Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interests	Noble Corp	Noble Corp Common Stock	Noble Corp Additional Paid-in Capital	Noble Corp Retained Earnings	Noble Corp Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noble Corp Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015			241,977,000						261,246,000
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
Employee related equity activity
Amortization of share-based compensation		34,720		34,720
Issuance of share-based compensation shares (in shares)			1,262,000
Issuance of share-based compensation shares		(3,613)	$ 12	(3,625)
Tax benefit of equity transactions		(5,410)		(5,410)
Distributions to parent company, net								(152,360)			(152,360)
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation								32,782		32,782
Net loss		(857,873)			(929,580)		71,707	(828,007)			(899,714)	0	71,707
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests		(85,944)					(85,944)	(85,944)				0	(85,944)
Dividends equivalents		(47,700)			(47,700)
Other comprehensive income, net		11,035				11,035		11,035				11,035	0
Ending 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
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			243,239,000						261,246,000
Employee related equity activity
Amortization of share-based compensation		29,115		29,115
Issuance of share-based compensation shares (in shares)			1,732,000
Issuance of share-based compensation shares		(5)	$ 18	(23)
Tax benefit of equity transactions		(4,338)		(4,338)
Contributions from parent company, net								28,352			28,352
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation								29,046		29,046
Net loss		(493,927)			(516,511)		22,584	(451,732)			(474,316)		22,584
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests		(56,881)					(56,881)	(56,881)					(56,881)
Dividends equivalents		(33)			(33)
Other comprehensive income, net		9,252				9,252		9,252				9,252
Ending 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
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		244,971,000	244,971,000					261,246,000	261,246,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' equity, adjusted balance		$ 5,800,747	$ 2,450	678,922	4,493,336	(48,428)	674,467	$ 5,800,133	$ 26,125	623,137	4,524,832	(48,428)	674,467
Employee related equity activity
Adjustment for adopting the revenue recognition standard | Accounting Standards Update 2016-16		(148,393)			(148,393)			(148,393)			(148,393)
Adjustment for adopting the revenue recognition standard | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]		(1,488)			(1,488)			$ (1,488)			(1,488)
Stranded tax effect resulting from the Act		$ (5,540)
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		244,971,000	244,971,000					261,246,000	261,246,000
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
Employee related equity activity
Amortization of share-based compensation		23,993		23,993
Issuance of share-based compensation shares (in shares)			1,823,000
Issuance of share-based compensation shares		0	$ 18	(18)
Tax benefit of equity transactions		(3,488)		(3,488)
Distributions to parent company, net								(44,417)			(44,417)
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation								23,945		23,945
Net loss		(1,130,535)			(885,050)		(245,485)	(1,089,970)			(844,485)		(245,485)
Stranded tax effect resulting from the Act					5,500
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests		(27,579)					(27,579)	(27,579)					(27,579)
Dividends equivalents	[1]	80			80
Other comprehensive income, net		(8,644)				(8,644)		(8,644)				(8,644)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 4,654,574	$ 2,468	$ 699,409	$ 3,608,366	(57,072)	$ 401,403	$ 4,653,468	$ 26,125	$ 647,082	$ 3,635,930	$ (57,072)	$ 401,403
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		246,794,000	246,794,000					261,246,000	261,246,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' equity, adjusted balance						$ (48,428)

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