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Basis of Presentation (Policies)
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Presentation
Presentation   The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the US (US GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by US GAAP for complete financial statements. The accompanying consolidated financial statements at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 contain all normally recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations, cash flows and equity for such periods. Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. For the periods presented, net income or loss is materially consistent with comprehensive income or loss.
Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020.
These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Consolidation
Consolidation   Our consolidated financial statements include our accounts, the accounts of subsidiaries which Noble Energy wholly owns, and the accounts of Noble Midstream Partners LP (Noble Midstream Partners). Noble Energy has determined that the partners with equity at risk in Noble Midstream Partners lack the authority, through voting rights or similar rights, to direct the activities that most significantly impact Noble Midstream Partners' economic performance; therefore, Noble Midstream Partners is considered a variable interest entity. Through Noble Energy's ownership interest in Noble Midstream GP LLC (the General Partner to Noble Midstream Partners), Noble Energy has the authority to direct the activities that most significantly affect economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be potentially significant to Noble Midstream Partners. Therefore, Noble Energy is considered the primary beneficiary and consolidates Noble Midstream Partners.
In addition, we use the equity method of accounting for investments in entities that we do not control, but over which we exert significant influence. Amounts recorded within equity method investments, including contributions, include capitalized interest when the primary asset is under construction.
All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. 
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling Interests  Our consolidated financial statements include both noncontrolling interests and a redeemable noncontrolling interest. The noncontrolling interests represent the public's ownership in Noble Midstream Partners and third-party ownership in Noble Midstream Partners' consolidated non-wholly owned subsidiaries. Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests for the six months ended June 30, 2020 includes goodwill impairment expense of $72 million based upon third party ownership interests in the underlying asset. See Note 4. Impairments.
The redeemable noncontrolling interest represents perpetual preferred equity with a 6.5% annual dividend rate. Noble Midstream Partners may redeem the preferred equity in whole or in part at any time for cash at a predetermined redemption price. The preferred equity partner can request redemption at a pre-determined base return on or after March 25, 2025.
Estimates
Estimates   The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires us to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Management evaluates estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic and commodity price environment.
The current commodity price, supply and demand environment coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic have increased uncertainty related to our estimates for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition   We recognize revenue at an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. We routinely monitor the credit worthiness of our purchasers. While we maintain credit insurance associated with certain purchasers, we do not carry credit insurance for all purchasers.
In the Eastern Mediterranean, we sell natural gas under natural gas sales and purchase agreements (GSPAs) to customers in Israel, Egypt, and Jordan. The majority of these contracts include total contracted quantities for which we will deliver volumes to customers over the life of the agreements. As of June 30, 2020, a total of approximately 9.5 Tcf, gross (2.6 Tcf, net), of natural gas remained to be delivered under these contracts. Based on current production levels, our available quantities of proved reserves are more than sufficient to meet delivery commitments associated with these sales agreements with minimal additional capital investment.
Certain of our Tamar and Leviathan GSPAs have buyer-minimum take or pay volume-obligations and index prices subject to minimum-price floor supports. In addition, our Egyptian export contracts include provisions which trigger adjustments to either decrease, or increase, fixed minimum take or pay volumes in the event the arithmetic average of daily Brent crude oil prices falls below, or rises above, $50 per barrel for certain periods of time. Our GSPAs do not preclude us from selling natural gas to customers, at amounts which exceed fixed minimum sales volumes.
Recently Issued and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) Reform In first quarter 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04 (ASU 2020-04): Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), which provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the transition from LIBOR to an alternative reference rate. The ASU intends to address certain concerns relating to accounting for contract modifications and hedge accounting. These optional expedients and exceptions to applying GAAP, assuming certain criteria are met, are allowed through December 31, 2022. We are currently evaluating the provisions of ASU 2020-04 and have not yet determined whether we will elect the optional expedients. We do not expect the transition to an alternative rate to have a significant impact on our business, operations or liquidity.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Clarifying Certain Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topics In first quarter 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-01: Investments - Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), to clarify the interactions between these Topics. The update provides clarifications for entities investing in equity securities accounted for under the ASC 321 measurement alternative and companies that hold certain non-derivative forward contracts and purchased options to acquire equity securities. ASU 2020-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We early adopted this ASU in first quarter 2020. This adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.