Clayton Williams Energy Acquisition - Tables (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Apr. 24, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Plus: Cash Consideration Paid to Clayton Williams Energy Stockholders					$ 616	$ 0
Total Purchase Price			$ 301
Goodwill		$ 1,289			1,289		$ 0
Clayton Williams Energy
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair Value of Common Stock Issued	$ 1,876
Plus: Cash Consideration Paid to Clayton Williams Energy Stockholders	637
Total Purchase Price	2,513
Accounts Payable	68
Other Current Liabilities	38
Long-Term Deferred Tax Liability	522
Long-Term Debt	595
Asset Retirement Obligations	59
Total Purchase Price Plus Liabilities Assumed	3,795
Cash and Cash Equivalents	21
Other Current Assets	37
Proved Reserves	724
Undeveloped Leasehold Cost	1,581
Gathering and Processing Assets	49
Asset Retirement Costs	59
Other Property Plant and Equipment	18
Other Noncurrent Assets	17
Goodwill	1,289	1,300			1,300
Total Asset Value	$ 3,795
Revenues		1,070		$ 888	2,141	1,641
Net Loss and Comprehensive Loss Attributable to Noble Energy		$ (1,354)		$ (316)	$ (1,324)	$ (649)
Net Loss Attributable to Noble Energy per Common Share - Basic and Diluted ($ per share)		$ (2.77)		$ (0.65)	$ (2.71)	$ (1.34)