Organization and Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Organization and Basis of Presentation	Note 1 — Organization and Basis of Presentation Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“Noble-UK”), is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. We perform contract drilling services with our fleet of 35 mobile offshore drilling units located worldwide. Our fleet consists of 15 jackups, 11 semisubmersibles and nine drillships. At September 30, 2014, we had two high-specification, harsh environment jackups under construction. At September 30, 2014, our fleet was located in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, West Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921. *Paragon Offshore plc Spin-Off Transaction* On August 1, 2014, Noble-UK completed the separation and spin-off of a majority of its standard specification offshore drilling business (the “Spin-Off”) through a pro rata distribution of all of the ordinary shares of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Paragon Offshore plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“Paragon Offshore”), to the holders of Noble’s ordinary shares. The results of operations for Paragon Offshore have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. See Note 2 for additional information. Unless otherwise indicated, the information in our consolidated financial statements relates to our continuing operations after such classification. *Migration to the United Kingdom* On November 20, 2013, pursuant to the Merger Agreement dated as of June 30, 2013 between Noble Corporation, a Swiss corporation (“Noble-Swiss”), and Noble-UK, Noble-Swiss merged with and into Noble-UK, with Noble-UK as the surviving company (the “Transaction”). In the Transaction, all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Noble-Swiss were cancelled, and Noble-UK issued, through an exchange agent, one ordinary share of Noble-UK in exchange for each ordinary share of Noble-Swiss. The Transaction effectively changed the place of incorporation of our publicly traded parent holding company from Switzerland to the United Kingdom. Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (“Noble-Cayman”), is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble-UK, our publicly-traded parent company. Noble-UK’s principal asset is all of the shares of Noble-Cayman. Noble-Cayman has no public equity outstanding. The consolidated financial statements of Noble-UK include the accounts of Noble-Cayman, and Noble-UK conducts substantially all of its business through Noble-Cayman and its subsidiaries. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Noble-UK and Noble-Cayman have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as they pertain to Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods, on a basis consistent with the annual audited consolidated financial statements. All such adjustments are of a recurring nature. The December 31, 2013 Consolidated Balance Sheets presented herein are derived from the December 31, 2013 audited consolidated financial statements. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed by both Noble-UK and Noble-Cayman. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Note 1 — Organization and Basis of Presentation

Noble Corporation plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“Noble-UK”), is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. We perform contract drilling services with our fleet of 35 mobile offshore drilling units located worldwide. Our fleet consists of 15 jackups, 11 semisubmersibles and nine drillships. At September 30, 2014, we had two high-specification, harsh environment jackups under construction.

At September 30, 2014, our fleet was located in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, West Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921.

Paragon Offshore plc Spin-Off Transaction

On August 1, 2014, Noble-UK completed the separation and spin-off of a majority of its standard specification offshore drilling business (the “Spin-Off”) through a pro rata distribution of all of the ordinary shares of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Paragon Offshore plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“Paragon Offshore”), to the holders of Noble’s ordinary shares. The results of operations for Paragon Offshore have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. See Note 2 for additional information. Unless otherwise indicated, the information in our consolidated financial statements relates to our continuing operations after such classification.

Migration to the United Kingdom

On November 20, 2013, pursuant to the Merger Agreement dated as of June 30, 2013 between Noble Corporation, a Swiss corporation (“Noble-Swiss”), and Noble-UK, Noble-Swiss merged with and into Noble-UK, with Noble-UK as the surviving company (the “Transaction”). In the Transaction, all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Noble-Swiss were cancelled, and Noble-UK issued, through an exchange agent, one ordinary share of Noble-UK in exchange for each ordinary share of Noble-Swiss. The Transaction effectively changed the place of incorporation of our publicly traded parent holding company from Switzerland to the United Kingdom.

Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (“Noble-Cayman”), is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble-UK, our publicly-traded parent company. Noble-UK’s principal asset is all of the shares of Noble-Cayman. Noble-Cayman has no public equity outstanding. The consolidated financial statements of Noble-UK include the accounts of Noble-Cayman, and Noble-UK conducts substantially all of its business through Noble-Cayman and its subsidiaries.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Noble-UK and Noble-Cayman have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as they pertain to Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods, on a basis consistent with the annual audited consolidated financial statements. All such adjustments are of a recurring nature. The December 31, 2013 Consolidated Balance Sheets presented herein are derived from the December 31, 2013 audited consolidated financial statements. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed by both Noble-UK and Noble-Cayman. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.