ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF BUSINESS (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015 a
ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF BUSINESS [Abstract]
Percentage of mineral rights developed	72.00%
Gas and oil acreage net mineral rights (in acres)	165,908

Acreage with leasehold interests that gives company mineral rights.

No definition available.

Name:	nog_GasAndOilAcreageNetMineralRights
Namespace Prefix:	nog_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant