Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services									$ 2,242,200	$ 3,261,610	$ 3,147,859
Reimbursables									59,432	90,642	84,644
Other									433	0	1
Total operating revenues	$ 410,156	$ 385,153	$ 894,783	$ 611,973	$ 857,684	$ 896,671	$ 793,555	$ 804,342	2,302,065	3,352,252	3,232,504
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services									879,438	1,232,529	1,500,512
Reimbursables									45,499	70,276	66,378
Depreciation and amortization									611,067	634,305	627,473
General and administrative									69,258	76,843	106,771
Loss on impairment									1,458,749	418,298	745,428
Total operating costs and expenses									3,064,011	2,432,251	3,046,562
Operating income (loss)	(1,384,912)	(2,208)	449,714	175,460	(49,480)	409,973	275,149	284,359	(761,946)	920,001	185,942
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(222,915)	(213,854)	(155,179)
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net									17,814	0	0
Interest income and other, net									18	36,286	(1,298)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(967,029)	742,433	29,465
Income tax benefit (provision)									109,156	(159,232)	(106,651)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations									(857,873)	583,201	(77,186)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	0	160,502
Net income (loss)									(857,873)	583,201	83,316
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(71,707)	(72,201)	(74,825)
Net income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation	(1,302,850)	(55,081)	322,866	105,485	(152,241)	325,807	159,031	178,403	(929,580)	511,000	8,491
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc
Income (loss) from continuing operations									(929,580)	511,000	(152,011)
Income from discontinued operations									0	0	160,502
Net income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation	$ (1,302,850)	$ (55,081)	$ 322,866	$ 105,485	$ (152,241)	$ 325,807	$ 159,031	$ 178,403	$ (929,580)	$ 511,000	$ 8,491
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (usd per share)									$ (3.82)	$ 2.06	$ (0.60)
Income from discontinued operations (usd per share)									0.00	0.00	0.63
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc (usd per share)	$ (5.36)	$ (0.23)	$ 1.28	$ 0.42	$ (0.63)	$ 1.32	$ 0.64	$ 0.72	(3.82)	2.06	0.03
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (usd per share)									(3.82)	2.06	(0.60)
Income from discontinued operations (usd per share)									0.00	0.00	0.63
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc (usd per share)	$ (5.36)	$ (0.23)	$ 1.28	$ 0.42	$ (0.63)	$ 1.32	$ 0.64	$ 0.72	$ (3.82)	$ 2.06	$ 0.03
Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding
Basic (in shares)									243,127	242,146	252,909
Diluted (in shares)									243,127	242,146	252,909
Noble Corp [Member]
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services									$ 2,242,200	$ 3,261,610	$ 3,147,859
Reimbursables									59,432	90,642	84,644
Revenue from affiliates									0	200	0
Other									1,133	0	1
Total operating revenues									2,302,765	3,352,452	3,232,504
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services									873,661	1,226,377	1,507,471
Reimbursables									45,499	70,276	66,378
Depreciation and amortization									611,013	633,244	624,278
General and administrative									46,045	55,435	52,994
Loss on impairment									1,458,749	418,298	745,428
Total operating costs and expenses									3,034,967	2,403,630	2,996,549
Operating income (loss)									(732,202)	948,822	235,955
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized									(222,915)	(213,854)	(155,179)
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net									17,814	0	0
Interest income and other, net									133	34,664	1,124
Income (loss) before income taxes									(937,170)	769,632	81,900
Income tax benefit (provision)									109,163	(162,620)	(105,930)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations									(828,007)	607,012	(24,030)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									0	0	223,083
Net income (loss)									(828,007)	607,012	199,053
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(71,707)	(72,201)	(74,825)
Net income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation									(899,714)	534,811	124,228
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation plc
Net income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation									$ (899,714)	$ 534,811	$ 124,228