Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share from Continuing Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to parent including preferred dividends										$ 258	$ 242	$ 24
Preferred stock dividends, income statement impact										0	8	15
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to WPX Energy, Inc. available to common stockholders for basic and diluted income (loss) per common share		$ (121)	$ 122	$ 305	$ (48)	$ 353	$ (6)	$ (83)	$ (30)	$ 258	$ 234	$ 9
Basic weighted-average shares										420.4	408.4	395.1
Diluted weighted-average shares(a)	[1]									422.0	411.7	397.4
Income (loss) per common share from continuing operations:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ (0.29)	$ 0.29	$ 0.72	$ (0.11)	$ 0.84	$ (0.01)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.07)	$ 0.62	$ 0.57	$ 0.02
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ (0.29)	$ 0.29	$ 0.72	$ (0.11)	$ 0.83	$ (0.01)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.07)	$ 0.61	$ 0.57	$ 0.02
Restricted Stock Units
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Share-based Payment Arrangements										1.6	3.1	2.1
Stock Options
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Share-based Payment Arrangements										0.0	0.2	0.2

[1] Certain amounts are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per common share as their inclusion would be antidilutive due to (i) application of the if-converted method to common shares issuable upon assumed conversion of convertible preferred stock; or (ii) application of the treasury stock method to certain nonvested restricted stock units. The remaining Series A mandatory convertible preferred stock converted to common shares in third-quarter 2018. The excluded amounts are as follows: Years Ended December 31,201920182017(Millions) Common shares issuable upon assumed conversion of 6.25% Series A mandatory convertible preferred stock Not
Applicable  11.4  19.8   Nonvested restricted stock units antidilutive under the treasury stock method 1.0  0.7  0.6