Noble Corp. To Pay $12.2 Mln To Settle DOJ Probe

(RTTNews) - Offshore drilling contractor Noble Corp. (NE) said Monday that it has reached a final settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, concluding a two-year investigation into the company's operations and systems aboard the drillship Noble Discoverer.

The settlement agreement also covers certain record keeping issues related to the Kulluk drilling rig, which was previously crewed by Noble personnel.

Under the terms of the agreement, Noble will pay $8.2 million in fines and $4 million toward community service as designated by the DOJ.

The company said that it has taken responsibility for those actions and assisted in the investigation and in implementing changes in its vessel and management process.

According to the company, the charges principally relate to deficiencies and maintenance issues raised by the U.S. Coast Guard during an inspection of the Noble Discoverer following a drilling season in offshore Alaska during 2012.