|**Income Per Share Attributable to Noble Energy**                                                                                           | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
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|**Earnings Per Share [Abstract]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Noble Energy                                                                                        | Note 10. Income Per Share Attributable to Noble EnergyNoble Energy's basic income per share of common stock is computed by dividing net income attributable to Noble Energy by the weighted average number of shares of Noble Energy common stock outstanding during each period. The following table summarizes the calculation of basic and diluted income per share:Three Months EndedMarch 31,(millions, except per share amounts)20182017Net Income and Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noble Energy$554$36Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic487431Incremental Shares from Assumed Conversion of Dilutive Stock Options, Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust13Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted488434Income Per Share, Basic$1.14$0.08Income Per Share, Diluted1.140.08Number of Antidilutive Stock Options, Shares of Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust Excluded from Calculation Above1614
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|                                                                                                                                            | Three Months EndedMarch 31,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|(millions, except per share amounts)                                                                                                        | 2018                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Net Income and Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noble Energy                                                                            | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic                                                                                        | 487                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Incremental Shares from Assumed Conversion of Dilutive Stock Options, Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust           | 1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted                                                                                      | 488                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Income Per Share, Basic                                                                                                                     | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Income Per Share, Diluted                                                                                                                   | 1.14                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Number of Antidilutive Stock Options, Shares of Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust Excluded from Calculation Above | 16                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

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