Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock at Cost	Retained Earnings	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at Beginning of Period at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 10,325	$ 4	$ 3,624	$ (90)	$ (671)	$ 7,458	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(413)	0	0	0	0	(413)	0
Rosetta Merger	(1,529)	(1)	(1,528)	0	0	0	0
Stock-based Compensation	69	0	69	0	0	0	0
Dividends	(214)	0	0	0	0	(214)	0
Issuance of Noble Energy Common Stock, Net of Offering Costs	1,112	0	1,112	0	0	0	0
Other	42	0	9	53	(20)	0	0
Balance at End of Period at Sep. 30, 2015	12,450	5	6,342	(37)	(691)	6,831
Balance at Beginning of Period at Dec. 31, 2015	10,370	5	6,360	(33)	(688)	4,726	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(745)	0	0	0	0	(746)	1
Stock-based Compensation	57	0		0	0	0	0
Dividends	(129)	0	0	0	0	(129)	0
Issuance of Noble Energy Common Stock, Net of Offering Costs	299	0	0	0	0	0	299
Other	(7)	0	0	1	(8)	0	0
Balance at End of Period at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 9,845	$ 5	$ 6,417	$ (32)	$ (696)	$ 3,851	$ 300