Segment Information - Financial Information by Major Geographic Area (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
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		3,955	3,224	2,687
Impairments		1,616	0	289
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(1,299)	744	565
Identifiable assets		34,195	38,407
Property, plant and equipment (net)		26,352	27,517
Continuing Operations
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
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		3,955	3,224	2,687
Impairments		1,616		289
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(1,299)	744	565
Identifiable assets		34,195	37,249
Property, plant and equipment (net)	[1]	26,352	27,517
Capital expenditures		4,049	5,274	5,767
Continuing Operations | Corporate, Interest and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		0	0	0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation		(377)	(404)	(443)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		15	14	16
Impairments		0		0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(240)	(252)	(266)
Identifiable assets		2,571	2,042
Property, plant and equipment (net)	[1]	121	116
Capital expenditures		0	53	58
Continuing Operations | United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		4,150	6,270	6,076
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation		(1,834)	654	777
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		2,449	1,751	1,393
Impairments		986		0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(522)	446	495
Identifiable assets		18,372	17,729
Property, plant and equipment (net)	[1]	15,729	15,595
Capital expenditures		2,727	3,467	3,613
Continuing Operations | Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		870	1,557	1,337
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation		(408)	226	2,051
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		635	683	484
Impairments		279		0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(84)	91	(646)
Identifiable assets		6,207	7,730
Property, plant and equipment (net)	[1]	5,300	6,339
Capital expenditures		297	524	689
Continuing Operations | Africa
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		945	2,002	2,736
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation		(274)	545	594
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		539	487	518
Impairments		100		0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(48)	435	767
Identifiable assets		2,178	3,002
Property, plant and equipment (net)	[1]	1,682	2,235
Capital expenditures		160	399	578
Continuing Operations | Asia and Other Countries
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		671	908	1,756
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation		(115)	671	881
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		317	289	276
Impairments		251		289
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(405)	24	215
Identifiable assets		4,867	6,746
Property, plant and equipment (net)	[1]	3,520	3,232
Capital expenditures		$ 865	$ 831	$ 829

[1] Of the total Europe, Property, plant and equipment (net), Norway represented $4,108 million in 2015 (2014: $5,246 million).