Noble Energy Up Less Than 2% After Being Allowed To Return To Gulf Of Mexico (NBL)

Noble Energy, Inc. NBL shares are up a little less than 2% this morning after the government announced that the company would be the first driller to get a permit to return back to the Gulf of Mexico . Noble said it would resume drilling at the Santiago prospect on Mississippi Canyon Block 519. Ensco PLC ESV will provide the drilling rig for the well. Noble said operations are slated to resume later in March. "This is the first permit issued to resume drilling activities at a well suspended during the moratorium," Noble said. At last check, shares of Noble were up $1.68 to $94.34, a gain of 1.8%.