| **Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details)**                                              | 3 Months Ended |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|
||
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Call - NYMEX WTI 2017 [Member]                                            |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2017           |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 3,000          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                           | 57.00          |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2017 [Member]                                           |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2017           |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 4,000          |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                             | 50.90          |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Two Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2017 [Member]                                 |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2017           |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 7,000          |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                             | 40.00          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                           | 53.38          |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2017 [Member]                               |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2017           |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 24,000         |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                         | 39.08          |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                             | 47.71          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                           | 61.20          |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaptions - NYMEX WTI 2018 [Member]                                       |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 3,000          |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                             | 56.10          |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2017 [Member]                             |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2017           |
| Index                                                                                                    | Dated Brent    |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 2,000          |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                         | 35.00          |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                             | 45.00          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                           | 66.33          |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - ICE Brent 2017 [Member]                               |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Index                                                                                                    | ICE Brent      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 2,000          |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                         | 43.00          |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                             | 50.00          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                           | 63.15          |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2018 [Member]                               |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2018           |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 10,000         |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                         | 45.50          |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                             | 52.50          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                           | 69.09          |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2018 [Member]                             |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2018           |
| Index                                                                                                    | Dated Brent    |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 3,000          |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                         | 40.00          |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                             | 50.00          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                           | 70.41          |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX HH 2017 [Member]                                          |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2017           |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX HH       |
| Bbls Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                                 | 110,000        |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                 | 3.19           |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2017 [Member]                              |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2017           |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX HH       |
| Bbls Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                                 | 210,000        |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price | $ / MMBTU                                                             | 2.54           |
| Weighted Average Floor Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                 | 2.96           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                               | 3.62           |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Two Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2017 [Member]                                |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2017           |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX HH       |
| Bbls Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                                 | 70,000         |
| Weighted Average Floor Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                 | 2.93           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                               | 3.32           |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2018 [Member]                              |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2018           |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX HH       |
| Bbls Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                                 | 110,000        |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price | $ / MMBTU                                                             | 2.50           |
| Weighted Average Floor Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                 | 2.87           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                               | 3.67           |
| Second half 2017 [Member] | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Call - NYMEX WTI 2017 [Member]                |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2H17 (2)       |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 3,000          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                           | 60.12          |
| Second half 2017 [Member] | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2017 [Member]               |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2H17 (2)       |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 3,000          |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                             | 50.05          |
| Second half 2017 [Member] | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - Dated Brent 2017 [Member]             |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2H17 (2)       |
| Index                                                                                                    | Dated Brent    |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 3,000          |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                             | 62.80          |
| Second half 2017 [Member] | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaptions - NYMEX WTI 2018 [Member]           |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2018           |
| Second half 2017 [Member] | Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX HH 2017 [Member]              |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2H17           |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX HH       |
| Bbls Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                                 | 30,000         |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                 | 3.45           |
| Second half 2017 [Member] | Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaptions - NYMEX HH 2017 [Member] [Member] |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 2H17           |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX HH       |
| Bbls Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                                 | 30,000         |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                 | 2.92           |
| First half 2017 [Member] | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2017 [Member]                |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 1H17 (2)       |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 6,000          |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                             | 55.08          |
| First half 2017 [Member] | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - Dated Brent 2017 [Member]              |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 1H17 (2)       |
| Index                                                                                                    | Dated Brent    |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 3,000          |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                             | 62.80          |
| First half 2017 [Member] | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Two Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2017 [Member]      |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 1H17 (2)       |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                   | 2,000          |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                             | 40.00          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                           | 50.44          |
| First half 2017 [Member] | Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX HH 2017 [Member]               |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                              |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                        | 1H17           |
| Index                                                                                                    | NYMEX HH       |
| Bbls Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                                 | 30,000         |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                 | 2.92           |

| 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
Contract period of time relating to a derivative instrument.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**nbl_DerivativeProductionPeriod**Namespace Prefix:**nbl_**Data Type:**us-types:durationStringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| 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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Reference 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).
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeUnderlyingBasis**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis=nbl_CrudeOilCommodityContractMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_CallNYMEXWTI2017Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_SwapsNYMEXWTI2017Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_TwoWayCollarsNYMEXWTI2017Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNYMEXWTI2017Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_SwaptionsNYMEXWTI2018Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                    |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_ThreeWayCollarsDatedBrent2017Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_ThreeWayCollarsICEBrent2017Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNYMEXWTI2018Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                    |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_ThreeWayCollarsDatedBrent2018Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**nbl_DerivativeByRiskAxis=nbl_NaturalGasCommodityContractMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_SwapsNYMEXHH2017Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNYMEXHH2017Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                               |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_TwoWayCollarsNYMEXHH2017Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_ThreeWayCollarsNYMEXHH2018Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                               |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**nbl_DerivativecontracttermAxis=nbl_Secondhalf2017Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_SwapsDatedBrent2017Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=nbl_SwaptionsNYMEXHH2017MemberMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**nbl_DerivativecontracttermAxis=nbl_Firsthalf2017Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |