Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 583,201	$ 83,316	$ 850,406
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	634,305	863,547	879,422
Loss on impairment	418,298	745,428	43,688
Gain on disposal of assets, net			(35,646)
Deferred income taxes	(36,172)	(10,999)	(15,955)
Amortization of share-based compensation	39,172	46,389	43,620
Net change in other assets and liabilities	123,547	50,527	(63,218)
Net cash from operating activities	1,762,351	1,778,208	1,702,317
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(422,544)	(2,072,885)	(2,487,520)
Change in accrued capital expenditures	(14,607)	(36,383)	(58,587)
Proceeds from disposal of assets	4,614		61,000
Net cash from investing activities	(432,537)	(2,109,268)	(2,485,107)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	(1,123,495)	(437,647)	1,221,333
Repayment of long-term debt	(350,000)	(250,000)	(300,000)
Issuance of senior notes	1,092,728
Debt issuance costs on senior notes and credit facilities	(16,070)	(398)	(2,484)
Long-term borrowings of Paragon Offshore		1,710,550
Financing costs on long-term borrowings of Paragon Offshore		(14,676)
Cash balances of Paragon Offshore in Spin-off		(104,152)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(71,504)	(79,966)	(105,388)
Repurchases of shares	(100,630)	(154,145)
Repurchases of employee shares surrendered for taxes			(7,653)
Employee stock transactions	(1,574)	2,125	4,261
Dividend payments	(315,534)	(386,579)	(194,913)
Net cash from financing activities	(886,079)	285,112	615,156
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	443,735	(45,948)	(167,634)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	68,510	114,458	282,092
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	512,245	68,510	114,458
Noble Corp [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	607,012	199,053	935,523
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	633,244	860,353	877,250
Loss on impairment	418,298	745,428	43,688
Gain on disposal of assets, net			(35,646)
Deferred income taxes	(34,108)	(10,999)	(15,955)
Capital contribution by parent—share-based compensation	30,652	33,341	26,862
Net change in other assets and liabilities	92,409	44,740	(63,092)
Net cash from operating activities	1,747,507	1,871,916	1,768,630
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(422,544)	(2,072,751)	(2,485,617)
Change in accrued capital expenditures	(14,607)	(36,383)	(58,587)
Proceeds from disposal of assets	4,614		61,000
Net cash from investing activities	(432,537)	(2,109,134)	(2,483,204)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	(1,123,495)	(437,647)	1,221,333
Repayment of long-term debt	(350,000)	(250,000)	(300,000)
Issuance of senior notes	1,092,728
Debt issuance costs on senior notes and credit facilities	(16,070)	(398)	(2,484)
Long-term borrowings of Paragon Offshore		1,710,550
Financing costs on long-term borrowings of Paragon Offshore		(14,676)
Cash balances of Paragon Offshore in Spin-off		(104,152)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(71,504)	(79,966)	(105,388)
Distributions to parent company, net	(400,614)	(631,095)	(265,880)
Net cash from financing activities	(868,955)	192,616	547,581
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	446,015	(44,602)	(166,993)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	65,780	110,382	277,375
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 511,795	$ 65,780	$ 110,382