Segment information (Condensed Statements Of Comprehensive Earnings And Balance Sheets Of Reportable Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	$ 3,265	$ 3,725
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	930	739
Interest expense	119	115
Asset impairments	5,460
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(5,624)	560
Income tax expense (benefit)	(2,035)	231
Net earnings (loss)	(3,589)	329
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	10	5
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	(3,599)	324
Property and equipment, net	31,455	37,429	36,296
Total assets	45,342	52,765	50,637
Capital expenditures	2,082	7,613
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	(12)	(9)
Total assets	(102)	(58)	(124)
Eliminations [Member] | Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	(156)	(298)
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments	1
Revenues from external customers	2,264	2,616
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	713	497
Interest expense	87	100
Asset impairments	5,460
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(5,487)	396
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1,993)	186
Net earnings (loss)	(3,494)	210
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	(3,494)	210
Property and equipment, net	19,851	24,857	24,572
Total assets	26,926	30,085	32,147
Capital expenditures	1,369	7,089
Canada [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	221	684
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	127	194
Interest expense	25	19
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(172)	92
Income tax expense (benefit)	(53)	21
Net earnings (loss)	(119)	71
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	(119)	71
Property and equipment, net	6,281	8,369	6,790
Total assets	7,625	13,384	8,517
Capital expenditures	224	442
General Partner And EnLink [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	780	425
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	90	48
Interest expense	19	5
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	35	72
Income tax expense (benefit)	11	24
Net earnings (loss)	24	48
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	10	5
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	14	43
Property and equipment, net	5,323	4,203	4,934
Total assets	10,893	9,354	10,097
Capital expenditures	489	82
General Partner And EnLink [Member] | Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	$ 156	$ 298