Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 83,316	$ 850,406	$ 556,137
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	627,473	511,513	440,306
Loss on impairment	745,428	43,688	20,384
Gain on disposal of assets, net		(35,646)
Deferred income taxes	(10,999)	(15,955)	(20,119)
Amortization of share-based compensation	46,389	43,620	35,930
Net change in other assets and liabilities	50,527	(63,218)	30,740
Net cash from operating activities	1,778,208	1,702,317	1,381,693
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(2,072,885)	(2,487,520)	(1,669,811)
Change in accrued capital expenditures	(36,383)	(58,587)	(121,077)
Proceeds from disposal of assets		61,000
Net cash from investing activities	(2,109,268)	(2,485,107)	(1,790,888)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	(437,647)	1,221,333	(635,192)
Repayment of long-term debt	(250,000)	(300,000)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net of debt issuance costs			1,186,636
Financing costs on credit facilities	(398)	(2,484)	(5,221)
Long-term borrowings of Paragon Offshore	1,710,550
Financing costs on long-term borrowing of Paragon Offshore	(14,676)
Cash balances of Paragon Offshore in Spin-off	(104,152)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(79,966)	(105,388)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests			40,000
Repurchases of shares	(154,145)
Repurchases of employee shares surrendered for taxes		(7,653)	(10,516)
Employee stock transactions	2,125	4,261	14,677
Par value reduction/dividend payments	(386,579)	(194,913)	(138,293)
Net cash from financing activities	285,112	615,156	452,091
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(45,948)	(167,634)	42,896
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	114,458	282,092	239,196
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	68,510	114,458	282,092
Noble-Cayman [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	199,053	935,523	614,716
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	624,278	509,341	438,374
Loss on impairment	745,428	43,688	20,384
Gain on disposal of assets, net		(35,646)
Deferred income taxes	(10,999)	(15,955)	(20,119)
Capital contribution by parent-share-based compensation	33,341	26,862	19,838
Net change in other assets and liabilities	44,740	(63,092)	29,119
Net cash from operating activities	1,871,916	1,768,630	1,420,627
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(2,072,751)	(2,485,617)	(1,667,477)
Change in accrued capital expenditures	(36,383)	(58,587)	(121,077)
Proceeds from disposal of assets		61,000
Net cash from investing activities	(2,109,134)	(2,483,204)	(1,788,554)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	(437,647)	1,221,333	(635,192)
Repayment of long-term debt	(250,000)	(300,000)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net of debt issuance costs			1,186,636
Financing costs on credit facilities	(398)	(2,484)	(5,221)
Long-term borrowings of Paragon Offshore	1,710,550
Financing costs on long-term borrowing of Paragon Offshore	(14,676)
Cash balances of Paragon Offshore in Spin-off	(104,152)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(79,966)	(105,388)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests			40,000
Distributions to parent company, net	(631,095)	(265,880)	(175,977)
Net cash from financing activities	192,616	547,581	410,246
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(44,602)	(166,993)	42,319
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	110,382	277,375	235,056
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 65,780	$ 110,382	$ 277,375