Segment Information - Operating Results by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intersegment Revenues	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Total	1,273	960	3,789	3,055
Lease Operating Expense	124	151	411	414
Production and Ad Valorem Taxes	47	31	151	104
Gathering, Transportation and Processing Expense	97	93	292	333
Total	273	280	886	866
DD&A	485	523	1,418	1,554
Loss on Debt Extinguishment	0	98	(3)	98
Gain on Divestitures, Net	(193)	0	(859)	0
Asset Impairments	0	0	168	0
Purchased Oil and Gas	76	0	204	0
Gain on Asset Retirement Obligation Revisions	(10)	(42)	(21)	(42)
Loss on Marcellus Shale Exit Activities	0	4	0	2,326
Loss (Gain) on Commodity Derivative Instruments	155	22	483	(145)
Gain on Investment in Shares of Tamar Petroleum Ltd., Net	(32)		(6)
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	307	(208)	860	(2,483)
Clayton Williams Energy Acquisition Expenses	0	4	0	98
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intersegment Revenues	(91)	(72)	(257)	(198)
Total	(91)	(72)	(257)	(198)
Lease Operating Expense	(12)	(1)	(18)	(6)
Production and Ad Valorem Taxes	0	0	0	0
Gathering, Transportation and Processing Expense	(60)	(56)	(168)	(136)
Total	(72)	(57)	(186)	(142)
DD&A	(5)	(1)	(13)	(2)
Loss on Debt Extinguishment		0		0
Gain on Divestitures, Net	0		0
Asset Impairments			0
Purchased Oil and Gas	0		0
Gain on Asset Retirement Obligation Revisions	0	0	0	0
Loss on Marcellus Shale Exit Activities				0
Loss (Gain) on Commodity Derivative Instruments	0	0	0	0
Gain on Investment in Shares of Tamar Petroleum Ltd., Net	0		0
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	(16)	(12)	(52)	(47)
Clayton Williams Energy Acquisition Expenses				0
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intersegment Revenues	0	0	0	0
Total	0	0	0	0
Lease Operating Expense	0	0	0	0
Production and Ad Valorem Taxes	0	0	0	0
Gathering, Transportation and Processing Expense	0	0	0	0
Total	0	0	0	0
DD&A	10	12	33	34
Loss on Debt Extinguishment		98		98
Gain on Divestitures, Net	0		0
Asset Impairments			0
Purchased Oil and Gas	0		0
Gain on Asset Retirement Obligation Revisions	0	0	0	0
Loss on Marcellus Shale Exit Activities				0
Loss (Gain) on Commodity Derivative Instruments	0	0	0	0
Gain on Investment in Shares of Tamar Petroleum Ltd., Net	0		0
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	(170)	(295)	(498)	(657)
Clayton Williams Energy Acquisition Expenses				0
United States \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intersegment Revenues	0	0	0	0
Total	945	696	2,818	2,246
Lease Operating Expense	114	118	354	332
Production and Ad Valorem Taxes	46	30	147	102
Gathering, Transportation and Processing Expense	129	129	389	416
Total	294	282	922	865
DD&A	414	442	1,214	1,326
Loss on Debt Extinguishment		0		0
Gain on Divestitures, Net	5		20
Asset Impairments			168
Purchased Oil and Gas	32	0	98	0
Gain on Asset Retirement Obligation Revisions	0	0	0	0
Loss on Marcellus Shale Exit Activities				2,326
Loss (Gain) on Commodity Derivative Instruments	140	16	400	(138)
Gain on Investment in Shares of Tamar Petroleum Ltd., Net	0		0
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	31	(115)	(94)	(2,433)
Clayton Williams Energy Acquisition Expenses				98
United States \| Noble Midstream
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intersegment Revenues	91	72	257	198
Total	168	92	451	251
Lease Operating Expense	0	0	0	0
Production and Ad Valorem Taxes	1	1	4	2
Gathering, Transportation and Processing Expense	28	20	71	53
Total	29	21	75	55
DD&A	24	10	62	20
Loss on Debt Extinguishment		0		0
Gain on Divestitures, Net	(198)		(503)
Asset Impairments			0
Purchased Oil and Gas	44		106
Gain on Asset Retirement Obligation Revisions	0	0	0	0
Loss on Marcellus Shale Exit Activities				0
Loss (Gain) on Commodity Derivative Instruments	0	0	0	0
Gain on Investment in Shares of Tamar Petroleum Ltd., Net	0		0
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	268	58	690	165
Clayton Williams Energy Acquisition Expenses				0
Eastern Mediterranean \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intersegment Revenues	0	0	0	0
Total	124	141	368	406
Lease Operating Expense	7	9	19	23
Production and Ad Valorem Taxes	0	0	0	0
Gathering, Transportation and Processing Expense	0	0	0	0
Total	7	9	19	23
DD&A	16	18	44	58
Loss on Debt Extinguishment		0		0
Gain on Divestitures, Net	0		(376)
Asset Impairments			0
Purchased Oil and Gas	0		0
Gain on Asset Retirement Obligation Revisions	0	0	0	0
Loss on Marcellus Shale Exit Activities				0
Loss (Gain) on Commodity Derivative Instruments	0	0	0	0
Gain on Investment in Shares of Tamar Petroleum Ltd., Net	(32)		(6)
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	143	109	678	316
Clayton Williams Energy Acquisition Expenses				0
West Africa \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intersegment Revenues	0	0	0	0
Total	127	103	409	350
Lease Operating Expense	15	25	56	65
Production and Ad Valorem Taxes	0	0	0	0
Gathering, Transportation and Processing Expense	0	0	0	0
Total	15	25	56	65
DD&A	25	41	77	114
Loss on Debt Extinguishment		0		0
Gain on Divestitures, Net	0		0
Asset Impairments			0
Purchased Oil and Gas	0		0
Gain on Asset Retirement Obligation Revisions	0	0	0	0
Loss on Marcellus Shale Exit Activities				0
Loss (Gain) on Commodity Derivative Instruments	15	6	83	(7)
Gain on Investment in Shares of Tamar Petroleum Ltd., Net	0		0
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	68	24	180	162
Clayton Williams Energy Acquisition Expenses				0
Other Int'l \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intersegment Revenues	0	0	0	0
Total	0	0	0	0
Lease Operating Expense	0	0	0	0
Production and Ad Valorem Taxes	0	0	0	0
Gathering, Transportation and Processing Expense	0	0	0	0
Total	0	0	0	0
DD&A	1	1	1	4
Loss on Debt Extinguishment		0		0
Gain on Divestitures, Net	0		0
Asset Impairments			0
Purchased Oil and Gas	0		0
Gain on Asset Retirement Obligation Revisions	(10)	(42)	(21)	(42)
Loss on Marcellus Shale Exit Activities				0
Loss (Gain) on Commodity Derivative Instruments	0	0	0	0
Gain on Investment in Shares of Tamar Petroleum Ltd., Net	0		0
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	(17)	23	(44)	11
Clayton Williams Energy Acquisition Expenses				0
Oil, NGL and Gas Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	1,136	907	3,409	2,918
Oil, NGL and Gas Sales \| Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Oil, NGL and Gas Sales \| Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Oil, NGL and Gas Sales \| United States \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	919	696	2,737	2,246
Oil, NGL and Gas Sales \| United States \| Noble Midstream
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Oil, NGL and Gas Sales \| Eastern Mediterranean \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	124	141	368	406
Oil, NGL and Gas Sales \| West Africa \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	93	70	304	266
Oil, NGL and Gas Sales \| Other Int'l \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Crude Oil Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	744	553	2,266	1,637
Crude Oil Sales \| Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Crude Oil Sales \| Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Crude Oil Sales \| United States \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	655	487	1,972	1,383
Crude Oil Sales \| United States \| Noble Midstream
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Crude Oil Sales \| Eastern Mediterranean \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	2	2	6	5
Crude Oil Sales \| West Africa \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	87	64	288	249
Crude Oil Sales \| Other Int'l \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
NGL Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	166	116	449	329
NGL Sales \| Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
NGL Sales \| Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
NGL Sales \| United States \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	166	116	449	329
NGL Sales \| United States \| Noble Midstream
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
NGL Sales \| Eastern Mediterranean \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
NGL Sales \| West Africa \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
NGL Sales \| Other Int'l \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Natural Gas Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	226	238	694	952
Natural Gas Sales \| Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Natural Gas Sales \| Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Natural Gas Sales \| United States \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	98	93	316	534
Natural Gas Sales \| United States \| Noble Midstream
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Natural Gas Sales \| Eastern Mediterranean \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	122	139	362	401
Natural Gas Sales \| West Africa \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	6	6	16	17
Natural Gas Sales \| Other Int'l \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Cost of Purchased of Gas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	72	0	191	0
Cost of Purchased of Gas \| Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0		0
Cost of Purchased of Gas \| Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0		0
Cost of Purchased of Gas \| United States \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	26		81
Purchased Oil and Gas	24	0	77	0
Cost of Purchased of Gas \| United States \| Noble Midstream
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	46		110
Cost of Purchased of Gas \| Eastern Mediterranean \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0		0
Cost of Purchased of Gas \| West Africa \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0		0
Cost of Purchased of Gas \| Other Int'l \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0		0
Income from Equity Method Investees and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	65	53	189	137
Income from Equity Method Investees and Other \| Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Income from Equity Method Investees and Other \| Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Income from Equity Method Investees and Other \| United States \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Income from Equity Method Investees and Other \| United States \| Noble Midstream
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	31	20	84	53
Income from Equity Method Investees and Other \| Eastern Mediterranean \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Income from Equity Method Investees and Other \| West Africa \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	34	33	105	84
Income from Equity Method Investees and Other \| Other Int'l \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from Sales	0	0	0	0
Other Royalty Expense
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expense	5	5	32	15
Other Royalty Expense \| Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expense	0	0	0	0
Other Royalty Expense \| Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expense	0	0	0	0
Other Royalty Expense \| United States \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expense	5	5	32	15
Other Royalty Expense \| United States \| Noble Midstream
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expense	0	0	0	0
Other Royalty Expense \| Eastern Mediterranean \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expense	0	0	0	0
Other Royalty Expense \| West Africa \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expense	0	0	0	0
Other Royalty Expense \| Other Int'l \| Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expense	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Gain (Loss) On Revision Of Estimates For Asset Retirement Obligation

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Intersegment Revenues

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This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

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The aggregate costs related to goods produced and sold and services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. This excludes costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered and other revenue generating activities.

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Costs of generating revenue from oil and gas-related services including well services (such as drilling, rigs and analytic evaluations), transportation, and other supporting contractor services, during the reporting period.

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No definition available.

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The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

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Amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) of derivative instruments not designated or qualifying as hedging instruments.

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Amount before tax of gain (loss) recognized on the sale or disposal of a disposal group. Excludes discontinued operations.

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- Definition

Amount of unrealized and realized gain (loss) on investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI).

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Amount of gain (loss) from sale and disposal of integrated set of activities and assets capable of being conducted and managed for purpose of providing return in form of dividend, lower cost, or other economic benefit to investor, owner, member and participant.

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Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long-lived assets held for abandonment, exchange or sale.

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Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations, including income (loss) from equity method investments, before deduction of income tax expense (benefit), and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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Amount of operating lease expense. Excludes sublease income.

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