Information about Noble-Cayman - Guarantor Obligations (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
3.05% Senior Notes due March 2016 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes		$ 300,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes		3.05%
Senior notes, maturity date		2016
2.50% Senior Notes due March 2017 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes		$ 300,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes		2.50%
Senior notes, maturity date		2017
4.00% Senior Notes due March 2018 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes	4.00%	4.00%
Senior notes, maturity date	2018	2018
7.50% Senior Notes due March 2019 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes		$ 202,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes		7.50%
Senior notes, maturity date		2019
4.90% Senior Notes due August 2020 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes		$ 500,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes		4.90%
Senior notes, maturity date		2020
4.625% Senior Notes due March 2021 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes		$ 400,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes		4.625%
Senior notes, maturity date		2021
3.95% Senior Notes due March 2022 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes		$ 400,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes		3.95%
Senior notes, maturity date		2022
5.95% Senior Notes due April 2025 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes	$ 450,000,000	$ 450,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes	5.95%	5.95%
Senior notes, maturity date	2025	2025
6.20% Senior Notes due August 2040 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes		$ 400,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes		6.20%
Senior notes, maturity date		2040
6.05% Senior Notes due March 2041 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes		$ 400,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes		6.05%
Senior notes, maturity date		2041
5.25% Senior Notes due 2042
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes		$ 500,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes		5.25%
Senior notes, maturity date		2042
6.95% Senior Notes due April 2045 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes	$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes	6.95%	6.95%
Senior notes, maturity date	2045	2045