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Acquisitions and Investments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Aggregate purchase price of acquisitions $ 291us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired $ 2,397us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired $ 1,767us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
Goodwill 8,539us-gaap_Goodwill 9,049us-gaap_Goodwill 7,172us-gaap_Goodwill
Weighted average life 5 years    
Goodwill [Member]      
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Intangible assets     1,000nov_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_GoodwillMember
Other Investments [Member]      
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Aggregate purchase price of acquisitions   19us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_OtherInvestmentCompaniesMember
 
All Other Acquisitions [Member]      
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Acquisitions completed 10us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= nov_OtherAcquisitionsMember
  17us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= nov_OtherAcquisitionsMember
Aggregate purchase price of acquisitions 291us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= nov_OtherAcquisitionsMember
2,378us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= nov_OtherAcquisitionsMember
2,880us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= nov_OtherAcquisitionsMember
Intangible assets 59nov_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= nov_OtherAcquisitionsMember
894nov_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= nov_OtherAcquisitionsMember
981nov_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= nov_OtherAcquisitionsMember
Goodwill 167us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= nov_OtherAcquisitionsMember
   
Share holder received in cash per share   $ 60.00nov_BusinessAcquisitionCashPerSharePaidToShareholders
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= nov_OtherAcquisitionsMember
 
Weighted average life   19 years 18 years
Customer relationships [Member]      
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Intangible assets   635nov_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
473nov_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Weighted average life   18 years 20 years
Patents [Member]      
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Intangible assets   170nov_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_PatentsMember
 
Weighted average life   20 years  
Trademarks [Member]      
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Intangible assets   86nov_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TrademarksMember
159nov_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TrademarksMember
Weighted average life   20 years 16 years
Other Intangible Assets [Member]      
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]      
Intangible assets   $ 3nov_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
$ 348nov_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
Weighted average life   1 year 17 years