CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 241,836,000	$ 275,526,000	$ 761,065,000	$ 851,350,000
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	90,606,000	112,755,000	283,652,000	333,481,000
General and administrative	15,662,000	17,565,000	106,504,000	149,816,000
Pre-petition charges	3,894,000	0	14,409,000	0
Loss on impairment	0	595,510,000	1,119,517,000	595,510,000
Total operating costs and expenses	260,711,000	915,538,000	2,007,948,000	1,633,884,000
Operating loss	(18,875,000)	(640,012,000)	(1,246,883,000)	(782,534,000)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(23,427,000)	(68,991,000)	(164,586,000)	(208,211,000)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net	17,847,000	(650,000)	17,254,000	30,616,000
Interest income and other, net	7,872,000	(144,000)	8,546,000	4,222,000
Reorganization items, net	(9,014,000)	0	(9,014,000)	0
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(25,597,000)	(709,797,000)	(1,394,683,000)	(955,907,000)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(25,271,000)	2,845,000	238,944,000	37,162,000
Net loss from continuing operations	(50,868,000)	(706,952,000)	(1,155,739,000)	(918,745,000)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	(3,821,000)
Net loss	(50,868,000)	(706,952,000)	(1,155,739,000)	(922,566,000)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	262,081,000	0	254,846,000
Net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc	(50,868,000)	(444,871,000)	(1,155,739,000)	(667,720,000)
Net loss from continuing operations	(50,868,000)	(444,871,000)	(1,155,739,000)	(663,899,000)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	(3,821,000)
Net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc	$ (50,868,000)	$ (444,871,000)	$ (1,155,739,000)	$ (667,720,000)
Basic:
Loss from continuing operations (in usd per share)	$ (0.20)	$ (1.79)	$ (4.61)	$ (2.66)
Loss from discontinued operations (in usd per share)	0	0	0	(0.02)
Net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc (in usd per share)	(0.20)	(1.79)	(4.61)	(2.68)
Diluted:
Loss from continuing operations (in usd per share)	(0.20)	(1.79)	(4.61)	(2.66)
Loss from discontinued operations (in usd per share)	0	0	0	(0.02)
Net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc (in usd per share)	$ (0.20)	$ (1.79)	$ (4.61)	$ (2.68)
Noble Corp
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 241,836,000	$ 275,526,000	$ 761,065,000	$ 851,350,000
Operating costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	90,236,000	112,175,000	282,385,000	331,485,000
General and administrative	6,503,000	8,832,000	30,806,000	25,099,000
Loss on impairment	0	595,510,000	1,119,517,000	595,510,000
Total operating costs and expenses	247,083,000	905,859,000	1,915,580,000	1,505,520,000
Operating loss	(5,247,000)	(630,333,000)	(1,154,515,000)	(654,170,000)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	(23,427,000)	(68,991,000)	(164,586,000)	(208,211,000)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net	17,847,000	(650,000)	17,254,000	30,616,000
Interest income and other, net	7,871,000	(149,000)	8,536,000	4,217,000
Reorganization items, net	(49,974,000)	0	(49,974,000)	0
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(52,930,000)	(700,123,000)	(1,343,285,000)	(827,548,000)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(25,272,000)	2,845,000	238,944,000	37,162,000
Net loss from continuing operations	(78,202,000)	(697,278,000)	(1,104,341,000)	(790,386,000)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	(3,821,000)
Net loss	(78,202,000)	(697,278,000)	(1,104,341,000)	(794,207,000)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	262,081,000	0	254,846,000
Net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc	(78,202,000)	(435,197,000)	(1,104,341,000)	(539,361,000)
Net loss attributable to Noble Corporation plc	(78,202,000)	(435,197,000)	(1,104,341,000)	(539,361,000)
Contract drilling services
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	227,050,000	259,428,000	714,555,000	804,746,000
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	137,180,000	175,929,000	442,479,000	516,522,000
Contract drilling services | Noble Corp
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	227,050,000	259,428,000	714,555,000	804,746,000
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	136,975,000	175,563,000	441,485,000	514,871,000
Reimbursables and other
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	14,786,000	16,098,000	46,510,000	46,604,000
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	13,369,000	13,779,000	41,387,000	38,555,000
Reimbursables and other | Noble Corp
Operating revenues
Revenue from contract with customer	14,786,000	16,098,000	46,510,000	46,604,000
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of services	$ 13,369,000	$ 13,779,000	$ 41,387,000	$ 38,555,000