| **Asset Impairments Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used- text (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                       | 3 Months Ended                              |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
||
| **Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]**                                                                     |                                                                                                                                  |                                        |   |   |   |
| Asset Impairments                                                                                                             | $ 500us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties                                                                                          | $ 86us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties | $ 104us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties |   |   |
| United States [Member]                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                  |                                        |   |   |   |
| **Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]**                                                                     |                                                                                                                                  |                                        |   |   |   |
| Asset Impairments                                                                                                             | 250us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties/ us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis= country_US                          |                                        |   |   |   |
| South Raton (Deepwater Gulf of Mexico) [Member]                                                                               |                                                                                                                                  |                                        |   |   |   |
| **Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]**                                                                     |                                                                                                                                  |                                        |   |   |   |
| Asset Impairments                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                  |                                        |   | 74us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties/ us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis= nbl_SouthRatonDeepwaterGulfOfMexicoMember |   |
| Other Deepwater Gulf of Mexico [Member]                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                  |                                        |   |   |   |
| **Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]**                                                                     |                                                                                                                                  |                                        |   |   |   |
| Asset Impairments                                                                                                             | 51us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties/ us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis= nbl_OtherDeepwaterGulfofMexicoMember |                                        |   |   |   |
| Other (Onshore US) [Member]                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                  |                                        |   |   |   |
| **Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]**                                                                     |                                                                                                                                  |                                        |   |   |   |
| Asset Impairments                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                  |                                        |   |   | $ 31us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties/ us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis= nbl_OtherOnshoreUsMember |

| X                                                                                                                                                                               |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The expense recorded to reduce the value of oil and gas assets consisting of proved properties and unproved properties as the estimate of future successful production from these properties is reduced.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 360 -Section 35 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28370743&loc=d3e66150-109466Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2921-110230
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis=country_US**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis=nbl_OtherDeepwaterGulfofMexicoMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis=nbl_OtherOnshoreUsMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis=nbl_SouthRatonDeepwaterGulfOfMexicoMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |