Additional Shareholders' Equity Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions			3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 25, 2015	Mar. 03, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Components And Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Common Stock, par value per share (in dollars per share)			$ 0.01		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Proceeds from Issuance of Noble Energy Common Stock, Net of Offering Costs					$ 0	$ 1,112	$ 0
Repayment of facility			$ 850		$ 0	$ 70	$ 0
Common stock shares issued [Rollforward]
Shares, beginning of period (in shares)				402,329,325	469,718,512	402,329,325
Exercise of common stock options (in shares)					954,898	343,145
Restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures (in shares)					687,017	1,847,802
Public Equity Offering (in shares)					0	24,150,000
Stock issued (shares)					0	41,048,240
Shares, end of period (in shares)			471,360,427		471,360,427	469,718,512	402,329,325
Treasury stock [Rollforward]
Shares, beginning of period (in shares)				37,635,890	37,925,625	37,635,890
Shares received from employees in payment of withholding taxes due on vesting of shares of restricted stock (in shares)					236,700	490,744
Rabbi Trust Shares Distributed and/or Sold (in shares)					(201,009)	(201,009)
Shares, end of period (in shares)			37,961,316		37,961,316	37,925,625	37,635,890
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Beginning Balance				$ (90)	$ (33)	$ (90)	$ (117)
Realized Amounts Reclassified Into Earnings					5	63	12
Unrealized Change in Fair Value					(3)	(6)	15
End Balance			$ (31)		$ (31)	$ (33)	$ (90)
Effective income tax rate applied to AOCI (in hundredths)					35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Deferred loss					$ (21)
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Beginning Balance				(23)	(22)	$ (23)	$ (24)
Realized Amounts Reclassified Into Earnings					1	1	1
Unrealized Change in Fair Value					0	0	0
End Balance			(21)		(21)	(22)	(23)
Pension- Related and Other
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Beginning Balance				$ (67)	(11)	(67)	(93)
Realized Amounts Reclassified Into Earnings					4	62	11
Unrealized Change in Fair Value					(3)	(6)	15
End Balance			$ (10)		$ (10)	$ (11)	$ (67)
Underwritten Public Offering
Components And Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Common Stock, par value per share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01
Sales price (in dollars per share)		$ 47.50
Proceeds from Issuance of Noble Energy Common Stock, Net of Offering Costs		$ 1,100
Repayment of facility		$ 150
Common stock shares issued [Rollforward]
Public Equity Offering (in shares)		21,000,000		24,150,000
Over-Allotment Option
Components And Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Common Stock, par value per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01
Common stock shares issued [Rollforward]
Public Equity Offering (in shares)	3.15