| **Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures - Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions** | Mar. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|
| **Financial Assets:**                                                                                                                |          |          |
| Investments                                                                                                                          |          | $ 38          |
| Commodity Derivative Instruments                                                                                                     | $ 10          | 180           |
| **Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]**                                                                           |          |          |
| Commodity Derivative Instruments                                                                                                     | (83)          | (27)          |
| Portion of Deferred Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value                                                                    | (48)          | (43)          |
| Stock Based Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value                                                                            | (1)           | (8)           |
| Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)                                                                                            |          |          |
| **Financial Assets:**                                                                                                                |          |          |
| Investments                                                                                                                          |          | 38            |
| Commodity Derivative Instruments                                                                                                     | 0             | 0             |
| **Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]**                                                                           |          |          |
| Commodity Derivative Instruments                                                                                                     | 0             | 0             |
| Portion of Deferred Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value                                                                    | (48)          | (43)          |
| Stock Based Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value                                                                            | (1)           | (8)           |
| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)                                                                                        |          |          |
| **Financial Assets:**                                                                                                                |          |          |
| Investments                                                                                                                          |          | 0             |
| Commodity Derivative Instruments                                                                                                     | 23            | 187           |
| **Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]**                                                                           |          |          |
| Commodity Derivative Instruments                                                                                                     | (96)          | (34)          |
| Portion of Deferred Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value                                                                    | 0             | 0             |
| Stock Based Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value                                                                            | 0             | 0             |
| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)                                                                                            |          |          |
| **Financial Assets:**                                                                                                                |          |          |
| Investments                                                                                                                          |          | 0             |
| Commodity Derivative Instruments                                                                                                     | 0             | 0             |
| **Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]**                                                                           |          |          |
| Commodity Derivative Instruments                                                                                                     | 0             | 0             |
| Portion of Deferred Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value                                                                    | 0             | 0             |
| Stock Based Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value                                                                            | 0             | 0             |
| Scenario, Adjustment                                                                                                                 |          |          |
| **Financial Assets:**                                                                                                                |          |          |
| Investments                                                                                                                          |          | 0             |
| Commodity Derivative Instruments                                                                                                     | (13)          | (7)           |
| **Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]**                                                                           |          |          |
| Commodity Derivative Instruments                                                                                                     | 13            | 7             |
| Portion of Deferred Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value                                                                    | 0             | 0             |
| Stock Based Compensation Liability Measured at Fair Value                                                                            | 0             | $ 0           |
| Mutual Fund Investments                                                                                                              |          |          |
| **Financial Assets:**                                                                                                                |          |          |
| Investments                                                                                                                          | 41            |          |
| Mutual Fund Investments | Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)                                                                  |          |          |
| **Financial Assets:**                                                                                                                |          |          |
| Investments                                                                                                                          | 41            |          |
| Mutual Fund Investments | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)                                                              |          |          |
| **Financial Assets:**                                                                                                                |          |          |
| Investments                                                                                                                          | 0             |          |
| Mutual Fund Investments | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)                                                                  |          |          |
| **Financial Assets:**                                                                                                                |          |          |
| Investments                                                                                                                          | 0             |          |
| Mutual Fund Investments | Scenario, Adjustment                                                                                       |          |          |
| **Financial Assets:**                                                                                                                |          |          |
| Investments                                                                                                                          | $ 0           |          |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This element represents a certain statement of financial position liability caption which represents a deferred compensation liability, measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair Value Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis Stock Compensation Liability
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**nbl_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredonaRecurringBasisStockCompensationLiability**Namespace Prefix:**nbl_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
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| - References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value portion of investment securities, including, but not limited to, marketable securities, derivative financial instruments, and investments accounted for under the equity method.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                          |
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| X                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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