Income Per Share Attributable to Noble Energy (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Loss and Comprehensive Loss Attributable to Noble Energy	$ 554	$ 36
Weighted Average, Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic (in shares)	487	431
Incremental Shares from Assumed Conversion of Dilutive Stock Options, Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust (in shares)	1	3
Weighted Average, Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted (in shares)	488	434
Loss Per Share, Basic ($ per share)	$ 1.14	$ 0.08
Loss Per Share, Diluted ($ per share)	$ 1.14	$ 0.08
Number of Antidilutive Stock Options, Shares of Restricted Stock, and Shares of Common Stock in Rabbi Trust Excluded from Calculation Above (in shares)	16	14