| **Merger, Acquisitions, and Divestitures Merger, Acquisitions and Divestitures - Merger (Details) - USD ($)** |                 | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|
||
| **Business Acquisition [Line Items]**                                                                         |            |           |            |   |   |
| Stock issued (shares)                                                                                         |            |           | 0               | 41,048,240 |   |
| Goodwill                                                                                                      |            |           |            | $ 0 | $ 620,000,000 |
| Gain to other operating expense                                                                               |            | $ 25,000,000   | $ 25,000,000    |   |   |
| **Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]**                                                    |            |           |            |   |   |
| Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue                                                                       |            |           | 3,491,000,000   | 3,478,000,000 | 6,126,000,000 |
| Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)                                                             |            |           | $ (998,000,000) | $ (2,393,000,000) | $ 1,607,000,000 |
| Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Basic                                                     |            |           | $ (2.32)        | $ (5.64) | $ 4.01 |
| Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Diluted                                                   |            |           | $ (2.32)        | $ (5.64) | $ 3.94 |
| Rosetta Resources, Inc                                                                                        |            |           |            |   |   |
| **Business Acquisition [Line Items]**                                                                         |            |           |            |   |   |
| Stock issued (shares)                                                                                         | 41,000,000      |           |            |   |   |
| Noble Energy common stock price on July 20, 2015 (in dollars per share)                                       | $ 36.97         |           |            |   |   |
| Fair value of common stock issued                                                                             | $ 1,518,000,000 |           |            |   |   |
| Plus: fair value of Rosetta's restricted stock awards and performance awards assumed                          | 10,000,000      |           |            |   |   |
| Plus: Rosetta stock options assumed                                                                           | 1,000,000       |           |            |   |   |
| Total purchase price                                                                                          | 1,529,000,000   |           |            |   |   |
| Accounts Payable                                                                                              | 100,000,000     |           |            |   |   |
| Current Liabilities                                                                                           | 37,000,000      |           |            |   |   |
| Long-Term Debt                                                                                                | 1,992,000,000   |           |            |   |   |
| Other Long Term Liabilities                                                                                   | 23,000,000      |           |            |   |   |
| Asset Retirement Obligation                                                                                   | 27,000,000      |           |            |   |   |
| Total purchase price plus liabilities assumed                                                                 | 3,708,000,000   |           |            |   |   |
| Cash and Equivalents                                                                                          | 61,000,000      |           |            |   |   |
| Other Current Assets                                                                                          | 76,000,000      |           |            |   |   |
| Derivative Instruments                                                                                        | 209,000,000     |           |            |   |   |
| Proved Properties                                                                                             | 1,613,000,000   |           |            |   |   |
| Undeveloped Leaseholds                                                                                        | 1,355,000,000   |           |            |   |   |
| Gathering and Processing Assets                                                                               | 207,000,000     |           |            |   |   |
| Asset Retirement Obligation                                                                                   | 27,000,000      |           |            |   |   |
| Other Property Plant and Equipment                                                                            | 5,000,000       |           |            |   |   |
| Long Term Deferred Tax Asset                                                                                  | 17,000,000      |           |            |   |   |
| Goodwill                                                                                                      | 138,000,000     |           |            | $ 163,000,000 |   |
| Total Asset Value                                                                                             | $ 3,708,000,000 |           |            |   |   |

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Number of shares of equity interests issued or issuable to acquire entity.
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The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.
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The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.
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The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.
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The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.
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Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.
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Amount of equity interests of the acquirer, including instruments or interests issued or issuable in consideration for the business combination.
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Amount of liabilities incurred for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business and related party payables, assumed at the acquisition date.
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Amount, after allocation of valuation allowance, of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards acquired at the acquisition date, classified as noncurrent.
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The amount of financial assets (as defined) recognized as of the acquisition date.
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Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.
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