| **Marcellus Share Firm Transportation Contracts - Rollfoward of Accrued Transportation Commitment (Details) - Marcellus Shale Firm Transportation Agreement - USD ($) $ in Millions** | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------|
||
| **Rollforward Of Contractual Obligations [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                             |           |            |
| Balance at Beginning of Period                                                                                                                                                        | $ 90           | $ 0             |
| Firm Transportation Accrual                                                                                                                                                           | 0              | 93              |
| Payments                                                                                                                                                                              | (9)            | (3)             |
| Balance at End of Period                                                                                                                                                              | 81             | 90              |
| Other Current Liabilities                                                                                                                                                             |           |            |
| **Rollforward Of Contractual Obligations [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                             |           |            |
| Balance at Beginning of Period                                                                                                                                                        | 14             |            |
| Balance at End of Period                                                                                                                                                              | 12             | 14              |
| Other Noncurrent Liabilities                                                                                                                                                          |           |            |
| **Rollforward Of Contractual Obligations [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                             |           |            |
| Balance at Beginning of Period                                                                                                                                                        | 76             |            |
| Balance at End of Period                                                                                                                                                              | $ 69           | $ 76            |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Firm Transportation Commitment
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**nbl_FirmTransportationCommitment**Namespace Prefix:**nbl_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Accrual
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**nbl_LongtermPurchaseCommitmentAccrual**Namespace Prefix:**nbl_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Settlement
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**nbl_LongtermPurchaseCommitmentSettlement**Namespace Prefix:**nbl_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Rollforward Of Contractual Obligations [Roll Forward]
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**nbl_RollforwardOfContractualObligationsRollForward**Namespace Prefix:**nbl_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis=nbl_MarcellusShaleFirmTransportationAgreementMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                              |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |