|**Loss Per Share (Tables)**                                                                                                                 | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
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|**Earnings Per Share [Abstract]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|Schedule of earnings per share                                                                                                              | The following table summarizes the calculation of basic and diluted income (loss) per share:Three Months EndedMarch 31,(millions, except per share amounts)20172016Net Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noble Energy$36$(287)Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic431429Incremental Shares from Assumed Conversion of Dilutive Stock Options, Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust(1)3—Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted434429Income (Loss) Per Share, Basic$0.08$(0.67)Income (Loss) Per Share, Diluted0.08(0.67)Number of Antidilutive Stock Options, Shares of Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust Excluded from Calculation Above1415(1)For first quarter 2016, all outstanding options and non-vested restricted shares have been excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share as the Company incurred a net loss. Therefore, inclusion of outstanding options and non-vested restricted shares in the calculation of diluted loss per share would be anti-dilut
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|                                                                                                                                            | Three Months EndedMarch 31,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|(millions, except per share amounts)                                                                                                        | 2017                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Net Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noble Energy                                                              | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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|Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic                                                                                        | 431                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Incremental Shares from Assumed Conversion of Dilutive Stock Options, Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust(1)        | 3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted                                                                                      | 434                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Income (Loss) Per Share, Basic                                                                                                              | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Income (Loss) Per Share, Diluted                                                                                                            | 0.08                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Number of Antidilutive Stock Options, Shares of Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust Excluded from Calculation Above | 14                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
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|(1)                                                                                                                                         | For first quarter 2016, all outstanding options and non-vested restricted shares have been excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share as the Company incurred a net loss. Therefore, inclusion of outstanding options and non-vested restricted shares in the calculation of diluted loss per share would be anti-dilut                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

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