or gas delivery or storage systems that
impact regional or worldwide energy markets, potential deterioration in the
demand for the drilling services of the Registrant and resulting declining
dayrates, changes in our customers' drilling programs or budgets, the
cancellation by customers of the Registrant of drilling contracts or letter
agreements or letters of intent for drilling contracts or their exercise of
early termination provisions generally found in the Registrant's drilling
contracts, intense competition in the drilling industry, changes in oil and gas
drilling technology or in our competitors' drilling rig fleets that could make
our drilling rigs less competitive or require major capital investment to keep
them competitive, political and economic conditions in the United States and in
international markets where the Registrant operates, acts of war or terrorism
and the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United
States, cost overruns or delays on shipyard repair, maintenance, conversion or
upgrade projects, adverse weather (such as hurricanes) and seas, operational
risks (such as blowouts and fires), limitations on the Registrant's insurance
coverage, and requirements and potential liability imposed by governmental
regulation of the drilling industry (including environmental regulation). All of
the foregoing risks and uncertainties are beyond the Registrant's ability to
control, and in many cases, the Registrant cannot predict the risks and
uncertainties that could cause its actual results to differ materially from
those indicated by the forward-looking statements. When used in the press
release, the words "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "plans" and similar
expressions as they relate to the Registrant or its management are intended to
identify forward-looking statements.

                                       2




                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                          NOBLE DRILLING CORPORATION



Date: April 24, 2002                      By:  /s/ MARK A. JACKSON
                                             ---------------------------------
                                               Mark A. Jackson,
                                               Senior Vice President and Chief
                                               Financial Officer (Principal
                                               Financial and Accounting Officer)



                                       3




                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS




EXHIBIT
NUMBER                     DESCRIPTION
------                     -----------
                        
99.1                       Noble Drilling Corporation Press Release dated April
                           24, 2002, announcing the financial results for the
                           quarter ended March 31, 2002.




                                       4