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Property, Plant and Equipment - Property, Plant and Equipment (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, plant and equipment Gross $ 5,405us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross $ 5,212us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
Less: Accumulated Depreciation (2,043)us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment (1,804)us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Property, plant and equipment, net 3,362us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet 3,408us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Land and building [Member]    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, plant and equipment Gross 1,528us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandAndBuildingMember
1,494us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandAndBuildingMember
Estimated Useful Lives 5-35 Years  
Operating equipment [Member]    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, plant and equipment Gross 3,060us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= nov_OperatingEquipmentMember
2,960us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= nov_OperatingEquipmentMember
Estimated Useful Lives 3-15 Years  
Rental equipment [Member]    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, plant and equipment Gross $ 817us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= nov_RentalEquipmentMember
$ 758us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= nov_RentalEquipmentMember
Estimated Useful Lives 3-12 Years