Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ (480,948)	$ 425,297
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	409,919	455,907
Loss on impairment	0	16,616
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net	0	(11,066)
Deferred income taxes	343,962	(82,774)
Amortization of share-based compensation	21,788	27,222
Other long-term asset write-off	28,689	0
Net change in other assets and liabilities	(24,330)	129,166
Net cash provided by operating activities	299,080	960,368
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(74,363)	(592,038)
Change in accrued capital expenditures	(12,337)	(41,235)
Proceeds from disposal of assets	1,306	23,390
Net cash used in investing activities	(85,394)	(609,883)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayments of debt	(300,000)	(322,207)
Debt issuance costs on senior notes and credit facility	(42)	0
Premiums paid on early repayment of long-term debt	0	(1,781)
Dividend payments	0	(47,534)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(26,293)	(61,980)
Employee stock transactions	(4,310)	(3,176)
Net cash used in financing activities	(330,645)	(436,678)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(116,959)	(86,193)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	725,722	512,245
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	608,763	426,052
Noble Corp [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	(454,615)	449,020
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	407,002	455,853
Loss on impairment	0	16,616
Gain on extinguishment of debt, net	0	(11,066)
Deferred income taxes	343,961	(82,774)
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation	21,731	25,296
Other long-term asset write-off	28,689	0
Net change in other assets and liabilities	(24,805)	132,911
Net cash provided by operating activities	321,963	985,856
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(74,363)	(592,038)
Change in accrued capital expenditures	(12,337)	(41,235)
Proceeds from disposal of assets	1,306	23,390
Net cash used in investing activities	(85,394)	(609,883)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayments of debt	(300,000)	(322,207)
Debt issuance costs on senior notes and credit facility	(42)	0
Premiums paid on early repayment of long-term debt	0	(1,781)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(26,293)	(61,980)
Contributions (distributions) from (to) parent company, net	43,891
Contributions (distributions) from (to) parent company, net		(76,051)
Net cash used in financing activities	(282,444)	(462,019)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(45,875)	(86,046)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	653,833	511,795
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 607,958	$ 425,749