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Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs, Beginning of Period $ 1,337us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCosts  
Additions to Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs Pending Determination of Proved Reserves 59us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostAdditionsPendingDeterminationOfProvedReserves  
Reclassified to Proved Oil and Gas Properties Based on Determination of Proved Reserves (6)us-gaap_ReclassificationToWellFacilitiesAndEquipmentBasedOnDeterminationOfProvedReserves  
Capitalized Exploratory Well Cost, Charged to Expense (17)us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostChargedToExpense [1]  
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs, End of Period 1,373us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCosts  
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period of One Year or Less 272us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodOfOneYearOrLess 247us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodOfOneYearOrLess
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 1,101us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear 1,090us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs, End of Period 1,373us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCosts  
Number of Projects with Exploratory Well Costs That Have Been Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 13us-gaap_ProjectsThatHaveExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear 13us-gaap_ProjectsThatHaveExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
Northeast Nevada Onshore US [Member]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 26us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= nbl_NortheastNevadaOnshoreUSMember		  
Troubadour Deepwater Gulf of Mexico [Member]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 47us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= nbl_TroubadourDeepwaterGulfofMexicoMember		  
Diega (including Carmen) Offshore Equatorial Guinea [Member]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 221us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= nbl_DiegaOffshoreEquatorialGuineaMember		  
Carla Offshore Equatorial Guinea [Member]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 154us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= nbl_CarlaOffshoreEquatorialGuineaMember		  
Felicita Offshore Equatorial Guinea [Member]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 39us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= nbl_FelicitaOffshoreEquatorialGuineaMember		  
Yolanda Offshore Equatorial Guinea [Member]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 20us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= nbl_YolandaOffshoreEquatorialGuineaMember		  
YoYo Offshore Cameron [Member]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 48us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= nbl_YoyoOffshoreCameronMember		  
Leviathan Offshore Israel [Member]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 185us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= nbl_LeviathanMember		 [2]  
Leviathan-1 Deep Offshore Israel [Member]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 79us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= nbl_Leviathan1DeepOffshoreIsraelMember		 [2]  
Dalit Offshore Israel [Member]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 28us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= nbl_DalitIsraelMember		 [2]  
Dolphin 1 Offshore Israel [Member]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 25us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= nbl_Dolphin1OffshoreIsraelMember		 [2]  
Cyprus [Member]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling 203us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= nbl_CyprusA1OffshoreCyprusMember		  
Other - Projects of $20 million or less each [Member]    
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs [Roll Forward]    
Exploratory Well Costs Capitalized for a Period Greater Than One Year Since Commencement of Drilling $ 26us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsThatHaveBeenCapitalizedForPeriodGreaterThanOneYear
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= nbl_OtherProjectsMember		  
[1] (1) Relates to onshore US exploration activity.
[2] (1) We are currently working to resolve antitrust and other regulatory matters with the Israeli government to enable Leviathan and other development to move forward. See Note 2. Basis of Presentation – Update on Core Area – Israel.