| **Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Summary of Outstanding Derivative Contracts (Details)** | Sep. 30, 2018 bbl / d MMBTU / d $ / bbl $ / MMBTU |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Swaps 2018                                                               |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 66,000                                            |
| Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Collars 2018                                                             |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 18,000                                            |
| Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Three-Way Collars 2018                                                   |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 10,000                                            |
| Crude Oil Contract | Dated Brent - Three-Way Collars 2018                                                 |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 3,000                                             |
| Crude Oil Contract | ICE Brent - Swaps 2018                                                               |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 2,000                                             |
| Crude Oil Contract | ICE Brent - Collars 2018                                                             |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 2,000                                             |
| Crude Oil Contract | ICE Brent - Three-Way Collars 2018                                                   |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 5,000                                             |
| Crude Oil Contract | Basis Swaps 2018                                                                     |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 20,000                                            |
| Weighted Average Differential ($ per bbl)                                                                 | (2.30)                                            |
| Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Swaps 2019                                                               |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 44,000                                            |
| Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Three-Way Collars 2019                                                   |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 11,000                                            |
| Crude Oil Contract | ICE Brent - Swaps 2019                                                               |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 5,000                                             |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 57.00                                             |
| Crude Oil Contract | ICE Brent - Three-Way Collars 2019                                                   |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 3,000                                             |
| Crude Oil Contract | Basis Swaps 2019                                                                     |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 27,000                                            |
| Weighted Average Differential ($ per bbl)                                                                 | (3.23)                                            |
| Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Swaption 2020                                                            |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 5,000                                             |
| Crude Oil Contract | Basis Swaps 2020                                                                     |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 15,000                                            |
| Weighted Average Differential ($ per bbl)                                                                 | (5.01)                                            |
| Natural Gas Contract | NYMEX WTI - Swaption 2020                                                          |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | MMBTU / d                                                                   | 120,000                                           |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                  | 2.50                                              |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                      | 2.88                                              |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                    | 3.65                                              |
| Natural Gas Contract | NYMEX HH - Three Way Collars 2019                                                  |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | MMBTU / d                                                                   | 104,000                                           |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                  | 2.25                                              |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                      | 2.65                                              |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                    | 2.95                                              |
| Natural Gas Contract | Basis Swap 2019                                                                    |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | MMBTU / d                                                                   | 52,000                                            |
| Weighted Average Differential ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                     | (0.74)                                            |
| Swaps | Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Swaps 2018                                                       |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 60.30                                             |
| Swaps | Crude Oil Contract | ICE Brent - Swaps 2018                                                       |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 59.00                                             |
| Swaps | Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Swaps 2019                                                       |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 58.37                                             |
| Swaps | Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Swaption 2020                                                    |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 61.79                                             |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Collars 2018                                                   |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 50.42                                             |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                                                | 58.82                                             |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Three-Way Collars 2018                                         |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                                              | 45.50                                             |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 52.50                                             |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                                                | 69.09                                             |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | Dated Brent - Three-Way Collars 2018                                       |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                                              | 40.00                                             |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 50.00                                             |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                                                | 70.41                                             |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | ICE Brent - Collars 2018                                                   |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 50.00                                             |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                                                | 55.25                                             |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | ICE Brent - Three-Way Collars 2018                                         |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                                              | 43.00                                             |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 50.00                                             |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                                                | 59.50                                             |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Three-Way Collars 2019                                         |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                                              | 52.05                                             |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 62.05                                             |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                                                | 75.84                                             |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | ICE Brent - Three-Way Collars 2019                                         |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                                              | 43.00                                             |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 50.00                                             |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                                                | 64.07                                             |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Aggregate notional amount of derivative expressed in nonmonetary units. For example, the number of barrels specified in a fuel oil forward purchase contract.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 12 -Section 13 -Sentence Column B
+ Details**Name:**invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount**Namespace Prefix:**invest_**Data Type:**xbrli:decimalItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Derivative, Swap Type, Weighted Average Differential
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**nbl_DerivativeSwapTypeWeightedAverageDifferential**Namespace Prefix:**nbl_**Data Type:**us-types:perUnitItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The average cap rate on a group of price risk derivatives such as caps or collars. A payment or receipt is triggered if the market rate exceeds the cap rate on the contract.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeAverageCapPrice**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**us-types:perUnitItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The average floor rate on a group of price risk derivatives such as floors or collars. A payment or receipt is triggered if the market rate falls below the floor rate on the contract.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFloorPrice**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**us-types:perUnitItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The average strike price on the group of price risk option contracts such as put options or call options.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeAveragePriceRiskOptionStrikePrice**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**us-types:perUnitItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Average fixed price related to the group of price risk swap derivatives.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeSwapTypeAverageFixedPrice**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**us-types:perUnitItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                 |
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