|**Income Per Share Attributable to Noble Energy (Tables)**                                                                                  | 9 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 Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,(millions, except per share amounts)2018201720182017Net Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noble Energy$227$(136)$758$(1,612)Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic482487484464Incremental Shares from Assumed Conversion of Dilutive Stock Options, Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust2—2—Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted484487486464Income (Loss) Per Share, Basic$0.47$(0.28)$1.57$(3.47)Income (Loss) Per Share, Diluted0.47(0.28)1.56(3.47)Number of Antidilutive Stock Options, Shares of Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust Excluded from Calculation Above13161416
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|                                                                                                                                            | Three Months Ended September 30,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|(millions, except per share amounts)                                                                                                        | 2018                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Net Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noble Energy                                                              | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic                                                                                        | 482                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Incremental Shares from Assumed Conversion of Dilutive Stock Options, Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust           | 2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted                                                                                      | 484                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Income (Loss) Per Share, Basic                                                                                                              | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Income (Loss) Per Share, Diluted                                                                                                            | 0.47                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Number of Antidilutive Stock Options, Shares of Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust Excluded from Calculation Above | 13                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

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