|**Net (Loss) Income Per Share Attributable to Noble Energy Common Shareholders**                                                            | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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|**Earnings Per Share [Abstract]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Net (Loss) Income Per Share Attributable to Noble Energy Common Shareholders                                                                | Note 14. Net (Loss) Income Per Share Attributable to Noble Energy Common ShareholdersNoble Energy's basic (loss) income per share of common stock is computed by dividing net (loss) income attributable to Noble Energy by the weighted average number of shares of Noble Energy common stock outstanding during each period. The following table summarizes the calculation of basic and diluted (loss) income per share:Three Months Ended March 31,(millions, except per share amounts)20192018Net (Loss) Income and Comprehensive (Loss) Income Attributable to Noble Energy$(313)$554Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic(1)478487Incremental Shares from Assumed Conversion of Dilutive Stock Options, Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust—1Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted478488(Loss) Income Per Share, Basic$(0.65)$1.14(Loss) Income Per Share, Diluted$(0.65)$1.14Number of Antidilutive Stock Options, Shares of Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust Excluded from Calculation Above1516(1)Decrease in weighted average number of shares outstanding reflects the impact of Noble Energy common stock repurchased in 2018 pursuant to our$750 million share repurchase program.
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|                                                                                                                                            | Three Months Ended March 31,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|(millions, except per share amounts)                                                                                                        | 2019                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Net (Loss) Income and Comprehensive (Loss) Income Attributable to Noble Energy                                                              | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic(1)                                                                                     | 478                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Incremental Shares from Assumed Conversion of Dilutive Stock Options, Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust           | —                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted                                                                                      | 478                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|(Loss) Income Per Share, Basic                                                                                                              | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|(Loss) Income Per Share, Diluted                                                                                                            | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Number of Antidilutive Stock Options, Shares of Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust Excluded from Calculation Above | 15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

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