Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services	$ 271,532	$ 876,697	$ 626,191	$ 1,468,064
Reimbursables	6,599	17,933	14,903	38,539
Other	11	153	24	153
Total operating revenues	278,142	894,783	641,118	1,506,756
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services	162,371	244,176	322,756	495,424
Reimbursables	4,394	14,298	9,540	30,304
Depreciation and amortization	136,594	150,946	272,312	300,665
General and administrative	18,658	19,033	34,538	38,573
Loss on impairment	0	16,616	0	16,616
Total operating costs and expenses	322,017	445,069	639,146	881,582
Operating income (loss)	(43,875)	449,714	1,972	625,174
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized	(73,209)	(57,306)	(146,656)	(114,406)
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net	0	11,066	0	11,066
Interest income and other, net	2,664	(1,253)	3,897	(1,983)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(114,420)	402,221	(140,787)	519,851
Income tax benefit (provision)	18,213	(56,822)	(239,194)	(50,319)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(96,207)	345,399	(379,981)	469,532
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,486)	0	(1,486)	0
Net income (loss)	(97,693)	345,399	(381,467)	469,532
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,343	(22,533)	(13,577)	(41,181)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company	(93,350)	322,866	(395,044)	428,351
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(91,864)	322,866	(393,558)	428,351
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ (1,486)	$ 0	$ (1,486)	$ 0
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (usd per share)	$ (0.37)	$ 1.28	$ (1.61)	$ 1.70
Loss from discontinued operations (usd per share)	(0.01)	0.00	(0.01)	0.00
Net income (loss) attributable to Noble Corporation plc (usd per share)	(0.38)	1.28	(1.62)	1.70
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (usd per share)	(0.37)	1.28	(1.61)	1.70
Loss from discontinued operations (usd per share)	(0.01)	0.00	(0.01)	0.00
Net income (loss) attributable to Noble-UK (usd per share)	$ (0.38)	$ 1.28	$ (1.62)	$ 1.70
Noble Corp [Member]
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services	$ 271,532	$ 876,697	$ 626,191	$ 1,468,064
Reimbursables	6,599	17,933	14,903	38,539
Other	11	253	24	853
Total operating revenues	278,142	894,883	641,118	1,507,456
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services	161,857	242,234	321,873	491,524
Reimbursables	4,394	14,298	9,540	30,304
Depreciation and amortization	134,633	150,938	270,351	300,611
General and administrative	13,231	13,853	22,295	24,458
Loss on impairment	0	16,616	0	16,616
Total operating costs and expenses	314,115	437,939	624,059	863,513
Operating income (loss)	(35,973)	456,944	17,059	643,943
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized	(73,209)	(57,306)	(146,656)	(114,406)
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net	0	11,066	0	11,066
Interest income and other, net	2,728	(1,203)	3,847	(1,936)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(106,454)	409,501	(125,750)	538,667
Income tax benefit (provision)	18,213	(56,120)	(239,160)	(49,617)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(88,241)	353,381	(364,910)	489,050
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	2,967	0	2,967	0
Net income (loss)	(85,274)	353,381	(361,943)	489,050
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,343	(22,533)	(13,577)	(41,181)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company	$ (80,931)	$ 330,848	$ (375,520)	$ 447,869