| **Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details)**                                     | 12 Months Ended |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
||
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2017                                           |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2017            |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX WTI       |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 4,000           |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                    | 50.90           |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2017                               |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2017            |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX WTI       |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 24,000          |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                | 39.08           |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                    | 47.71           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                  | 61.20           |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Call - NYMEX WTI 2017                                            |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2017            |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX WTI       |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 3,000           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                  | 57.00           |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - ICE Brent 2017                               |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2017            |
| Index                                                                                           | ICE Brent       |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 2,000           |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                | 43.00           |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                    | 50.00           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                  | 63.15           |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Two Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2017                                 |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2017            |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX WTI       |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 7,000           |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                    | 40.00           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                  | 53.29           |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2017                             |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2017            |
| Index                                                                                           | Dated Brent     |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 2,000           |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                | 35.00           |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                    | 45.00           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                  | 66.33           |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2018                               |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2018            |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX WTI       |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 5,000           |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                | 43.00           |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                    | 50.00           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                  | 68.50           |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2018                                           |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2018            |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX WTI       |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 5,000           |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                    | 54.03           |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaptions - NYMEX WTI 2018                                       |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2018            |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX WTI       |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 3,000           |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                    | 56.10           |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2018                             |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2018            |
| Index                                                                                           | Dated Brent     |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 3,000           |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                | 40.00           |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                    | 50.00           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                  | 70.41           |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX HH 2016                                          |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 1H17 (1)        |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX HH        |
| Volume Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                      | 30,000          |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price | $ / MMBTU                                                        | 2.92            |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX HH 2017 [Member]                                 |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2017            |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX HH        |
| Volume Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                      | 110,000         |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price | $ / MMBTU                                                        | 3.16            |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2017 [Member]                     |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2017            |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX HH        |
| Volume Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                      | 210,000         |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price | $ / MMBTU                                                    | 2.54            |
| Weighted Average Floor Price | $ / MMBTU                                                        | 2.96            |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                      | 3.62            |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Two Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2017 [Member]                       |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2017            |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX HH        |
| Volume Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                      | 70,000          |
| Weighted Average Floor Price | $ / MMBTU                                                        | 2.93            |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                      | 3.32            |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2018 [Member]                     |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2018            |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX HH        |
| Volume Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                      | 70,000          |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price | $ / MMBTU                                                    | 2.50            |
| Weighted Average Floor Price | $ / MMBTU                                                        | 2.80            |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                      | 3.76            |
| First half 2017 | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2017                         |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 1H17 (1)        |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX WTI       |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 6,000           |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                    | 55.08           |
| First half 2017 | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - Dated Brent 2017                       |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 1H17 (1)        |
| Index                                                                                           | Dated Brent     |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 3,000           |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                    | 62.80           |
| First half 2017 | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Two Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2017               |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 1H17 (1)        |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX WTI       |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 2,000           |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                    | 40.00           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                  | 50.44           |
| Second half 2017 | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2017                        |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2H17 (1)        |
| Index                                                                                           | Dated Brent     |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 3,000           |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                    | 62.80           |
| Second half 2017 | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - Dated Brent 2017                      |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2H17 (1)        |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX WTI       |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 3,000           |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                    | 50.05           |
| Second half 2017 | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Call - NYMEX WTI 2017                         |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2H17 (1)        |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX WTI       |
| Volume Per Day | bbl / d                                                                        | 3,000           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                  | 60.12           |
| Second half 2017 | Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX HH 2017 [Member]              |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Settlement Period                                                                               | 2H17 (1)        |
| Index                                                                                           | NYMEX HH        |
| Volume Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                      | 30,000          |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price | $ / MMBTU                                                        | 3.45            |
| Second half 2017 | Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaptions - NYMEX HH 2017 [Member] [Member] |            |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                     |            |
| Volume Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                      | 30,000          |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price | $ / MMBTU                                                        | 2.92            |

| 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
Contract period of time relating to a derivative instrument.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**nbl_DerivativeProductionPeriod**Namespace Prefix:**nbl_**Data Type:**us-types:durationStringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| 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 |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Reference to the index or unit of measurement for the underlying which establishes the pricing terms of the derivative instrument. For example, the basis on the underlying for a natural gas futures contract might be the NYMEX price per million British thermal units (MMBtu).
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeUnderlyingBasis**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                    |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                              |
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| X                                                                                                                                                          |
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| X                                                                                                                                               |
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