Derivative Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Derivative [Line Items]
Other receivables	$ 69	$ 30
Derivative collateral held		75
Accrued Derivative Settlements [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Other receivables		$ 236

Amount of cash or cash-equivalent collateral held as credit support for obligations of counterparties to financial derivative contracts and that has not been offset against financial derivative assets.

No definition available.

Name:	dvn_DerivativeCollateralHeld
Namespace Prefix:	dvn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant