CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Noble Finance Company	Shares	Shares Noble Finance Company	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital Noble Finance Company	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Noble Finance Company	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Noble Finance Company
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			249,200	261,246
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 3,658,972	$ 3,757,980	$ 2,492	$ 26,125	$ 807,093	$ 757,545	$ 2,907,776	$ 3,032,699	$ (58,389)	$ (58,389)
Employee related equity activity
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	(1,568)
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2020									(59,957)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			249,200	261,246
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	3,658,972	3,757,980	$ 2,492	$ 26,125	807,093	757,545	2,907,776	3,032,699	(58,389)	(58,389)
Employee related equity activity
Amortization of share-based compensation	6,342				6,342
Issuance of share-based compensation shares (in shares)			1,862
Issuance of share-based compensation shares	1		$ 18		(17)
Shares withheld for taxes on equity transactions	(435)				(435)
Distributions to parent company, net		(49,828)						(49,828)
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation		7,352				7,352
Net loss	(1,155,739)	(1,104,341)					(1,155,739)	(1,104,341)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	(107)	(107)							(107)	(107)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020			251,062	261,246
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	2,509,034	2,611,056	$ 2,510	$ 26,125	812,983	764,897	1,752,037	1,878,530	(58,496)	(58,496)
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2020									(59,957)
Employee related equity activity
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	29
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020			251,041	261,246
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2020	2,556,970	2,700,304	$ 2,510	$ 26,125	811,483	763,397	1,802,905	1,970,710	(59,928)	(59,928)
Employee related equity activity
Amortization of share-based compensation	1,500				1,500
Issuance of share-based compensation shares (in shares)			21
Issuance of share-based compensation shares	0
Distributions to parent company, net		(13,978)						(13,978)
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation		1,500				1,500
Net loss	(50,868)	(78,202)					(50,868)	(78,202)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	1,432	1,432							1,432	1,432
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020			251,062	261,246
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 2,509,034	$ 2,611,056	$ 2,510	$ 26,125	812,983	764,897	1,752,037	1,878,530	(58,496)	(58,496)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	251,084	261,246	251,084	261,246
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ (311,388)	$ (213,392)	$ 2,511	$ 26,125	814,796	766,714	(1,070,683)	(948,219)	(58,012)	(58,012)
Employee related equity activity
Amortization of share-based compensation	710				710
Issuance of share-based compensation shares (in shares)			43
Shares withheld for taxes on equity transactions	(1)				(1)
Distributions to parent company, net		(26,503)						(26,503)
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation		710				710
Net loss	250,228	193,825					250,228	193,825
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	108	108							108	108
Issuance of Successor common stock and warrants (in shares)			50,000
Issuance of Successor common stock and warrants	1,018,768		$ 1		1,018,767
Cancellation/Elimination of Predecessor equity (in shares)			(251,127)
Cancellation/Elimination of Predecessor equity (in shares)	60,343	1,061,402	$ (2,511)		(815,505)	222,601	820,455	780,897	57,904	57,904
Ending balance (in shares) at Feb. 05, 2021			50,000	261,246
Ending balance at Feb. 05, 2021	1,018,768	1,016,150	$ 1	$ 26,125	1,018,767	990,025	0	0	0	0
Employee related equity activity
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	0
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2021									0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Feb. 05, 2021			50,000	261,246
Beginning balance at Feb. 05, 2021	1,018,768	1,016,150	$ 1	$ 26,125	1,018,767	990,025	0	0	0	0
Employee related equity activity
Amortization of share-based compensation	11,312				11,312
Exchange of common stock for penny warrants (in shares)			(6,463)
Exercise of common stock warrants (in shares)			31
Exercise of common stock warrants	647				647
Issuance of common stock for Pacific Drilling merger (in shares)			16,600
Issuance of common stock for Pacific Drilling merger	357,662				357,662
Distributions to parent company, net		(32,677)				(32,677)
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation		11,312				11,312
Capital contribution by parent - Pacific Drilling merger		422,141				422,141
Net loss	(21,454)	(55,336)					(21,454)	(55,336)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	$ (267)	$ (267)							(267)	(267)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021	60,168	261,246	60,168	261,246
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2021	$ 1,366,668	$ 1,361,323	$ 1	$ 26,125	1,388,388	1,390,801	(21,454)	(55,336)	(267)	(267)
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2021									0
Employee related equity activity
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	168
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021			60,150	261,246
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2021	1,385,724	1,384,842	$ 1	$ 26,125	1,383,344	1,399,905	2,211	(41,356)	168	168
Employee related equity activity
Amortization of share-based compensation	4,668				4,668
Exercise of common stock warrants (in shares)			18
Exercise of common stock warrants	376				376
Distributions to parent company, net		(13,772)				(13,772)
Capital contribution by parent - share-based compensation		4,668				4,668
Net loss	(23,665)	(13,980)					(23,665)	(13,980)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	$ (435)	$ (435)							(435)	(435)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021	60,168	261,246	60,168	261,246
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2021	$ 1,366,668	$ 1,361,323	$ 1	$ 26,125	$ 1,388,388	$ 1,390,801	$ (21,454)	$ (55,336)	$ (267)	$ (267)