Information about Noble-Cayman - Guarantor Obligations (Supplemental) (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
5.75% Senior Notes due March 2018 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes	$ 250,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes	5.75%
Senior notes, maturity date	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	$ 168,000,000	$ 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	$ 209,000,000	$ 400,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes	4.625%	4.625%
Senior notes, maturity date	2021
3.95% Senior Notes due March 2022 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes	$ 126,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes	3.95%
Senior notes, maturity date	2022
7.20% Senior Notes due April 2025 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes	$ 450,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes	7.20%
Senior notes, maturity date	2025
7.75% Senior Notes due January 2024 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes	$ 1,000,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes	7.75%
Senior notes, maturity date	2024
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 March 2042 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes	$ 500,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes	5.25%
Senior notes, maturity date	2042
8.20% Senior Notes due April 2045 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Face value of senior notes	$ 400,000,000
Interest rate on senior notes	8.20%
Senior notes, maturity date	2045