Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share for Noble-UK (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Basic
Net income (loss) attributable to the company	$ (24,675)	$ (96,792)	$ (91,864)	$ (301,694)	$ (1,302,850)	$ (55,081)	$ 322,866	$ 105,485		$ (516,511)	$ (929,580)	$ 511,000
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	1,486	0						1,486	0	0
Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards										0	0	(10,856)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations to common shareholders - basic										(515,025)	(929,580)	500,144
Diluted
Net income (loss) attributable to the company	(24,675)	(96,792)	(91,864)	(301,694)	$ (1,302,850)	$ (55,081)	$ 322,866	$ 105,485		(516,511)	(929,580)	511,000
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,486	$ 0						1,486	0	0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations to common shareholders - diluted										$ (515,025)	$ (929,580)	$ 511,000
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)										244,743	243,127	242,146
Incremental shares issuable from assumed exercise of stock options and unvested share-based payment awards										0	0	5,256
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)		244,743				243,127			247,402	244,743	243,127	247,402
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (usd per share)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.40)	$ (0.37)	$ (1.24)	$ (5.36)	$ (0.23)	$ 1.28	$ 0.42		$ (2.10)	$ (3.82)	$ 2.06
Loss from discontinued operations (usd per share)	0.00	0.00	(0.01)	0.00						(0.01)	0.00	0.00
Net income (loss) (usd per share)										(2.11)	(3.82)	2.06
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (usd per share)	(0.10)	(0.40)	(0.37)	(1.24)	$ (5.36)	$ (0.23)	$ 1.28	$ 0.42		(2.10)	(3.82)	2.06
Loss from discontinued operations (usd per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00						(0.01)	0.00	0.00
Net income (loss) (usd per share)										(2.11)	(3.82)	2.06
Dividends per share (usd per share)										$ 0	$ 0.2	$ 1.28