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Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jul. 31, 2013
Components of income (loss) before income taxes [Abstract]        
Domestic $ 282,000,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic $ 202,000,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic $ 92,000,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic  
Foreign 1,428,000,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign 1,142,000,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign 1,264,000,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign  
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes 1,710,000,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest 1,344,000,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest 1,356,000,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest  
Current Taxes [Abstract]        
Federal 19,000,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit 21,000,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit 14,000,000us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit  
State 1,000,000us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit 1,000,000us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit 1,000,000us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit  
Foreign 208,000,000us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit 144,000,000us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit 143,000,000us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit  
Total Current 228,000,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 166,000,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 158,000,000us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Deferred Taxes [Abstract]        
Federal 237,000,000us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 96,000,000us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 60,000,000us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
State 13,000,000us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 1,000,000us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 1,000,000us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Foreign 18,000,000us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 174,000,000us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 172,000,000us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Total Deferred 268,000,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 271,000,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 233,000,000us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Total Income Tax Provision 496,000,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 437,000,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 391,000,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Effective Tax Rate (in hundredths) 29.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 32.50%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 28.80%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations  
Federal statutory tax rate reconciliation [Abstract]        
Federal Statutory Rate (in hundredths) 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate  
Effect of        
Earnings of Equity Method Investees (in hundredths) (3.30%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationEquityInEarningsLossesOfUnconsolidatedSubsidiary (5.30%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationEquityInEarningsLossesOfUnconsolidatedSubsidiary (4.90%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationEquityInEarningsLossesOfUnconsolidatedSubsidiary  
State Taxes, Net of Federal Benefit (in hundredths) 0.80%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes 0.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes 0.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes  
Difference Between US and Foreign Rates (in hundredths) (14.20%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential (6.30%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential (4.90%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential  
Foreign Exploration Loss (in hundredths) 0.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsOther 2.70%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsOther (3.80%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsOther  
Change in Valuation Allowance (in hundredths) 1.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 3.80%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 4.30%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance  
Oil Profits Tax - Israel (in hundredths) 0.20%nbl_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionOilProfitsTaxinForeignCountry 0.30%nbl_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionOilProfitsTaxinForeignCountry 0.90%nbl_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionOilProfitsTaxinForeignCountry  
Tax Contingency (in hundredths) 0.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxContingencies 0.40%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxContingencies 1.80%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxContingencies  
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Repatriation of Foreign Earnings, Amount 8.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings   0.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings  
Other, Net (in hundredths) 0.30%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments 1.80%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments 0.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments  
Effective Tax Rate (in hundredths) 29.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 32.50%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 28.80%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations  
Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]        
Loss Carryforwards 170,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards 174,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards    
Employee Compensation & Benefits 149,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsPensions 143,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsPensions    
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Foreign 67,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsForeign 31,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsForeign    
Other 51,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther 56,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther    
Total Deferred Tax Assets 437,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross 404,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross    
Net Deferred Tax Assets 224,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet 236,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet    
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Derivatives (209,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDerivatives 0us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDerivatives    
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Other 141,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther 0us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther    
Deferred Tax Liabilities [Abstract]        
Property, Plant and Equipment, Principally Due to Differences in Depreciation, Amortization, Lease Impairment and Abandonments (2,548,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment (2,615,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment    
Total Deferred Tax Liability (2,898,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities (2,615,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities    
Net Deferred Tax Liability (2,674,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet (2,379,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet    
Deferred Tax Asset and Liability Classification [Abstract]        
Deferred Income Tax Asset - Current 0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGrossNoncurrent 62,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGrossNoncurrent    
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Current (158,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCurrent 0us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCurrent    
Deferred Income Tax Liability - Noncurrent (2,516,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent (2,441,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent    
Net Deferred Tax Liability (2,674,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet (2,379,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet    
Change in Statutory Federal Tax Rate [Abstract]        
Impact of Statutory Rate Increase on Deferred Taxes 12,000,000nbl_ImpactofStatutoryRateIncreaseonDeferredTaxes      
Accumulated Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries [Abstract]        
Accumulated undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries 3,500,000,000us-gaap_UndistributedEarningsOfForeignSubsidiaries      
Estimated future US taxes on the eventual remittance of accumulated undistributed foreign subsidiary earnings 850,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUndistributedForeignEarnings      
US [Member]        
Earliest Year Open to Examination [Abstract]        
Income Tax Examination, Year under Examination 2011      
Equatorial Guinea [Member]        
Earliest Year Open to Examination [Abstract]        
Income Tax Examination, Year under Examination 2009      
Israel [Member]        
Change in Statutory Federal Tax Rate [Abstract]        
Statutory Federal Corporate Tax Rate Current Year       25.00%nbl_StatutoryFederalCorporateTaxRateCurrentYear
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= country_IL
Statutory Federal Corporate Tax Rate Future Year       26.50%nbl_StatutoryFederalCorporateTaxRateFutureYear
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= country_IL
Earliest Year Open to Examination [Abstract]        
Income Tax Examination, Year under Examination 2010      
Foreign Loss Carryforward [Member]        
Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]        
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance (145,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= nbl_ForeignLossCarryforwardMember		 (135,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= nbl_ForeignLossCarryforwardMember		    
Foreign Tax Credit [Member]        
Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]        
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance (67,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= nbl_ForeignTaxCreditMember		 (31,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= nbl_ForeignTaxCreditMember		    
Valuation Allowance Deferred Tax Asset Reversal   27,000,000nbl_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetReversal
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= nbl_ForeignTaxCreditMember		    
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Recorded During the Year (36,000,000)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= nbl_ForeignTaxCreditMember		 (20,000,000)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= nbl_ForeignTaxCreditMember		    
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Other 141,000,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= nbl_ForeignTaxCreditMember		      
Capital Loss Carryforward [Member]        
Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]        
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance $ (1,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= us-gaap_CapitalLossCarryforwardMember		 $ (2,000,000)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis
= us-gaap_CapitalLossCarryforwardMember