| **Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details)**                                                                                  | 6 Months Ended |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|
||
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2016                                                                                        |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2016           |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                                                       | 16,000         |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                                                                 | 67.69          |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Two Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2016 [Member]                                                                     |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2016           |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                                                       | 10,000         |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                                                                 | 40.50          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                               | 53.42          |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - Dated Brent 2016                                                                                      |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2016           |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | Dated Brent    |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                                                       | 9,000          |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                                                                 | 97.96          |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2016                                                                            |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2016           |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                                                       | 8,000          |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                                                             | 54.50          |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                                                                 | 65.63          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                               | 79.03          |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2016                                                                          |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2016           |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | Dated Brent    |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                                                       | 8,000          |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                                                             | 72.50          |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                                                                 | 86.25          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                               | 101.79         |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Call - NYMEX WTI 2016 [Member]                                                                                |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2016           |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                                                       | 5,000          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                               | 54.16          |
| 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 Ceiling Price                                                                                                               | 47.34          |
| 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                                                                                                               | 53.29          |
| 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                                                                                                                       | 15,000         |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                                                                                             | 36.33          |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                                                                                                 | 46.33          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                               | 60.68          |
| 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 - 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 2016                                                                                       |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2016           |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | NYMEX HH       |
| Bbls Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                                                                     | 70,000         |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                     | 3.24           |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Two Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2016                                                                             |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2016           |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | NYMEX HH       |
| Bbls Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                                                                     | 30,000         |
| Weighted Average Floor Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                     | 3.00           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                   | 3.50           |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2016 [Member]                                                                  |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2016           |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | NYMEX HH       |
| Bbls Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                                                                     | 90,000         |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                 | 2.83           |
| Weighted Average Floor Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                     | 3.42           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                   | 3.90           |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX HH 2017 [Member]                                                                              |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2017           |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | NYMEX HH       |
| Bbls Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                                                                     | 60,000         |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                   | 3.14           |
| 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                                                                                                                     | 100,000        |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                 | 2.50           |
| Weighted Average Floor Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                     | 2.87           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                   | 3.48           |
| 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                                                                                                                     | 20,000         |
| Weighted Average Floor Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                     | 2.75           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                   | 3.02           |
| 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                                                                                                                     | 70,000         |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                 | 2.50           |
| Weighted Average Floor Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                     | 2.80           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                   | 3.76           |
| Rosetta Resources, Inc [Member] | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2016                                                      |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2016           |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | (3)            |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                                                       | 6,000          |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                                                                                                 | 90.28          |
| Rosetta Resources, Inc [Member] | Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - Houston Ship Channel and Tennessee Zone 0 2016 [Member] [Member]  |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2016           |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | (2)            |
| Bbls Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                                                                     | 30,000         |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                     | 4.04           |
| Rosetta Resources, Inc [Member] | Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Two Way Collars - Houston Ship Channel and Tennessee Zone 0 2016 [Member] |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2016           |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | (2)            |
| Bbls Per Day | MMBTU / d                                                                                                                     | 30,000         |
| Weighted Average Floor Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                     | 3.50           |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                   | 5.60           |
| Second half 2017 [Member] | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Call - NYMEX WTI 2017 [Member]                                                    |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2H17 (4)       |
| 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 (4)       |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | NYMEX WTI      |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                                                       | 3,000          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                               | 50.05          |
| Second half 2017 [Member] | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - Dated Brent 2017 [Member]                                                 |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 2H17 (4)       |
| Index                                                                                                                                        | Dated Brent    |
| Bbls Per Day | bbl / d                                                                                                                       | 3,000          |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                                                                                               | 62.80          |
| 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 Ceiling Price | $ / MMBTU                                                                                                   | 2.92           |
| First half 2017 [Member] | Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2017 [Member]                                                    |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                                                  |           |
| Settlement Period                                                                                                                            | 1H17 (4)       |
| 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 (4)       |
| 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 (4)       |
| 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                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                  |
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| X                                                                                                                                                       |
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| X                                                                                                                                                        |
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| X                                                                                                                                                                |
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| X                                                                                                                                                                  |
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| X                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                       |
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                   |
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                           |
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| X                                                                                                                                               |
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| X                                                                                                                                              |
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