| **Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details)**                      | Sep. 30, 2017 bbl / d $ / shares $ / bbl |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Crude Oil Contract | Call Option - NYMEX WTI Second Half of 2017                 |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 3,000                                    |
| Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - ICE Brent Second Half of 2017           |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 5,000                                    |
| Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2017                          |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 24,000                                   |
| Crude Oil Contract | Two Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2017                            |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 10,804                                   |
| Crude Oil Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2017                                      |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 4,293                                    |
| Crude Oil Contract | Call Option - NYMEX WTI 2017                                |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 3,000                                    |
| Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - ICE Brent 2017                          |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 2,000                                    |
| Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2017                        |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 2,000                                    |
| Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2018                          |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 10,000                                   |
| Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2018                        |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 3,000                                    |
| Crude Oil Contract | Swaptions - NYMEX WTI 2018                                  |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 3,000                                    |
| Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - ICE Brent 2018                          |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 5,000                                    |
| Crude Oil Contract | Two Way Collars - ICE Brent 2018                            |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 2,000                                    |
| Crude Oil Contract | Basic Swap 2018                                             |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 8,000                                    |
| Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collar - ICE Brent 2019                           |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 3,000                                    |
| Crude Oil Contract | Basic Swap 2019                                             |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 12,000                                   |
| Natural Gas Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2017                         |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 110,000                                  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 0.00                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 2.58                                     |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 2.93                                     |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 3.65                                     |
| Natural Gas Contract | Two Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2017                           |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 70,000                                   |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 0.00                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 0.00                                     |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 2.93                                     |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 3.32                                     |
| Natural Gas Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2018                         |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 120,000                                  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 0.00                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 2.50                                     |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 2.88                                     |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 3.65                                     |
| Natural Gas Contract | Swaptions - NYMEX HH 2018                                 |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                            | 30,000                                   |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 3.36                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 0.00                                     |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 0.00                                     |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 0.00                                     |
| Swaps | Crude Oil Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2017                              |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 50.84                                    |
| Swaps | Crude Oil Contract | Swaptions - NYMEX WTI 2018                          |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 56.10                                    |
| Swaps | Crude Oil Contract | Basic Swap 2018                                     |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Differential ($ per bbl) | $ / shares                           | $ (0.78)                                 |
| Swaps | Crude Oil Contract | Basic Swap 2019                                     |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Differential ($ per bbl) | $ / shares                           | $ (1.01)                                 |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | Call Option - NYMEX WTI Second Half of 2017       |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 0.00                                     |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 0.00                                     |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 60.12                                    |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - ICE Brent Second Half of 2017 |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 43.00                                    |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 50.00                                    |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 64.00                                    |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2017                |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 39.08                                    |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 47.71                                    |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 61.20                                    |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | Two Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2017                  |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 0.00                                     |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 40.80                                    |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 52.72                                    |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | Call Option - NYMEX WTI 2017                      |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 0.00                                     |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 0.00                                     |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 57.00                                    |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - ICE Brent 2017                |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 43.00                                    |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 50.00                                    |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 63.15                                    |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2017              |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 35.00                                    |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 45.00                                    |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 66.33                                    |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2018                |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 45.50                                    |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 52.50                                    |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 69.09                                    |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2018              |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 40.00                                    |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 50.00                                    |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 70.41                                    |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collars - ICE Brent 2018                |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 43.00                                    |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 50.00                                    |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 59.50                                    |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | Two Way Collars - ICE Brent 2018                  |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 0.00                                     |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 50.00                                    |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 55.25                                    |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | Three Way Collar - ICE Brent 2019                 |                                     |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                      |                                     |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                     | 43.00                                    |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                         | 50.00                                    |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                       | 64.07                                    |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Aggregate notional amount of derivative expressed in nonmonetary units. For example, the number of barrels specified in a fuel oil forward purchase contract.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 12 -Section 13 -Sentence Column B
+ Details**Name:**invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount**Namespace Prefix:**invest_**Data Type:**xbrli:decimalItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Derivative, Swap Type, Weighted Average Differential
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**nbl_DerivativeSwapTypeWeightedAverageDifferential**Namespace Prefix:**nbl_**Data Type:**num:perShareItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The average cap rate on a group of price risk derivatives such as caps or collars. A payment or receipt is triggered if the market rate exceeds the cap rate on the contract.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeAverageCapPrice**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**us-types:perUnitItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The average floor rate on a group of price risk derivatives such as floors or collars. A payment or receipt is triggered if the market rate falls below the floor rate on the contract.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFloorPrice**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**us-types:perUnitItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The average strike price on the group of price risk option contracts such as put options or call options.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeAveragePriceRiskOptionStrikePrice**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**us-types:perUnitItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Average fixed price related to the group of price risk swap derivatives.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeSwapTypeAverageFixedPrice**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**us-types:perUnitItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
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