---------------------------------- 9626 **************** FINDS NATURAL GAS ARDMORE, Okla., March 27 - Noble Affiliates Inc said it found natural gas on Ship Shoal 80, located about 10 miles offshore Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. The discovery well, Samedan Oil Corp's OCS-G 5537 Well Number One, was drilled in 25 feet of water to a total depth of 7,500 feet and found 38 feet of net gas pay in a 48-foot gross sand interval, the company said. The well tested gas at a rate of 6.2 mln cubic feet a day through a 26/64-inch choke with 1,548 pounds flowing tubing pressure. Gas sales should begin in the first quarter of 1988, it said. Samedan, a Noble unit, is operator and owns a 60 pct working interest in the well. Other owners are a New England Electric System <NES> unit, with a 25 pct stake, and Southwestern Energy Production Co, with 15 pct.