Segment Information - Financial Data by Operating Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues	$ 6,636	$ 10,737	$ 11,905
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation	(3,008)	1,692	3,860
Interest expense	341	323	406
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	3,955	3,224	2,687
Impairment	1,616	0	289
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(1,299)	744	565
Identifiable assets	34,195	38,407
Continuing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues - Third parties	6,636	10,737	11,905
Intersegment Revenues	0	0	0
Operating Revenues	6,636	10,737	11,905
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation	(3,008)	1,692	3,860
Interest expense	341	323	406
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	3,955	3,224	2,687
Impairment	1,616		289
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(1,299)	744	565
Investment in affiliates	154	151	506
Identifiable assets	34,195	37,249
Capital Expenditures	4,049	5,274	5,767
Continuing Operations | Exploration and Production
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues - Third parties	6,636	10,737	11,762
Intersegment Revenues	0	0	125
Operating Revenues	6,636	10,737	11,887
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation	(2,717)	2,086	4,439
Interest expense	0	0	0
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	3,852	3,140	2,638
Impairment	1,616		289
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(1,111)	989	912
Investment in affiliates	154	151	109
Identifiable assets	28,863	32,742
Capital Expenditures	3,753	4,920	5,174
Continuing Operations | Bakken Midstream
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues - Third parties	0	0	143
Intersegment Revenues	564	319	127
Operating Revenues	564	319	270
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation	86	10	(136)
Interest expense	10	2	0
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	88	70	33
Impairment	0		0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	52	7	(81)
Investment in affiliates	0	0	0
Identifiable assets	2,761	2,465
Capital Expenditures	296	301	535
Continuing Operations | Corporate, Interest and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues - Third parties	0	0	0
Intersegment Revenues	0	0	0
Operating Revenues	0	0	0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation	(377)	(404)	(443)
Interest expense	331	321	406
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	15	14	16
Impairment	0		0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(240)	(252)	(266)
Investment in affiliates	0	0	397
Identifiable assets	2,571	2,042
Capital Expenditures	0	53	58
Continuing Operations | Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues - Third parties	0	0	0
Intersegment Revenues	(564)	(319)	(252)
Operating Revenues	(564)	(319)	(252)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	0	0	0
Impairment	0		0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0	0
Investment in affiliates	0	0	0
Identifiable assets	0	0
Capital Expenditures	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0