|**Divestitures (Tables)**                                | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|-------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|**Divestitures [Abstract]**                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Schedule of gain on asset divestitures                   | The information regarding the assets sold is as follows:Six Months EndedJune 30,(millions)2014Sales Proceeds$110LessNet Book Value of Assets Sold(118)Goodwill Allocated to Assets Sold(6)Asset Retirement Obligations Associated with Assets Sold20Gain on Divestitures$6The information regarding the China assets sold is as follows:Six Months EndedJune 30,(millions)2014Sales Proceeds(1)$186LessNet Book Value of Assets Sold(149)Other Closing Adjustments(2)Gain on Divestiture$35(1)Includes$150 millioncash received on July 2, 2014, which was recorded as accounts receivable at June 30, 2014.
|                                                        
|                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|                                                         | Six Months EndedJune 30,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|(millions)                                               | 2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Sales Proceeds                                           | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Less                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Net Book Value of Assets Sold                            | (118                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Goodwill Allocated to Assets Sold                        | (6                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Asset Retirement Obligations Associated with Assets Sold | 20                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Gain on Divestitures                                     | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|                                                        
|                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|                                                         | Six Months EndedJune 30,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|(millions)                                               | 2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Sales Proceeds(1)                                        | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Less                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Net Book Value of Assets Sold                            | (149                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Other Closing Adjustments                                | (2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Gain on Divestiture                                      | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

X- Definition-- None. No documentation exists for this element. --
+ ReferencesNo definition available.
+ Details**Name:**
nbl_DivestituresAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**
nbl_**Data Type:**
xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration X- DefinitionTabular disclosure of disposal groups, which may include the gain (loss) recognized in the income statement and the income statement caption that includes that gain (loss), the classification and carrying value of the assets and liabilities comprising the disposal group, and the segment in which the disposal group was reported.
+ ReferencesNo definition available.
+ Details**Name:**
nbl_ScheduleofDisposalGroupsGainonAssetSaleTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**
nbl_**Data Type:**
nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration