Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Noble Corp [Member]	Shares [Member]	Shares [Member] Noble Corp [Member]	Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member] Noble Corp [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member] Noble Corp [Member]	Treasury Shares [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Noble Corp [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member] Noble Corp [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 8,488,290	$ 8,531,082	$ 710,130	$ 26,125	$ 83,531	$ 470,454	$ 7,066,023	$ 7,384,828	$ (21,069)	$ 765,124	$ 765,124	$ (115,449)	$ (115,449)
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2012			253,348,000	261,246,000
Employee related equity activity
Amortization of share-based compensation	43,620				43,620
Issuance of share-based compensation shares	17		$ 1,872		(1,855)
Issuance of share-based compensation shares, Shares			667,000
Exercise of stock options	$ 5,651		$ 496		5,155
Exercise of stock options, Shares	212,017		212,000
Tax benefit of equity transactions	$ (1,407)				(1,407)
Restricted shares forfeited or repurchased for taxes	(7,653)								(7,653)
Retirement of treasury shares					(28,722)				$ 28,722
Redomiciliation to the United Kingdom			$ (709,964)		709,964
Redomiciliation to the United Kingdom, Shares			(779,000)
Net income	850,406	935,523					782,697	867,814		67,709	67,709
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(105,388)	(105,388)								(105,388)	(105,388)
Dividends	(256,793)	(265,880)					(256,793)	(265,880)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	33,285	33,285										33,285	33,285
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	9,050,028	9,155,484	$ 2,534	$ 26,125	810,286	497,316	7,591,927	7,986,762		727,445	727,445	(82,164)	(82,164)
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013			253,348,000	261,246,000
Employee related equity activity
Capital contributions by parent- Share-based compensation		26,862				26,862
Amortization of share-based compensation	46,389				46,389
Issuance of share-based compensation shares	(9,070)		$ 6		(9,076)
Issuance of share-based compensation shares, Shares			692,000
Exercise of stock options	$ 2,647		$ 3		2,644
Exercise of stock options, Shares	131,706		131,000
Tax benefit of equity transactions	$ (528)				(528)
Repurchases of shares	(154,145)		$ (68)		(154,077)
Repurchases of shares, Shares			(6,770,000)
Net income	83,316	199,053					8,491	124,228		74,825	74,825
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(79,966)	(79,966)								(79,966)	(79,966)
Dividends	(258,330)	(631,095)					(258,330)	(631,095)
Spin-off of Paragon Offshore	(1,371,575)	(1,436,303)					(1,406,053)	(1,470,781)				34,478	34,478
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	(21,732)	(21,732)										(21,732)	(21,732)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 7,287,034	$ 7,218,782	$ 2,475	$ 26,125	695,638	530,657	5,936,035	6,009,114		722,304	722,304	(69,418)	(69,418)
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2014	247,501,000	261,246,000	247,501,000	261,246,000
Employee related equity activity
Capital contributions by parent- Share-based compensation		$ 33,341				33,341
Amortization of share-based compensation	$ 39,172				39,172
Issuance of share-based compensation shares	(4,171)		$ 7		(4,178)
Issuance of share-based compensation shares, Shares			685,000
Tax benefit of equity transactions	(1,581)				(1,581)
Repurchases of shares	$ (100,630)		$ (62)		(100,568)
Repurchases of shares, Shares	(6,200,000)		(6,209,000)
Net income	$ 583,201	607,012					511,000	534,811		72,201	72,201
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(71,504)	(71,504)								(71,504)	(71,504)
Dividends	(315,534)	(376,714)					(315,534)	(376,714)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	6,243	6,243										6,243	6,243
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 7,422,230	$ 7,414,471	$ 2,420	$ 26,125	$ 628,483	561,309	$ 6,131,501	$ 6,167,211		$ 723,001	$ 723,001	$ (63,175)	$ (63,175)
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2015	241,977,000	261,246,000	241,977,000	261,246,000
Employee related equity activity
Capital contributions by parent- Share-based compensation		$ 30,652				$ 30,652