Segment information (Condensed Statements Of Comprehensive Earnings And Balance Sheets Of Reportable Segments) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	$ 2,126	$ 3,265
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	542	930
Interest expense	165	119
Asset impairments	3,035	5,460
Restructuring and transaction costs	247
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(3,685)	(5,624)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(217)	(2,035)
Net earnings (loss)	(3,468)	(3,589)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(412)	10
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	(3,056)	(3,599)
Property and equipment, net	19,264	31,455	$ 19,068
Total assets	28,637	45,274	$ 29,451
Capital expenditures, including acquisitions	2,519	2,082
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	(20)	(12)
Total assets	(79)	(102)
Eliminations [Member] | Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	$ (183)	(156)
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment	1
United States [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	$ 1,302	2,260
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	311	712
Interest expense	107	87
Asset impairments	1,608	5,460
Restructuring and transaction costs	236
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(2,065)	(5,488)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(5)	(1,993)
Net earnings (loss)	(2,060)	(3,495)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	(2,060)	(3,495)
Property and equipment, net	8,901	19,718
Total assets	13,717	26,751
Capital expenditures, including acquisitions	1,893	1,344
Canada [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	117	221
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	109	127
Interest expense	34	25
Asset impairments	554
Restructuring and transaction costs	6
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(749)	(172)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(208)	(53)
Net earnings (loss)	(541)	(119)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	(541)	(119)
Property and equipment, net	4,246	6,281
Total assets	4,933	7,618
Capital expenditures, including acquisitions	81	224
General Partner And EnLink [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	707	784
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	122	91
Interest expense	44	19
Asset impairments	873
Restructuring and transaction costs	5
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(871)	36
Income tax expense (benefit)	(4)	11
Net earnings (loss)	(867)	25
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(412)	10
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	(455)	15
Property and equipment, net	6,117	5,456
Total assets	10,066	11,007
Capital expenditures, including acquisitions	545	514
General Partner And EnLink [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	$ 183	$ 156