Information about Noble-Cayman - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services									$ 3,261,610	$ 3,147,859	$ 2,454,745
Reimbursables									90,642	84,644	66,292
Labor contract drilling services											17,095
Total operating revenues	$ 857,684	$ 896,671	$ 793,555	$ 804,342	$ 804,740	$ 828,796	$ 803,781	$ 795,187	3,352,252	3,232,504	2,538,143
Other										1	11
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services									1,232,529	1,500,512	1,168,764
Reimbursables									70,276	66,378	50,410
Labor contract drilling services											11,601
Depreciation and amortization									634,305	627,473	511,513
General and administrative									76,843	106,771	117,997
Gain on disposal of assets, net											(35,646)
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net											(30,618)
Total operating costs and expenses									2,432,251	3,046,562	1,797,606
Operating income	(49,480)	409,973	275,149	284,359	(541,864)	243,633	235,205	248,968	920,001	185,942	740,537
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized									(213,854)	(155,179)	(106,300)
Interest income and other, net									36,286	(1,298)	4,184
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									742,433	29,465	638,421
Income tax provision									(159,232)	(106,651)	(92,117)
Net income									583,201	83,316	850,406
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(72,201)	(74,825)	(67,709)
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc	$ (152,241)	$ 325,807	$ 159,031	$ 178,403	$ (594,539)	$ 147,389	$ 140,325	$ 154,814	511,000	8,491	782,697
Other comprehensive income (loss), net									6,243	(21,732)	33,285
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation plc									517,243	(13,241)	815,982
Net income (loss) from continuing operations									583,201	(77,186)	546,304
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax										160,502	304,102
Noble-Cayman [Member]
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services									3,611	30,885	24,039
General and administrative									1,138	2,437	7,380
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net											(45,000)
Total operating costs and expenses									4,749	33,322	(13,581)
Operating income									(4,749)	(33,322)	13,581
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates									591,297	(2,885,628)	653,815
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized									(75,925)	(93,536)	(127,995)
Interest income and other, net									24,188	2,913,631	6,609
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									534,811	124,228	867,814
Net income									534,811	124,228	867,814
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc									534,811	124,228	867,814
Other comprehensive income (loss), net									6,243	(21,732)	33,285
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation plc									541,054	102,496	901,099
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates—discontinued operations, net of tax										223,083	321,804
Total income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates										(2,662,545)	975,619
Net income (loss) from continuing operations										124,228	867,814
NHC [Member]
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services									19,160	39,039	22,195
General and administrative									8,683	11,376	7,396
Total operating costs and expenses									27,843	50,415	29,591
Operating income									(27,843)	(50,415)	(29,591)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates									73,319	157,648	65,868
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized									(4,932)	(3,046)	(1,081)
Interest income and other, net									4,852
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									45,396	154,752	80,294
Income tax provision									(77,929)	(68,805)	(24,592)
Net income									(32,533)	67,292	39,133
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc									(32,533)	67,292	39,133
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation plc									(32,533)	67,292	39,133
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates—discontinued operations, net of tax										50,565	45,098
Total income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates										208,213	110,966
Net income (loss) from continuing operations										85,947	55,702
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax										(18,655)	(16,569)
NDH [Member]
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services									354,657	327,070	240,631
Reimbursables									18,529	6,239	8,498
Total operating revenues									373,186	333,309	249,129
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services									395,365	120,971	70,359
Reimbursables									13,686	4,687	6,850
Depreciation and amortization									77,187	65,164	62,778
Loss on impairment									13
Total operating costs and expenses									486,251	190,822	139,987
Operating income									(113,065)	142,487	109,142
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates									190,335	(80,080)	(53,235)
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized									(12,110)	(24,974)	(23,156)
Interest income and other, net									52,026	249,005	262,717
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									117,186	315,018	603,656
Income tax provision									(4,466)	(3,574)	3,655
Net income									112,720	318,078	631,840
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc									112,720	318,078	631,840
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation plc									112,720	318,078	631,840
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates—discontinued operations, net of tax										28,580	308,188
Total income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates										(51,500)	254,953
Net income (loss) from continuing operations										311,444	607,311
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax										6,634	24,529
NHIL [Member]
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services									84,005	115,909	110,138
General and administrative									38,167	31,620	36,050
Total operating costs and expenses									122,172	147,529	146,188
Operating income									(122,172)	(147,529)	(146,188)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates									936,429	604,419	641,155
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized									(224,894)	(169,666)	(139,784)
Interest income and other, net									71,617	89,449	154,442
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									660,980	547,518	940,774
Net income									660,980	547,518	940,719
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc									660,980	547,518	940,719
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation plc									660,980	547,518	940,719
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates—discontinued operations, net of tax										170,845	431,149
Total income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates										775,264	1,072,304
Net income (loss) from continuing operations										547,518	940,774
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax											(55)
NDS6 [Member]
Operating costs and expenses
General and administrative									1	1	1
Total operating costs and expenses									1	1	1
Operating income									(1)	(1)	(1)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates									647,856	448,785	(1,136,831)
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized									(25,578)	(33,671)	(45,897)
Interest income and other, net									5,165	3,308	1,569,003
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									627,442	424,661	449,509
Income tax provision										(1,546)
Net income									627,442	423,115	449,509
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc									627,442	423,115	449,509
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation plc									627,442	423,115	449,509
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates—discontinued operations, net of tax										6,240	63,235
Total income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates										455,025	(1,073,596)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations										423,115	449,509
Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services									3,325,608	3,067,195	2,291,475
Reimbursables									72,113	78,405	57,794
Labor contract drilling services											17,095
Revenue from affiliates									200
Total operating revenues									3,397,921	3,145,601	2,366,375
Other										1	11
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services									1,142,891	1,447,073	1,009,801
Reimbursables									56,590	61,691	43,560
Labor contract drilling services											11,601
Depreciation and amortization									556,057	559,114	446,563
General and administrative									7,446	7,560	14,032
Loss on impairment									418,285	745,428	3,585
Gain on disposal of assets, net											(35,646)
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net											14,382
Total operating costs and expenses									2,181,269	2,820,866	1,507,878
Operating income									1,216,652	324,735	858,497
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized									(68,670)	(3,148,822)	(1,852,423)
Interest income and other, net									75,071	64,267	94,821
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									1,223,053	(2,759,820)	(899,105)
Income tax provision									(80,225)	(32,005)	(68,040)
Net income									1,142,828	(2,556,721)	(653,246)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(105,240)	(98,603)	(114,314)
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc									1,037,588	(2,655,324)	(767,560)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net									6,243	(21,732)	33,285
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation plc									1,043,831	(2,677,056)	(734,275)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations										(2,791,825)	(967,145)
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax										235,104	313,899
Noble Corp [Member]
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services									3,261,610	3,147,859	2,454,745
Reimbursables									90,642	84,644	66,292
Labor contract drilling services											17,095
Revenue from affiliates									200
Total operating revenues									3,352,452	3,232,504	2,538,143
Other										1	11
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services									1,226,377	1,507,471	1,159,171
Reimbursables									70,276	66,378	50,410
Labor contract drilling services											11,601
Depreciation and amortization									633,244	624,278	509,341
General and administrative									55,435	52,994	64,859
Loss on impairment									418,298	745,428	3,585
Gain on disposal of assets, net											(35,646)
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net											(30,618)
Total operating costs and expenses									2,403,630	2,996,549	1,732,703
Operating income									948,822	235,955	805,440
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized									(213,854)	(155,179)	(106,300)
Interest income and other, net									34,664	1,124	3,556
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									769,632	81,900	702,696
Income tax provision									(162,620)	(105,930)	(88,977)
Net income									607,012	199,053	935,523
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(72,201)	(74,825)	(67,709)
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc									534,811	124,228	867,814
Other comprehensive income (loss), net									6,243	(21,732)	33,285
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation plc									541,054	102,496	901,099
Net income (loss) from continuing operations									607,012	(24,030)	613,719
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax										223,083	321,804
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services									(418,655)	(246,406)	(77,361)
Total operating revenues									(418,655)	(246,406)	(77,361)
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services									(418,655)	(246,406)	(77,361)
Total operating costs and expenses									(418,655)	(246,406)	(77,361)
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates									(2,439,236)	1,754,856	(170,772)
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized									198,255	3,318,536	2,084,036
Interest income and other, net									(198,255)	(3,318,536)	(2,084,036)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(2,439,236)	1,275,543	(1,340,246)
Net income									(2,439,236)	1,275,543	(1,340,246)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									33,039	23,778	46,605
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc									(2,406,197)	1,299,321	(1,293,641)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net									(6,243)	21,732	(33,285)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation plc									$ (2,412,440)	1,321,053	(1,326,926)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates—discontinued operations, net of tax										(479,313)	(1,169,474)
Total income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates										1,275,543	(1,340,246)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations										$ 1,275,543	$ (1,340,246)