| **Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details)**                | 6 Months Ended |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|
||
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2014                      |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2014           |  |
| Index                                                                      | NYMEX WTI      | [1] |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 37,000         |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               | 92.67          |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           |      |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             |      |  |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - Dated Brent 2014                    |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2014           |  |
| Index                                                                      | Dated Brent    |  |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 13,000         |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               | 103.21         |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           |      |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             |      |  |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2014          |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2014           |  |
| Index                                                                      | NYMEX WTI      | [1] |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 12,000         |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           | 75.67          |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               | 90.67          |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             | 100.88         |  |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2014        |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2014           |  |
| Index                                                                      | Dated Brent    |  |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 8,000          |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               | 0.00           |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           | 84.38          |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               | 98.25          |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             | 121.56         |  |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2015                      |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2015           |  |
| Index                                                                      | NYMEX WTI      | [1] |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 27,000         |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               | 88.80          |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           |      |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             |      |  |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - Dated Brent 2015                    |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2015           |  |
| Index                                                                      | Dated Brent    |  |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 9,000          |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               | 100.16         |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           |      |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             |      |  |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2015          |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2015           |  |
| Index                                                                      | NYMEX WTI      | [1] |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 20,000         |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           | 70.50          |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               | 87.55          |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             | 94.41          |  |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2015        |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2015           |  |
| Index                                                                      | Dated Brent    |  |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 13,000         |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           | 76.92          |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               | 96.00          |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             | 108.49         |  |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2016 [Member]             |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2016           |  |
| Index                                                                      | NYMEX WTI      | [1] |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 6,000          |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               | 87.95          |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           |      |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             |      |  |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Swaps - Dated Brent 2016                    |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2016           |  |
| Index                                                                      | Dated Brent    |  |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 9,000          |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               | 97.98          |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           |      |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             |      |  |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2016 [Member] |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2016           |  |
| Index                                                                      | NYMEX WTI      | [1] |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 3,000          |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           | 72.00          |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               | 85.00          |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             | 94.82          |  |
| Crude Oil Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2016        |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2016           |  |
| Index                                                                      | Dated Brent    |  |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 6,000          |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           | 80.00          |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               | 95.00          |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             | 105.87         |  |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX HH 2014                     |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2014           |  |
| Index                                                                      | NYMEX HH       | [2] |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 60,000         |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               | 4.24           |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           |      |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             |      |  |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Three Way Collar - NYMEX HH 2014          |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2014           |  |
| Index                                                                      | NYMEX HH       | [2] |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 230,000        |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           | 2.83           |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               | 3.75           |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             | 4.98           |  |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Swaps - NYMEX HH 2015                     |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2015           |  |
| Index                                                                      | NYMEX HH       | [2] |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 140,000        |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               | 4.30           |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           |      |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             |      |  |
| Natural Gas Commodity Contract | Three Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2015         |           |  |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                |           |  |
| Period                                                                     | 2015           |  |
| Index                                                                      | NYMEX HH       | [2] |
| Volume Per Day                                                             | 150,000        |  |
| Weighted Average Fixed Price                                               |      |  |
| Weighted Average Short Put Price                                           | 3.59           |  |
| Weighted Average Floor Price                                               | 4.25           |  |
| Weighted Average Ceiling Price                                             | 5.06           |  |
|                                                                            |
| [1]West Texas Intermediate[2]Henry Hub                                     |

| 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:dateStringItemType**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                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - 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 |