Guarantees of Registered Securities (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2012	Feb. 28, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities			$ 535,946	$ 232,768
Cash flows from investing activities
Change in accrued capital expenditures			(159,134)	(51,500)
Refund from contract extinguishments				18,642
Net cash from investing activities			(824,274)	(1,449,073)
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings on bank credit facilities			325,000	625,000
Repayments on bank credit facilities			(1,150,000)	(240,000)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	1,190,000		1,186,636	1,087,833
Contributions from joint venture partners			40,000	436,000
Payments of joint venture debt		(693,000)		(693,494)
Settlement of interest rate swaps				(29,032)
Financing costs on credit facilities			(5,014)	(2,835)
Net cash from financing activities			324,425	1,109,311
Net change in cash and cash equivalents			36,097	(106,994)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			239,196	337,871
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			275,293	230,877
Noble-Cayman [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities			(39,135)	(30,984)
Cash flows from investing activities
Notes receivable from affiliates				20,000
Net cash from investing activities				20,000
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings on bank credit facilities			325,000	625,000
Repayments on bank credit facilities			(1,150,000)	(240,000)
Financing costs on credit facilities			(5,014)
Distributions to parent			(92,675)	(94,291)
Advances (to) from affiliates			(226,514)	(238,391)
Notes payable to affiliates			1,188,287	(38,500)
Net cash from financing activities			39,084	10,983
Net change in cash and cash equivalents			(51)	(1)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			146	42
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			95	41
Noble-Cayman [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities			551,701	246,477
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures			(663,700)	(1,411,282)
Change in accrued capital expenditures			(159,134)	(51,500)
Refund from contract extinguishments				18,642
Net cash from investing activities			(822,834)	(1,444,140)
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings on bank credit facilities			325,000	625,000
Repayments on bank credit facilities			(1,150,000)	(240,000)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net			1,186,636	1,087,833
Contributions from joint venture partners			40,000	436,000
Payments of joint venture debt				(693,494)
Settlement of interest rate swaps				(29,032)
Financing costs on credit facilities			(5,014)	(2,835)
Distributions to parent			(92,675)	(94,291)
Net cash from financing activities			303,947	1,089,181
Net change in cash and cash equivalents			32,814	(108,482)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			235,056	333,399
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			267,870	224,917
NHC and NDH Combined [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities			8,929	23,361
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures			(182,619)	(846,292)
Net cash from investing activities			(182,619)	(846,292)
Cash flows from financing activities
Advances (to) from affiliates			173,636	840,576
Notes payable to affiliates				(17,500)
Net cash from financing activities			173,636	823,076
Net change in cash and cash equivalents			(54)	145
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			385	146
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			331	291
NDC [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities			4,457	2,591
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures			(306)	(197)
Net cash from investing activities			(306)	(197)
Cash flows from financing activities
Advances (to) from affiliates			(4,151)	32,606
Notes payable to affiliates				(35,000)
Net cash from financing activities			(4,151)	(2,394)
NHIL [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities			(32,947)	(43,770)
Cash flows from investing activities
Notes receivable from affiliates			(1,188,287)
Net cash from investing activities			(1,188,287)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net			1,186,636	1,087,833
Advances (to) from affiliates			34,602	(1,044,063)
Net cash from financing activities			1,221,283	43,770
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			4
NDS6 [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities			(13,203)	(10,840)
Cash flows from financing activities
Advances (to) from affiliates			13,203	10,840
Net cash from financing activities			13,203	10,840
Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities			623,600	306,119
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures			(480,775)	(564,793)
Change in accrued capital expenditures			(159,134)	(51,500)
Notes receivable from affiliates				91,000
Refund from contract extinguishments				18,642
Net cash from investing activities			(639,909)	(506,651)
Cash flows from financing activities
Contributions from joint venture partners			40,000	436,000
Payments of joint venture debt				(693,494)
Settlement of interest rate swaps				(29,032)
Advances (to) from affiliates			9,224	398,432
Notes payable to affiliates				(20,000)
Net cash from financing activities			49,224	91,906
Net change in cash and cash equivalents			32,915	(108,626)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			234,525	333,211
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			267,440	224,585
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities
Notes receivable from affiliates			1,188,287	(111,000)
Net cash from investing activities			1,188,287	(111,000)
Cash flows from financing activities
Notes payable to affiliates			(1,188,287)	111,000
Net cash from financing activities			$ (1,188,287)	$ 111,000