Noble (NE) 10-Q 4 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Entity Registrant Name	'Noble Corp / Switzerland	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001458891	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	253,407,310
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'
Document Information [Line Items]	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Non-accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	261,245,693

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$178,370	$282,092
Accounts receivable	865,746	743,673
Taxes receivable	143,635	112,423
Prepaid expenses	52,752	43,962
Other current assets	134,500	123,175
Total current assets	1,375,003	1,305,325
Property and equipment, at cost	18,606,931	16,971,666
Accumulated depreciation	-4,534,474	-3,945,694
Property and equipment, net	14,072,457	13,025,972
Other assets	281,871	276,477
Total assets	15,729,331	14,607,774
Current liabilities	'	'
Accounts payable	318,013	350,147
Accrued payroll and related costs	137,481	132,728
Taxes payable	134,318	135,257
Dividends payable	192,352	66,369
Other current liabilities	202,422	226,948
Total current liabilities	984,586	911,449
Long-term debt	5,307,838	4,634,375
Deferred income taxes	187,648	226,045
Other liabilities	392,443	347,615
Total liabilities	6,872,515	6,119,484
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
Shareholders' equity	'	'
Shares	712,421	710,130
Treasury shares, at cost; 777 and 589 shares	-28,627	-21,069
Additional paid-in capital	117,458	83,531
Retained earnings	7,417,890	7,066,023
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-110,583	-115,449
Total shareholders' equity	8,108,559	7,723,166
Noncontrolling interests	748,257	765,124
Total equity	8,856,816	8,488,290
Total liabilities and equity	15,729,331	14,607,774
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'
Current assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	173,717	277,375
Accounts receivable	865,746	743,673
Taxes receivable	143,238	112,310
Prepaid expenses	49,329	41,232
Other current assets	134,004	122,649
Total current assets	1,366,034	1,297,239
Property and equipment, at cost	18,569,631	16,935,147
Accumulated depreciation	-4,526,002	-3,938,518
Property and equipment, net	14,043,629	12,996,629
Other assets	281,956	276,558
Total assets	15,691,619	14,570,426
Current liabilities	'	'
Accounts payable	315,933	349,594
Accrued payroll and related costs	129,170	123,936
Taxes payable	130,071	130,844
Other current liabilities	202,422	226,935
Total current liabilities	777,596	831,309
Long-term debt	5,307,838	4,634,375
Deferred income taxes	187,648	226,045
Other liabilities	392,443	347,615
Total liabilities	6,665,525	6,039,344
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
Shareholders' equity	'	'
Shares	26,125	26,125
Additional paid-in capital	489,058	470,454
Retained earnings	7,873,237	7,384,828
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-110,583	-115,449
Total shareholders' equity	8,277,837	7,765,958
Noncontrolling interests	748,257	765,124
Total equity	9,026,094	8,531,082
Total liabilities and equity	$15,691,619	$14,570,426

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding	254,165	253,348
Treasury shares	777	589
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding	261,246	261,246

Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc

Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	$1,041,118	$833,212	$2,945,310	$2,427,759
Reimbursables	29,242	28,137	78,676	94,090
Labor contract drilling services	8,493	22,667	43,150	58,538
Other	28	16	105	258
Total operating revenues	1,078,881	884,032	3,067,241	2,580,645
Operating costs and expenses	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	488,250	449,125	1,464,320	1,292,638
Reimbursables	23,671	21,047	61,294	76,618
Labor contract drilling services	8,153	12,991	29,804	34,070
Depreciation and amortization	223,711	195,087	642,456	549,779
General and administrative	33,776	26,858	86,196	75,388
Loss on impairment	3,585	0	3,585	18,345
Gain on disposal of assets, net	-35,646	0	-35,646	0
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net	-45,000	0	-46,800	-33,255
Total operating costs and expenses	700,500	705,108	2,205,209	2,013,583
Operating income	378,381	178,924	862,032	567,062
Other income (expense)	'	'	'	'
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized	-23,149	-25,635	-75,115	-56,783
Interest income and other, net	1,057	1,553	1,587	4,526
Income before income taxes	356,289	154,842	788,504	514,805
Income tax provision	-55,830	-25,162	-127,006	-93,107
Net income	300,459	129,680	661,498	421,698
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-18,502	-14,906	-52,861	-26,931
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	281,957	114,774	608,637	394,767
Net income per share	'	'	'	'
Basic	$1.10	$0.45	$2.37	$1.55
Diluted	$1.10	$0.45	$2.37	$1.55
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	1,041,118	833,212	2,945,310	2,427,759
Reimbursables	29,242	28,137	78,676	94,090
Labor contract drilling services	8,493	22,667	43,150	58,538
Other	28	16	105	258
Total operating revenues	1,078,881	884,032	3,067,241	2,580,645
Operating costs and expenses	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	486,113	444,225	1,448,119	1,280,969
Reimbursables	23,671	21,047	61,294	76,618
Labor contract drilling services	8,153	12,991	29,804	34,070
Depreciation and amortization	223,176	194,595	641,159	548,271
General and administrative	7,251	15,487	37,682	44,964
Loss on impairment	3,585	0	3,585	18,345
Gain on disposal of assets, net	-35,646	0	-35,646	0
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net	-45,000	0	-46,800	-33,255
Total operating costs and expenses	671,303	688,345	2,139,197	1,969,982
Operating income	407,578	195,687	928,044	610,663
Other income (expense)	'	'	'	'
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized	-23,149	-25,635	-75,115	-56,783
Interest income and other, net	415	1,361	1,183	4,368
Income before income taxes	384,844	171,413	854,112	558,248
Income tax provision	-55,488	-24,784	-125,232	-91,972
Net income	329,356	146,629	728,880	466,276
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-18,502	-14,906	-52,861	-26,931
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$310,854	$131,723	$676,019	$439,345

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net income	$300,459	$129,680	$661,498	$421,698
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-1,135	2,033	-658	-4,994
Foreign currency forward contracts	5,320	0	589	3,061
Amortization of deferred pension plan amounts	1,661	1,351	4,935	4,177
Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)	5,846	3,384	4,866	2,244
Net comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-18,502	-14,906	-52,861	-26,931
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	287,803	118,158	613,503	397,011
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'	'	'
Net income	329,356	146,629	728,880	466,276
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	'	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-1,135	2,033	-658	-4,994
Foreign currency forward contracts	5,320	0	589	3,061
Amortization of deferred pension plan amounts	1,661	1,351	4,935	4,177
Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)	5,846	3,384	4,866	2,244
Net comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-18,502	-14,906	-52,861	-26,931
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	$316,700	$135,107	$680,885	$441,589

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com1

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Amortization of deferred pension plan, tax provision	$732	$790	$2,192	$2,157
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'	'	'
Amortization of deferred pension plan, tax provision	$732	$790	$2,192	$2,157

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net income	$661,498	$421,698
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	642,456	549,779
Loss on impairment	3,585	18,345
Gain on disposal of assets, net	-35,646	0
Deferred income taxes	-41,400	-16,090
Amortization of share-based compensation	33,471	28,782
Net change in other assets and liabilities	-102,310	-71,010
Net cash from operating activities	1,161,654	931,504
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
Capital expenditures	-1,724,727	-1,247,139
Change in accrued capital expenditures	-66,946	-195,044
Proceeds from disposal of assets	61,000	0
Net cash from investing activities	-1,730,673	-1,442,183
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	973,055	-630,000
Repayment of long-term debt	-300,000	0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net of debt issuance costs	0	1,186,636
Dividends paid to joint venture partner	-69,728	0
Contributions from joint venture partner	0	40,000
Financing costs on credit facilities	-2,432	-5,014
Par value reduction/dividend payments	-130,787	-105,092
Proceeds from employee stock transactions	2,747	13,853
Repurchases of employee shares surrendered for taxes	-7,558	-10,433
Net cash from financing activities	465,297	489,950
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-103,722	-20,729
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	282,092	239,196
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	178,370	218,467
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net income	728,880	466,276
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	641,159	548,271
Loss on impairment	3,585	18,345
Gain on disposal of assets, net	-35,646	0
Deferred income taxes	-41,400	-16,090
Capital contribution by parent-share-based compensation	18,604	15,412
Net change in other assets and liabilities	-102,238	-75,357
Net cash from operating activities	1,212,944	956,857
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
Capital expenditures	-1,723,941	-1,245,671
Change in accrued capital expenditures	-66,946	-195,044
Proceeds from disposal of assets	61,000	0
Net cash from investing activities	-1,729,887	-1,440,715
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	973,055	-630,000
Repayment of long-term debt	-300,000	0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net of debt issuance costs	0	1,186,636
Dividends paid to joint venture partner	-69,728	0
Contributions from joint venture partner	0	40,000
Financing costs on credit facilities	-2,432	-5,014
Distributions to parent company, net	-187,610	-129,139
Net cash from financing activities	413,285	462,483
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-103,658	-21,375
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	277,375	235,056
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$173,717	$213,681

Consolidated_Statements_of_Equ

Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $)

Total

Noble-Cayman [Member]

Shares [Member]

Shares [Member]

Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]

Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]

Retained Earnings [Member]

Retained Earnings [Member]

Treasury Shares [Member]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]

Noncontrolling Interests [Member]

Noncontrolling Interests [Member]

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Noble-Cayman [Member]

Noble-Cayman [Member]

Noble-Cayman [Member]

Noble-Cayman [Member]

Noble-Cayman [Member]

Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011

$8,097,852

$8,073,633

$766,595

$26,125

$48,356

$450,616

$6,676,444

$6,979,882

($10,553)

($74,321)

($74,321)

$691,331

$691,331

Beginning Balance, (Shares) at Dec. 31, 2011

'

'

252,639

261,246

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Employee related equity activity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amortization of share-based compensation

28,782

'

'

'

28,782

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issuance of share-based compensation shares

8

'

1,284

'

-1,276

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issuance of share-based compensation shares, Shares

'

'

428

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Exercise of stock options

12,671

'

1,722

'

10,949

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Exercise of stock options, Shares

'

'

606

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Tax benefit of employee stock transactions

1,174

'

'

'

1,174

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restricted shares forfeited or repurchased for taxes

-10,433

'

-1,138

'

1,138

'

'

'

-10,433

'

'

'

'

Restricted shares forfeited or repurchased for taxes, Shares

'

'

-374

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net income

421,698

466,276

'

'

'

'

394,767

439,345

'

'

'

26,931

26,931

Equity contribution by joint venture partner

40,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

40,000

'

Capital contributions by parent- share-based compensation

'

15,412

'

'

'

15,412

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Par value reduction payments

-71,897

'

-58,470

'

-13,427

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Distributions to parent

'

-129,139

'

'

'

'

'

-129,139

'

'

'

'

'

Dividends declared

-132,777

'

'

'

'

'

-132,777

'

'

'

'

'

'

Equity contribution by joint venture partner

'

40,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

40,000

Other comprehensive income, net

2,244

2,244

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,244

2,244

'

'

Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012

8,389,322

8,468,426

709,993

26,125

75,696

466,028

6,938,434

7,290,088

-20,986

-72,077

-72,077

758,262

758,262

Ending Balance (Shares) at Sep. 30, 2012

'

'

253,299

261,246

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2012

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Employee related equity activity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net income

129,680

146,629

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other comprehensive income, net

3,384

3,384

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012

8,389,322

8,468,426

'

26,125

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ending Balance (Shares) at Sep. 30, 2012

'

'

'

261,246

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012

8,488,290

8,531,082

710,130

26,125

83,531

470,454

7,066,023

7,384,828

-21,069

-115,449

-115,449

765,124

765,124

Beginning Balance, (Shares) at Dec. 31, 2012

'

'

253,348

261,246

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Employee related equity activity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amortization of share-based compensation

33,471

'

'

'

33,471

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issuance of share-based compensation shares

17

'

1,851

'

-1,834

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issuance of share-based compensation shares, Shares

'

'

659

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Exercise of stock options

4,200

'

440

'

3,760

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Exercise of stock options, Shares

'

'

158

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Tax benefit of employee stock transactions

-1,470

'

'

'

-1,470

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restricted shares forfeited or repurchased for taxes

-7,558

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-7,558

'

'

'

'

Restricted shares forfeited or repurchased for taxes, Shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net income

661,498

728,880

'

'

'

'

608,637

676,019

'

'

'

52,861

52,861

Capital contributions by parent- share-based compensation

'

18,604

'

'

'

18,604

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Distributions to parent

'

-187,610

'

'

'

'

'

-187,610

'

'

'

'

'

Dividends declared

-256,770

'

'

'

'

'

-256,770

'

'

'

'

'

'

Dividends paid to joint venture partner

-69,728

-69,728

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-69,728

-69,728

Other comprehensive income, net

4,866

4,866

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4,866

4,866

'

'

Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013

8,856,816

9,026,094

712,421

26,125

117,458

489,058

7,417,890

7,873,237

-28,627

-110,583

-110,583

748,257

748,257

Ending Balance (Shares) at Sep. 30, 2013

'

'

254,165

261,246

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2013

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Employee related equity activity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net income

300,459

329,356

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other comprehensive income, net

5,846

5,846

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013

$8,856,816

$9,026,094

'

$26,125

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ending Balance (Shares) at Sep. 30, 2013

'

'

'

261,246

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Organization_and_Basis_of_Pres

Organization and Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Organization and Basis of Presentation	'
	Note 1 — Organization and Basis of Presentation
	Noble Corporation, a Swiss corporation (“Noble-Swiss”), is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. We perform contract drilling services with our fleet of 79 mobile offshore drilling units located worldwide. We also own one floating production storage and offloading unit (“FPSO”). Currently, our fleet consists of 14 semisubmersibles, 14 drillships, 49 jackups and two submersibles. At September 30, 2013, we had nine units under construction as follows:
		•	three dynamically positioned, ultra-deepwater, harsh environment drillships; and
		•	six high-specification heavy-duty, harsh environment jackups.
	Subsequent to September 30, 2013, one newbuild drillship, the Noble Bob Douglas, and one newbuild jackup, the Noble Regina Allen, were delivered from the shipyard. These units are currently mobilizing, undergoing final commissioning and customer acceptance testing before commencing their respective contracts.
	Our fleet is deployed globally in oil and gas producing regions. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921.
	Noble Corporation, a Cayman Islands company (“Noble-Cayman”) is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble-Swiss, our publicly-traded parent company. Noble-Swiss’ principal asset is all of the shares of Noble-Cayman. Noble-Cayman has no public equity outstanding. The consolidated financial statements of Noble-Swiss include the accounts of Noble-Cayman, and Noble-Swiss conducts substantially all of its business through Noble-Cayman and its subsidiaries.
	The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Noble-Swiss and Noble-Cayman have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as they pertain to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods, on a basis consistent with the annual audited consolidated financial statements. All such adjustments are of a recurring nature. The December 31, 2012 Consolidated Balance Sheets presented herein are derived from the December 31, 2012 audited consolidated financial statements. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed by both Noble-Swiss and Noble-Cayman. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
	Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
	Migration to the United Kingdom
	In October 2013, our shareholders approved the previously announced proposed corporate reorganization transaction (the “Transaction”) of Noble-Swiss and the group of companies it controls. The Transaction will merge Noble-Swiss into a newly formed subsidiary incorporated under English law, Noble Corporation plc (“Noble-UK”), which will become our new holding company. The Transaction will effectively change the place of incorporation of our publicly traded parent company from Switzerland to the United Kingdom. Subject to the completion of certain closing requirements, the Transaction is expected to be completed in November 2013.
	In the Transaction, all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Noble-Swiss will be cancelled, and Noble-UK will issue, through an exchange agent, one ordinary share of Noble-UK in exchange for each ordinary share of Noble-Swiss. Upon completion of the Transaction, Noble-UK will own and continue to conduct the same businesses through the Noble group as Noble-Swiss conducted prior to the Transaction, except that Noble-UK will be the parent company of the Noble group of companies. Noble-UK is expected to become subject to SEC reporting requirements and its ordinary shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NE”, subject to notice of issuance.
	Proposed Spin-off Transaction
	In September 2013, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a plan to reorganize our business by means of a separation and spin-off of a newly formed subsidiary whose assets and liabilities would consist of most of our standard specification drilling units and related assets, liabilities and business (the “Separation”), resulting in the creation of two separate offshore drilling companies. The drilling units to be owned and operated by the new company include five drillships, three semisubmersibles, 34 jackups, two submersibles and one FPSO, as well as the Hibernia platform operations offshore Canada. We will continue to own and operate our high-specification assets with particular operating focus in deepwater and ultra-deepwater markets for drillships and semisubmersibles and harsh environment and high-specification markets for jackups. The Separation is subject to several conditions, including final board approval and shareholder approval.

Consolidated_Joint_Ventures

Consolidated Joint Ventures	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Consolidated Joint Ventures	'
	Note 2 — Consolidated Joint Ventures
	We maintain a 50 percent interest in two joint ventures, each with a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc. (“Shell”), that own and operate the two Bully-class drillships. We have determined that we are the primary beneficiary for accounting purposes. Accordingly, we consolidate the entities in our consolidated financial statements after eliminating intercompany transactions. Shell’s equity interests are presented as noncontrolling interests on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	In April 2011, the Bully joint venture partners entered into capital contribution agreements whereby capital calls up to a total of $360 million could be made for funds needed to complete the construction of the drillships. All contributions under these agreements have been made, with the final contribution made in the first quarter of 2012.
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Bully joint venture partners approved and paid dividends totaling $139 million.
	The combined carrying amount of the Bully-class drillships at both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 totaled $1.4 billion. These assets were primarily funded through partner equity contributions. During 2012, these rigs commenced operations. Operational results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Operating revenues	$	94,847	$	78,447	$	272,620	$	162,892
	Net income	$	36,488	$	28,679	$	103,123	$	52,152

Share_Data

Share Data	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Share Data	'
	Note 3 — Share Data
	Share capital
	The following table details Noble-Swiss’ share capital as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Shares outstanding and trading		253,388			252,759
	Treasury shares		777			589
	Total shares outstanding		254,165			253,348
	Treasury shares held for share-based compensation plans		11,985			12,802
	Total shares authorized for issuance		266,150			266,150
	Par value per share (in Swiss Francs)		3.15			3.15
	Repurchased treasury shares are recorded at cost, and relate to shares surrendered by employees for taxes payable upon the vesting of restricted stock.
	Our Board of Directors may increase Noble-Swiss’ share capital through the issuance of up to 133.1 million authorized shares without obtaining shareholder approval. The issuance of these authorized shares is subject to certain conditions regarding their use.
	In April 2012, our shareholders approved the payment of a dividend aggregating $0.52 per share, which was paid in four equal installments, with the final payment having been made in May 2013.
	In April 2013, our shareholders approved the payment of a dividend aggregating $1.00 per share to be paid in four equal installments, the first of which was paid in August 2013, with the remaining three installments currently scheduled for November 2013, February 2014 and May 2014, respectively. As of September 30, 2013, we had $192 million of dividends payable outstanding. Our Board of Directors has the authority to accelerate the payment of any installment, or portions thereof, at its sole discretion at any time prior to payment of the final installment.
	Earnings per share
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for Noble-Swiss:
		Three months ended						Nine months ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Allocation of net income
	Basic
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	281,957		$	114,774		$	608,637		$	394,767
	Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards		(3,393	)		(1,192	)		(7,191	)		(4,008	)
	Net income to common shareholders—basic	$	278,564		$	113,582		$	601,446		$	390,759
	Diluted
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	281,957		$	114,774		$	608,637		$	394,767
	Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards		(3,390	)		(1,190	)		(7,184	)		(4,002	)
	Net income to common shareholders—diluted	$	278,567		$	113,584		$	601,453		$	390,765
	Weighted average shares outstanding—basic		253,357			252,657			253,242			252,339
	Incremental shares issuable from assumed exercise of stock options		261			317			265			385
	Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted		253,618			252,974			253,507			252,724
	Weighted average unvested share-based payment awards		3,086			2,651			3,028			2,588
	Earnings per share
	Basic	$	1.1		$	0.45		$	2.37		$	1.55
	Diluted	$	1.1		$	0.45		$	2.37		$	1.55
	Only those items having a dilutive impact on our basic earnings per share are included in diluted earnings per share. For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, stock options representing approximately 0.9 million and 1.1 million shares, respectively, were excluded from the diluted earnings per share as they were not dilutive.

Receivables_from_Customers

Receivables from Customers	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Receivables from Customers	'
	Note 4 — Receivables from Customers
	At September 30, 2013, we had receivables of approximately $14 million related to the Noble Max Smith, which are being disputed by our customer, Pemex Exploracion y Produccion (“Pemex”). These receivables have been classified as long-term and are included in “Other assets” on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The disputed amounts relate to lost revenues for downtime that occurred after our rig was damaged when one of Pemex’s supply boats collided with our rig in 2010. In January 2012, we filed a lawsuit against Pemex in Mexican court seeking recovery of these amounts. While we can make no assurances as to the outcome of this dispute, we believe we are entitled to the disputed amounts.

Property_and_Equipment

Property and Equipment	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property and Equipment	'
	Note 5 — Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment, at cost, as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 consisted of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Drilling equipment and facilities	$	15,835,848	$	14,099,628
	Construction in progress		2,569,052		2,677,385
	Other		202,031		194,653
	Property and equipment, at cost	$	18,606,931	$	16,971,666
	Capital expenditures, including capitalized interest, totaled $1.7 billion and $1.2 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Interest is capitalized on construction-in-progress at the weighted average cost of debt outstanding during the period of construction. Capitalized interest was $31 million and $92 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, as compared to $31 million and $108 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Loss_on_Impairment

Loss on Impairment	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Loss on Impairment	'
	Note 6 — Loss on Impairment
	During the second quarter of 2012, we determined that our submersible rig fleet, consisting of two cold stacked rigs, was partially impaired due to the declining market outlook for drilling services for this rig type. We estimated the fair value of the rigs based on the salvage value of the rigs and a recent transaction involving a similar unit owned by a peer company (Level 2 fair value measurement). Based on these estimates, we recognized a charge of approximately $13 million in 2012. Also, during the second quarter of 2012, we determined that certain corporate assets were partially impaired due to a declining market for, and the potential disposal of, the assets. We estimated the fair value of the assets based on a signed letter of intent to sell the assets (Level 2 fair value measurement). Based on these estimates, we recognized a charge of approximately $5 million in 2012.
	During the third quarter of 2013, we recorded an additional impairment charge of approximately $4 million on our two cold stacked submersible rigs arising from the potential disposition of these assets to an unrelated third party.

Gain_on_Disposal_of_Assets_net

Gain on Disposal of Assets, net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Gain on Disposal of Assets, net	'
	Note 7 — Gain on Disposal of Assets, net
	During the third quarter of 2013, we completed the sale of the Noble Lewis Dugger for $61 million to an unrelated third party in Mexico. In connection with the sale, we recorded a pre-tax gain of approximately $36 million.

Gain_on_Contract_SettlementsEx

Gain on Contract Settlements/Extinguishments, net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Contractors [Abstract]	'
Gain on Contract Settlements/Extinguishments, net	'
	Note 8 – Gain on Contract Settlements/Extinguishments, net
	During the third quarter of 2013, we received $45 million related to the settlement of all claims against the former shareholders of FDR Holdings, Ltd., which we acquired in July 2010, relating to alleged breaches of various representations and warranties contained in the purchase agreement.
	During the second quarter of 2012, we received approximately $5 million from the settlement of a claim relating to the Noble David Tinsley, which had experienced a “punch-through” while being positioned on location in 2009. We had originally recorded a $17 million charge during 2009 related to this incident. Additionally, during the second quarter of 2012, we settled an action against certain vendors for damages sustained during Hurricane Ike. We recognized a net gain of approximately $28 million related to this settlement. We also resolved all outstanding matters with Anadarko Petroleum Company in the second quarter of 2012 related to the previously disclosed force majeure action, Hurricane Ike matters and receivables relating to the Noble Amos Runner.

Debt

Debt	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt	'
	Note 9 — Debt
	Total debt consisted of the following at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Senior unsecured notes:
	5.875% Senior Notes due 2013	$	—	$	299,985
	7.375% Senior Notes due 2014		249,922		249,799
	3.45% Senior Notes due 2015		350,000		350,000
	3.05% Senior Notes due 2016		299,963		299,952
	2.50% Senior Notes due 2017		299,877		299,852
	7.50% Senior Notes due 2019		201,695		201,695
	4.90% Senior Notes due 2020		498,991		498,900
	4.625% Senior Notes due 2021		399,563		399,527
	3.95% Senior Notes due 2022		399,157		399,095
	6.20% Senior Notes due 2040		399,892		399,891
	6.05% Senior Notes due 2041		397,638		397,613
	5.25% Senior Notes due 2042		498,276		498,257
	Total senior unsecured notes		3,994,974		4,294,566
	Commercial paper program		1,312,864		339,809
	Total long-term debt	$	5,307,838	$	4,634,375
	Credit Facilities and Commercial Paper Program
	We currently have three separate credit facilities with an aggregate maximum available capacity of $2.9 billion (together, the “Credit Facilities”), which includes a $600 million 364-day unsecured revolving credit agreement we entered into in August 2013. In addition, we have an $800 million credit facility maturing in 2015 and a $1.5 billion credit facility maturing in 2017. We also established a commercial paper program in September 2012, which allows us to issue up to $1.8 billion in unsecured commercial paper notes. Amounts issued under the commercial paper program are supported by our Credit Facilities and, therefore, are classified as long-term on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Our total debt related to the Credit Facilities and commercial paper program was $1.3 billion at September 30, 2013 as compared to $340 million at December 31, 2012. At September 30, 2013, we had approximately $1.6 billion of available capacity under the Credit Facilities.
	The Credit Facilities provide us with the ability to issue up to $375 million in letters of credit in the aggregate. The issuance of letters of credit does not increase our borrowings outstanding under the Credit Facilities, but it does reduce the amount available. At September 30, 2013, we had no letters of credit issued under the Credit Facilities.
	Senior Unsecured Notes
	In February 2012, we issued, through our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Noble Holding International Limited (“NHIL”), $1.2 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes in three separate tranches, comprising $300 million of 2.50% Senior Notes due 2017, $400 million of 3.95% Senior Notes due 2022, and $500 million of 5.25% Senior Notes due 2042. The weighted average coupon of all three tranches is 4.13%. The net proceeds of approximately $1.19 billion, after expenses, were primarily used to repay the then outstanding balance on our Credit Facilities.
	Our 5.875% Senior Notes matured during the second quarter of 2013. We used proceeds from our commercial paper program to repay the $300 million outstanding balance.
	Covenants
	The Credit Facilities are guaranteed by our indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, NHIL and Noble Drilling Corporation (“NDC”). The covenants and events of default under the Credit Facilities are substantially similar, and each facility contains a covenant that limits our ratio of debt to total tangible capitalization, as defined in the Credit Facilities, to 0.60. At September 30, 2013, our ratio of debt to total tangible capitalization was approximately 0.37. We were in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Facilities as of September 30, 2013.
	In addition to the covenants from the Credit Facilities noted above, the indentures governing our outstanding senior unsecured notes contain covenants that place restrictions on certain merger and consolidation transactions, unless we are the surviving entity or the other party assumes the obligations under the indenture, and on the ability to sell or transfer all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, there are restrictions on incurring or assuming certain liens and sale and lease-back transactions. At September 30, 2013, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants. We continually monitor compliance with the covenants under our notes and, based on our expectations for 2013, expect to remain in compliance during the year.
	Fair Value of Debt
	Fair value represents the amount at which an instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties. The estimated fair value of our senior notes was based on the quoted market prices for similar issues or on the current rates offered to us for debt of similar remaining maturities (Level 2 measurement).
	The following table presents the estimated fair value of our long-term debt as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively:
		September 30, 2013				December 31, 2012
		Carrying		Estimated		Carrying		Estimated
		Value		Fair Value		Value		Fair Value
	Senior unsecured notes:
	5.875% Senior Notes due 2013	$	—	$	—	$	299,985	$	305,594
	7.375% Senior Notes due 2014		249,922		257,442		249,799		269,008
	3.45% Senior Notes due 2015		350,000		363,551		350,000		368,824
	3.05% Senior Notes due 2016		299,963		309,374		299,952		316,268
	2.50% Senior Notes due 2017		299,877		301,995		299,852		309,846
	7.50% Senior Notes due 2019		201,695		235,014		201,695		249,358
	4.90% Senior Notes due 2020		498,991		523,400		498,900		562,530
	4.625% Senior Notes due 2021		399,563		407,416		399,527		442,776
	3.95% Senior Notes due 2022		399,157		385,207		399,095		422,227
	6.20% Senior Notes due 2040		399,892		407,789		399,891		477,327
	6.05% Senior Notes due 2041		397,638		400,740		397,613		468,256
	5.25% Senior Notes due 2042		498,276		451,050		498,257		533,422
	Total senior unsecured notes		3,994,974		4,042,978		4,294,566		4,725,436
	Commercial paper program		1,312,864		1,312,864		339,809		339,809
	Total long-term debt	$	5,307,838	$	5,355,842	$	4,634,375	$	5,065,245

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Note 10 — Income Taxes
	At December 31, 2012, the reserves for uncertain tax positions totaled $125 million (net of related tax benefits of $10 million). At September 30, 2013, the reserves for uncertain tax positions totaled $138 million (net of related tax benefits of $2 million), and if not utilized, would reduce the provision for income taxes by $138 million.
	It is possible that our existing liabilities related to our reserves for uncertain tax positions may change in the next 12 months primarily due to the completion of open audits or the expiration of statutes of limitation. However, we cannot reasonably estimate a range of changes in our existing liabilities due to various uncertainties, such as the unresolved nature of various audits.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Employee Benefit Plans	'
	Note 11 — Employee Benefit Plans
	Pension costs include the following components:
		Three Months Ended September 30,
		2013						2012
		Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.
	Service cost	$	1,361		$	2,681		$	1,072		$	2,431
	Interest cost		1,259			2,263			1,317			2,196
	Return on plan assets		(1,443	)		(3,275	)		(1,313	)		(2,793	)
	Amortization of prior service cost		—			57			—			57
	Recognized net actuarial loss		426			1,910			199			1,885
	Net pension expense	$	1,603		$	3,636		$	1,275		$	3,776
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013						2012
		Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.
	Service cost	$	4,089		$	8,043		$	3,306		$	7,237
	Interest cost		3,793			6,787			4,025			6,556
	Return on plan assets		(4,351	)		(9,827	)		(4,001	)		(8,379	)
	Amortization of prior service cost		—			171			—			171
	Recognized net actuarial loss		1,226			5,730			600			5,563
	Net pension expense	$	4,757		$	10,904		$	3,930		$	11,148
	During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, we made contributions to our pension plans totaling $5 million and $13 million, respectively.

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities	'
	Note 12 — Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
	We periodically enter into derivative instruments to manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. We have documented policies and procedures to monitor and control the use of derivative instruments. We do not engage in derivative transactions for speculative or trading purposes, nor are we a party to leveraged derivatives.
	For foreign currency forward contracts, hedge effectiveness is evaluated at inception based on the matching of critical terms between derivative contracts and the hedged item. Any change in fair value resulting from ineffectiveness is recognized immediately in earnings.
	Cash Flow Hedges
	Our North Sea and Brazil operations have a significant amount of their cash operating expenses payable in local currencies. To limit the potential risk of currency fluctuations, we periodically enter into forward contracts, all of which have a maturity of less than 12 months. The forward contracts maturing during the remainder of 2013 represent approximately 59 percent of these forecasted local currency requirements. The notional amount of the forward contracts outstanding, expressed in U.S. Dollars, was approximately $42 million at September 30, 2013. Total unrealized gain related to these forward contracts was approximately $0.6 million as of September 30, 2013 and was recorded as part of “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” (“AOCL”).
	The balance of the net unrealized gain related to our cash flow hedges included in AOCL and related activity is as follows:
		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2013				2012				2013		2012
	Net unrealized loss at beginning of period	$	(4,731	)		$	—			$	—	$	(3,061	)
	Activity during period:
	Settlement of foreign currency forward contracts during the period		2,849				—				—		3,061
	Net unrealized gain on outstanding foreign currency forward contracts		2,471				—				589		—
	Net unrealized gain at end of period	$	589			$	—			$	589	$	—
	Financial Statement Presentation
	The following tables, together with Note 13, summarize the financial statement presentation and fair value of our derivative positions as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
				Estimated fair value
		Balance sheet classification		September 30,				December 31,
				2013				2012
	Asset derivatives
	Cash flow hedges
	Short-term foreign currency forward contracts	Other current assets		$	1,927			$	—
	Liability derivatives
	Cash flow hedges
	Short-term foreign currency forward contracts	Other current liabilities		$	1,338			$	—
	To supplement the fair value disclosures in Note 13, the following summarizes the recognized gains and losses of cash flow hedges through AOCL or through “other income” for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
		Gain/(loss) recognized								Gain/(loss) reclassified					Gain/(loss) recognized
		through AOCL								from AOCL to					through “other
										“other income”					income”
		2013				2012				2013		2012			2013		2012
	Cash flow hedges
	Foreign currency forward contracts	$	2,471			$	—			$	2,849	$	—		$	—	$	—
	To supplement the fair value disclosures in Note 13, the following summarizes the recognized gains and losses of cash flow hedges through AOCL or through “other income” for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
		Gain/(loss) recognized								Gain/(loss) reclassified					Gain/(loss) recognized
		through AOCL								from AOCL to					through “other
										“other income”					income”
		2013				2012				2013		2012			2013		2012
	Cash flow hedges
	Foreign currency forward contracts	$	(2,525	)		$	—			$	3,114	$	3,061		$	—	$	—

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	Note 13 — Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The following table presents the carrying amount and estimated fair value of our financial instruments recognized at fair value on a recurring basis:
		September 30, 2013
				Estimated Fair Value Measurements
				Quoted		Significant
				Prices in		Other		Significant
				Active		Observable		Unobservable
		Carrying		Markets		Inputs		Inputs
		Amount		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets—
	Marketable securities	$	7,072	$	7,072	$	—	$	—
	Foreign currency forward contracts		1,927		—		1,927		—
	Liabilities—
	Foreign currency forward contracts	$	1,338	$	—	$	1,338	$	—
		December 31, 2012
				Estimated Fair Value Measurements
				Quoted		Significant
				Prices in		Other		Significant
				Active		Observable		Unobservable
		Carrying		Markets		Inputs		Inputs
		Amount		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets—
	Marketable securities	$	5,816	$	5,816	$	—	$	—
	The foreign currency instruments have been valued using actively quoted prices and quotes obtained from the counterparties to the derivative instruments. Our cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are by their nature short-term. As a result, the carrying values included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate fair value.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
	Note 14 — Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	The following tables set forth the changes in AOCL by component for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013. All amounts within the tables are shown net of tax.
			Three months ended September 30, 2013
			Gain / (Loss)			Defined
			on			Benefit			Foreign
			Cash Flow			Pension			Currency
			Hedges(1)			Items(2)			Items			Total
	Balance at beginning of period		$	(4,731	)	$	(91,797	)	$	(19,901	)	$	(116,429	)
	Activity during period:
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications			2,471			—			(1,135	)		1,336
	Amounts reclassified from AOCL			2,849			1,661			—			4,510
	Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)			5,320			1,661			(1,135	)		5,846
	Balance at end of period		$	589		$	(90,136	)	$	(21,036	)	$	(110,583	)
			Nine months ended September 30, 2013
						Defined
			Gain on			Benefit			Foreign
			Cash Flow			Pension			Currency
			Hedges(1)			Items(2)			Items			Total
	Balance at beginning of period		$	—		$	(95,071	)	$	(20,378	)	$	(115,449	)
	Activity during period:
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications			589			—			(658	)		(69	)
	Amounts reclassified from AOCL			—			4,935			—			4,935
	Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)			589			4,935			(658	)		4,866
	Balance at end of period		$	589		$	(90,136	)	$	(21,036	)	$	(110,583	)
	-1	Gain / (loss) on cash flow hedges are related to our foreign currency forward contracts. Reclassifications from AOCL are recognized through “other income” on our Consolidated Statement of Income. See Note 12 for additional information.
	-2	Defined benefit pension items relate to actuarial losses and the amortization of prior service costs. Reclassifications from AOCL are recognized as expense on our Consolidated Statement of Income through either “contract drilling services” or “general and administrative”. See Note 11 for additional information

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Note 15 — Commitments and Contingencies
	The Noble Homer Ferrington was under contract with a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation (“ExxonMobil”), which entered into an assignment agreement with BP for a two-well farmout of the rig in Libya after successfully drilling two wells with the rig for ExxonMobil. In August 2010, BP attempted to terminate the assignment agreement claiming that the rig was not in the required condition, and ExxonMobil informed us that we must look to BP for payment of the dayrate during the assignment period. In August 2010, we initiated arbitration proceedings under the drilling contract against both BP and ExxonMobil. We do not believe BP had the right to terminate the assignment agreement and believe the rig was ready to operate under the drilling contract. The rig operated under farmout arrangements from March 2011 to the conclusion of the contract in the second quarter of 2012. We believe we are owed dayrate by either or both of these clients. The operating dayrate was approximately $538,000 per day for the work in Libya. The arbitration process is proceeding, and we intend to vigorously pursue these claims. As a result of the uncertainties noted above, we have not recognized any revenue during the assignment period.
	In August 2007, we entered into a drilling contract with Marathon Oil Company (“Marathon”) for the Noble Jim Day to operate in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. On January 1, 2011, Marathon provided notice that it was terminating the contract. Marathon’s stated reason for the termination was that the rig had not been accepted by Marathon by December 31, 2010, and Marathon also maintained that a force majeure condition existed under the contract. The contract contained a provision allowing Marathon to terminate if the rig had not commenced operations by December 31, 2010. We believe the rig was ready to commence operations and should have been accepted by Marathon. The contract term was for four years. No revenue has been recognized under this contract. We have contracted the rig for much of the original term with other customers. In March 2011, we filed suit in Texas State District Court against Marathon seeking damages for its actions. We are in advanced settlement discussions with Marathon and have postponed the trial date. We cannot predict the outcome of this lawsuit, including any settlement discussions.
	In November 2012, the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska conducted an inspection of our drillship, the Noble Discoverer, and cited a number of deficiencies to be remediated, including issues relating to the main propulsion and safety management systems. We initiated a comprehensive effort to address the deficiencies identified by the Coast Guard and commenced an ongoing dialogue with the agency to keep it apprised of our progress. We began an internal investigation in conjunction with the Coast Guard inspection, and the Coast Guard then began its own investigation. We reported certain potential violations of applicable law to the Coast Guard identified as a result of our internal investigation. These related to what we believe were certain unauthorized disposals of collected deck and sea water from the Noble Discoverer, collected, treated deck water from the Kulluk and potential record-keeping issues with the oil record books for the Noble Discoverer, Kulluk and other rigs, and with the garbage log for the Kulluk. The Coast Guard referred the Noble Discoverer and Kulluk matters to the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) for further investigation. We are cooperating with the DOJ and Coast Guard in connection with their investigation, and are maintaining a dialogue with the DOJ. We cannot predict when the DOJ and Coast Guard will conclude the investigation and cannot provide any assurances with respect to the outcome. If the DOJ or Coast Guard determines that violations of applicable law have occurred, they could seek civil and criminal sanctions, including monetary penalties and operational sanctions, against us and/or certain of our employees, as well as oversight of our operational compliance programs. Based on information obtained to date, we believe it is probable that we will have to pay some amount in fines and penalties to resolve this matter. However, at this time we cannot appropriately estimate the potential liability that may result and we have not made any accrual in our consolidated financial statements at September 30, 2013 related to the matter.
	We are from time to time a party to various lawsuits that are incidental to our operations in which the claimants seek an unspecified amount of monetary damages for personal injury, including injuries purportedly resulting from exposure to asbestos on drilling rigs and associated facilities. At September 30, 2013, there were 33 asbestos related lawsuits in which we are one of many defendants. These lawsuits have been filed in the United States in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We intend to vigorously defend against the litigation. We do not believe the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
	We are a defendant in certain claims and litigation arising out of operations in the ordinary course of business, including certain disputes with customers over receivables discussed in Note 4, the resolution of which, in the opinion of management, will not be material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. There is inherent risk in any litigation or dispute and no assurance can be given as to the outcome of these claims.
	We operate in a number of countries throughout the world and our tax returns filed in those jurisdictions are subject to review and examination by tax authorities within those jurisdictions. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has completed its examination of our tax reporting for the taxable year ended December 31, 2008. In June 2013, the IRS examination team notified us that they were no longer proposing any adjustments with respect to our tax reporting for the taxable year ended December 31, 2008. We are due a refund for the 2008 tax year, and our refund claim is currently under review. The IRS began its examination of our tax reporting for the taxable year ended December 31, 2009. We believe that we have accurately reported all amounts in our 2009 tax returns. Furthermore, we are currently contesting several non-U.S. tax assessments and may contest future assessments. We believe the ultimate resolution of the outstanding assessments, for which we have not made any accrual, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. We recognize uncertain tax positions that we believe have a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being sustained. We cannot predict or provide assurance as to the ultimate outcome of any existing or future assessments.
	During the second quarter of 2013, we reached an agreement with the Mexican tax authorities resolving certain previously disclosed tax assessments. This settlement removes potential contingent tax exposure of $502 million in Mexico for periods prior to 2007, which includes the assessments for years 2002 through 2005 of approximately $348 million, as well as settlement for 2006. The settlement of these assessments did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
	Audit claims of approximately $300 million attributable to income, customs and other business taxes have been assessed against us. We have contested, or intend to contest, these assessments, including through litigation if necessary, and we believe the ultimate resolution, for which we have not made any accrual, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. Tax authorities may issue additional assessments or pursue legal actions as a result of tax audits and we cannot predict or provide assurance as to the ultimate outcome of such assessments and legal actions.
	We maintain certain insurance coverage against specified marine perils, which includes physical damage and loss of hire. Damage caused by hurricanes has negatively impacted the energy insurance market, resulting in more restrictive and expensive coverage for U.S. named windstorm perils. Accordingly, we have elected to significantly reduce the named windstorm insurance on our rigs operating in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Presently, we insure the Noble Jim Thompson, Noble Amos Runner and Noble Driller for “total loss only” when caused by a named windstorm. For the Noble Bully I, our customer assumes the risk of loss due to a named windstorm event, pursuant to the terms of the drilling contract, through the purchase of insurance coverage (provided that we are responsible for any deductible under such policy) or, at its option, the assumption of the risk of loss up to the insured value in lieu of the purchase of such insurance. The remaining rigs in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico are self-insured for named windstorm perils. Our remaining rigs, including those in the Mexico portion of the Gulf of Mexico, continue to be covered by commercial insurance for windstorm damage. In addition, we maintain physical damage deductibles on our rigs ranging from $15 million to $25 million per occurrence, depending on location. The loss of hire coverage applies only to our rigs operating under contract with a dayrate equal to or greater than $200,000 a day and is subject to a 45-day waiting period for each unit and each occurrence.
	Although we maintain insurance in the geographic areas in which we operate, pollution, reservoir damage and environmental risks generally are not fully insurable. Our insurance policies and contractual rights to indemnity may not adequately cover our losses or may have exclusions of coverage for some losses. We do not have insurance coverage or rights to indemnity for all risks, including loss of hire insurance on most of the rigs in our fleet. Uninsured exposures may include expatriate activities prohibited by U.S. laws and regulations, radiation hazards, certain loss or damage to property on board our rigs and losses relating to shore-based terrorist acts or strikes. If a significant accident or other event occurs and is not fully covered by insurance or contractual indemnity, it could materially adversely affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Additionally, there can be no assurance that those parties with contractual obligations to indemnify us will necessarily be financially able to indemnify us against all these risks.
	We carry protection and indemnity insurance covering marine third party liability exposures, which also includes coverage for employer’s liability resulting from personal injury to our offshore drilling crews. Our protection and indemnity policy currently has a standard deductible of $10 million per occurrence, with maximum liability coverage of $750 million.
	In connection with our capital expenditure program, we had outstanding commitments, including shipyard and purchase commitments of approximately $2.6 billion at September 30, 2013.
	We have entered into agreements with certain of our executive officers, as well as certain other employees. These agreements become effective upon a change of control of Noble-Swiss (within the meaning set forth in the agreements) or a termination of employment in connection with or in anticipation of a change of control, and remain effective for three years thereafter. These agreements provide for compensation and certain other benefits under such circumstances.
	Nigerian Operations
	During the fourth quarter of 2007, our Nigerian subsidiary received letters from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (“NIMASA”) seeking to collect a 2 percent surcharge on contract amounts under contracts performed by “vessels,” within the meaning of Nigeria’s cabotage laws, engaged in the Nigerian coastal shipping trade. Although we do not believe that these laws apply to our ownership of drilling units, NIMASA is seeking to apply a provision of the Nigerian cabotage laws (which became effective on May 1, 2004) to our offshore drilling units by considering these units to be “vessels” within the meaning of those laws and therefore subject to the surcharge, which is imposed only upon “vessels.” Our offshore drilling units are not engaged in the Nigerian coastal shipping trade and are not in our view “vessels” within the meaning of Nigeria’s cabotage laws. In January 2008, we filed an originating summons against NIMASA and the Minister of Transportation in the Federal High Court of Lagos, Nigeria seeking, among other things, a declaration that our drilling operations do not constitute “coastal trade” or “cabotage” within the meaning of Nigeria’s cabotage laws and that our offshore drilling units are not “vessels” within the meaning of those laws. In February 2009, NIMASA filed suit against us in the Federal High Court of Nigeria seeking collection of the cabotage surcharge. In August 2009, the court issued a favorable ruling in response to our originating summons stating that drilling operations do not fall within the cabotage laws and that drilling rigs are not vessels for purposes of those laws. The court also issued an injunction against the defendants prohibiting their interference with our drilling rigs or drilling operations. NIMASA has appealed the court’s ruling, although the court dismissed NIMASA’s lawsuit filed against us in February 2009. We intend to take all further appropriate legal action to resist the application of Nigeria’s cabotage laws to our drilling units. The outcome of any such legal action and the extent to which we may ultimately be responsible for the surcharge is uncertain. If it is ultimately determined that offshore drilling units constitute vessels within the meaning of the Nigerian cabotage laws, we may be required to pay the surcharge and comply with other aspects of the Nigerian cabotage laws, which could adversely affect our operations in Nigerian waters and require us to incur additional costs of compliance.
	NIMASA had previously informed the Nigerian Content Division of its position that we were not in compliance with the cabotage laws. The Nigerian Content Division makes determinations of companies’ compliance with applicable local content regulations for purposes of government contracting, including contracting for services in connection with oil and gas concessions where the Nigerian national oil company is a partner. The Nigerian Content Division had previously barred us from participating in new tenders as a result of NIMASA’s allegations, although the Division reversed its actions based on the favorable Federal High Court ruling. However, no assurance can be given with respect to our ability to bid for future work in Nigeria until our dispute with NIMASA is resolved.
	Under the Nigerian Industrial Training Fund Act of 2004, as amended (the “Act”), Nigerian companies with five or more employees must contribute annually 1 percent of their payroll to the Industrial Training Fund (“ITF”) established under the Act to be used for the training of Nigerian nationals with a view towards generating a pool of indigenously trained manpower. We have not paid this amount on our expatriate workers employed by our non-Nigerian employment entity in the past as we did not believe the contribution obligation was applicable to them. In October 2012, we received a demand from the ITF for payments going back to 2004 and associated penalties in respect of these expatriate employees. In February 2013, the ITF filed suit seeking payment of these amounts. We do not believe that we owe the amount claimed. We are in discussions with the ITF to resolve the issue and do not believe the resolution of this matter will have a material adverse effect on our financial position or cash flows.

Segment_and_Related_Informatio

Segment and Related Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment and Related Information	'
	Note 16 — Segment and Related Information
	We report our contract drilling operations as a single reportable segment, Contract Drilling Services, which reflects how we manage our business, and the fact that all of our drilling fleet is dependent upon the worldwide oil industry. The mobile offshore drilling units comprising our offshore rig fleet operate in a single, global market for contract drilling services and are often redeployed globally due to changing demands of our customers, which consist largely of major non-U.S. and government owned/controlled oil and gas companies throughout the world. Our contract drilling services segment conducts contract drilling operations in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, West Africa, the Middle East, India, Asia and Australia.
	We evaluate the performance of our operating segment based on revenues from external customers and segment profit. Summarized financial information of our reportable segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 is shown in the following table. The “Other” column includes results of labor contract drilling services in Canada and Alaska, as well as corporate related items. The consolidated financial statements of Noble-Swiss include the accounts of Noble-Cayman, and Noble-Swiss conducts substantially all of its business through Noble-Cayman and its subsidiaries. As a result, the summarized financial information for Noble-Cayman is substantially the same as Noble-Swiss.
		Three Months Ended September 30,
		2013									2012
		Contract									Contract
		Drilling									Drilling
		Services			Other			Total			Services			Other			Total
	Revenues from external customers	$	1,069,986		$	8,895		$	1,078,881		$	860,315		$	23,717		$	884,032
	Depreciation and amortization		219,695			4,016			223,711			191,638			3,449			195,087
	Segment operating income/(loss)		382,475			(4,094	)		378,381			173,285			5,639			178,924
	Interest expense, net of amount capitalized		(317	)		(22,832	)		(23,149	)		(121	)		(25,514	)		(25,635	)
	Income tax (provision)/benefit		(59,854	)		4,024			(55,830	)		(28,307	)		3,145			(25,162	)
	Segment profit/(loss)		303,617			(21,660	)		281,957			130,983			(16,209	)		114,774
	Total assets (at end of period)		15,058,076			671,255			15,729,331			13,983,223			477,183			14,460,406
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013									2012
		Contract									Contract
		Drilling									Drilling
		Services			Other			Total			Services			Other			Total
	Revenues from external customers	$	3,022,966		$	44,275		$	3,067,241		$	2,519,930		$	60,715		$	2,580,645
	Depreciation and amortization		631,396			11,060			642,456			539,698			10,081			549,779
	Segment operating income		861,219			813			862,032			559,713			7,349			567,062
	Interest expense, net of amount capitalized		(539	)		(74,576	)		(75,115	)		(315	)		(56,468	)		(56,783	)
	Income tax (provision)/benefit		(138,695	)		11,689			(127,006	)		(102,005	)		8,898			(93,107	)
	Segment profit/(loss)		669,107			(60,470	)		608,637			434,561			(39,794	)		394,767
	Total assets (at end of period)		15,058,076			671,255			15,729,331			13,983,223			477,183			14,460,406

Accounting_Pronouncements

Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]	'
Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Note 17 — Accounting Pronouncements
	In February 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-02, which amends FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 220, “Comprehensive Income.” This amended guidance requires additional information about reclassification adjustments out of comprehensive income, including changes in comprehensive income balances by component and significant items reclassified out of comprehensive income. This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.
	In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-05, which amends ASC Topic 830, “Foreign Currency Matters.” This ASU provides guidance on foreign currency translation adjustments when a parent entity ceases to have a controlling interest on a previously consolidated subsidiary or group of assets. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2013. We are still evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, which amends ASC Topic 740, “Taxes.” This ASU provides guidance on the presentation of tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward or other tax credit carryforward exists. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2013. We are still evaluating what impact, if any, the adoption of this guidance will have on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or financial disclosures.

Net_Change_in_Other_Assets_and

Net Change in Other Assets and Liabilities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]	'
Net Change in Other Assets and Liabilities	'
	Note 18 — Net Change in Other Assets and Liabilities
	The net effect of changes in other assets and liabilities on cash flows from operating activities is as follows:
		Noble-Swiss						Noble-Cayman
		Nine months ended						Nine months ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Accounts receivable	$	(92,073	)	$	(163,051	)	$	(92,073	)	$	(163,051	)
	Other current assets		(50,738	)		(58,303	)		(49,791	)		(59,764	)
	Other assets		(8,129	)		(25,543	)		(8,133	)		(25,546	)
	Accounts payable		9,357			29,470			7,830			29,353
	Other current liabilities		4,042			76,035			4,702			79,436
	Other liabilities		35,231			70,382			35,227			64,215
		$	(102,310	)	$	(71,010	)	$	(102,238	)	$	(75,357	)

Guarantees_of_Registered_Secur

Guarantees of Registered Securities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Guarantees of Registered Securities	'
	Note 19 — Guarantees of Registered Securities
	Guarantees of Registered Securities
	Noble-Cayman, or one or more subsidiaries of Noble-Cayman, are a co-issuer or guarantor or otherwise obligated as of September 30, 2013 as follows:
		Issuer
	Notes	(Co-Issuer(s))		Guarantor(s)
	$250 million 7.375% Senior Notes due 2014	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$350 million 3.45% Senior Notes due 2015	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$300 million 3.05% Senior Notes due 2016	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$300 million 2.50% Senior Notes due 2017	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$202 million 7.50% Senior Notes due 2019	NDC;		Noble-Cayman;
		Noble Drilling		Noble Holding (U.S.)
		Services 6 LLC (“NDS6”)		Corporation (“NHC”);
				Noble Drilling
				Holding LLC (“NDH”)
	$500 million 4.90% Senior Notes due 2020	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$400 million 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$400 million 3.95% Senior Notes due 2022	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$400 million 6.20% Senior Notes due 2040	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$400 million 6.05% Senior Notes due 2041	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$500 million 5.25% Senior Notes due 2042	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	The following consolidating financial statements of Noble-Cayman, NHC and NDH combined, NDC, NHIL, NDS6 and all other subsidiaries present investments in both consolidated and unconsolidated affiliates using the equity method of accounting.
	Revision
	As part of our worldwide asset consolidation completed in 2009, NDC received a limited partnership interest in one of our Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble. This limited partnership interest has historically been included as a component of Total Shareholder Equity and income attributable to this limited partnership interest has been included in Net Income Attributable to Noble Corporation in the Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble column in the condensed consolidating financial statements.
	During the first quarter of 2013, we amended the presentation of this limited partnership interest in the Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble column to correctly present it as a noncontrolling interest and to record the income attributable to NDC as Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests. We also made appropriate adjustments to the Consolidating Adjustments column. We concluded these errors were not material individually or in the aggregate to any of the previously issued financial statements taken as a whole. The following chart presents the impact of this change in presentation in the Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble and Consolidating Adjustments columns on the historical Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet and Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income. The revisions below did not impact our Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows.
		Other Non-Guarantor
		Subsidiaries of Noble						Consolidating Adjustments
		As reported			As adjusted			As reported			As adjusted
	December 31, 2010
	Income statement- Twelve months ended
	Net income	$	1,023,782		$	1,023,782		$	(2,963,512	)	$	(2,963,512	)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(3	)		(41,889	)		—			41,886
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	1,023,779		$	981,893		$	(2,963,512	)	$	(2,921,626	)
	December 31, 2011
	Income statement- Twelve months ended
	Net income	$	634,128		$	634,128		$	(1,758,285	)	$	(1,758,285	)
	Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		7,273			(15,808	)		—			23,081
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	641,401		$	618,320		$	(1,758,285	)	$	(1,735,204	)
	Balance Sheet
	Total shareholder equity	$	9,853,129		$	9,483,809		$	(28,268,572	)	$	(27,899,252	)
	Noncontrolling interests		691,331			1,060,651			—			(369,320	)
	Total equity	$	10,544,460		$	10,544,460		$	(28,268,572	)	$	(28,268,572	)
	March 31, 2012
	Income statement- Three months ended
	Net income	$	173,657		$	173,657		$	(591,588	)	$	(591,588	)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		6,832			(1,196	)		—			8,028
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	180,489		$	172,461		$	(591,588	)	$	(583,560	)
	June 30, 2012
	Income statement- Three months ended
	Net income	$	253,086		$	253,086		$	(662,439	)	$	(662,439	)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(18,857	)		(29,201	)		—			10,344
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	234,229		$	223,885		$	(662,439	)	$	(652,095	)
	Income statement- Six months ended
	Net income	$	426,743		$	426,743		$	(1,254,027	)	$	(1,254,027	)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(12,025	)		(30,397	)		—			18,372
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	414,718		$	396,346		$	(1,254,027	)	$	(1,235,655	)
	September 30, 2012
	Income statement- Three months ended
	Net income	$	211,597		$	211,597		$	(569,368	)	$	(569,368	)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(14,906	)		(22,246	)		—			7,340
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	196,691		$	189,351		$	(569,368	)	$	(562,028	)
	Income statement- Nine months ended
	Net income	$	638,340		$	638,340		$	(1,823,395	)	$	(1,823,395	)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(26,931	)		(52,643	)		—			25,712
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	611,409		$	585,697		$	(1,823,395	)	$	(1,797,683	)
	Other Non-Guarantor
	Subsidiaries of Noble						Consolidating Adjustments
	As reported			As adjusted			As reported			As adjusted
December 31, 2012
Income statement- Twelve months ended
Net income	$	280,763		$	280,763		$	(1,891,202	)	$	(1,891,202	)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(33,793	)		(68,969	)		—			35,176
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	246,970		$	211,794		$	(1,891,202	)	$	(1,856,026	)
Balance Sheet
Total shareholder equity	$	9,913,839		$	9,509,343		$	(29,719,135	)	$	(29,314,639	)
Noncontrolling interests		765,124			1,169,620			—			(404,496	)
Total equity	$	10,678,963		$	10,678,963		$	(29,719,135	)	$	(29,719,135	)
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
September 30, 2013
(in thousands)
	Noble-			NHC and NDH												Subsidiaries			Consolidating
	Cayman			Combined			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			of Noble			Adjustments			Total
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	5		$	123		$	—		$	8		$	—		$	173,581		$	—		$	173,717
Accounts receivable		—			59,250			3,388			—			—			803,108			—			865,746
Taxes receivable		—			41,407			—			—			—			101,831			—			143,238
Prepaid expenses		—			749			8			—			—			48,572			—			49,329
Short-term notes receivable from affiliates		—			869,476			—			—			606,269			319,201			(1,794,946	)		—
Accounts receivable from affiliates		978,461			157,252			1,154,776			172,379			65,991			6,311,688			(8,840,547	)		—
Other current assets		—			4,418			196			—			—			129,390			—			134,004
Total current assets		978,466			1,132,675			1,158,368			172,387			672,260			7,887,371			(10,635,493	)		1,366,034
Property and equipment, at cost		—			2,518,896			77,253			—			—			15,973,482			—			18,569,631
Accumulated depreciation		—			(328,045	)		(61,592	)		—			—			(4,136,365	)		—			(4,526,002	)
Property and equipment, net		—			2,190,851			15,661			—			—			11,837,117			—			14,043,629
Notes receivable from affiliates		3,816,463			675,000			—			3,524,814			5,000			1,827,879			(9,849,156	)		—
Investments in affiliates		8,507,009			12,100,603			3,310,205			8,521,927			2,332,612			—			(34,772,356	)		—
Other assets		6,144			5,266			266			23,395			668			246,217			—			281,956
Total assets	$	13,308,082		$	16,104,395		$	4,484,500		$	12,242,523		$	3,010,540		$	21,798,584		$	(55,257,005	)	$	15,691,619
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities
Short-term notes payables from affiliates	$	78,016		$	127,036		$	114,149		$	—		$	750,000		$	725,745		$	(1,794,946	)	$	—
Accounts payable		—			4,338			537			—			—			311,058			—			315,933
Accrued payroll and related costs		—			8,085			8,865			—			—			112,220			—			129,170
Accounts payable to affiliates		1,061,152			4,998,213			3,908			236,008			77,296			2,463,970			(8,840,547	)		—
Taxes payable		—			13,434			9			—			—			116,628			—			130,071
Other current liabilities		496			5,270			240			17,128			630			178,658			—			202,422
Total current liabilities		1,139,664			5,156,376			127,708			253,136			827,926			3,908,279			(10,635,493	)		777,596
Long-term debt		1,312,864			—			—			3,793,279			201,695			—			—			5,307,838
Notes payable to affiliates		2,557,787			586,979			—			975,000			811,000			4,918,390			(9,849,156	)		—
Deferred income taxes		—			—			15,731			—			—			171,917			—			187,648
Other liabilities		19,930			23,106			—			—			—			349,407			—			392,443
Total liabilities		5,030,245			5,766,461			143,439			5,021,415			1,840,621			9,347,993			(20,484,649	)		6,665,525
Commitments and contingencies
Total shareholder equity		8,277,837			10,337,934			4,341,061			7,221,108			1,169,919			11,261,974			(34,331,996	)		8,277,837
Noncontrolling interest		—			—			—			—			—			1,188,617			(440,360	)		748,257
Total equity		8,277,837			10,337,934			4,341,061			7,221,108			1,169,919			12,450,591			(34,772,356	)		9,026,094
Total liabilities and equity	$	13,308,082		$	16,104,395		$	4,484,500		$	12,242,523		$	3,010,540		$	21,798,584		$	(55,257,005	)	$	15,691,619
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
December 31, 2012
(in thousands)
																Other
																Non-guarantor
	Noble-			NHC and NDH												Subsidiaries			Consolidating
	Cayman			Combined			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			of Noble			Adjustments			Total
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,003		$	904		$	—		$	2		$	—		$	275,466		$	—		$	277,375
Accounts receivable		—			14,885			3,335			—			—			725,453			—			743,673
Taxes receivable		—			8,341			—			—			—			103,969			—			112,310
Prepaid expenses		—			396			9			—			—			40,827			—			41,232
Short-term notes receivable from affiliates		—			119,476			—			—			586,769			252,138			(958,383	)		—
Accounts receivable from affiliates		664,375			140,014			1,015,204			526,483			38,895			5,855,066			(8,240,037	)		—
Other current assets		235			639			196			—			—			121,579			—			122,649
Total current assets		665,613			284,655			1,018,744			526,485			625,664			7,374,498			(9,198,420	)		1,297,239
Property and equipment, at cost		—			2,735,223			76,428			—			—			14,123,496			—			16,935,147
Accumulated depreciation		—			(283,028	)		(58,411	)		—			—			(3,597,079	)		—			(3,938,518	)
Property and equipment, net		—			2,452,195			18,017			—			—			10,526,417			—			12,996,629
Notes receivable from affiliates		3,816,463			1,206,000			—			3,524,814			479,107			2,171,875			(11,198,259	)		—
Investments in affiliates		7,770,066			9,170,923			3,386,879			7,413,361			1,977,906			—			(29,719,135	)		—
Other assets		5,798			320			543			25,895			759			243,243			—			276,558
Total assets	$	12,257,940		$	13,114,093		$	4,424,183		$	11,490,555		$	3,083,436		$	20,316,033		$	(50,115,814	)	$	14,570,426
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities
Short-term notes payables from affiliates	$	90,314		$	51,054		$	110,770		$	—		$	—		$	706,245		$	(958,383	)	$	—
Accounts payable		—			6,522			1,183			—			—			341,889			—			349,594
Accrued payroll and related costs		—			6,176			7,611			—			—			110,149			—			123,936
Accounts payable to affiliates		900,063			4,806,235			5,444			165,065			77,075			2,286,155			(8,240,037	)		—
Taxes payable		—			9,152			—			—			—			121,692			—			130,844
Other current liabilities		1,594			—			240			62,430			4,412			158,259			—			226,935
Total current liabilities		991,971			4,879,139			125,248			227,495			81,487			3,724,389			(9,198,420	)		831,309
Long-term debt		639,794			—			—			3,792,886			201,695			—			—			4,634,375
Notes payable to affiliates		2,840,287			648,475			—			975,000			1,342,000			5,392,497			(11,198,259	)		—
Deferred income taxes		—			—			15,731			—			—			210,314			—			226,045
Other liabilities		19,930			17,815			—			—			—			309,870			—			347,615
Total liabilities		4,491,982			5,545,429			140,979			4,995,381			1,625,182			9,637,070			(20,396,679	)		6,039,344
Commitments and contingencies
Total shareholder equity		7,765,958			7,568,664			4,283,204			6,495,174			1,458,254			9,509,343			(29,314,639	)		7,765,958
Noncontrolling interest		—			—			—			—			—			1,169,620			(404,496	)		765,124
Total equity		7,765,958			7,568,664			4,283,204			6,495,174			1,458,254			10,678,963			(29,719,135	)		8,531,082
Total liabilities and equity	$	12,257,940		$	13,114,093		$	4,424,183		$	11,490,555		$	3,083,436		$	20,316,033		$	(50,115,814	)	$	14,570,426
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
(in thousands)
																Other
																Non-guarantor
	Noble-			NHC and NDH												Subsidiaries			Consolidating
	Cayman			Combined			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			of Noble			Adjustments			Total
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services	$	—		$	67,831		$	5,126		$	—		$	—		$	991,221		$	(23,060	)	$	1,041,118
Reimbursables		—			1,796			—			—			—			27,446			—			29,242
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			8,493			—			8,493
Other		—			—			—			—			—			28			—			28
Total operating revenues		—			69,627			5,126			—			—			1,027,188			(23,060	)		1,078,881
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services		1,665			24,776			2,231			29,339			—			451,162			(23,060	)		486,113
Reimbursables		—			1,509			—			—			—			22,162			—			23,671
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			8,153			—			8,153
Depreciation and amortization		—			15,937			1,174			—			—			206,065			—			223,176
General and administrative		252			831			—			2,672			—			3,496			—			7,251
Loss on impairment		—			—			—			—			—			3,585			—			3,585
Gain on disposal of assets, net		—			—			—			—			—			(35,646	)		—			(35,646	)
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net		(45,000	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(45,000	)
Total operating costs and expenses		(43,083	)		43,053			3,405			32,011			—			658,977			(23,060	)		671,303
Operating income (loss)		43,083			26,574			1,721			(32,011	)		—			368,211			—			407,578
Other income (expense)
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax		301,048			189,686			40,619			330,102			(1,381,410	)		—			519,955			—
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized		(34,941	)		(5,604	)		(503	)		(32,646	)		(14,998	)		(1,548,475	)		1,614,018			(23,149	)
Interest income and other, net		1,664			20,354			(7	)		44,809			1,524,744			22,869			(1,614,018	)		415
Income before income taxes		310,854			231,010			41,830			310,254			128,336			(1,157,395	)		519,955			384,844
Income tax provision		—			(51,021	)		—			—			—			(4,467	)		—			(55,488	)
Net Income		310,854			179,989			41,830			310,254			128,336			(1,161,862	)		519,955			329,356
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			—			—			(34,004	)		15,502			(18,502	)
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation		310,854			179,989			41,830			310,254			128,336			(1,195,866	)		535,457			310,854
Other comprehensive income, net		5,846			—			—			—			—			5,846			(5,846	)		5,846
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	316,700		$	179,989		$	41,830		$	310,254		$	128,336		$	(1,190,020	)	$	529,611		$	316,700
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
(in thousands)
	Noble-			NHC and			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			Other			Consolidating			Total
	Cayman			NDH												Non-guarantor			Adjustments
				Combined												Subsidiaries of
																Noble
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services	$	—		$	201,101		$	15,135		$	—		$	—		$	2,795,505		$	(66,431	)	$	2,945,310
Reimbursables		—			5,117			—			—			—			73,559			—			78,676
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			43,150			—			43,150
Other		—			—			—			—			—			105			—			105
Total operating revenues		—			206,218			15,135			—			—			2,912,319			(66,431	)		3,067,241
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services		3,600			61,079			5,842			79,188			—			1,364,841			(66,431	)		1,448,119
Reimbursables		—			4,332			—			—			—			56,962			—			61,294
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			29,804			—			29,804
Depreciation and amortization		—			46,120			3,377			—			—			591,662			—			641,159
General and administrative		1,544			4,845			1			20,788			1			10,503			—			37,682
Loss on impairment		—			—			—			—			—			3,585			—			3,585
Gain on disposal of assets, net		—			—			—			—			—			(35,646	)		—			(35,646	)
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net		(45,000	)		—			—			—			—			(1,800	)		—			(46,800	)
Total operating costs and expenses		(39,856	)		116,376			9,220			99,976			1			2,019,911			(66,431	)		2,139,197
Operating income (loss)		39,856			89,842			5,915			(99,976	)		(1	)		892,408			—			928,044
Other income (expense)
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax		736,942			392,101			53,787			796,217			(1,177,957	)		—			(801,090	)		—
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized		(105,720	)		(18,604	)		(1,842	)		(99,911	)		(38,388	)		(1,595,902	)		1,785,252			(75,115	)
Interest income and other, net		4,941			42,205			(7	)		129,601			1,537,410			72,285			(1,785,252	)		1,183
Income before income taxes		676,019			505,544			57,853			725,931			321,064			(631,209	)		(801,090	)		854,112
Income tax provision		—			(41,278	)		—			—			—			(83,954	)		—			(125,232	)
Net Income		676,019			464,266			57,853			725,931			321,064			(715,163	)		(801,090	)		728,880
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			—			—			(88,725	)		35,864			(52,861	)
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation		676,019			464,266			57,853			725,931			321,064			(803,888	)		(765,226	)		676,019
Other comprehensive income, net		4,866			—			—			—			—			4,866			(4,866	)		4,866
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	680,885		$	464,266		$	57,853		$	725,931		$	321,064		$	(799,022	)	$	(770,092	)	$	680,885
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
(in thousands)
	Noble-			NHC and NDH			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			Other			Consolidating			Total
	Cayman			Combined												Non-guarantor			Adjustments
																Subsidiaries
																of Noble
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services	$	—		$	36,149		$	5,061		$	—		$	—		$	809,858		$	(17,856	)	$	833,212
Reimbursables		—			389			—			—			—			27,748			—			28,137
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			22,667			—			22,667
Other		—			—			—			—			—			16			—			16
Total operating revenues		—			36,538			5,061			—			—			860,289			(17,856	)		884,032
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services		1,355			13,948			1,919			19,636			—			425,223			(17,856	)		444,225
Reimbursables		—			216			—			—			—			20,831			—			21,047
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			12,991			—			12,991
Depreciation and amortization		—			15,500			1,181			—			—			177,914			—			194,595
General and administrative		426			1,447			—			9,700			1			3,913			—			15,487
Total operating costs and expenses		1,781			31,111			3,100			29,336			1			640,872			(17,856	)		688,345
Operating income (loss)		(1,781	)		5,427			1,961			(29,336	)		(1	)		219,417			—			195,687
Other income (expense)
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax		162,311			69,069			36,463			172,364			129,161			—			(569,368	)		—
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized		(30,496	)		(8,964	)		(852	)		(33,509	)		(11,832	)		(20,221	)		80,239			(25,635	)
Interest income and other, net		1,689			11,080			9			37,430			2,846			28,546			(80,239	)		1,361
Income before income taxes		131,723			76,612			37,581			146,949			120,174			227,742			(569,368	)		171,413
Income tax provision		—			(8,639	)		—			—			—			(16,145	)		—			(24,784	)
Net Income		131,723			67,973			37,581			146,949			120,174			211,597			(569,368	)		146,629
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			—			—			(22,246	)		7,340			(14,906	)
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation		131,723			67,973			37,581			146,949			120,174			189,351			(562,028	)		131,723
Other comprehensive income, net		3,384			—			—			—			—			3,384			(3,384	)		3,384
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	135,107		$	67,973		$	37,581		$	146,949		$	120,174		$	192,735		$	(565,412	)	$	135,107
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(in thousands)
	Noble-			NHC and NDH			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			Other			Consolidating			Total
	Cayman			Combined												Non-guarantor			Adjustments
																Subsidiaries
																of Noble
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services	$	—		$	117,488		$	14,941		$	—		$	—		$	2,352,618		$	(57,288	)	$	2,427,759
Reimbursables		—			6,199			—			—			—			87,891			—			94,090
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			58,538			—			58,538
Other		—			—			—			—			—			1,190			(932	)		258
Total operating revenues		—			123,687			14,941			—			—			2,500,237			(58,220	)		2,580,645
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services		3,794			42,642			5,529			56,048			—			1,231,176			(58,220	)		1,280,969
Reimbursables		—			5,641			—			—			—			70,977			—			76,618
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			34,070			—			34,070
Depreciation and amortization		—			45,577			3,278			—			—			499,416			—			548,271
General and administrative		1,237			4,258			—			28,137			1			11,331			—			44,964
Loss on impairment		—			—			—			—			—			18,345			—			18,345
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net		—			(4,869	)		—			—			—			(28,386	)		—			(33,255	)
Total operating costs and expenses		5,031			93,249			8,807			84,185			1			1,836,929			(58,220	)		1,969,982
Operating income (loss)		(5,031	)		30,438			6,134			(84,185	)		(1	)		663,308			—			610,663
Other income (expense)
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax		515,132			358,234			92,343			583,122			274,564			—			(1,823,395	)		—
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized		(76,396	)		(37,881	)		(3,040	)		(83,975	)		(31,020	)		(60,193	)		235,722			(56,783	)
Interest income and other, net		5,640			29,771			4			99,609			8,771			96,295			(235,722	)		4,368
Income before income taxes		439,345			380,562			95,441			514,571			252,314			699,410			(1,823,395	)		558,248
Income tax provision		—			(30,902	)		—			—			—			(61,070	)		—			(91,972	)
Net Income		439,345			349,660			95,441			514,571			252,314			638,340			(1,823,395	)		466,276
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			—			—			(52,643	)		25,712			(26,931	)
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation		439,345			349,660			95,441			514,571			252,314			585,697			(1,797,683	)		439,345
Other comprehensive income, net		2,244			—			—			—			—			2,244			(2,244	)		2,244
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	441,589		$	349,660		$	95,441		$	514,571		$	252,314		$	587,941		$	(1,799,927	)	$	441,589
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
(in thousands)
	Noble-			NHC and NDH			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			Other			Consolidating			Total
	Cayman			Combined												Non-guarantor			Adjustments
																Subsidiaries
																of Noble
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities	$	(79,174	)	$	46,344		$	8,285		$	(113,088	)	$	1,495,330		$	(144,753	)	$	—		$	1,212,944
Cash flows from investing activities
New construction and capital expenditures		—			(1,070,669	)		(559	)		—			—			(719,659	)		—			(1,790,887	)
Proceeds from disposal of assets		—			—			—			—			—			61,000			—			61,000
Notes receivable from affiliates		—			—			—			—			—			294,798			(294,798	)		—
Net cash from investing activities		—			(1,070,669	)		(559	)		—			—			(363,861	)		(294,798	)		(1,729,887	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities		973,055			—			—			—			—			—			—			973,055
Repayment of long-term debt		(300,000	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(300,000	)
Financing costs on credit facilities		(2,432	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(2,432	)
Dividends paid to joint venture partner		—			—			—			—			—			(69,728	)		—			(69,728	)
Distributions to parent company, net		(187,610	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(187,610	)
Advances (to) from affiliates		(110,039	)		1,023,544			(7,726	)		113,094			(1,495,330	)		476,457			—			—
Notes payable to affiliates		(294,798	)		—			—			—			—			—			294,798			—
Net cash from financing activities		78,176			1,023,544			(7,726	)		113,094			(1,495,330	)		406,729			294,798			413,285
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(998	)		(781	)		—			6			—			(101,885	)		—			(103,658	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		1,003			904			—			2			—			275,466			—			277,375
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	5		$	123		$	—		$	8		$	—		$	173,581		$	—		$	173,717
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(in thousands)
	Noble-			NHC and NDH			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			Other			Consolidating			Total
	Cayman			Combined												Non-guarantor			Adjustments
																Subsidiaries
																of Noble
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities	$	(59,614	)	$	7,563		$	8,989		$	(107,638	)	$	(25,942	)	$	1,133,499		$	—		$	956,857
Cash flows from investing activities
New construction and capital expenditures		—			(499,141	)		(1,040	)		—			—			(940,534	)		—			(1,440,715	)
Notes receivable from affiliates		—			—			—			(1,188,287	)		—			—			1,188,287			—
Net cash from investing activities		—			(499,141	)		(1,040	)		(1,188,287	)		—			(940,534	)		1,188,287			(1,440,715	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities		(630,000	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(630,000	)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net		—			—			—			1,186,636			—			—			—			1,186,636
Contributions from joint venture partner		—			—			—			—			—			40,000			—			40,000
Financing costs on credit facilities		(5,014	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(5,014	)
Distributions to parent company, net		(129,139	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(129,139	)
Advances (to) from affiliates		(364,666	)		491,628			(7,949	)		109,308			25,942			(254,263	)		—			—
Notes payable to affiliates		1,188,287			—			—			—			—			—			(1,188,287	)		—
Net cash from financing activities		59,468			491,628			(7,949	)		1,295,944			25,942			(214,263	)		(1,188,287	)		462,483
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(146	)		50			—			19			—			(21,298	)		—			(21,375	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		146			385			—			—			—			234,525			—			235,056
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	—		$	435		$	—		$	19		$	—		$	213,227		$	—		$	213,681

Consolidated_Joint_Ventures_Ta

Consolidated Joint Ventures (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Operational Results	'
	Operational results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 are as follows:
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
	Operating revenues	$	94,847	$	78,447	$	272,620	$	162,892
	Net income	$	36,488	$	28,679	$	103,123	$	52,152

Share_Data_Tables

Share Data (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Noble-Swiss' Share Capital	'
	The following table details Noble-Swiss’ share capital as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
		September 30,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Shares outstanding and trading		253,388			252,759
	Treasury shares		777			589
	Total shares outstanding		254,165			253,348
	Treasury shares held for share-based compensation plans		11,985			12,802
	Total shares authorized for issuance		266,150			266,150
	Par value per share (in Swiss Francs)		3.15			3.15
Computation of Basic and Diluted Earning Per Share for Noble-Swiss	'
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for Noble-Swiss:
		Three months ended						Nine months ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Allocation of net income
	Basic
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	281,957		$	114,774		$	608,637		$	394,767
	Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards		(3,393	)		(1,192	)		(7,191	)		(4,008	)
	Net income to common shareholders—basic	$	278,564		$	113,582		$	601,446		$	390,759
	Diluted
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	281,957		$	114,774		$	608,637		$	394,767
	Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards		(3,390	)		(1,190	)		(7,184	)		(4,002	)
	Net income to common shareholders—diluted	$	278,567		$	113,584		$	601,453		$	390,765
	Weighted average shares outstanding—basic		253,357			252,657			253,242			252,339
	Incremental shares issuable from assumed exercise of stock options		261			317			265			385
	Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted		253,618			252,974			253,507			252,724
	Weighted average unvested share-based payment awards		3,086			2,651			3,028			2,588
	Earnings per share
	Basic	$	1.1		$	0.45		$	2.37		$	1.55
	Diluted	$	1.1		$	0.45		$	2.37		$	1.55

Property_and_Equipment_Tables

Property and Equipment (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property and Equipment, at Cost	'
	Property and equipment, at cost, as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 consisted of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Drilling equipment and facilities	$	15,835,848	$	14,099,628
	Construction in progress		2,569,052		2,677,385
	Other		202,031		194,653
	Property and equipment, at cost	$	18,606,931	$	16,971,666

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Debt	'
	Total debt consisted of the following at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Senior unsecured notes:
	5.875% Senior Notes due 2013	$	—	$	299,985
	7.375% Senior Notes due 2014		249,922		249,799
	3.45% Senior Notes due 2015		350,000		350,000
	3.05% Senior Notes due 2016		299,963		299,952
	2.50% Senior Notes due 2017		299,877		299,852
	7.50% Senior Notes due 2019		201,695		201,695
	4.90% Senior Notes due 2020		498,991		498,900
	4.625% Senior Notes due 2021		399,563		399,527
	3.95% Senior Notes due 2022		399,157		399,095
	6.20% Senior Notes due 2040		399,892		399,891
	6.05% Senior Notes due 2041		397,638		397,613
	5.25% Senior Notes due 2042		498,276		498,257
	Total senior unsecured notes		3,994,974		4,294,566
	Commercial paper program		1,312,864		339,809
	Total long-term debt	$	5,307,838	$	4,634,375
Estimated Fair Value of Our Long-Term Debt	'
	The following table presents the estimated fair value of our long-term debt as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively:
		September 30, 2013				December 31, 2012
		Carrying		Estimated		Carrying		Estimated
		Value		Fair Value		Value		Fair Value
	Senior unsecured notes:
	5.875% Senior Notes due 2013	$	—	$	—	$	299,985	$	305,594
	7.375% Senior Notes due 2014		249,922		257,442		249,799		269,008
	3.45% Senior Notes due 2015		350,000		363,551		350,000		368,824
	3.05% Senior Notes due 2016		299,963		309,374		299,952		316,268
	2.50% Senior Notes due 2017		299,877		301,995		299,852		309,846
	7.50% Senior Notes due 2019		201,695		235,014		201,695		249,358
	4.90% Senior Notes due 2020		498,991		523,400		498,900		562,530
	4.625% Senior Notes due 2021		399,563		407,416		399,527		442,776
	3.95% Senior Notes due 2022		399,157		385,207		399,095		422,227
	6.20% Senior Notes due 2040		399,892		407,789		399,891		477,327
	6.05% Senior Notes due 2041		397,638		400,740		397,613		468,256
	5.25% Senior Notes due 2042		498,276		451,050		498,257		533,422
	Total senior unsecured notes		3,994,974		4,042,978		4,294,566		4,725,436
	Commercial paper program		1,312,864		1,312,864		339,809		339,809
	Total long-term debt	$	5,307,838	$	5,355,842	$	4,634,375	$	5,065,245

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Pension Costs	'
	Pension costs include the following components:
		Three Months Ended September 30,
		2013						2012
		Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.
	Service cost	$	1,361		$	2,681		$	1,072		$	2,431
	Interest cost		1,259			2,263			1,317			2,196
	Return on plan assets		(1,443	)		(3,275	)		(1,313	)		(2,793	)
	Amortization of prior service cost		—			57			—			57
	Recognized net actuarial loss		426			1,910			199			1,885
	Net pension expense	$	1,603		$	3,636		$	1,275		$	3,776
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013						2012
		Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.
	Service cost	$	4,089		$	8,043		$	3,306		$	7,237
	Interest cost		3,793			6,787			4,025			6,556
	Return on plan assets		(4,351	)		(9,827	)		(4,001	)		(8,379	)
	Amortization of prior service cost		—			171			—			171
	Recognized net actuarial loss		1,226			5,730			600			5,563
	Net pension expense	$	4,757		$	10,904		$	3,930		$	11,148

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed1

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Net Unrealized Loss Related to Cash Flow Hedges Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
	The balance of the net unrealized gain related to our cash flow hedges included in AOCL and related activity is as follows:
		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2013				2012				2013		2012
	Net unrealized loss at beginning of period	$	(4,731	)		$	—			$	—	$	(3,061	)
	Activity during period:
	Settlement of foreign currency forward contracts during the period		2,849				—				—		3,061
	Net unrealized gain on outstanding foreign currency forward contracts		2,471				—				589		—
	Net unrealized gain at end of period	$	589			$	—			$	589	$	—
Summarize Financial Statement Presentation and Fair Value of Derivative Positions	'
	The following tables, together with Note 13, summarize the financial statement presentation and fair value of our derivative positions as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
				Estimated fair value
		Balance sheet classification		September 30,				December 31,
				2013				2012
	Asset derivatives
	Cash flow hedges
	Short-term foreign currency forward contracts	Other current assets		$	1,927			$	—
	Liability derivatives
	Cash flow hedges
	Short-term foreign currency forward contracts	Other current liabilities		$	1,338			$	—
Summarization of Recognized Gains and Losses of Cash Flow Hedges	'
	To supplement the fair value disclosures in Note 13, the following summarizes the recognized gains and losses of cash flow hedges through AOCL or through “other income” for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
		Gain/(loss) recognized								Gain/(loss) reclassified					Gain/(loss) recognized
		through AOCL								from AOCL to					through “other
										“other income”					income”
		2013				2012				2013		2012			2013		2012
	Cash flow hedges
	Foreign currency forward contracts	$	2,471			$	—			$	2,849	$	—		$	—	$	—
	To supplement the fair value disclosures in Note 13, the following summarizes the recognized gains and losses of cash flow hedges through AOCL or through “other income” for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012:
		Gain/(loss) recognized								Gain/(loss) reclassified					Gain/(loss) recognized
		through AOCL								from AOCL to					through “other
										“other income”					income”
		2013				2012				2013		2012			2013		2012
	Cash flow hedges
	Foreign currency forward contracts	$	(2,525	)		$	—			$	3,114	$	3,061		$	—	$	—

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Carrying Amount and Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	The following table presents the carrying amount and estimated fair value of our financial instruments recognized at fair value on a recurring basis:
		September 30, 2013
				Estimated Fair Value Measurements
				Quoted		Significant
				Prices in		Other		Significant
				Active		Observable		Unobservable
		Carrying		Markets		Inputs		Inputs
		Amount		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets—
	Marketable securities	$	7,072	$	7,072	$	—	$	—
	Foreign currency forward contracts		1,927		—		1,927		—
	Liabilities—
	Foreign currency forward contracts	$	1,338	$	—	$	1,338	$	—
		December 31, 2012
				Estimated Fair Value Measurements
				Quoted		Significant
				Prices in		Other		Significant
				Active		Observable		Unobservable
		Carrying		Markets		Inputs		Inputs
		Amount		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Assets—
	Marketable securities	$	5,816	$	5,816	$	—	$	—

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Changes in AOCL by Component	'
	The following tables set forth the changes in AOCL by component for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013. All amounts within the tables are shown net of tax.
			Three months ended September 30, 2013
			Gain / (Loss)			Defined
			on			Benefit			Foreign
			Cash Flow			Pension			Currency
			Hedges(1)			Items(2)			Items			Total
	Balance at beginning of period		$	(4,731	)	$	(91,797	)	$	(19,901	)	$	(116,429	)
	Activity during period:
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications			2,471			—			(1,135	)		1,336
	Amounts reclassified from AOCL			2,849			1,661			—			4,510
	Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)			5,320			1,661			(1,135	)		5,846
	Balance at end of period		$	589		$	(90,136	)	$	(21,036	)	$	(110,583	)
			Nine months ended September 30, 2013
						Defined
			Gain on			Benefit			Foreign
			Cash Flow			Pension			Currency
			Hedges(1)			Items(2)			Items			Total
	Balance at beginning of period		$	—		$	(95,071	)	$	(20,378	)	$	(115,449	)
	Activity during period:
	Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications			589			—			(658	)		(69	)
	Amounts reclassified from AOCL			—			4,935			—			4,935
	Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)			589			4,935			(658	)		4,866
	Balance at end of period		$	589		$	(90,136	)	$	(21,036	)	$	(110,583	)
	-1	Gain / (loss) on cash flow hedges are related to our foreign currency forward contracts. Reclassifications from AOCL are recognized through “other income” on our Consolidated Statement of Income. See Note 12 for additional information.
	-2	Defined benefit pension items relate to actuarial losses and the amortization of prior service costs. Reclassifications from AOCL are recognized as expense on our Consolidated Statement of Income through either “contract drilling services” or “general and administrative”. See Note 11 for additional information

Segment_and_Related_Informatio1

Segment and Related Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Summarized Financial Information of Reportable Segment	'
	As a result, the summarized financial information for Noble-Cayman is substantially the same as Noble-Swiss.
		Three Months Ended September 30,
		2013									2012
		Contract									Contract
		Drilling									Drilling
		Services			Other			Total			Services			Other			Total
	Revenues from external customers	$	1,069,986		$	8,895		$	1,078,881		$	860,315		$	23,717		$	884,032
	Depreciation and amortization		219,695			4,016			223,711			191,638			3,449			195,087
	Segment operating income/(loss)		382,475			(4,094	)		378,381			173,285			5,639			178,924
	Interest expense, net of amount capitalized		(317	)		(22,832	)		(23,149	)		(121	)		(25,514	)		(25,635	)
	Income tax (provision)/benefit		(59,854	)		4,024			(55,830	)		(28,307	)		3,145			(25,162	)
	Segment profit/(loss)		303,617			(21,660	)		281,957			130,983			(16,209	)		114,774
	Total assets (at end of period)		15,058,076			671,255			15,729,331			13,983,223			477,183			14,460,406
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013									2012
		Contract									Contract
		Drilling									Drilling
		Services			Other			Total			Services			Other			Total
	Revenues from external customers	$	3,022,966		$	44,275		$	3,067,241		$	2,519,930		$	60,715		$	2,580,645
	Depreciation and amortization		631,396			11,060			642,456			539,698			10,081			549,779
	Segment operating income		861,219			813			862,032			559,713			7,349			567,062
	Interest expense, net of amount capitalized		(539	)		(74,576	)		(75,115	)		(315	)		(56,468	)		(56,783	)
	Income tax (provision)/benefit		(138,695	)		11,689			(127,006	)		(102,005	)		8,898			(93,107	)
	Segment profit/(loss)		669,107			(60,470	)		608,637			434,561			(39,794	)		394,767
	Total assets (at end of period)		15,058,076			671,255			15,729,331			13,983,223			477,183			14,460,406

Net_Change_in_Other_Assets_and1

Net Change in Other Assets and Liabilities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]	'
Effect of Changes in Other Assets and Liabilities on Cash Flows from Operating Activities	'
	The net effect of changes in other assets and liabilities on cash flows from operating activities is as follows:
		Noble-Swiss						Noble-Cayman
		Nine months ended						Nine months ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Accounts receivable	$	(92,073	)	$	(163,051	)	$	(92,073	)	$	(163,051	)
	Other current assets		(50,738	)		(58,303	)		(49,791	)		(59,764	)
	Other assets		(8,129	)		(25,543	)		(8,133	)		(25,546	)
	Accounts payable		9,357			29,470			7,830			29,353
	Other current liabilities		4,042			76,035			4,702			79,436
	Other liabilities		35,231			70,382			35,227			64,215
		$	(102,310	)	$	(71,010	)	$	(102,238	)	$	(75,357	)

Guarantees_of_Registered_Secur1

Guarantees of Registered Securities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Guarantor Obligations	'
	Noble-Cayman, or one or more subsidiaries of Noble-Cayman, are a co-issuer or guarantor or otherwise obligated as of September 30, 2013 as follows:
		Issuer
	Notes	(Co-Issuer(s))		Guarantor(s)
	$250 million 7.375% Senior Notes due 2014	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$350 million 3.45% Senior Notes due 2015	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$300 million 3.05% Senior Notes due 2016	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$300 million 2.50% Senior Notes due 2017	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$202 million 7.50% Senior Notes due 2019	NDC;		Noble-Cayman;
		Noble Drilling		Noble Holding (U.S.)
		Services 6 LLC (“NDS6”)		Corporation (“NHC”);
				Noble Drilling
				Holding LLC (“NDH”)
	$500 million 4.90% Senior Notes due 2020	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$400 million 4.625% Senior Notes due 2021	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$400 million 3.95% Senior Notes due 2022	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$400 million 6.20% Senior Notes due 2040	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$400 million 6.05% Senior Notes due 2041	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
	$500 million 5.25% Senior Notes due 2042	NHIL		Noble-Cayman
Summary of Impact of Change in Presentation on Historical Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet and Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income	'
	During the first quarter of 2013, we amended the presentation of this limited partnership interest in the Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble column to correctly present it as a noncontrolling interest and to record the income attributable to NDC as Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests. We also made appropriate adjustments to the Consolidating Adjustments column. We concluded these errors were not material individually or in the aggregate to any of the previously issued financial statements taken as a whole. The following chart presents the impact of this change in presentation in the Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble and Consolidating Adjustments columns on the historical Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet and Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income. The revisions below did not impact our Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows.
		Other Non-Guarantor
		Subsidiaries of Noble						Consolidating Adjustments
		As reported			As adjusted			As reported			As adjusted
	December 31, 2010
	Income statement- Twelve months ended
	Net income	$	1,023,782		$	1,023,782		$	(2,963,512	)	$	(2,963,512	)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(3	)		(41,889	)		—			41,886
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	1,023,779		$	981,893		$	(2,963,512	)	$	(2,921,626	)
	December 31, 2011
	Income statement- Twelve months ended
	Net income	$	634,128		$	634,128		$	(1,758,285	)	$	(1,758,285	)
	Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		7,273			(15,808	)		—			23,081
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	641,401		$	618,320		$	(1,758,285	)	$	(1,735,204	)
	Balance Sheet
	Total shareholder equity	$	9,853,129		$	9,483,809		$	(28,268,572	)	$	(27,899,252	)
	Noncontrolling interests		691,331			1,060,651			—			(369,320	)
	Total equity	$	10,544,460		$	10,544,460		$	(28,268,572	)	$	(28,268,572	)
	March 31, 2012
	Income statement- Three months ended
	Net income	$	173,657		$	173,657		$	(591,588	)	$	(591,588	)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		6,832			(1,196	)		—			8,028
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	180,489		$	172,461		$	(591,588	)	$	(583,560	)
	June 30, 2012
	Income statement- Three months ended
	Net income	$	253,086		$	253,086		$	(662,439	)	$	(662,439	)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(18,857	)		(29,201	)		—			10,344
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	234,229		$	223,885		$	(662,439	)	$	(652,095	)
	Income statement- Six months ended
	Net income	$	426,743		$	426,743		$	(1,254,027	)	$	(1,254,027	)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(12,025	)		(30,397	)		—			18,372
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	414,718		$	396,346		$	(1,254,027	)	$	(1,235,655	)
	September 30, 2012
	Income statement- Three months ended
	Net income	$	211,597		$	211,597		$	(569,368	)	$	(569,368	)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(14,906	)		(22,246	)		—			7,340
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	196,691		$	189,351		$	(569,368	)	$	(562,028	)
	Income statement- Nine months ended
	Net income	$	638,340		$	638,340		$	(1,823,395	)	$	(1,823,395	)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(26,931	)		(52,643	)		—			25,712
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	611,409		$	585,697		$	(1,823,395	)	$	(1,797,683	)
		Other Non-Guarantor
		Subsidiaries of Noble						Consolidating Adjustments
		As reported			As adjusted			As reported			As adjusted
	December 31, 2012
	Income statement- Twelve months ended
	Net income	$	280,763		$	280,763		$	(1,891,202	)	$	(1,891,202	)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(33,793	)		(68,969	)		—			35,176
	Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	246,970		$	211,794		$	(1,891,202	)	$	(1,856,026	)
	Balance Sheet
	Total shareholder equity	$	9,913,839		$	9,509,343		$	(29,719,135	)	$	(29,314,639	)
	Noncontrolling interests		765,124			1,169,620			—			(404,496	)
	Total equity	$	10,678,963		$	10,678,963		$	(29,719,135	)	$	(29,719,135	)
Condensed Financial Statements	'
	NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
	September 30, 2013
	(in thousands)
		Noble-			NHC and NDH												Subsidiaries			Consolidating
		Cayman			Combined			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			of Noble			Adjustments			Total
	ASSETS
	Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	5		$	123		$	—		$	8		$	—		$	173,581		$	—		$	173,717
	Accounts receivable		—			59,250			3,388			—			—			803,108			—			865,746
	Taxes receivable		—			41,407			—			—			—			101,831			—			143,238
	Prepaid expenses		—			749			8			—			—			48,572			—			49,329
	Short-term notes receivable from affiliates		—			869,476			—			—			606,269			319,201			(1,794,946	)		—
	Accounts receivable from affiliates		978,461			157,252			1,154,776			172,379			65,991			6,311,688			(8,840,547	)		—
	Other current assets		—			4,418			196			—			—			129,390			—			134,004
	Total current assets		978,466			1,132,675			1,158,368			172,387			672,260			7,887,371			(10,635,493	)		1,366,034
	Property and equipment, at cost		—			2,518,896			77,253			—			—			15,973,482			—			18,569,631
	Accumulated depreciation		—			(328,045	)		(61,592	)		—			—			(4,136,365	)		—			(4,526,002	)
	Property and equipment, net		—			2,190,851			15,661			—			—			11,837,117			—			14,043,629
	Notes receivable from affiliates		3,816,463			675,000			—			3,524,814			5,000			1,827,879			(9,849,156	)		—
	Investments in affiliates		8,507,009			12,100,603			3,310,205			8,521,927			2,332,612			—			(34,772,356	)		—
	Other assets		6,144			5,266			266			23,395			668			246,217			—			281,956
	Total assets	$	13,308,082		$	16,104,395		$	4,484,500		$	12,242,523		$	3,010,540		$	21,798,584		$	(55,257,005	)	$	15,691,619
	LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
	Current liabilities
	Short-term notes payables from affiliates	$	78,016		$	127,036		$	114,149		$	—		$	750,000		$	725,745		$	(1,794,946	)	$	—
	Accounts payable		—			4,338			537			—			—			311,058			—			315,933
	Accrued payroll and related costs		—			8,085			8,865			—			—			112,220			—			129,170
	Accounts payable to affiliates		1,061,152			4,998,213			3,908			236,008			77,296			2,463,970			(8,840,547	)		—
	Taxes payable		—			13,434			9			—			—			116,628			—			130,071
	Other current liabilities		496			5,270			240			17,128			630			178,658			—			202,422
	Total current liabilities		1,139,664			5,156,376			127,708			253,136			827,926			3,908,279			(10,635,493	)		777,596
	Long-term debt		1,312,864			—			—			3,793,279			201,695			—			—			5,307,838
	Notes payable to affiliates		2,557,787			586,979			—			975,000			811,000			4,918,390			(9,849,156	)		—
	Deferred income taxes		—			—			15,731			—			—			171,917			—			187,648
	Other liabilities		19,930			23,106			—			—			—			349,407			—			392,443
	Total liabilities		5,030,245			5,766,461			143,439			5,021,415			1,840,621			9,347,993			(20,484,649	)		6,665,525
	Commitments and contingencies
	Total shareholder equity		8,277,837			10,337,934			4,341,061			7,221,108			1,169,919			11,261,974			(34,331,996	)		8,277,837
	Noncontrolling interest		—			—			—			—			—			1,188,617			(440,360	)		748,257
	Total equity		8,277,837			10,337,934			4,341,061			7,221,108			1,169,919			12,450,591			(34,772,356	)		9,026,094
	Total liabilities and equity	$	13,308,082		$	16,104,395		$	4,484,500		$	12,242,523		$	3,010,540		$	21,798,584		$	(55,257,005	)	$	15,691,619
	NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
	December 31, 2012
	(in thousands)
																	Other
																	Non-guarantor
		Noble-			NHC and NDH												Subsidiaries			Consolidating
		Cayman			Combined			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			of Noble			Adjustments			Total
	ASSETS
	Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,003		$	904		$	—		$	2		$	—		$	275,466		$	—		$	277,375
	Accounts receivable		—			14,885			3,335			—			—			725,453			—			743,673
	Taxes receivable		—			8,341			—			—			—			103,969			—			112,310
	Prepaid expenses		—			396			9			—			—			40,827			—			41,232
	Short-term notes receivable from affiliates		—			119,476			—			—			586,769			252,138			(958,383	)		—
	Accounts receivable from affiliates		664,375			140,014			1,015,204			526,483			38,895			5,855,066			(8,240,037	)		—
	Other current assets		235			639			196			—			—			121,579			—			122,649
	Total current assets		665,613			284,655			1,018,744			526,485			625,664			7,374,498			(9,198,420	)		1,297,239
	Property and equipment, at cost		—			2,735,223			76,428			—			—			14,123,496			—			16,935,147
	Accumulated depreciation		—			(283,028	)		(58,411	)		—			—			(3,597,079	)		—			(3,938,518	)
	Property and equipment, net		—			2,452,195			18,017			—			—			10,526,417			—			12,996,629
Notes receivable from affiliates		3,816,463			1,206,000			—			3,524,814			479,107			2,171,875			(11,198,259	)		—
Investments in affiliates		7,770,066			9,170,923			3,386,879			7,413,361			1,977,906			—			(29,719,135	)		—
Other assets		5,798			320			543			25,895			759			243,243			—			276,558
Total assets	$	12,257,940		$	13,114,093		$	4,424,183		$	11,490,555		$	3,083,436		$	20,316,033		$	(50,115,814	)	$	14,570,426
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities
Short-term notes payables from affiliates	$	90,314		$	51,054		$	110,770		$	—		$	—		$	706,245		$	(958,383	)	$	—
Accounts payable		—			6,522			1,183			—			—			341,889			—			349,594
Accrued payroll and related costs		—			6,176			7,611			—			—			110,149			—			123,936
Accounts payable to affiliates		900,063			4,806,235			5,444			165,065			77,075			2,286,155			(8,240,037	)		—
Taxes payable		—			9,152			—			—			—			121,692			—			130,844
Other current liabilities		1,594			—			240			62,430			4,412			158,259			—			226,935
Total current liabilities		991,971			4,879,139			125,248			227,495			81,487			3,724,389			(9,198,420	)		831,309
Long-term debt		639,794			—			—			3,792,886			201,695			—			—			4,634,375
Notes payable to affiliates		2,840,287			648,475			—			975,000			1,342,000			5,392,497			(11,198,259	)		—
Deferred income taxes		—			—			15,731			—			—			210,314			—			226,045
Other liabilities		19,930			17,815			—			—			—			309,870			—			347,615
Total liabilities		4,491,982			5,545,429			140,979			4,995,381			1,625,182			9,637,070			(20,396,679	)		6,039,344
Commitments and contingencies
Total shareholder equity		7,765,958			7,568,664			4,283,204			6,495,174			1,458,254			9,509,343			(29,314,639	)		7,765,958
Noncontrolling interest		—			—			—			—			—			1,169,620			(404,496	)		765,124
Total equity		7,765,958			7,568,664			4,283,204			6,495,174			1,458,254			10,678,963			(29,719,135	)		8,531,082
Total liabilities and equity	$	12,257,940		$	13,114,093		$	4,424,183		$	11,490,555		$	3,083,436		$	20,316,033		$	(50,115,814	)	$	14,570,426
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
(in thousands)
																Other
																Non-guarantor
	Noble-			NHC and NDH												Subsidiaries			Consolidating
	Cayman			Combined			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			of Noble			Adjustments			Total
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services	$	—		$	67,831		$	5,126		$	—		$	—		$	991,221		$	(23,060	)	$	1,041,118
Reimbursables		—			1,796			—			—			—			27,446			—			29,242
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			8,493			—			8,493
Other		—			—			—			—			—			28			—			28
Total operating revenues		—			69,627			5,126			—			—			1,027,188			(23,060	)		1,078,881
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services		1,665			24,776			2,231			29,339			—			451,162			(23,060	)		486,113
Reimbursables		—			1,509			—			—			—			22,162			—			23,671
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			8,153			—			8,153
Depreciation and amortization		—			15,937			1,174			—			—			206,065			—			223,176
General and administrative		252			831			—			2,672			—			3,496			—			7,251
Loss on impairment		—			—			—			—			—			3,585			—			3,585
Gain on disposal of assets, net		—			—			—			—			—			(35,646	)		—			(35,646	)
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net		(45,000	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(45,000	)
Total operating costs and expenses		(43,083	)		43,053			3,405			32,011			—			658,977			(23,060	)		671,303
Operating income (loss)		43,083			26,574			1,721			(32,011	)		—			368,211			—			407,578
Other income (expense)
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax		301,048			189,686			40,619			330,102			(1,381,410	)		—			519,955			—
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized		(34,941	)		(5,604	)		(503	)		(32,646	)		(14,998	)		(1,548,475	)		1,614,018			(23,149	)
Interest income and other, net		1,664			20,354			(7	)		44,809			1,524,744			22,869			(1,614,018	)		415
Income before income taxes		310,854			231,010			41,830			310,254			128,336			(1,157,395	)		519,955			384,844
Income tax provision		—			(51,021	)		—			—			—			(4,467	)		—			(55,488	)
Net Income		310,854			179,989			41,830			310,254			128,336			(1,161,862	)		519,955			329,356
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			—			—			(34,004	)		15,502			(18,502	)
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation		310,854			179,989			41,830			310,254			128,336			(1,195,866	)		535,457			310,854
Other comprehensive income, net		5,846			—			—			—			—			5,846			(5,846	)		5,846
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	316,700		$	179,989		$	41,830		$	310,254		$	128,336		$	(1,190,020	)	$	529,611		$	316,700
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
(in thousands)
	Noble-			NHC and			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			Other			Consolidating			Total
	Cayman			NDH												Non-guarantor			Adjustments
				Combined												Subsidiaries of
																Noble
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services	$	—		$	201,101		$	15,135		$	—		$	—		$	2,795,505		$	(66,431	)	$	2,945,310
Reimbursables		—			5,117			—			—			—			73,559			—			78,676
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			43,150			—			43,150
Other		—			—			—			—			—			105			—			105
Total operating revenues		—			206,218			15,135			—			—			2,912,319			(66,431	)		3,067,241
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services		3,600			61,079			5,842			79,188			—			1,364,841			(66,431	)		1,448,119
Reimbursables		—			4,332			—			—			—			56,962			—			61,294
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			29,804			—			29,804
Depreciation and amortization		—			46,120			3,377			—			—			591,662			—			641,159
General and administrative		1,544			4,845			1			20,788			1			10,503			—			37,682
Loss on impairment		—			—			—			—			—			3,585			—			3,585
Gain on disposal of assets, net		—			—			—			—			—			(35,646	)		—			(35,646	)
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net		(45,000	)		—			—			—			—			(1,800	)		—			(46,800	)
Total operating costs and expenses		(39,856	)		116,376			9,220			99,976			1			2,019,911			(66,431	)		2,139,197
Operating income (loss)		39,856			89,842			5,915			(99,976	)		(1	)		892,408			—			928,044
Other income (expense)
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax		736,942			392,101			53,787			796,217			(1,177,957	)		—			(801,090	)		—
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized		(105,720	)		(18,604	)		(1,842	)		(99,911	)		(38,388	)		(1,595,902	)		1,785,252			(75,115	)
Interest income and other, net		4,941			42,205			(7	)		129,601			1,537,410			72,285			(1,785,252	)		1,183
Income before income taxes		676,019			505,544			57,853			725,931			321,064			(631,209	)		(801,090	)		854,112
Income tax provision		—			(41,278	)		—			—			—			(83,954	)		—			(125,232	)
Net Income		676,019			464,266			57,853			725,931			321,064			(715,163	)		(801,090	)		728,880
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			—			—			(88,725	)		35,864			(52,861	)
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation		676,019			464,266			57,853			725,931			321,064			(803,888	)		(765,226	)		676,019
Other comprehensive income, net		4,866			—			—			—			—			4,866			(4,866	)		4,866
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	680,885		$	464,266		$	57,853		$	725,931		$	321,064		$	(799,022	)	$	(770,092	)	$	680,885
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012
(in thousands)
	Noble-			NHC and NDH			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			Other			Consolidating			Total
	Cayman			Combined												Non-guarantor			Adjustments
																Subsidiaries
																of Noble
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services	$	—		$	36,149		$	5,061		$	—		$	—		$	809,858		$	(17,856	)	$	833,212
Reimbursables		—			389			—			—			—			27,748			—			28,137
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			22,667			—			22,667
Other		—			—			—			—			—			16			—			16
Total operating revenues		—			36,538			5,061			—			—			860,289			(17,856	)		884,032
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services		1,355			13,948			1,919			19,636			—			425,223			(17,856	)		444,225
Reimbursables		—			216			—			—			—			20,831			—			21,047
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			12,991			—			12,991
Depreciation and amortization		—			15,500			1,181			—			—			177,914			—			194,595
General and administrative		426			1,447			—			9,700			1			3,913			—			15,487
Total operating costs and expenses		1,781			31,111			3,100			29,336			1			640,872			(17,856	)		688,345
Operating income (loss)		(1,781	)		5,427			1,961			(29,336	)		(1	)		219,417			—			195,687
Other income (expense)
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax		162,311			69,069			36,463			172,364			129,161			—			(569,368	)		—
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized		(30,496	)		(8,964	)		(852	)		(33,509	)		(11,832	)		(20,221	)		80,239			(25,635	)
Interest income and other, net		1,689			11,080			9			37,430			2,846			28,546			(80,239	)		1,361
Income before income taxes		131,723			76,612			37,581			146,949			120,174			227,742			(569,368	)		171,413
Income tax provision		—			(8,639	)		—			—			—			(16,145	)		—			(24,784	)
Net Income		131,723			67,973			37,581			146,949			120,174			211,597			(569,368	)		146,629
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			—			—			(22,246	)		7,340			(14,906	)
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation		131,723			67,973			37,581			146,949			120,174			189,351			(562,028	)		131,723
Other comprehensive income, net		3,384			—			—			—			—			3,384			(3,384	)		3,384
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	135,107		$	67,973		$	37,581		$	146,949		$	120,174		$	192,735		$	(565,412	)	$	135,107
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(in thousands)
	Noble-			NHC and NDH			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			Other			Consolidating			Total
	Cayman			Combined												Non-guarantor			Adjustments
																Subsidiaries
																of Noble
Operating revenues
Contract drilling services	$	—		$	117,488		$	14,941		$	—		$	—		$	2,352,618		$	(57,288	)	$	2,427,759
Reimbursables		—			6,199			—			—			—			87,891			—			94,090
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			58,538			—			58,538
Other		—			—			—			—			—			1,190			(932	)		258
Total operating revenues		—			123,687			14,941			—			—			2,500,237			(58,220	)		2,580,645
Operating costs and expenses
Contract drilling services		3,794			42,642			5,529			56,048			—			1,231,176			(58,220	)		1,280,969
Reimbursables		—			5,641			—			—			—			70,977			—			76,618
Labor contract drilling services		—			—			—			—			—			34,070			—			34,070
Depreciation and amortization		—			45,577			3,278			—			—			499,416			—			548,271
General and administrative		1,237			4,258			—			28,137			1			11,331			—			44,964
Loss on impairment		—			—			—			—			—			18,345			—			18,345
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net		—			(4,869	)		—			—			—			(28,386	)		—			(33,255	)
Total operating costs and expenses		5,031			93,249			8,807			84,185			1			1,836,929			(58,220	)		1,969,982
Operating income (loss)		(5,031	)		30,438			6,134			(84,185	)		(1	)		663,308			—			610,663
Other income (expense)
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax		515,132			358,234			92,343			583,122			274,564			—			(1,823,395	)		—
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized		(76,396	)		(37,881	)		(3,040	)		(83,975	)		(31,020	)		(60,193	)		235,722			(56,783	)
Interest income and other, net		5,640			29,771			4			99,609			8,771			96,295			(235,722	)		4,368
Income before income taxes		439,345			380,562			95,441			514,571			252,314			699,410			(1,823,395	)		558,248
Income tax provision		—			(30,902	)		—			—			—			(61,070	)		—			(91,972	)
Net Income		439,345			349,660			95,441			514,571			252,314			638,340			(1,823,395	)		466,276
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			—			—			—			(52,643	)		25,712			(26,931	)
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation		439,345			349,660			95,441			514,571			252,314			585,697			(1,797,683	)		439,345
Other comprehensive income, net		2,244			—			—			—			—			2,244			(2,244	)		2,244
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	$	441,589		$	349,660		$	95,441		$	514,571		$	252,314		$	587,941		$	(1,799,927	)	$	441,589
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
(in thousands)
	Noble-			NHC and NDH			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			Other			Consolidating			Total
	Cayman			Combined												Non-guarantor			Adjustments
																Subsidiaries
																of Noble
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities	$	(79,174	)	$	46,344		$	8,285		$	(113,088	)	$	1,495,330		$	(144,753	)	$	—		$	1,212,944
Cash flows from investing activities
New construction and capital expenditures		—			(1,070,669	)		(559	)		—			—			(719,659	)		—			(1,790,887	)
Proceeds from disposal of assets		—			—			—			—			—			61,000			—			61,000
Notes receivable from affiliates		—			—			—			—			—			294,798			(294,798	)		—
Net cash from investing activities		—			(1,070,669	)		(559	)		—			—			(363,861	)		(294,798	)		(1,729,887	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities		973,055			—			—			—			—			—			—			973,055
Repayment of long-term debt		(300,000	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(300,000	)
Financing costs on credit facilities		(2,432	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(2,432	)
Dividends paid to joint venture partner		—			—			—			—			—			(69,728	)		—			(69,728	)
Distributions to parent company, net		(187,610	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(187,610	)
Advances (to) from affiliates		(110,039	)		1,023,544			(7,726	)		113,094			(1,495,330	)		476,457			—			—
Notes payable to affiliates		(294,798	)		—			—			—			—			—			294,798			—
Net cash from financing activities		78,176			1,023,544			(7,726	)		113,094			(1,495,330	)		406,729			294,798			413,285
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(998	)		(781	)		—			6			—			(101,885	)		—			(103,658	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		1,003			904			—			2			—			275,466			—			277,375
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	5		$	123		$	—		$	8		$	—		$	173,581		$	—		$	173,717
NOBLE CORPORATION (NOBLE-CAYMAN) AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012
(in thousands)
	Noble-			NHC and NDH			NDC			NHIL			NDS6			Other			Consolidating			Total
	Cayman			Combined												Non-guarantor			Adjustments
																Subsidiaries
																of Noble
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash from operating activities	$	(59,614	)	$	7,563		$	8,989		$	(107,638	)	$	(25,942	)	$	1,133,499		$	—		$	956,857
Cash flows from investing activities
New construction and capital expenditures		—			(499,141	)		(1,040	)		—			—			(940,534	)		—			(1,440,715	)
Notes receivable from affiliates		—			—			—			(1,188,287	)		—			—			1,188,287			—
Net cash from investing activities		—			(499,141	)		(1,040	)		(1,188,287	)		—			(940,534	)		1,188,287			(1,440,715	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities		(630,000	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(630,000	)
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net		—			—			—			1,186,636			—			—			—			1,186,636
Contributions from joint venture partner		—			—			—			—			—			40,000			—			40,000
Financing costs on credit facilities		(5,014	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(5,014	)
Distributions to parent company, net		(129,139	)		—			—			—			—			—			—			(129,139	)
Advances (to) from affiliates		(364,666	)		491,628			(7,949	)		109,308			25,942			(254,263	)		—			—
Notes payable to affiliates		1,188,287			—			—			—			—			—			(1,188,287	)		—
Net cash from financing activities		59,468			491,628			(7,949	)		1,295,944			25,942			(214,263	)		(1,188,287	)		462,483
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(146	)		50			—			19			—			(21,298	)		—			(21,375	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		146			385			—			—			—			234,525			—			235,056
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	—		$	435		$	—		$	19		$	—		$	213,227		$	—		$	213,681

Organization_and_Basis_of_Pres1

Organization and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
	Rigs
Description Of Business And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]	'
Number of mobile offshore drilling units	79
Number of floating production storage and offloading units ("FPSO")	1
Number of semisubmersibles	14
Number of drillships	14
Number of jackups	49
Number of submersibles	2
Number of fleet units under construction	9
Number of ultra-deep water harsh environment drillships under construction	3
Number of harsh environment jackup Rigs under construction	6
Number of drillships	1
Number of jackups	1
Conversion Ratio	1
Standard Co. [Member]	'
Description Of Business And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]	'
Number of floating production storage and offloading units ("FPSO")	1
Number of semisubmersibles	3
Number of drillships	5
Number of jackups	34
Number of submersibles	2
Number of mobile offshore drilling companies	2

Consolidated_Joint_Ventures_Ad

Consolidated Joint Ventures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
	Rigs
	Joint_Ventures
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Percent of interest in joint ventures	50.00%	'	'
Number of joint ventures acquired	2	'	'
Number of bully class drillships	2	'	'
Capital call on joint venture	'	'	$360,000,000
Carrying amount of the drillships	1,400,000,000	1,400,000,000	'
Bully Joint Venture [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Dividend paid by Bully Joint Venture Partners	$139,000,000	'	'

Consolidated_Joint_Ventures_Sc

Consolidated Joint Ventures - Schedule of Operational Results (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	$1,078,881	$884,032	$3,067,241	$2,580,645
Net income	300,459	129,680	661,498	421,698
Joint Ventures [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	94,847	78,447	272,620	162,892
Net income	$36,488	$28,679	$103,123	$52,152

Share_Data_NobleSwiss_Share_Ca

Share Data - Noble-Swiss' Share Capital (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Equity [Abstract]	'	'
Shares outstanding and trading	253,388	252,759
Treasury shares	777	589
Total shares outstanding	254,165	253,348
Treasury shares held for share-based compensation plans	11,985	12,802
Total shares authorized for issuance	266,150	266,150
Par value per share (in Swiss Francs)	$3.15	$3.15

Share_Data_Additional_Informat

Share Data - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified		Dividend [Member]	Dividend [Member]	Dividend [Member]	Dividend [Member]	Stock options [Member]	Stock options [Member]
		Installment	Installment	Installment
Class of Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Additional authorized shares without obtaining shareholder approval	133.1	'	'	'	'	'	'
Dividend to be paid, per share	'	'	$1	$0.52	'	'	'
Number of installments by which the installments of dividends paid	'	'	4	4	'	'	'
Dividends payable	'	'	'	'	$192	'	'
Number of remaining installments	'	3	'	'	'	'	'
Stock options excluded from the diluted net income per share	'	'	'	'	'	0.9	1.1

Share_Data_Computation_of_Basi

Share Data - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share for Noble-UK (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Basic	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	$281,957	$114,774	$608,637	$394,767
Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards	-3,393	-1,192	-7,191	-4,008
Net income to common shareholders-basic	278,564	113,582	601,446	390,759
Diluted	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	281,957	114,774	608,637	394,767
Earnings allocated to unvested share-based payment awards	-3,390	-1,190	-7,184	-4,002
Net income to common shareholders-diluted	$278,567	$113,584	$601,453	$390,765
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic	253,357	252,657	253,242	252,339
Incremental shares issuable from assumed exercise of stock options	261	317	265	385
Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted	253,618	252,974	253,507	252,724
Weighted average unvested share-based payment awards	3,086	2,651	3,028	2,588
Earnings per share	'	'	'	'
Basic	$1.10	$0.45	$2.37	$1.55
Diluted	$1.10	$0.45	$2.37	$1.55

Receivables_from_Customers_Add

Receivables from Customers - Additional Information (Detail) (Pemex Exploracion y Produccion [Member], USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Pemex Exploracion y Produccion [Member]	'
Receivables From Major Customers [Line Items]	'
Approximate receivables	$14

Property_and_Equipment_Propert

Property and Equipment - Property and Equipment, at Cost (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost	$18,606,931	$16,971,666
Drilling Equipment and Facilities [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost	15,835,848	14,099,628
Construction in Progress [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost	2,569,052	2,677,385
Other [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost	$202,031	$194,653

Property_and_Equipment_Additio

Property and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'	$1,700,000,000	$1,200,000,000
Capitalized interest on construction-in-progress	$31,000,000	$31,000,000	$92,000,000	$108,000,000

Loss_on_Impairment_Additional_

Loss on Impairment - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
	Corporate Assets [Member]	Submersible Rig Feet [Member]	Submersible Rig Feet [Member]	Submersible Rig Feet [Member]
	Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	Rigs	Rigs	Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Number of cold stack rigs	'	'	2	'
Impairment related charges	$5	$4	'	$13
Number of cold stacked submersibles	'	2	'	'

Gain_on_Disposal_of_Assets_net1

Gain on Disposal of Assets, net - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life And Values [Abstract]	'
Sale of the Noble Lewis Dugger	$61,000,000
Gain on sale of assets	$35,646,000

Gain_on_Contract_SettlementsEx1

Gain on Contract Settlements/Extinguishments, net - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2009	Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013
			Noble David Tinsley [Member]	Fdr Holdings Ltd [Member]
Additional Expenditures by Other Contractual Commitments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net gain recognized on settlement included in other income	$28	'	$5	$45
Incident charge	'	$17	'	'

Debt_Schedule_of_Debt_Detail

Debt - Schedule of Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	$5,307,838	$4,634,375
5.875% Senior Notes Due 2013 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes	'	299,985
7.375% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes	249,922	249,799
3.45% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes	350,000	350,000
3.05% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes	299,963	299,952
2.50% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes	299,877	299,852
7.50% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes	201,695	201,695
4.90% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes	498,991	498,900
4.625% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes	399,563	399,527
3.95% Senior Notes Due 2022 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes	399,157	399,095
6.20% Senior Notes due 2040 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes	399,892	399,891
6.05% Senior Notes Due 2041 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes	397,638	397,613
5.25% Senior Notes Due 2042 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes	498,276	498,257
Total Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes	3,994,974	4,294,566
Commercial Paper Program [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt	$1,312,864	$339,809

Debt_Schedule_of_Debt_Parenthe

Debt - Schedule of Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail)

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Feb. 29, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Feb. 29, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Feb. 29, 2012

5.875% Senior Notes Due 2013 [Member]

5.875% Senior Notes Due 2013 [Member]

7.375% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]

3.45% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]

3.05% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]

2.50% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]

2.50% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]

7.50% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]

4.90% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]

4.625% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member]

3.95% Senior Notes Due 2022 [Member]

3.95% Senior Notes Due 2022 [Member]

6.20% Senior Notes due 2040 [Member]

6.05% Senior Notes Due 2041 [Member]

5.25% Senior Notes Due 2042 [Member]

5.25% Senior Notes Due 2042 [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest rate on the notes issued to the joint venture partner

5.88%

5.88%

7.38%

3.45%

3.05%

2.50%

2.50%

7.50%

4.90%

4.63%

3.95%

3.95%

6.20%

6.05%

5.25%

5.25%

Senior notes, maturity date

'2013

'2013

'2014

'2015

'2016

'2017

'2017

'2019

'2020

'2021

'2022

'2022

'2040

'2041

'2042

'2042

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

Feb. 29, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Feb. 29, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Feb. 29, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Feb. 29, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

CreditFacility

Revolving Credit Facility Which Matures in 2015 [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility Which Matures in 2015 [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility Which Matures in 2015 [Member]

Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility Which Matures in 2017 [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility Which Matures in 2017 [Member]

Commercial Paper Program [Member]

Unsecured Commercial Paper Notes [Member]

Unsecured Commercial Paper Notes [Member]

Credit Facilities [Member]

2.50% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]

2.50% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]

3.95% Senior Notes Due 2022 [Member]

3.95% Senior Notes Due 2022 [Member]

5.25% Senior Notes Due 2042 [Member]

5.25% Senior Notes Due 2042 [Member]

5.875% Senior Notes Due 2013 [Member]

5.875% Senior Notes Due 2013 [Member]

5.875% Senior Notes Due 2013 [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Commercial Paper Program [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum amount available under our Credit Facilities

'

$2,900,000,000

'

'

$600,000,000

$800,000,000

'

'

$1,500,000,000

'

'

'

$375,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Short term Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility Maturity Period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'364 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Credit facility maturity date

'

'

'

'2015

'

'

'

'2017

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Outstanding notes value

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,800,000,000

1,300,000,000

340,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

300,000,000

Credit facilities borrowing capacity

'

1,600,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of credit facilities

'

3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Borrowings outstanding

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Face value of senior notes

1,200,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

300,000,000

'

400,000,000

'

500,000,000

'

'

'

Interest rate on the notes issued to the joint venture partner

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.50%

2.50%

3.95%

3.95%

5.25%

5.25%

5.88%

5.88%

'

Senior notes maturity date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2017

'2017

'2022

'2022

'2042

'2042

'2013

'2013

'

Weighted average coupon of all three tranches

4.13%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net of debt issuance costs

$1,190,000,000

$0

$1,186,636,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum debt to tangible capitalization covenant

'

0.6

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of credit facility debt to tangible capitalization ratio

'

0.37

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt_Estimated_Fair_Value_of_O

Debt - Estimated Fair Value of Our Long Term Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	$5,355,842	$5,065,245
Total long-term debt, Carrying Value	5,307,838	4,634,375
5.875% Senior Notes Due 2013 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes, Carrying Value	'	299,985
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	'	305,594
7.375% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes, Carrying Value	249,922	249,799
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	257,442	269,008
3.45% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes, Carrying Value	350,000	350,000
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	363,551	368,824
3.05% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes, Carrying Value	299,963	299,952
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	309,374	316,268
2.50% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes, Carrying Value	299,877	299,852
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	301,995	309,846
7.50% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes, Carrying Value	201,695	201,695
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	235,014	249,358
4.90% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes, Carrying Value	498,991	498,900
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	523,400	562,530
4.625% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes, Carrying Value	399,563	399,527
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	407,416	442,776
3.95% Senior Notes Due 2022 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes, Carrying Value	399,157	399,095
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	385,207	422,227
6.20% Senior Notes due 2040 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes, Carrying Value	399,892	399,891
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	407,789	477,327
6.05% Senior Notes Due 2041 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes, Carrying Value	397,638	397,613
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	400,740	468,256
5.25% Senior Notes Due 2042 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes, Carrying Value	498,276	498,257
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	451,050	533,422
Total Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total senior unsecured notes, Carrying Value	3,994,974	4,294,566
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	4,042,978	4,725,436
Commercial Paper Program [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Total long-term debt, Estimated Fair Value	1,312,864	339,809
Total long-term debt, Carrying Value	$1,312,864	$339,809

Debt_Estimated_Fair_Value_of_O1

Debt - Estimated Fair Value of Our Long Term Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail)

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Feb. 29, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Feb. 29, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Feb. 29, 2012

5.875% Senior Notes Due 2013 [Member]

5.875% Senior Notes Due 2013 [Member]

7.375% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]

3.45% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]

3.05% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]

2.50% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]

2.50% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]

7.50% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]

4.90% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]

4.625% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member]

3.95% Senior Notes Due 2022 [Member]

3.95% Senior Notes Due 2022 [Member]

6.20% Senior Notes due 2040 [Member]

6.05% Senior Notes Due 2041 [Member]

5.25% Senior Notes Due 2042 [Member]

5.25% Senior Notes Due 2042 [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest rate on the notes issued to the joint venture partner

5.88%

5.88%

7.38%

3.45%

3.05%

2.50%

2.50%

7.50%

4.90%

4.63%

3.95%

3.95%

6.20%

6.05%

5.25%

5.25%

Senior notes, maturity date

'2013

'2013

'2014

'2015

'2016

'2017

'2017

'2019

'2020

'2021

'2022

'2022

'2040

'2041

'2042

'2042

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Reserves for uncertain tax positions net	$138	$125
Related tax benefits	2	10
Reduction in the provision for income taxes, if reserves not utilized	$138	'
Operational period	'12 months	'

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Pension

Employee Benefit Plans - Pension Costs (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Non-U.S. Plans [Member]	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Service cost	$1,361	$1,072	$4,089	$3,306
Interest cost	1,259	1,317	3,793	4,025
Return on plan assets	-1,443	-1,313	-4,351	-4,001
Amortization of prior service cost	'	'	'	'
Recognized net actuarial loss	426	199	1,226	600
Net pension expense	1,603	1,275	4,757	3,930
U.S. Plans [Member]	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Service cost	2,681	2,431	8,043	7,237
Interest cost	2,263	2,196	6,787	6,556
Return on plan assets	-3,275	-2,793	-9,827	-8,379
Amortization of prior service cost	57	57	171	171
Recognized net actuarial loss	1,910	1,885	5,730	5,563
Net pension expense	$3,636	$3,776	$10,904	$11,148

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Additio

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Employer contributions	$5	$13

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed2

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of forecasted local currency requirements of forward contract	59.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Total unrealized gain related to forward contracts and recorded as part of "Accumulated other comprehensive loss"	$589,000	($4,731,000)	'	'	'	($3,061,000)
Price Risk Derivative [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Notional amount of forward contracts outstanding	42,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Forward Contracts [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total unrealized gain related to forward contracts and recorded as part of "Accumulated other comprehensive loss"	$600,000	'	'	'	'	'
Maximum maturity period of forward contracts	'12 months	'	'	'	'	'

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed3

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Net Unrealized Loss Related to Cash Flow Hedges Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain/(Loss) on Cash Flow Hedges, Balance at beginning of period	($4,731)	'	'	($3,061)
Activity during period:	'	'	'	'
Net unrealized gain on outstanding foreign currency forward contracts	2,471	'	589	'
Gain/(Loss) on Cash Flow Hedges, Balance at end of period	589	'	589	'
Forward Contracts [Member]	'	'	'	'
Activity during period:	'	'	'	'
Gain/(Loss) on Cash Flow Hedges, Balance at end of period	600	'	600	'
Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Forward Contracts [Member]	'	'	'	'
Activity during period:	'	'	'	'
Cash flow hedges, settlement, during the period	$2,849	'	'	$3,061

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed4

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Summarization of Financial Statement Presentation and Fair Value of Derivative Positions (Detail) (Short-Term Foreign Currency Forward Contracts [Member], USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other Current Assets [Member]	'	'
Asset derivatives	'	'
Cash flow hedges Short-term foreign currency forward contracts	$1,927	'
Other Current Liabilities [Member]	'	'
Liability derivatives	'	'
Cash flow hedges Short-term foreign currency forward contracts	$1,338	'

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed5

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Summarization of Recognized Gains and Losses of Cash Flow Hedges (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain/(loss) recognized through AOCL	$2,471	'	$589	'
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain/(loss) recognized through AOCL	2,471	'	-2,525	'
Gain/(loss) recognized through "other income"	'	'	'	'
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts [Member] | Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) Reclassified [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain/(loss) reclassified from AOCL to "other income"	$2,849	'	$3,114	$3,061

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Carrying Amount and Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Detail) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member], USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Assets-	'	'
Marketable securities	$7,072	$5,816
Foreign currency forward contracts	'	'
Liabilities-	'	'
Foreign currency forward contracts	'	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Assets-	'	'
Marketable securities	'	'
Foreign currency forward contracts	1,927	'
Liabilities-	'	'
Foreign currency forward contracts	1,338	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Assets-	'	'
Marketable securities	'	'
Foreign currency forward contracts	'	'
Liabilities-	'	'
Foreign currency forward contracts	'	'
Carrying Amount [Member]	'	'
Assets-	'	'
Marketable securities	7,072	5,816
Foreign currency forward contracts	1,927	'
Liabilities-	'	'
Foreign currency forward contracts	$1,338	'

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Changes in AOCL by Component (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Equity [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Gain/(Loss) on Cash Flow Hedges, Balance at beginning of period	($4,731)	'	'	($3,061)
Gain/(Loss) on Cash Flow Hedges, Activity during period:	'	'	'	'
Gain/(Loss) on Cash Flow Hedges, Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications	2,471	'	589	'
Gain/(Loss) on Cash Flow Hedges, Amounts reclassified from AOCL	2,849	'	'	'
Gain/(Loss) on Cash Flow Hedges, Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)	5,320	0	589	3,061
Gain/(Loss) on Cash Flow Hedges, Balance at end of period	589	'	589	'
Defined Benefit Pension Items, Balance at beginning of period	-91,797	'	-95,071	'
Defined Benefit Pension Items, Activity during period:	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Pension Items, Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications	'	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Pension Items, Amounts reclassified from AOCL	1,661	1,351	4,935	4,177
Defined Benefit Pension Items, Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)	1,661	'	4,935	'
Defined Benefit Pension Items, Balance at end of period	-90,136	'	-90,136	'
Foreign Currency Items, Balance at beginning of period	-19,901	'	-20,378	'
Foreign Currency Items, Activity during period:	'	'	'	'
Foreign Currency Items, Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications	-1,135	'	-658	'
Foreign Currency Items, Amounts reclassified from AOCL	'	'	'	'
Foreign Currency Items, Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)	-1,135	2,033	-658	-4,994
Foreign Currency Items, Balance at end of period	-21,036	'	-21,036	'
Balance at beginning of period	-116,429	'	-115,449	'
Activity during period:	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications	1,336	'	-69	'
Amounts reclassified from AOCL	4,510	'	4,935	'
Net current period other comprehensive income/(loss)	5,846	3,384	4,866	2,244
Balance at end of period	($110,583)	'	($110,583)	'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
	Rigs		Employees
			Rigs
Other Commitments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Number of semisubmersibles	14	'	14	'
Revenue recognized by drilling contract	$1,041,118,000	$833,212,000	$2,945,310,000	$2,427,759,000
Percentage of uncertain tax positions likelihood of being sustained	'	'	50.00%	'
Physical damage deductible per occurrence on rigs range minimum	'	'	15,000,000	'
Physical damage deductible per occurrence on rigs range maximum	'	'	25,000,000	'
Loss of hire coverage applies only to rigs operating under dayrate	'	'	200,000	'
Number of days waiting period	'	'	'45 days	'
Protection and indemnity policy, standard deductible (per occurrence)	'	'	10,000,000	'
Maximum liability coverage under protection and indemnity policy	'	'	750,000,000	'
Outstanding commitments including shipyard and purchase commitments	2,600,000,000	'	2,600,000,000	'
Years of effectiveness of employment agreements after the termination of employment	'	'	'3 years	'
NIMASA surcharge on contracts performed by "vessels" in Nigerian coastal shipping trade; overturned and dismissed by Federal High Court of Nigeria	'	'	2.00%	'
Percentage of employees contribution to Industrial Training Fund	'	'	1.00%	'
Minimum number of employees In Entity To employer liable for contribution to Industrial Training Fund	'	'	5	'
Contingent Tax Assessment Year from Two Thousand Two to Two Thousand Five [Member]	'	'	'	'
Other Commitments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Removed potential contingent tax exposure settlement in Mexico	'	'	348,000,000	'
Contingent Tax Assessment Year Prior to Two Thousand Seven [Member]	'	'	'	'
Other Commitments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Removed potential contingent tax exposure settlement in Mexico	'	'	502,000,000	'
Customs and Other Business Taxes [Member]	'	'	'	'
Other Commitments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Audit claims, additional attributable to other business tax returns	'	'	300,000,000	'
Marathon Oil Company [Member]	'	'	'	'
Other Commitments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Drilling contract term	'	'	'4 years	'
Revenue recognized by drilling contract	'	'	0	'
Libya [Member]	'	'	'	'
Other Commitments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Number of semisubmersibles	2	'	2	'
Operating dayrate (per day)	'	'	$538,000	'

Segment_and_Related_Informatio2

Segment and Related Information - Summarized Financial Information of Reportable Segment (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from external customers	$1,078,881	$884,032	$3,067,241	$2,580,645	'
Depreciation and amortization	223,711	195,087	642,456	549,779	'
Segment operating income/(loss)	378,381	178,924	862,032	567,062	'
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized	-23,149	-25,635	-75,115	-56,783	'
Income tax (provision)/benefit	-55,830	-25,162	-127,006	-93,107	'
Segment profit/(loss)	281,957	114,774	608,637	394,767	'
Total assets (at end of period)	15,729,331	14,460,406	15,729,331	14,460,406	14,607,774
Contract Drilling Services [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from external customers	1,069,986	860,315	3,022,966	2,519,930	'
Depreciation and amortization	219,695	191,638	631,396	539,698	'
Segment operating income/(loss)	382,475	173,285	861,219	559,713	'
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized	-317	-121	-539	-315	'
Income tax (provision)/benefit	-59,854	-28,307	-138,695	-102,005	'
Segment profit/(loss)	303,617	130,983	669,107	434,561	'
Total assets (at end of period)	15,058,076	13,983,223	15,058,076	13,983,223	'
Other [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues from external customers	8,895	23,717	44,275	60,715	'
Depreciation and amortization	4,016	3,449	11,060	10,081	'
Segment operating income/(loss)	-4,094	5,639	813	7,349	'
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized	-22,832	-25,514	-74,576	-56,468	'
Income tax (provision)/benefit	4,024	3,145	11,689	8,898	'
Segment profit/(loss)	-21,660	-16,209	-60,470	-39,794	'
Total assets (at end of period)	$671,255	$477,183	$671,255	$477,183	'

Net_Change_in_Other_Assets_and2

Net Change in Other Assets and Liabilities - Effect of Changes in Other Assets and Liabilities on Cash Flows from Operating Activities (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating Capital [Line Items]	'	'
Accounts receivable	($92,073)	($163,051)
Other current assets	-50,738	-58,303
Other assets	-8,129	-25,543
Accounts payable	9,357	29,470
Other current liabilities	4,042	76,035
Other liabilities	35,231	70,382
Net change in other assets and liabilities	-102,310	-71,010
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'
Operating Capital [Line Items]	'	'
Accounts receivable	-92,073	-163,051
Other current assets	-49,791	-59,764
Other assets	-8,133	-25,546
Accounts payable	7,830	29,353
Other current liabilities	4,702	79,436
Other liabilities	35,227	64,215
Net change in other assets and liabilities	($102,238)	($75,357)

Guarantees_of_Registered_Secur2

Guarantees of Registered Securities - Guarantor Obligations (Detail) (Noble-Cayman [Member])	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
7.375% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	'NHIL
Guarantor(s)	'Noble-Cayman
3.45% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	'NHIL
Guarantor(s)	'Noble-Cayman
3.05% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	'NHIL
Guarantor(s)	'Noble-Cayman
2.50% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	'NHIL
Guarantor(s)	'Noble-Cayman
7.50% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	'NDC; Noble Drilling Services 6 LLC ("NDS6")
Guarantor(s)	'Noble-Cayman; Noble Holding (U.S.) Coporation ("NHC"); Noble Drilling Holding LLC ("NDH")
4.90% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	'NHIL
Guarantor(s)	'Noble-Cayman
4.625% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	'NHIL
Guarantor(s)	'Noble-Cayman
3.95% Senior Notes Due 2022 [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	'NHIL
Guarantor(s)	'Noble-Cayman
6.20% Senior Notes due 2040 [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	'NHIL
Guarantor(s)	'Noble-Cayman
6.05% Senior Notes Due 2041 [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	'NHIL
Guarantor(s)	'Noble-Cayman
5.25% Senior Notes Due 2042 [Member]	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'
Issuer (Co-Issuer(s))	'NHIL
Guarantor(s)	'Noble-Cayman

Guarantees_of_Registered_Secur3

Guarantees of Registered Securities - Guarantor Obligations (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Feb. 29, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
7.375% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate on the notes	7.38%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2014	'
3.45% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate on the notes	3.45%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2015	'
3.05% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate on the notes	3.05%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2016	'
2.50% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate on the notes	2.50%	2.50%
Senior notes, maturity date	'2017	'2017
7.50% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate on the notes	7.50%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2019	'
4.90% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate on the notes	4.90%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2020	'
4.625% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate on the notes	4.63%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2021	'
3.95% Senior Notes Due 2022 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate on the notes	3.95%	3.95%
Senior notes, maturity date	'2022	'2022
6.20% Senior Notes due 2040 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate on the notes	6.20%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2040	'
6.05% Senior Notes Due 2041 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate on the notes	6.05%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2041	'
5.25% Senior Notes Due 2042 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate on the notes	5.25%	5.25%
Senior notes, maturity date	'2042	'2042
Noble-Cayman [Member] | 7.375% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding principal balance	250	'
Interest rate on the notes	7.38%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2014	'
Noble-Cayman [Member] | 3.45% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding principal balance	350	'
Interest rate on the notes	3.45%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2015	'
Noble-Cayman [Member] | 3.05% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding principal balance	300	'
Interest rate on the notes	3.05%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2016	'
Noble-Cayman [Member] | 2.50% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding principal balance	300	'
Interest rate on the notes	2.50%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2017	'
Noble-Cayman [Member] | 7.50% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding principal balance	202	'
Interest rate on the notes	7.50%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2019	'
Noble-Cayman [Member] | 4.90% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding principal balance	500	'
Interest rate on the notes	4.90%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2020	'
Noble-Cayman [Member] | 4.625% Senior Notes Due 2021 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding principal balance	400	'
Interest rate on the notes	4.63%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2021	'
Noble-Cayman [Member] | 3.95% Senior Notes Due 2022 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding principal balance	400	'
Interest rate on the notes	3.95%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2022	'
Noble-Cayman [Member] | 6.20% Senior Notes due 2040 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding principal balance	400	'
Interest rate on the notes	6.20%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2040	'
Noble-Cayman [Member] | 6.05% Senior Notes Due 2041 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding principal balance	400	'
Interest rate on the notes	6.05%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2041	'
Noble-Cayman [Member] | 5.25% Senior Notes Due 2042 [Member]	'	'
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]	'	'
Outstanding principal balance	500	'
Interest rate on the notes	5.25%	'
Senior notes, maturity date	'2042	'

Guarantees_of_Registered_Secur4

Guarantees of Registered Securities - Summary of Impact of Change in Presentation on Historical Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet and Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Consolidating Adjustments [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

As Adjusted [Member]

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net income

$300,459

$129,680

$661,498

$421,698

'

'

$211,597

$253,086

$173,657

$426,743

$638,340

$280,763

$634,128

$1,023,782

$211,597

$253,086

$173,657

$426,743

$638,340

$280,763

$634,128

$1,023,782

$519,955

($569,368)

($801,090)

($1,823,395)

'

($569,368)

($662,439)

($591,588)

($1,254,027)

($1,823,395)

($1,891,202)

($1,758,285)

($2,963,512)

($569,368)

($662,439)

($591,588)

($1,254,027)

($1,823,395)

($1,891,202)

($1,758,285)

($2,963,512)

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

-18,502

-14,906

-52,861

-26,931

'

'

-14,906

-18,857

6,832

-12,025

-26,931

-33,793

7,273

-3

-22,246

-29,201

-1,196

-30,397

-52,643

-68,969

-15,808

-41,889

15,502

7,340

35,864

25,712

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,340

10,344

8,028

18,372

25,712

35,176

23,081

41,886

Net income attributable to Noble Corporation

281,957

114,774

608,637

394,767

'

'

196,691

234,229

180,489

414,718

611,409

246,970

641,401

1,023,779

189,351

223,885

172,461

396,346

585,697

211,794

618,320

981,893

535,457

-562,028

-765,226

-1,797,683

'

-569,368

-662,439

-591,588

-1,254,027

-1,823,395

-1,891,202

-1,758,285

-2,963,512

-562,028

-652,095

-583,560

-1,235,655

-1,797,683

-1,856,026

-1,735,204

-2,921,626

Total shareholder equity

8,108,559

'

8,108,559

'

7,723,166

'

'

'

'

'

'

9,913,839

9,853,129

'

'

'

'

'

'

9,509,343

9,483,809

'

-34,331,996

'

-34,331,996

'

-29,314,639

'

'

'

'

'

-29,719,135

-28,268,572

'

'

'

'

'

'

-29,314,639

-27,899,252

'

Noncontrolling interests

748,257

'

748,257

'

765,124

'

'

'

'

'

'

765,124

691,331

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,169,620

1,060,651

'

-440,360

'

-440,360

'

-404,496

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-404,496

-369,320

'

Total equity

$8,856,816

$8,389,322

$8,856,816

$8,389,322

$8,488,290

$8,097,852

'

'

'

'

'

$10,678,963

$10,544,460

'

'

'

'

'

'

$10,678,963

$10,544,460

'

($34,772,356)

'

($34,772,356)

'

($29,719,135)

'

'

'

'

'

($29,719,135)

($28,268,572)

'

'

'

'

'

'

($29,719,135)

($28,268,572)

'

Guarantees_of_Registered_Secur5

Guarantees of Registered Securities - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$178,370	$282,092	$218,467	$239,196
Accounts receivable	865,746	743,673	'	'
Taxes receivable	143,635	112,423	'	'
Prepaid expenses	52,752	43,962	'	'
Other current assets	134,500	123,175	'	'
Total current assets	1,375,003	1,305,325	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost	18,606,931	16,971,666	'	'
Accumulated depreciation	-4,534,474	-3,945,694	'	'
Property and equipment, net	14,072,457	13,025,972	'	'
Other assets	281,871	276,477	'	'
Total assets	15,729,331	14,607,774	14,460,406	'
Current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable	318,013	350,147	'	'
Accrued payroll and related costs	137,481	132,728	'	'
Taxes payable	134,318	135,257	'	'
Other current liabilities	202,422	226,948	'	'
Total current liabilities	984,586	911,449	'	'
Long-term debt	5,307,838	4,634,375	'	'
Deferred income taxes	187,648	226,045	'	'
Other liabilities	392,443	347,615	'	'
Total liabilities	6,872,515	6,119,484	'	'
Commitments and contingencies	'	'	'	'
Total shareholder equity	8,108,559	7,723,166	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	748,257	765,124	'	'
Total equity	8,856,816	8,488,290	8,389,322	8,097,852
Total liabilities and equity	15,729,331	14,607,774	'	'
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	5	1,003	'	146
Accounts receivable	'	'	'	'
Taxes receivable	'	'	'	'
Prepaid expenses	'	'	'	'
Short-term notes receivable from affiliates	'	'	'	'
Accounts receivable from affiliates	978,461	664,375	'	'
Other current assets	'	235	'	'
Total current assets	978,466	665,613	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost	'	'	'	'
Accumulated depreciation	'	'	'	'
Property and equipment, net	'	'	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	3,816,463	3,816,463	'	'
Investments in affiliates	8,507,009	7,770,066	'	'
Other assets	6,144	5,798	'	'
Total assets	13,308,082	12,257,940	'	'
Current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Short-term notes payables from affiliates	78,016	90,314	'	'
Accounts payable	'	'	'	'
Accrued payroll and related costs	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable to affiliates	1,061,152	900,063	'	'
Taxes payable	'	'	'	'
Other current liabilities	496	1,594	'	'
Total current liabilities	1,139,664	991,971	'	'
Long-term debt	1,312,864	639,794	'	'
Notes payable to affiliates	2,557,787	2,840,287	'	'
Deferred income taxes	'	'	'	'
Other liabilities	19,930	19,930	'	'
Total liabilities	5,030,245	4,491,982	'	'
Commitments and contingencies	'	'	'	'
Total shareholder equity	8,277,837	7,765,958	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'
Total equity	8,277,837	7,765,958	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	13,308,082	12,257,940	'	'
NHC and NDH Combined [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	123	904	435	385
Accounts receivable	59,250	14,885	'	'
Taxes receivable	41,407	8,341	'	'
Prepaid expenses	749	396	'	'
Short-term notes receivable from affiliates	869,476	119,476	'	'
Accounts receivable from affiliates	157,252	140,014	'	'
Other current assets	4,418	639	'	'
Total current assets	1,132,675	284,655	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost	2,518,896	2,735,223	'	'
Accumulated depreciation	-328,045	-283,028	'	'
Property and equipment, net	2,190,851	2,452,195	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	675,000	1,206,000	'	'
Investments in affiliates	12,100,603	9,170,923	'	'
Other assets	5,266	320	'	'
Total assets	16,104,395	13,114,093	'	'
Current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Short-term notes payables from affiliates	127,036	51,054	'	'
Accounts payable	4,338	6,522	'	'
Accrued payroll and related costs	8,085	6,176	'	'
Accounts payable to affiliates	4,998,213	4,806,235	'	'
Taxes payable	13,434	9,152	'	'
Other current liabilities	5,270	'	'	'
Total current liabilities	5,156,376	4,879,139	'	'
Long-term debt	'	'	'	'
Notes payable to affiliates	586,979	648,475	'	'
Deferred income taxes	'	'	'	'
Other liabilities	23,106	17,815	'	'
Total liabilities	5,766,461	5,545,429	'	'
Commitments and contingencies	'	'	'	'
Total shareholder equity	10,337,934	7,568,664	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'
Total equity	10,337,934	7,568,664	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	16,104,395	13,114,093	'	'
NDC [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	'	'	'	'
Accounts receivable	3,388	3,335	'	'
Taxes receivable	'	'	'	'
Prepaid expenses	8	9	'	'
Short-term notes receivable from affiliates	'	'	'	'
Accounts receivable from affiliates	1,154,776	1,015,204	'	'
Other current assets	196	196	'	'
Total current assets	1,158,368	1,018,744	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost	77,253	76,428	'	'
Accumulated depreciation	-61,592	-58,411	'	'
Property and equipment, net	15,661	18,017	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	'	'	'	'
Investments in affiliates	3,310,205	3,386,879	'	'
Other assets	266	543	'	'
Total assets	4,484,500	4,424,183	'	'
Current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Short-term notes payables from affiliates	114,149	110,770	'	'
Accounts payable	537	1,183	'	'
Accrued payroll and related costs	8,865	7,611	'	'
Accounts payable to affiliates	3,908	5,444	'	'
Taxes payable	9	'	'	'
Other current liabilities	240	240	'	'
Total current liabilities	127,708	125,248	'	'
Long-term debt	'	'	'	'
Notes payable to affiliates	'	'	'	'
Deferred income taxes	15,731	15,731	'	'
Other liabilities	'	'	'	'
Total liabilities	143,439	140,979	'	'
Commitments and contingencies	'	'	'	'
Total shareholder equity	4,341,061	4,283,204	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'
Total equity	4,341,061	4,283,204	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	4,484,500	4,424,183	'	'
NHIL [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	8	2	19	'
Accounts receivable	'	'	'	'
Taxes receivable	'	'	'	'
Prepaid expenses	'	'	'	'
Short-term notes receivable from affiliates	'	'	'	'
Accounts receivable from affiliates	172,379	526,483	'	'
Other current assets	'	'	'	'
Total current assets	172,387	526,485	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost	'	'	'	'
Accumulated depreciation	'	'	'	'
Property and equipment, net	'	'	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	3,524,814	3,524,814	'	'
Investments in affiliates	8,521,927	7,413,361	'	'
Other assets	23,395	25,895	'	'
Total assets	12,242,523	11,490,555	'	'
Current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Short-term notes payables from affiliates	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable	'	'	'	'
Accrued payroll and related costs	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable to affiliates	236,008	165,065	'	'
Taxes payable	'	'	'	'
Other current liabilities	17,128	62,430	'	'
Total current liabilities	253,136	227,495	'	'
Long-term debt	3,793,279	3,792,886	'	'
Notes payable to affiliates	975,000	975,000	'	'
Deferred income taxes	'	'	'	'
Other liabilities	'	'	'	'
Total liabilities	5,021,415	4,995,381	'	'
Commitments and contingencies	'	'	'	'
Total shareholder equity	7,221,108	6,495,174	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'
Total equity	7,221,108	6,495,174	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	12,242,523	11,490,555	'	'
NDS6 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	'	'	'	'
Accounts receivable	'	'	'	'
Taxes receivable	'	'	'	'
Prepaid expenses	'	'	'	'
Short-term notes receivable from affiliates	606,269	586,769	'	'
Accounts receivable from affiliates	65,991	38,895	'	'
Other current assets	'	'	'	'
Total current assets	672,260	625,664	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost	'	'	'	'
Accumulated depreciation	'	'	'	'
Property and equipment, net	'	'	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	5,000	479,107	'	'
Investments in affiliates	2,332,612	1,977,906	'	'
Other assets	668	759	'	'
Total assets	3,010,540	3,083,436	'	'
Current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Short-term notes payables from affiliates	750,000	'	'	'
Accounts payable	'	'	'	'
Accrued payroll and related costs	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable to affiliates	77,296	77,075	'	'
Taxes payable	'	'	'	'
Other current liabilities	630	4,412	'	'
Total current liabilities	827,926	81,487	'	'
Long-term debt	201,695	201,695	'	'
Notes payable to affiliates	811,000	1,342,000	'	'
Deferred income taxes	'	'	'	'
Other liabilities	'	'	'	'
Total liabilities	1,840,621	1,625,182	'	'
Commitments and contingencies	'	'	'	'
Total shareholder equity	1,169,919	1,458,254	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'
Total equity	1,169,919	1,458,254	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	3,010,540	3,083,436	'	'
Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	173,581	275,466	213,227	234,525
Accounts receivable	803,108	725,453	'	'
Taxes receivable	101,831	103,969	'	'
Prepaid expenses	48,572	40,827	'	'
Short-term notes receivable from affiliates	319,201	252,138	'	'
Accounts receivable from affiliates	6,311,688	5,855,066	'	'
Other current assets	129,390	121,579	'	'
Total current assets	7,887,371	7,374,498	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost	15,973,482	14,123,496	'	'
Accumulated depreciation	-4,136,365	-3,597,079	'	'
Property and equipment, net	11,837,117	10,526,417	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	1,827,879	2,171,875	'	'
Investments in affiliates	'	'	'	'
Other assets	246,217	243,243	'	'
Total assets	21,798,584	20,316,033	'	'
Current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Short-term notes payables from affiliates	725,745	706,245	'	'
Accounts payable	311,058	341,889	'	'
Accrued payroll and related costs	112,220	110,149	'	'
Accounts payable to affiliates	2,463,970	2,286,155	'	'
Taxes payable	116,628	121,692	'	'
Other current liabilities	178,658	158,259	'	'
Total current liabilities	3,908,279	3,724,389	'	'
Long-term debt	'	'	'	'
Notes payable to affiliates	4,918,390	5,392,497	'	'
Deferred income taxes	171,917	210,314	'	'
Other liabilities	349,407	309,870	'	'
Total liabilities	9,347,993	9,637,070	'	'
Commitments and contingencies	'	'	'	'
Total shareholder equity	11,261,974	9,509,343	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	1,188,617	1,169,620	'	'
Total equity	12,450,591	10,678,963	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	21,798,584	20,316,033	'	'
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	'	'	'	'
Accounts receivable	'	'	'	'
Taxes receivable	'	'	'	'
Prepaid expenses	'	'	'	'
Short-term notes receivable from affiliates	-1,794,946	-958,383	'	'
Accounts receivable from affiliates	-8,840,547	-8,240,037	'	'
Other current assets	'	'	'	'
Total current assets	-10,635,493	-9,198,420	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost	'	'	'	'
Accumulated depreciation	'	'	'	'
Property and equipment, net	'	'	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	-9,849,156	-11,198,259	'	'
Investments in affiliates	-34,772,356	-29,719,135	'	'
Other assets	'	'	'	'
Total assets	-55,257,005	-50,115,814	'	'
Current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Short-term notes payables from affiliates	-1,794,946	-958,383	'	'
Accounts payable	'	'	'	'
Accrued payroll and related costs	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable to affiliates	-8,840,547	-8,240,037	'	'
Taxes payable	'	'	'	'
Other current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Total current liabilities	-10,635,493	-9,198,420	'	'
Long-term debt	'	'	'	'
Notes payable to affiliates	-9,849,156	-11,198,259	'	'
Deferred income taxes	'	'	'	'
Other liabilities	'	'	'	'
Total liabilities	-20,484,649	-20,396,679	'	'
Commitments and contingencies	'	'	'	'
Total shareholder equity	-34,331,996	-29,314,639	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	-440,360	-404,496	'	'
Total equity	-34,772,356	-29,719,135	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	-55,257,005	-50,115,814	'	'
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	173,717	277,375	213,681	235,056
Accounts receivable	865,746	743,673	'	'
Taxes receivable	143,238	112,310	'	'
Prepaid expenses	49,329	41,232	'	'
Short-term notes receivable from affiliates	'	'	'	'
Accounts receivable from affiliates	'	'	'	'
Other current assets	134,004	122,649	'	'
Total current assets	1,366,034	1,297,239	'	'
Property and equipment, at cost	18,569,631	16,935,147	'	'
Accumulated depreciation	-4,526,002	-3,938,518	'	'
Property and equipment, net	14,043,629	12,996,629	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	'	'	'	'
Investments in affiliates	'	'	'	'
Other assets	281,956	276,558	'	'
Total assets	15,691,619	14,570,426	'	'
Current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Short-term notes payables from affiliates	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable	315,933	349,594	'	'
Accrued payroll and related costs	129,170	123,936	'	'
Accounts payable to affiliates	'	'	'	'
Taxes payable	130,071	130,844	'	'
Other current liabilities	202,422	226,935	'	'
Total current liabilities	777,596	831,309	'	'
Long-term debt	5,307,838	4,634,375	'	'
Notes payable to affiliates	'	'	'	'
Deferred income taxes	187,648	226,045	'	'
Other liabilities	392,443	347,615	'	'
Total liabilities	6,665,525	6,039,344	'	'
Commitments and contingencies	'	'	'	'
Total shareholder equity	8,277,837	7,765,958	'	'
Noncontrolling interest	748,257	765,124	'	'
Total equity	9,026,094	8,531,082	8,468,426	8,073,633
Total liabilities and equity	$15,691,619	$14,570,426	'	'

Guarantees_of_Registered_Secur6

Guarantees of Registered Securities - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	$1,041,118	$833,212	$2,945,310	$2,427,759
Reimbursables	29,242	28,137	78,676	94,090
Labor contract drilling services	8,493	22,667	43,150	58,538
Total operating revenues	1,078,881	884,032	3,067,241	2,580,645
Operating costs and expenses	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	488,250	449,125	1,464,320	1,292,638
Reimbursables	23,671	21,047	61,294	76,618
Labor contract drilling services	8,153	12,991	29,804	34,070
Depreciation and amortization	223,711	195,087	642,456	549,779
General and administrative	33,776	26,858	86,196	75,388
Loss on impairment	3,585	0	3,585	18,345
Gain on disposal of assets, net	-35,646	'	'	'
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net	-45,000	0	-46,800	-33,255
Total operating costs and expenses	700,500	705,108	2,205,209	2,013,583
Operating income (loss)	378,381	178,924	862,032	567,062
Other income (expense)	'	'	'	'
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	-23,149	-25,635	-75,115	-56,783
Interest income and other, net	1,057	1,553	1,587	4,526
Income before income taxes	356,289	154,842	788,504	514,805
Income tax provision	-55,830	-25,162	-127,006	-93,107
Net income	300,459	129,680	661,498	421,698
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-18,502	-14,906	-52,861	-26,931
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	281,957	114,774	608,637	394,767
Other comprehensive income, net	5,846	3,384	4,866	2,244
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	287,803	118,158	613,503	397,011
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Reimbursables	'	'	'	'
Labor contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Other	'	'	'	'
Total operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Operating costs and expenses	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	1,665	1,355	3,600	3,794
Reimbursables	'	'	'	'
Labor contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'
General and administrative	252	426	1,544	1,237
Loss on impairment	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposal of assets, net	'	'	'	'
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net	-45,000	'	-45,000	'
Total operating costs and expenses	-43,083	1,781	-39,856	5,031
Operating income (loss)	43,083	-1,781	39,856	-5,031
Other income (expense)	'	'	'	'
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax	301,048	162,311	736,942	515,132
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	-34,941	-30,496	-105,720	-76,396
Interest income and other, net	1,664	1,689	4,941	5,640
Income before income taxes	310,854	131,723	676,019	439,345
Income tax provision	'	'	'	'
Net income	310,854	131,723	676,019	439,345
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	310,854	131,723	676,019	439,345
Other comprehensive income, net	5,846	3,384	4,866	2,244
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	316,700	135,107	680,885	441,589
NHC and NDH Combined [Member]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	67,831	36,149	201,101	117,488
Reimbursables	1,796	389	5,117	6,199
Labor contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Other	'	'	'	'
Total operating revenues	69,627	36,538	206,218	123,687
Operating costs and expenses	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	24,776	13,948	61,079	42,642
Reimbursables	1,509	216	4,332	5,641
Labor contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	15,937	15,500	46,120	45,577
General and administrative	831	1,447	4,845	4,258
Loss on impairment	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposal of assets, net	'	'	'	'
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net	'	'	'	-4,869
Total operating costs and expenses	43,053	31,111	116,376	93,249
Operating income (loss)	26,574	5,427	89,842	30,438
Other income (expense)	'	'	'	'
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax	189,686	69,069	392,101	358,234
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	-5,604	-8,964	-18,604	-37,881
Interest income and other, net	20,354	11,080	42,205	29,771
Income before income taxes	231,010	76,612	505,544	380,562
Income tax provision	-51,021	-8,639	-41,278	-30,902
Net income	179,989	67,973	464,266	349,660
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	179,989	67,973	464,266	349,660
Other comprehensive income, net	'	'	'	'
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	179,989	67,973	464,266	349,660
NDC [Member]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	5,126	5,061	15,135	14,941
Reimbursables	'	'	'	'
Labor contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Other	'	'	'	'
Total operating revenues	5,126	5,061	15,135	14,941
Operating costs and expenses	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	2,231	1,919	5,842	5,529
Reimbursables	'	'	'	'
Labor contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	1,174	1,181	3,377	3,278
General and administrative	'	'	1	'
Loss on impairment	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposal of assets, net	'	'	'	'
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net	'	'	'	'
Total operating costs and expenses	3,405	3,100	9,220	8,807
Operating income (loss)	1,721	1,961	5,915	6,134
Other income (expense)	'	'	'	'
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax	40,619	36,463	53,787	92,343
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	-503	-852	-1,842	-3,040
Interest income and other, net	-7	9	-7	4
Income before income taxes	41,830	37,581	57,853	95,441
Income tax provision	'	'	'	'
Net income	41,830	37,581	57,853	95,441
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	41,830	37,581	57,853	95,441
Other comprehensive income, net	'	'	'	'
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	41,830	37,581	57,853	95,441
NHIL [Member]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Reimbursables	'	'	'	'
Labor contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Other	'	'	'	'
Total operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Operating costs and expenses	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	29,339	19,636	79,188	56,048
Reimbursables	'	'	'	'
Labor contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'
General and administrative	2,672	9,700	20,788	28,137
Loss on impairment	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposal of assets, net	'	'	'	'
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net	'	'	'	'
Total operating costs and expenses	32,011	29,336	99,976	84,185
Operating income (loss)	-32,011	-29,336	-99,976	-84,185
Other income (expense)	'	'	'	'
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax	330,102	172,364	796,217	583,122
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	-32,646	-33,509	-99,911	-83,975
Interest income and other, net	44,809	37,430	129,601	99,609
Income before income taxes	310,254	146,949	725,931	514,571
Income tax provision	'	'	'	'
Net income	310,254	146,949	725,931	514,571
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	310,254	146,949	725,931	514,571
Other comprehensive income, net	'	'	'	'
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	310,254	146,949	725,931	514,571
NDS6 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Reimbursables	'	'	'	'
Labor contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Other	'	'	'	'
Total operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Operating costs and expenses	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Reimbursables	'	'	'	'
Labor contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'
General and administrative	'	1	1	1
Loss on impairment	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposal of assets, net	'	'	'	'
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net	'	'	'	'
Total operating costs and expenses	'	1	1	1
Operating income (loss)	'	-1	-1	-1
Other income (expense)	'	'	'	'
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax	-1,381,410	129,161	-1,177,957	274,564
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	-14,998	-11,832	-38,388	-31,020
Interest income and other, net	1,524,744	2,846	1,537,410	8,771
Income before income taxes	128,336	120,174	321,064	252,314
Income tax provision	'	'	'	'
Net income	128,336	120,174	321,064	252,314
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	'	'	'
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	128,336	120,174	321,064	252,314
Other comprehensive income, net	'	'	'	'
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	128,336	120,174	321,064	252,314
Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	991,221	809,858	2,795,505	2,352,618
Reimbursables	27,446	27,748	73,559	87,891
Labor contract drilling services	8,493	22,667	43,150	58,538
Other	28	16	105	1,190
Total operating revenues	1,027,188	860,289	2,912,319	2,500,237
Operating costs and expenses	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	451,162	425,223	1,364,841	1,231,176
Reimbursables	22,162	20,831	56,962	70,977
Labor contract drilling services	8,153	12,991	29,804	34,070
Depreciation and amortization	206,065	177,914	591,662	499,416
General and administrative	3,496	3,913	10,503	11,331
Loss on impairment	3,585	'	3,585	18,345
Gain on disposal of assets, net	-35,646	'	-35,646	'
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net	'	'	-1,800	-28,386
Total operating costs and expenses	658,977	640,872	2,019,911	1,836,929
Operating income (loss)	368,211	219,417	892,408	663,308
Other income (expense)	'	'	'	'
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax	'	'	'	'
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	-1,548,475	-20,221	-1,595,902	-60,193
Interest income and other, net	22,869	28,546	72,285	96,295
Income before income taxes	-1,157,395	227,742	-631,209	699,410
Income tax provision	-4,467	-16,145	-83,954	-61,070
Net income	-1,161,862	211,597	-715,163	638,340
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-34,004	-22,246	-88,725	-52,643
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	-1,195,866	189,351	-803,888	585,697
Other comprehensive income, net	5,846	3,384	4,866	2,244
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	-1,190,020	192,735	-799,022	587,941
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	-23,060	-17,856	-66,431	-57,288
Reimbursables	'	'	'	'
Labor contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Other	'	'	'	-932
Total operating revenues	-23,060	-17,856	-66,431	-58,220
Operating costs and expenses	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	-23,060	-17,856	-66,431	-58,220
Reimbursables	'	'	'	'
Labor contract drilling services	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'
General and administrative	'	'	'	'
Loss on impairment	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposal of assets, net	'	'	'	'
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net	'	'	'	'
Total operating costs and expenses	-23,060	-17,856	-66,431	-58,220
Operating income (loss)	'	'	'	'
Other income (expense)	'	'	'	'
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax	519,955	-569,368	-801,090	-1,823,395
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	1,614,018	80,239	1,785,252	235,722
Interest income and other, net	-1,614,018	-80,239	-1,785,252	-235,722
Income before income taxes	519,955	-569,368	-801,090	-1,823,395
Income tax provision	'	'	'	'
Net income	519,955	-569,368	-801,090	-1,823,395
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	15,502	7,340	35,864	25,712
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	535,457	-562,028	-765,226	-1,797,683
Other comprehensive income, net	-5,846	-3,384	-4,866	-2,244
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	529,611	-565,412	-770,092	-1,799,927
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	1,041,118	833,212	2,945,310	2,427,759
Reimbursables	29,242	28,137	78,676	94,090
Labor contract drilling services	8,493	22,667	43,150	58,538
Other	28	16	105	258
Total operating revenues	1,078,881	884,032	3,067,241	2,580,645
Operating costs and expenses	'	'	'	'
Contract drilling services	486,113	444,225	1,448,119	1,280,969
Reimbursables	23,671	21,047	61,294	76,618
Labor contract drilling services	8,153	12,991	29,804	34,070
Depreciation and amortization	223,176	194,595	641,159	548,271
General and administrative	7,251	15,487	37,682	44,964
Loss on impairment	3,585	0	3,585	18,345
Gain on disposal of assets, net	-35,646	'	-35,646	'
Gain on contract settlements/extinguishments, net	-45,000	0	-46,800	-33,255
Total operating costs and expenses	671,303	688,345	2,139,197	1,969,982
Operating income (loss)	407,578	195,687	928,044	610,663
Other income (expense)	'	'	'	'
Equity earnings in affiliates, net of tax	'	'	'	'
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	-23,149	-25,635	-75,115	-56,783
Interest income and other, net	415	1,361	1,183	4,368
Income before income taxes	384,844	171,413	854,112	558,248
Income tax provision	-55,488	-24,784	-125,232	-91,972
Net income	329,356	146,629	728,880	466,276
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-18,502	-14,906	-52,861	-26,931
Net income attributable to Noble Corporation	310,854	131,723	676,019	439,345
Other comprehensive income, net	5,846	3,384	4,866	2,244
Comprehensive income attributable to Noble Corporation	$316,700	$135,107	$680,885	$441,589

Guarantees_of_Registered_Secur7

Guarantees of Registered Securities - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net cash from operating activities	$1,161,654	$931,504
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
Proceeds from disposal of assets	61,000	0
Net cash from investing activities	-1,730,673	-1,442,183
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	973,055	-630,000
Repayment of long-term debt	-300,000	0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	0	1,186,636
Contributions from joint venture partner	0	40,000
Financing costs on credit facilities	-2,432	-5,014
Net cash from financing activities	465,297	489,950
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-103,722	-20,729
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	282,092	239,196
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	178,370	218,467
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net cash from operating activities	-79,174	-59,614
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
New construction and capital expenditures	'	'
Proceeds from disposal of assets	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	'	'
Net cash from investing activities	'	'
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	973,055	-630,000
Repayment of long-term debt	-300,000	'
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	'	'
Contributions from joint venture partner	'	'
Financing costs on credit facilities	-2,432	-5,014
Dividends paid to joint venture partner	'	'
Distributions to parent company, net	-187,610	-129,139
Advances (to) from affiliates	-110,039	-364,666
Notes payable to affiliates	-294,798	1,188,287
Net cash from financing activities	78,176	59,468
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-998	-146
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,003	146
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	5	'
NHC and NDH Combined [Member]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net cash from operating activities	46,344	7,563
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
New construction and capital expenditures	-1,070,669	-499,141
Proceeds from disposal of assets	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	'	'
Net cash from investing activities	-1,070,669	-499,141
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	'	'
Repayment of long-term debt	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	'	'
Contributions from joint venture partner	'	'
Financing costs on credit facilities	'	'
Dividends paid to joint venture partner	'	'
Distributions to parent company, net	'	'
Advances (to) from affiliates	1,023,544	491,628
Notes payable to affiliates	'	'
Net cash from financing activities	1,023,544	491,628
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-781	50
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	904	385
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	123	435
NDC [Member]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net cash from operating activities	8,285	8,989
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
New construction and capital expenditures	-559	-1,040
Proceeds from disposal of assets	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	'	'
Net cash from investing activities	-559	-1,040
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	'	'
Repayment of long-term debt	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	'	'
Contributions from joint venture partner	'	'
Financing costs on credit facilities	'	'
Dividends paid to joint venture partner	'	'
Distributions to parent company, net	'	'
Advances (to) from affiliates	-7,726	-7,949
Notes payable to affiliates	'	'
Net cash from financing activities	-7,726	-7,949
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	'	'
NHIL [Member]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net cash from operating activities	-113,088	-107,638
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
New construction and capital expenditures	'	'
Proceeds from disposal of assets	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	'	-1,188,287
Net cash from investing activities	'	-1,188,287
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	'	'
Repayment of long-term debt	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	'	1,186,636
Contributions from joint venture partner	'	'
Financing costs on credit facilities	'	'
Dividends paid to joint venture partner	'	'
Distributions to parent company, net	'	'
Advances (to) from affiliates	113,094	109,308
Notes payable to affiliates	'	'
Net cash from financing activities	113,094	1,295,944
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	6	19
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	2	'
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	8	19
NDS6 [Member]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net cash from operating activities	1,495,330	-25,942
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
New construction and capital expenditures	'	'
Proceeds from disposal of assets	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	'	'
Net cash from investing activities	'	'
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	'	'
Repayment of long-term debt	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	'	'
Contributions from joint venture partner	'	'
Financing costs on credit facilities	'	'
Dividends paid to joint venture partner	'	'
Distributions to parent company, net	'	'
Advances (to) from affiliates	-1,495,330	25,942
Notes payable to affiliates	'	'
Net cash from financing activities	-1,495,330	25,942
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	'	'
Other Non-guarantor Subsidiaries of Noble [Member]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net cash from operating activities	-144,753	1,133,499
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
New construction and capital expenditures	-719,659	-940,534
Proceeds from disposal of assets	61,000	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	294,798	'
Net cash from investing activities	-363,861	-940,534
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	'	'
Repayment of long-term debt	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	'	'
Contributions from joint venture partner	'	40,000
Financing costs on credit facilities	'	'
Dividends paid to joint venture partner	-69,728	'
Distributions to parent company, net	'	'
Advances (to) from affiliates	476,457	-254,263
Notes payable to affiliates	'	'
Net cash from financing activities	406,729	-214,263
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-101,885	-21,298
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	275,466	234,525
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	173,581	213,227
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net cash from operating activities	'	'
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
New construction and capital expenditures	'	'
Proceeds from disposal of assets	'	'
Notes receivable from affiliates	-294,798	1,188,287
Net cash from investing activities	-294,798	1,188,287
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	'	'
Repayment of long-term debt	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	'	'
Contributions from joint venture partner	'	'
Financing costs on credit facilities	'	'
Dividends paid to joint venture partner	'	'
Distributions to parent company, net	'	'
Advances (to) from affiliates	'	'
Notes payable to affiliates	294,798	-1,188,287
Net cash from financing activities	294,798	-1,188,287
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	'	'
Noble-Cayman [Member]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net cash from operating activities	1,212,944	956,857
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
New construction and capital expenditures	-1,790,887	-1,440,715
Proceeds from disposal of assets	61,000	0
Notes receivable from affiliates	'	'
Net cash from investing activities	-1,729,887	-1,440,715
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Net change in borrowings outstanding on bank credit facilities	973,055	-630,000
Repayment of long-term debt	-300,000	0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	0	1,186,636
Contributions from joint venture partner	0	40,000
Financing costs on credit facilities	-2,432	-5,014
Dividends paid to joint venture partner	-69,728	'
Distributions to parent company, net	-187,610	-129,139
Advances (to) from affiliates	'	'
Notes payable to affiliates	'	'
Net cash from financing activities	413,285	462,483
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-103,658	-21,375
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	277,375	235,056
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$173,717	$213,681