Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Guarantor Obligations (Detail)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017
5.75% Senior Notes due March 2018 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor	Noble-Cayman
7.50% Senior Notes due March 2019 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHUS
Guarantor	Noble-Cayman
7.50% Senior Notes due March 2019 [Member] | NDH [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	Noble Drilling Holding, LLC ("NDH")
Guarantor
7.50% Senior Notes due March 2019 [Member] | NDS6 [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	Noble Drilling Services 6 LLC ("NDS6")
Guarantor
4.90% Senior Notes due August 2020 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor	Noble-Cayman
4.625% Senior Notes due March 2021 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor	Noble-Cayman
3.95% Senior Notes due March 2022 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor	Noble-Cayman
7.75% Senior Notes due January 2024 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor	Noble-Cayman
7.70% Senior Notes due April 2025 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor	Noble-Cayman
6.20% Senior Notes due August 2040 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor	Noble-Cayman
6.05% Senior Notes due March 2041 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor	Noble-Cayman
5.25% Senior Notes due March 2042 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor	Noble-Cayman
8.70% Senior Notes due April 2045 [Member] | Noble-Cayman [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	NHIL
Guarantor	Noble-Cayman