Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 363,625	$ 773,432	$ 1,678,642
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	658,640	539,829	408,313
Gain on contract extinguishments, net	(21,202)
Loss on asset disposal/involuntary conversion, net			30,839
Deferred income tax provision	(82,325)	(41,409)	36,866
Share-based compensation	31,904	34,930	37,995
Net change in other assets and liabilities	(191,658)	347,594	(55,939)
Net cash from operating activities	758,984	1,654,376	2,136,716
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(2,639,979)	(1,423,484)	(1,431,498)
Change in accrued capital expenditures	81,047	139,185	(63,561)
Refund from contract extinguishments	18,642
Acquisition of FDR Holdings, Ltd., net of cash acquired		(1,629,644)
Net cash from investing activities	(2,540,290)	(2,913,943)	(1,495,059)
Cash flows from financing activities
Increase in bank credit facilities, net	935,000	40,000
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net of debt issuance costs	1,087,833	1,238,074
Contributions from joint venture partner	536,000	35,000
Payments of other long-term debt			(172,700)
Payments of joint venture debt	(693,494)
Settlement of interest rate swaps	(29,032)	(6,186)
Financing costs on credit facilities	(2,835)
Proceeds from employee stock transactions	9,924	11,828	12,168
Dividends/par value reduction payments paid	(150,532)	(227,325)	(47,939)
Repurchases of employee shares	(10,233)	(10,116)	(7,106)
Repurchases of ordinary shares	0	(219,330)	(203,898)
Net cash from financing activities	1,682,631	861,945	(419,475)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(98,675)	(397,622)	222,182
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	337,871	735,493	513,311
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	239,196	337,871	735,493
Noble-Cayman [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	414,770	815,537	1,700,381
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	657,205	539,004	408,313
Gain on contract extinguishments, net	(21,202)
Loss on asset disposal/involuntary conversion, net			30,839
Deferred income tax provision	(82,325)	(41,409)	36,866
Share-based compensation	0		8,399
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation	18,726	20,604	27,254
Net change in other assets and liabilities	(197,943)	342,631	(63,417)
Net cash from operating activities	789,231	1,676,367	2,148,635
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(2,634,687)	(1,422,655)	(1,403,435)
Change in accrued capital expenditures	81,047	139,185	(63,561)
Refund from contract extinguishments	18,642
Acquisition of FDR Holdings, Ltd., net of cash acquired		(1,629,644)
Net cash from investing activities	(2,534,998)	(2,913,114)	(1,466,996)
Cash flows from financing activities
Increase in bank credit facilities, net	935,000	40,000
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net of debt issuance costs	1,087,833	1,238,074
Contributions from joint venture partner	536,000	35,000
Payments of other long-term debt			(172,700)
Payments of joint venture debt	(693,494)
Settlement of interest rate swaps	(29,032)	(6,186)
Financing costs on credit facilities	(2,835)
Distributions to parent company, net	(186,048)	(462,967)	(218,258)
Proceeds from employee stock transactions			(6,430)
Dividends/par value reduction payments paid			(10,470)
Repurchases of ordinary shares			(60,867)
Net cash from financing activities	1,647,424	843,921	(468,725)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(98,343)	(392,826)	212,914
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	333,399	726,225	513,311
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 235,056	$ 333,399	$ 726,225