UPDATE 1-Noble Energy Q1 net loss on hedging

*Q1 net loss $1.09 per share

*Production down 5 pct

HOUSTON, April 30 (Reuters) - Independent energy company Noble Energy Inc (NBL.N) reported a first-quarter net loss compared with a year-earlier profit as asset writedowns and natural gas prices and losses related to hedging weighed.

Net loss in the quarter was $188 million, or $1.09 per share, compared with $215 million, or $1.20 per share in the same quarter a year ago.

Excluding $291 million in after-tax items, first-quarter 2009 profit was $103 million, or 59 cents per share, compared with $364 million, or $2.05 per share a year ago.

Total sales volumes averaged 210,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (MBoe/d) for the quarter, down 5 percent from the same period in 2008. (Reporting by Anna Driver in Houston, editing by Dave Zimmerman)