Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Earnings - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Upstream revenues	$ 1,527	$ 314
Revenues	$ 560	$ 765
Type of Revenue [Extensible List]	us-gaap:NaturalGasGatheringTransportationMarketingAndProcessingMember	us-gaap:NaturalGasGatheringTransportationMarketingAndProcessingMember
Total revenues	$ 2,087	$ 1,079
Production expenses	318	283
Exploration expenses	112	4
Expenses	$ 578	$ 750
Type of Cost, Good or Service [Extensible List]	us-gaap:NaturalGasGatheringTransportationMarketingAndProcessingMember	us-gaap:NaturalGasGatheringTransportationMarketingAndProcessingMember
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	$ 401	$ 360
Asset impairments	2,666
Asset dispositions		(45)
General and administrative expenses	102	135
Financing costs, net	65	60
Restructuring and transaction costs		51
Other expenses	(48)	(22)
Total expenses	4,194	1,576
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(2,107)	(497)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(417)	(119)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(1,690)	(378)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(125)	61
Net earnings (loss)	(1,815)	(317)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	1
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	$ (1,816)	$ (317)
Basic net earnings (loss) per share:
Basic earnings (loss) from continuing operations per share	$ (4.48)	$ (0.89)
Basic earnings (loss) from discontinued operations per share	(0.34)	0.15
Basic net earnings (loss) per share	(4.82)	(0.74)
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share:
Diluted earnings (loss) from continuing operations per share	(4.48)	(0.89)
Diluted earnings (loss) from discontinued operations per share	(0.34)	0.15
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share	$ (4.82)	$ (0.74)
Comprehensive earnings (loss):
Net earnings (loss)	$ (1,815)	$ (317)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation, discontinued operations		35
Pension and postretirement plans	1	2
Other comprehensive earnings (loss), net of tax	1	37
Comprehensive earnings (loss):	(1,814)	(280)
Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	1
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	$ (1,815)	$ (280)