Information about Noble-Cayman - Guarantor Obligations (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015
3.05% Senior Notes due March 2016 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor(s)	Noble-Cayman
2.50% Senior Notes due March 2017 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor(s)	Noble-Cayman
4.00% Senior Notes due March 2018 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor(s)	Noble-Cayman
7.50% Senior Notes due March 2019 [Member] | NHC [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHC
Guarantor(s)	Noble-Cayman
7.50% Senior Notes due March 2019 [Member] | NDH [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NDH
7.50% Senior Notes due March 2019 [Member] | NDS6 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	Noble Drilling Services 6 LLC (“NDS6”)
4.90% Senior Notes due August 2020 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor(s)	Noble-Cayman
4.625% Senior Notes due March 2021 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor(s)	Noble-Cayman
3.95% Senior Notes due March 2022 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor(s)	Noble-Cayman
5.95% Senior Notes due April 2025 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor(s)	Noble-Cayman
6.20% Senior Notes due August 2040 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor(s)	Noble-Cayman
6.05% Senior Notes due March 2041 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor(s)	Noble-Cayman
5.25% Senior Notes due 2042 | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor(s)	Noble-Cayman
6.95% Senior Notes due April 2045 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor(s)	Noble-Cayman