Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 258,369	$ 278,142	$ 493,526	$ 641,118
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	129,681	136,594	258,436	272,312
General and administrative	21,717	18,658	43,800	34,538
Loss on impairment	792,843	0	792,843	0
Total operating costs and expenses	1,103,975	322,427	1,396,012	639,940
Operating income (loss)	(845,606)	(44,285)	(902,486)	1,178
Other income (expense)
Interest income (expense), net of amounts capitalized	(74,130)	(73,209)	(150,145)	(146,656)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net	0	0	(8,768)	0
Interest income and other, net	2,865	3,074	4,204	4,691
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(916,871)	(114,420)	(1,057,195)	(140,787)
Income tax benefit (provision)	38,839	18,213	35,843	(239,194)
Net loss from continuing operations	(878,032)	(96,207)	(1,021,352)	(379,981)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(1,486)	0	(1,486)
Net loss	(878,032)	(97,693)	(1,021,352)	(381,467)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	249,969	4,343	250,955	(13,577)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company	(628,063)	(93,350)	(770,397)	(395,044)
Other comprehensive loss, net	(2,446)	1,318	(1,455)	1,786
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the company	(630,509)	(92,032)	(771,852)	(393,258)
Consolidating Adjustments
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	0	(9,944)	0	(27,113)
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
General and administrative	0	0	0	0
Loss on impairment	0		0
Total operating costs and expenses	0	(9,944)	0	(27,113)
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - continuing operations	977,286	91,391	1,095,584	550,253
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - discontinued operations, net of tax		(7,533)		(7,533)
Interest income (expense), net of amounts capitalized	43,545	73,679	87,796	190,572
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net			0
Interest income and other, net	(43,545)	(73,679)	(87,796)	(190,572)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	977,286	83,858	1,095,584	542,720
Income tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0	0
Net loss from continuing operations		83,858		542,720
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		0		0
Net loss	977,286	83,858	1,095,584	542,720
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	(478)	0	(816)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company	977,286	83,380	1,095,584	541,904
Other comprehensive loss, net	2,446	(1,318)	1,455	(1,786)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the company	979,732	82,062	1,097,039	540,118
Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	258,369	247,206	493,526	579,111
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	128,173	120,628	255,812	239,831
General and administrative	7,524	18,071	20,330	18,478
Loss on impairment	792,843		792,843
Total operating costs and expenses	1,086,718	310,483	1,367,235	584,430
Operating income (loss)	(828,349)	(63,277)	(873,709)	(5,319)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - continuing operations	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - discontinued operations, net of tax		0		0
Interest income (expense), net of amounts capitalized	(11,889)	(23,134)	(11,889)	(80,447)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net			(11,851)
Interest income and other, net	44,812	5,608	88,970	11,914
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(795,426)	(80,803)	(808,479)	(73,852)
Income tax benefit (provision)	38,733	(47,079)	35,737	(355,420)
Net loss from continuing operations		(127,882)		(429,272)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		4,565		4,565
Net loss	(756,693)	(123,317)	(772,742)	(424,707)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	249,969	4,821	250,955	(12,761)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company	(506,724)	(118,496)	(521,787)	(437,468)
Other comprehensive loss, net	(2,446)	1,318	(1,455)	1,786
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the company	(509,170)	(117,178)	(523,242)	(435,682)
Noble-Cayman | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	0	0	0	0
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
General and administrative	32	(442)	65	71
Loss on impairment	0		0
Total operating costs and expenses	106	(1,308)	220	206
Operating income (loss)	(106)	1,308	(220)	(206)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - continuing operations	(613,855)	(85,274)	(744,671)	(380,376)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - discontinued operations, net of tax		2,967		2,967
Interest income (expense), net of amounts capitalized	(15)	(2,578)	(460)	(5,183)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net			(2,336)
Interest income and other, net	1,586	2,646	3,154	7,278
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(612,390)	(80,931)	(744,533)	(375,520)
Income tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0	0
Net loss from continuing operations		(80,931)		(375,520)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax				0
Net loss	(612,390)	(80,931)	(744,533)	(375,520)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to the company	(612,390)	(80,931)	(744,533)	(375,520)
Other comprehensive loss, net	(2,446)	1,318	(1,455)	1,786
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the company	(614,836)	(79,613)	(745,988)	(373,734)
NHUS | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer		0		0
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization		0		0
General and administrative		1,538		2,845
Total operating costs and expenses		4,900		8,778
Operating income (loss)		(4,900)		(8,778)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - continuing operations		(99,354)		(412,919)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - discontinued operations, net of tax		4,566		4,566
Interest income (expense), net of amounts capitalized		(6,345)		(23,856)
Interest income and other, net		(26)		(91)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes		(106,059)		(441,078)
Income tax benefit (provision)		66,127		116,586
Net loss from continuing operations		(39,932)		(324,492)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(1,598)		(1,598)
Net loss		(41,530)		(326,090)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to the company		(41,530)		(326,090)
Other comprehensive loss, net		0		0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the company		(41,530)		(326,090)
NDH | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer		40,880		89,120
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization		14,005		30,520
General and administrative		0		0
Total operating costs and expenses		27,164		55,998
Operating income (loss)		13,716		33,122
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - continuing operations		39,114		41,483
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - discontinued operations, net of tax		0		0
Interest income (expense), net of amounts capitalized		(3,291)		(6,383)
Interest income and other, net		14,309		54,211
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes		63,848		122,433
Income tax benefit (provision)		(835)		(326)
Net loss from continuing operations		63,013		122,107
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		0		0
Net loss		63,013		122,107
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to the company		63,013		122,107
Other comprehensive loss, net		0		0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the company		63,013		122,107
NHIL | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	0	0	0	0
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
General and administrative	565	(5,941)	1,183	892
Loss on impairment	0		0
Total operating costs and expenses	1,358	(16,775)	2,580	2,545
Operating income (loss)	(1,358)	16,775	(2,580)	(2,545)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - continuing operations	(363,431)	48,476	(350,913)	145,293
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - discontinued operations, net of tax		0		0
Interest income (expense), net of amounts capitalized	(105,771)	(107,686)	(225,592)	(213,688)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net			5,419
Interest income and other, net	(2)	720	(131)	4,923
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(470,562)	(41,715)	(573,797)	(66,017)
Income tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0	0
Net loss from continuing operations		(41,715)		(66,017)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		0		0
Net loss	(470,562)	(41,715)	(573,797)	(66,017)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to the company	(470,562)	(41,715)	(573,797)	(66,017)
Other comprehensive loss, net	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the company	(470,562)	(41,715)	(573,797)	(66,017)
NDS6
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer			493,526
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization			255,812
General and administrative			21,578
Loss on impairment			792,843
Total operating costs and expenses			1,370,035
Operating income (loss)			(876,509)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - continuing operations			0
Interest income (expense), net of amounts capitalized			(150,145)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net			(8,768)
Interest income and other, net			4,197
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes			(1,031,225)
Income tax benefit (provision)			35,737
Net loss			(995,488)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			250,955
Net income (loss) attributable to the company			(744,533)
Other comprehensive loss, net			(1,455)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the company			(745,988)
NDS6 | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer		0		0
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization		0		0
General and administrative		5		9
Total operating costs and expenses		5		9
Operating income (loss)		(5)		(9)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - continuing operations		5,647		56,266
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - discontinued operations, net of tax		0		0
Interest income (expense), net of amounts capitalized		(3,854)		(7,671)
Interest income and other, net		53,560		116,978
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes		55,348		165,564
Income tax benefit (provision)		0		0
Net loss from continuing operations		55,348		165,564
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		0		0
Net loss		55,348		165,564
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to the company		55,348		165,564
Other comprehensive loss, net		0		0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the company		55,348		165,564
Noble Corp
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	258,369	278,142	493,526	641,118
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	128,173	134,633	255,812	270,351
General and administrative	8,121	13,231	21,578	22,295
Loss on impairment	792,843	0	792,843	0
Total operating costs and expenses	1,088,182	314,525	1,370,035	624,853
Operating income (loss)	(829,813)	(36,383)	(876,509)	16,265
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - continuing operations	0	0		0
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates - discontinued operations, net of tax		0		0
Interest income (expense), net of amounts capitalized	(74,130)	(73,209)	(150,145)	(146,656)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net	0	0	(8,768)	0
Interest income and other, net	2,851	3,138	4,197	4,641
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(901,092)	(106,454)	(1,031,225)	(125,750)
Income tax benefit (provision)	38,733	18,213	35,737	(239,160)
Net loss from continuing operations	(862,359)	(88,241)	(995,488)	(364,910)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	2,967	0	2,967
Net loss	(862,359)	(85,274)	(995,488)	(361,943)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	249,969	4,343	250,955	(13,577)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company	(612,390)	(80,931)	(744,533)	(375,520)
Other comprehensive loss, net	(2,446)	1,318	(1,455)	1,786
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the company	(614,836)	(79,613)	(745,988)	(373,734)
Contract drilling services
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	247,689	271,532	476,795	626,191
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	151,437	162,781	288,286	323,550
Contract drilling services | Consolidating Adjustments
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	0	(9,944)	0	(27,113)
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	0	(9,944)	0	(27,113)
Contract drilling services | Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	247,689	241,488	476,795	566,212
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	149,881	167,862	285,603	317,873
Contract drilling services | Noble-Cayman | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	0	0	0	0
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	74	(866)	155	135
Contract drilling services | NHUS | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer		0		0
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services		3,362		5,933
Contract drilling services | NDH | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer		39,988		87,092
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services		12,687		24,186
Contract drilling services | NHIL | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	0	0	0	0
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	793	(10,834)	1,397	1,653
Contract drilling services | NDS6
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer			476,795
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services			287,155
Contract drilling services | NDS6 | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer		0		0
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services		0		0
Contract drilling services | Noble Corp
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	247,689	271,532	476,795	626,191
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	150,748	162,267	287,155	322,667
Reimbursables and other
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	10,680	6,610	16,731	14,927
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	8,297	4,394	12,647	9,540
Reimbursables and other | Consolidating Adjustments
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	0	0	0	0
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	0	0	0	0
Reimbursables and other | Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	10,680	5,718	16,731	12,899
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	8,297	3,922	12,647	8,248
Reimbursables and other | Noble-Cayman | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	0	0	0	0
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	0	0	0	0
Reimbursables and other | NHUS | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer		0		0
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services		0		0
Reimbursables and other | NDH | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer		892		2,028
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services		472		1,292
Reimbursables and other | NHIL | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	0	0	0	0
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	0	0	0	0
Reimbursables and other | NDS6
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer			16,731
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services			12,647
Reimbursables and other | NDS6 | Reportable Legal Entities
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer		0		0
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services		0		0
Reimbursables and other | Noble Corp
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	10,680	6,610	16,731	14,927
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	$ 8,297	$ 4,394	$ 12,647	$ 9,540