Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		Total	Common Stock [Member]	Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noble Corp [Member]	Noble Corp [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Noble Corp [Member] Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Noble Corp [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Noble Corp [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Noble Corp [Member] Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2015		$ 7,422,230	$ 2,420	$ 628,483	$ 6,131,501	$ (63,175)	$ 723,001	$ 7,414,471	$ 26,125	$ 561,309	$ 6,167,211	$ (63,175)	$ 723,001
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2015			241,977						261,246
Employee related equity activity
Amortization of share-based compensation		27,222		27,222
Issuance of share-based compensation shares		(3,597)	$ 12	(3,609)
Issuance of share-based compensation shares, Shares			1,256
Tax benefit of equity transactions		(5,495)		(5,495)
Distributions to parent company, net								(76,051)			(76,051)
Capital contribution by parent - share- based compensation								25,296		25,296
Net income (loss)		425,297			373,270		52,027	449,020			396,993		52,027
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests		(61,980)					(61,980)	(61,980)					(61,980)
Dividends		47,700			47,700
Other comprehensive income, net		2,006				2,006		2,006				2,006
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2016		7,757,983	$ 2,432	646,601	6,457,071	(61,169)	713,048	7,752,762	$ 26,125	586,605	6,488,153	(61,169)	713,048
Ending Balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2016			243,233						261,246
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 6,467,445	$ 2,432	654,168	5,154,221	(52,140)	708,764	$ 6,391,977	$ 26,125	594,091	5,115,137	(52,140)	708,764
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2016		243,239	243,239					261,246	261,246
Employee related equity activity
Amortization of share-based compensation		$ 21,788		21,788
Issuance of share-based compensation shares		(5)	$ 18	(23)
Issuance of share-based compensation shares, Shares			1,726
Shares withheld for taxes on equity transactions		(4,328)		(4,328)
Contributions from parent company, net								$ (43,891)			(43,891)
Capital contribution by parent - share- based compensation								21,731		21,731
Net income (loss)		(480,948)			(491,836)		10,888	(454,615)			(465,503)		10,888
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests		(26,293)					(26,293)	(26,293)					(26,293)
Dividends unpaid to noncontrolling interests		(15,464)					(15,464)	(15,464)					(15,464)
Dividends	[1]	(83)			(83)
Other comprehensive income, net		2,579				2,579		2,579				2,579
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2017		$ 5,964,857	$ 2,450	$ 671,605	$ 4,662,468	$ (49,561)	$ 677,895	$ 5,963,806	$ 26,125	$ 615,822	$ 4,693,525	$ (49,561)	$ 677,895
Ending Balance, Shares at Sep. 30, 2017		244,965	244,965					261,246	261,246

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