Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] \| Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2015
Derivative [Line Items]
Settlement Period	2015
Index	NYMEX WTI
Volume Per Day	27,000
Weighted Average Fixed Price	88.80
Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] \| Swaps - Dated Brent 2015
Derivative [Line Items]
Settlement Period	2015
Index	Dated Brent
Volume Per Day	8,000
Weighted Average Fixed Price	100.31
Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] \| Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2015
Derivative [Line Items]
Settlement Period	2015
Index	NYMEX WTI
Volume Per Day	20,000
Weighted Average Short Put Price	70.50
Weighted Average Floor Price	87.55
Weighted Average Ceiling Price	94.41
Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] \| Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2015
Derivative [Line Items]
Settlement Period	2015
Index	Dated Brent
Volume Per Day	13,000
Weighted Average Short Put Price	76.92
Weighted Average Floor Price	96.00
Weighted Average Ceiling Price	108.49
Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] \| Swaps - NYMEX WTI 2016 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Settlement Period	2016
Index	NYMEX WTI
Volume Per Day	6,000
Weighted Average Fixed Price	87.95
Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] \| Swaps - Dated Brent 2016 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Settlement Period	2016
Index	Dated Brent
Volume Per Day	9,000
Weighted Average Fixed Price	97.96
Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] \| Three Way Collars - NYMEX WTI 2016 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Settlement Period	2016
Index	NYMEX WTI
Volume Per Day	3,000
Weighted Average Short Put Price	72.00
Weighted Average Floor Price	85.00
Weighted Average Ceiling Price	94.82
Crude Oil Commodity Contract [Member] \| Three Way Collars - Dated Brent 2016 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Settlement Period	2016
Index	Dated Brent
Volume Per Day	6,000
Weighted Average Short Put Price	80.00
Weighted Average Floor Price	95.00
Weighted Average Ceiling Price	105.87
Natural Gas Commodity Contract [Member] \| Swaps NYMEX HH 2015
Derivative [Line Items]
Settlement Period	2015
Index	NYMEX HH
Volume Per Day	140,000
Weighted Average Fixed Price	4.30
Natural Gas Commodity Contract [Member] \| Three Way Collars NYMEX HH 2015
Derivative [Line Items]
Settlement Period	2015
Index	NYMEX HH
Volume Per Day	150,000
Weighted Average Short Put Price	3.58
Weighted Average Floor Price	4.25
Weighted Average Ceiling Price	5.04
Natural Gas Commodity Contract [Member] \| Swaps - NYMEX HH 2016 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Settlement Period	2016
Index	NYMEX HH
Volume Per Day	10,000
Weighted Average Fixed Price	3.90
Natural Gas Commodity Contract [Member] \| Three Way Collars - NYMEX HH 2016 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Settlement Period	2016
Index	NYMEX HH
Volume Per Day	30,000
Weighted Average Short Put Price	3.00
Weighted Average Floor Price	3.75
Weighted Average Ceiling Price	4.40

Aggregate notional amount of derivative expressed in nonmonetary units. For example, the number of barrels specified in a fuel oil forward purchase contract.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column B

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contract period of time relating to a derivative instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	nbl_
Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The average cap rate on a group of price risk derivatives such as caps or collars. A payment or receipt is triggered if the market rate exceeds the cap rate on the contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The average floor rate on a group of price risk derivatives such as floors or collars. A payment or receipt is triggered if the market rate falls below the floor rate on the contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The average strike price on the group of price risk option contracts such as put options or call options.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Average fixed price related to the group of price risk swap derivatives.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reference to the index or unit of measurement for the underlying which establishes the pricing terms of the derivative instrument. For example, the basis on the underlying for a natural gas futures contract might be the NYMEX price per million British thermal units (MMBtu).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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