Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interests	Noble Corp	Noble Corp Common Stock	Noble Corp Additional Paid-in Capital	Noble Corp Retained Earnings	Noble Corp Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noble Corp Noncontrolling Interests
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						261,246
Employee related equity activity
Amortization of share-based compensation		15,187		15,187
Issuance of share-based compensation shares		(6)	$ 17	(23)
Issuance of share-based compensation shares, Shares			1,664
Shares withheld for taxes on equity transactions		(4,318)		(4,318)
Contributions from parent company, net								51,705			51,705
Share-based compensation contribution by parent								15,154		15,154
Net income (loss)		(381,467)			(395,044)		13,577	(361,943)			(375,520)		13,577
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests		(5,393)					(5,393)	(5,393)					(5,393)
Dividends unpaid to noncontrolling interests		(20,900)					(20,900)	(20,900)					(20,900)
Dividend equivalents	[1]	83			83
Other comprehensive loss, net		1,786				1,786		1,786				1,786
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2017		6,072,417	$ 2,449	665,014	4,759,260	(50,354)	696,048	6,072,386	$ 26,125	609,245	4,791,322	(50,354)	696,048
Ending Balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2017			244,903						261,246
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' equity, adjusted balance		5,799,202	$ 2,450	678,922	4,491,791	(48,428)	674,467	5,798,588	$ 26,125	623,137	4,523,287	(48,428)	674,467
Employee related equity activity
Adjustment for adopting the revenue recognition standard								(149,938)			(149,938)
Adjustment for adopting the revenue recognition standard | Accounting Standards Update 2016-16		(149,938)			(149,938)
Adjustment for adopting the revenue recognition standard | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09		(1,488)			(1,488)			(1,488)			(1,488)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 5,950,628	$ 2,450	678,922	4,637,677	(42,888)	674,467	$ 5,950,014	$ 26,125	623,137	4,669,173	(42,888)	674,467
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2017		244,971	244,971					261,246	261,246
Employee related equity activity
Amortization of share-based compensation		$ 12,735		12,735
Issuance of share-based compensation shares		0	$ 18	(18)
Issuance of share-based compensation shares, Shares			1,789
Shares withheld for taxes on equity transactions		(3,425)		(3,425)
Distributions to parent company, net								$ (29,069)			(29,069)
Share-based compensation contribution by parent								12,711		12,711
Net income (loss)		(1,021,352)			(770,397)		(250,955)	(995,488)			(744,533)		(250,955)
Stranded tax effect resulting from the Tax Cuts and Job Act		(5,540)			5,500
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests		(12,694)					(12,694)	(12,694)					(12,694)
Dividend equivalents	[1]	39			39
Other comprehensive loss, net		(1,455)				(1,455)		(1,455)				(1,455)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018		$ 4,773,050	$ 2,468	$ 688,214	$ 3,721,433	$ (49,883)	$ 410,818	$ 4,772,593	$ 26,125	$ 635,848	$ 3,749,685	$ (49,883)	$ 410,818
Ending Balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2018		246,760	246,760					261,246	261,246

[1] Activity associated with dividend equivalents, which are related to performance awards granted in 2016, to be paid upon vesting.