|**Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details)**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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|Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 27,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsNymexWti2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 88.80us-gaap_DerivativeSwapTypeAverageFixedPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsNymexWti2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] | Swaps - Dated Brent 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Dated Brent                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 8,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsDatedBrent2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 100.31us-gaap_DerivativeSwapTypeAverageFixedPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsDatedBrent2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] | Two Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 5,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_TwoWayCollarsNYMEXWTI2015MemberMember/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 50.00us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFloorPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_TwoWayCollarsNYMEXWTI2015MemberMember/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 64.94us-gaap_DerivativeAverageCapPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_TwoWayCollarsNYMEXWTI2015MemberMember/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 20,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNymexWti2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 70.50us-gaap_DerivativeAveragePriceRiskOptionStrikePrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNymexWti2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 87.55us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFloorPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNymexWti2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 94.41us-gaap_DerivativeAverageCapPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNymexWti2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Dated Brent                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 13,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsDatedBrent2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 76.92us-gaap_DerivativeAveragePriceRiskOptionStrikePrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsDatedBrent2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 96.00us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFloorPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsDatedBrent2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 108.49us-gaap_DerivativeAverageCapPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsDatedBrent2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 6,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsNYMEXWTI2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 87.95us-gaap_DerivativeSwapTypeAverageFixedPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsNYMEXWTI2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] | Swaps - Dated Brent 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Dated Brent                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 9,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsDatedBrent2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 97.96us-gaap_DerivativeSwapTypeAverageFixedPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsDatedBrent2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 6,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNYMEXWTI2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 61.00us-gaap_DerivativeAveragePriceRiskOptionStrikePrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNYMEXWTI2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 72.50us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFloorPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNYMEXWTI2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 86.37us-gaap_DerivativeAverageCapPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNYMEXWTI2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Dated Brent                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 8,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsDatedBrent2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 72.50us-gaap_DerivativeAveragePriceRiskOptionStrikePrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsDatedBrent2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 86.25us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFloorPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsDatedBrent2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 101.79us-gaap_DerivativeAverageCapPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsDatedBrent2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX HH 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | NYMEX HH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 140,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsNymexHh2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 4.30us-gaap_DerivativeSwapTypeAverageFixedPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsNymexHh2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | NYMEX HH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 150,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNymexHh2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 3.58us-gaap_DerivativeAveragePriceRiskOptionStrikePrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNymexHh2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 4.25us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFloorPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNymexHh2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 5.04us-gaap_DerivativeAverageCapPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNymexHh2015Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX HH 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | NYMEX HH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 40,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsNYMEXHH2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 3.60us-gaap_DerivativeSwapTypeAverageFixedPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsNYMEXHH2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Two Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | NYMEX HH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 30,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_TwoWayCollarsNYMEXHH2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 3.00us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFloorPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_TwoWayCollarsNYMEXHH2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 3.50us-gaap_DerivativeAverageCapPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_TwoWayCollarsNYMEXHH2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Settlement Period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 2016                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | NYMEX HH                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 60,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNYMEXHH2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 2.88us-gaap_DerivativeAveragePriceRiskOptionStrikePrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNYMEXHH2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 3.50us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFloorPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNYMEXHH2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 4.03us-gaap_DerivativeAverageCapPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNYMEXHH2016Member/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX HH Extension                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 30,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsNYMEXHHExtensionMember/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX HH Increase                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|**Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Bbls Per Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 30,000invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsNYMEXHHIncreaseMember/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 3.50us-gaap_DerivativeSwapTypeAverageFixedPrice/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= nbl_SwapsNYMEXHHIncreaseMember/ nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis= nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
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|[1]
              (1) We have entered into natural gas derivative contracts which give counterparties the option to extend for an additional 12-month period. Options covering a notional volume of 30,000 MMBtu/d are exercisable on December 22 and 23, 2016. If the counterparties exercise all such options, the notional volume of our existing natural gas derivative contracts will increase by 30,000 MMBtu/d at an average price of $3.50 per MMBtu for each month during the period January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. | [1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|[1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | (1) We have entered into natural gas derivative contracts which give counterparties the option to extend for an additional 12-month period. Options covering a notional volume of 30,000 MMBtu/d are exercisable on December 22 and 23, 2016. If the counterparties exercise all such options, the notional volume of our existing natural gas derivative contracts will increase by 30,000 MMBtu/d at an average price of $3.50 per MMBtu for each month during the period January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017.

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                    instant X- DefinitionReference 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).+ ReferencesNo definition available.+ Details**Name:**
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