Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Operating revenues
Operating revenues	$ 309,892	$ 279,408	$ 258,369	$ 235,157	$ 329,585	$ 266,212	$ 278,142	$ 362,976	$ 1,082,826	$ 1,236,915	$ 2,302,065
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization									486,530	547,990	611,067
General and administrative									73,216	71,634	69,258
Loss on impairment									802,133	121,639	1,458,749
Total operating costs and expenses									2,028,900	1,402,635	3,062,262
Operating loss	(21,745)	(21,843)	(845,606)	(56,880)	(110,294)	(56,604)	(44,285)	(45,463)	(946,074)	(165,720)	(760,197)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized									(297,611)	(291,989)	(222,915)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net									(1,793)	0	17,814
Interest income and other, net									8,302	7,897	(1,731)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(1,237,176)	(449,812)	(967,029)
Income tax benefit (provision)									106,641	(42,629)	109,156
Net loss from continuing operations									(1,130,535)	(492,441)	(857,873)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	(1,486)	0
Net loss									(1,130,535)	(493,927)	(857,873)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									245,485	(22,584)	(71,707)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company	(33,062)	(81,591)	(628,063)	(142,334)	(24,675)	(96,792)	(91,864)	(301,694)	(885,050)	(516,511)	(929,580)
Loss from continuing operations									(885,050)	(515,025)	(929,580)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax					0	0	(1,486)	0	0	(1,486)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to the company	$ (33,062)	$ (81,591)	$ (628,063)	$ (142,334)	$ (24,675)	$ (96,792)	$ (91,864)	$ (301,694)	$ (885,050)	$ (516,511)	$ (929,580)
Basic:
Loss from continuing operations (usd per share)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.33)	$ (2.55)	$ (0.58)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.40)	$ (0.37)	$ (1.24)	$ (3.59)	$ (2.10)	$ (3.82)
Loss from discontinued operations (usd per share)					0.00	0.00	(0.01)	0.00	0.00	(0.01)	0.00
Net income (loss) (usd per share)									(3.59)	(2.11)	(3.82)
Diluted:
Loss from continuing operations (usd per share)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.33)	$ (2.55)	$ (0.58)	(0.10)	(0.40)	(0.37)	(1.24)	(3.59)	(2.10)	(3.82)
Loss from discontinued operations (usd per share)					$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00	0.00	(0.01)	0.00
Net income (loss) (usd per share)									$ (3.59)	$ (2.11)	$ (3.82)
Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding
Basic (in shares)									246,614,000	244,743,000	243,127,000
Diluted (in shares)									246,614,000	244,743,000	243,127,000
Noble Corp
Operating revenues
Operating revenues									$ 1,082,826	$ 1,236,915	$ 2,302,765
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization									482,660	543,119	611,013
General and administrative									38,203	41,087	46,045
Loss on impairment									802,133	121,639	1,458,749
Total operating costs and expenses									1,988,208	1,364,763	3,033,218
Operating loss									(905,382)	(127,848)	(730,453)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized									(297,611)	(291,989)	(222,915)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net									(1,793)	0	17,814
Interest income and other, net									8,282	7,733	(1,616)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(1,196,504)	(412,104)	(937,170)
Income tax benefit (provision)									106,534	(42,595)	109,163
Net loss from continuing operations									(1,089,970)	(454,699)	(828,007)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	2,967	0
Net loss									(1,089,970)	(451,732)	(828,007)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									245,485	(22,584)	(71,707)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company									(844,485)	(474,316)	(899,714)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company									(844,485)	(474,316)	(899,714)
Contract drilling services
Operating revenues
Operating revenues	$ 292,049								1,036,082	1,207,026	2,242,200
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services									629,937	642,937	877,689
Contract drilling services | Noble Corp
Operating revenues
Operating revenues									1,036,082	1,207,026	2,242,200
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services									628,128	640,483	871,912
Reimbursables and other
Operating revenues
Operating revenues									46,744	29,889	59,865
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services									37,084	18,435	45,499
Reimbursables and other | Noble Corp
Operating revenues
Operating revenues									46,744	29,889	60,565
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services									$ 37,084	$ 18,435	$ 45,499