| **Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Summary of Outstanding Derivative Contracts (Details)** | Mar. 31, 2019 bbl / d MMBTU / d $ / bbl $ / MMBTU |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Swaps 2019                                                               |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 22,000                                            |
| Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Three-Way Collars 2019                                                   |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 33,000                                            |
| Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Swaption 2019                                                            |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 5,000                                             |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 62.50                                             |
| Crude Oil Contract | ICE Brent - Swaps 2019                                                               |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 5,000                                             |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 57.00                                             |
| Crude Oil Contract | ICE Brent - Three-Way Collars 2019                                                   |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 3,000                                             |
| Crude Oil Contract | Basis Swaps 2019                                                                     |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 27,000                                            |
| Weighted Average Differential ($ per bbl)                                                                 | (3.23)                                            |
| Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Swaption 2020                                                            |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 5,000                                             |
| Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Three-Way Swaps 2020                                                     |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 10,000                                            |
| Crude Oil Contract | Basis Swaps 2020                                                                     |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | bbl / d                                                                     | 15,000                                            |
| Weighted Average Differential ($ per bbl)                                                                 | (5.01)                                            |
| Natural Gas Contract | NYMEX HH - Three-Way Collars 2019                                                  |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | MMBTU / d                                                                   | 104,000                                           |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                  | 2.25                                              |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                      | 2.65                                              |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                    | 2.95                                              |
| Natural Gas Contract | NYMEX HH - Swaps 2020                                                              |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | MMBTU / d                                                                   | 46,000                                            |
| Natural Gas Contract | CIG - Basis Swaps 2019                                                             |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | MMBTU / d                                                                   | 113,500                                           |
| Weighted Average Differential ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                     | (0.65)                                            |
| Natural Gas Contract | WAHA - Basis Swaps 2019                                                            |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | MMBTU / d                                                                   | 15,000                                            |
| Weighted Average Differential ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                     | (1.44)                                            |
| Natural Gas Contract | CIG - Basis Swaps 2020                                                             |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | MMBTU / d                                                                   | 44,000                                            |
| Weighted Average Differential ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                     | (0.62)                                            |
| Natural Gas Contract | WAHA - Basis Swaps 2020                                                            |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Bbls Per Day (Bbls per day) | MMBTU / d                                                                   | 17,000                                            |
| Weighted Average Differential ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                     | (0.75)                                            |
| Swaps | Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Swaps 2019                                                       |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 56.96                                             |
| Swaps | Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Swaption 2020                                                    |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 61.79                                             |
| Swaps | Natural Gas Contract | NYMEX HH - Swaps 2020                                                      |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price ($ per bbl) | $ / MMBTU                                                      | 3.00                                              |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Three-Way Collars 2019                                         |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                                              | 49.35                                             |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 59.35                                             |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                                                | 72.25                                             |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | ICE Brent - Three-Way Collars 2019                                         |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                                              | 43.00                                             |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 50.00                                             |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                                                | 64.07                                             |
| Collars | Crude Oil Contract | NYMEX WTI - Three-Way Swaps 2020                                           |                                              |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                               |                                              |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price ($ per bbl)                                                              | 50.00                                             |
| Weighted Average Floor Price ($ per bbl)                                                                  | 58.00                                             |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price ($ per bbl)                                                                | 67.37                                             |

| 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
Derivative, Swap Type, Weighted Average Differential
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**nbl_DerivativeSwapTypeWeightedAverageDifferential**Namespace Prefix:**nbl_**Data Type:**us-types:perUnitItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| 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                                                                                                                                 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                          |
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| X                                                                                                                                               |
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