Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating revenues
Operating revenues	$ 454,088	$ 275,526	$ 292,936	$ 282,888	$ 309,892	$ 279,408	$ 258,369	$ 235,157	$ 1,305,438	$ 1,082,826	$ 1,236,915
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization									440,221	486,530	547,990
General and administrative									168,792	73,216	71,634
Loss on impairment									615,294	802,133	121,639
Total operating costs and expenses									1,971,711	2,028,900	1,402,635
Operating loss	116,261	(640,012)	(118,710)	(23,812)	(21,745)	(21,843)	(845,606)	(56,880)	(666,273)	(946,074)	(165,720)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized									(279,435)	(297,611)	(291,989)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net									30,616	(1,793)	0
Interest income and other, net									6,007	8,302	7,897
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(909,085)	(1,237,176)	(449,812)
Income tax benefit (provision)									38,540	106,641	(42,629)
Net loss from continuing operations									(870,545)	(1,130,535)	(492,441)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									(3,821)	0	(1,486)
Net loss									(874,366)	(1,130,535)	(493,927)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									173,776	245,485	(22,584)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company									(700,590)	(885,050)	(516,511)
Loss from continuing operations	(32,870)	(444,871)	(151,960)	(67,068)	(33,062)	(81,591)	(628,063)	(142,334)	(696,769)	(885,050)	(515,025)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (3,821)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	(3,821)	0	(1,486)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company									$ (700,590)	$ (885,050)	$ (516,511)
Basic:
Loss from continuing operations (usd per share)	$ (0.13)	$ (1.79)	$ (0.61)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.33)	$ (2.55)	$ (0.58)	$ (2.79)	$ (3.59)	$ (2.10)
Loss from discontinued operations (usd per share)	0	0	0	(0.02)					(0.02)	0	(0.01)
Net income (loss) (usd per share)									(2.81)	(3.59)	(2.11)
Diluted:
Loss from continuing operations (usd per share)	(0.13)	(1.79)	(0.61)	(0.27)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.33)	$ (2.55)	$ (0.58)	(2.79)	(3.59)	(2.10)
Loss from discontinued operations (usd per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ (0.02)					(0.02)	0	(0.01)
Net income (loss) (usd per share)									$ (2.81)	$ (3.59)	$ (2.11)
Weighted- Average Shares Outstanding
Basic (in shares)									248,949,000	246,614,000	244,743,000
Diluted (in shares)									248,949,000	246,614,000	244,743,000
Noble Corp
Operating revenues
Operating revenues									$ 1,305,438	$ 1,082,826	$ 1,236,915
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization									437,690	482,660	543,119
General and administrative									34,602	38,203	41,087
Loss on impairment									615,294	802,133	121,639
Total operating costs and expenses									1,832,912	1,988,208	1,364,763
Operating loss									(527,474)	(905,382)	(127,848)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized									(279,435)	(297,611)	(291,989)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net									30,616	(1,793)	0
Interest income and other, net									6,670	8,282	7,733
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes									(769,623)	(1,196,504)	(412,104)
Income tax benefit (provision)									38,540	106,534	(42,595)
Net loss from continuing operations									(731,083)	(1,089,970)	(454,699)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax									(3,821)	0	2,967
Net loss									(734,904)	(1,089,970)	(451,732)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									173,776	245,485	(22,584)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company									(561,128)	(844,485)	(474,316)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company									(561,128)	(844,485)	(474,316)
Contract drilling services
Operating revenues
Operating revenues									1,246,058	1,036,082	1,207,026
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services									698,343	629,937	642,937
Contract drilling services | Noble Corp
Operating revenues
Operating revenues									1,246,058	1,036,082	1,207,026
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services									696,265	628,128	640,483
Reimbursables and other
Operating revenues
Operating revenues									59,380	46,744	29,889
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services									49,061	37,084	18,435
Reimbursables and other | Noble Corp
Operating revenues
Operating revenues									59,380	46,744	29,889
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services									$ 49,061	$ 37,084	$ 18,435