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Property Transactions Narrative (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2013
acre
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Divestitures   $ 321us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfOilAndGasPropertyAndEquipment $ 327us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfOilAndGasPropertyAndEquipment $ 1,160us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfOilAndGasPropertyAndEquipment
Exploration Expense     27nbl_ExplorationExpenseSelkirk  
Land Exchanged In Agreement (in acres) 50,000nbl_BusinessCombinationLandExchangedInAgreement      
Cash Received For Reimbursement of Capital Expenditures and Other Normal Closing Adjustments 105nbl_BusinessCombinationReimbursementofCapitalExpendituresandClosingAdjustmentsCashReceived      
DJ Basin (Onshore US) [Member]        
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]        
Assets Held-for-sale, Long Lived, Fair Value Disclosure   105us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleLongLivedFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= nbl_DJBasinOnshoreUSMember
   
Israel [Member]        
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]        
Assets Held-for-sale, Long Lived, Fair Value Disclosure   75us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleLongLivedFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= country_IL
   
North Sea Assets [Member]        
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]        
Proceeds from Divestitures     56us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfOilAndGasPropertyAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= nbl_NorthSeaAssetsMember
117us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfOilAndGasPropertyAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= nbl_NorthSeaAssetsMember
Net Book Value of Assets Sold     255nbl_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNetBookValue
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= nbl_NorthSeaAssetsMember
 
Asset Retirement Obligation     55nbl_AssetRetirementObligationAssetsSold
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= nbl_NorthSeaAssetsMember
 
Income Tax Benefit Recognized     $ 99nbl_IncomeTaxBenefitRecognized
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= nbl_NorthSeaAssetsMember