Segment Information - Financial Information by Major Geographic Area (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 5,466	$ 4,762		$ 6,636
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation	(4,074)	(6,132)		(3,008)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	2,883	3,244		3,955
Impairment	4,203	67		1,616
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(1,837)	2,222		(1,299)
Identifiable assets	23,112	28,621
Property, plant and equipment, net	16,192	23,595	[1]
Capital expenditures	1,973	1,921		4,049
Operating Segments | Corporate, Interest and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	0	0		0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation	(463)	(1,210)		(377)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	24	10		15
Impairment	0	0		0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(26)	609		(240)
Identifiable assets	4,170	2,600
Property, plant and equipment, net	23	47	[1]
Capital expenditures	0	0		0
United States | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,692	3,085		4,150
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation	(2,433)	(2,353)		(1,834)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	1,942	2,133		2,449
Impairment	1,700	67		986
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	411		(522)
Identifiable assets	13,640	16,096
Property, plant and equipment, net	11,894	14,596	[1]
Capital expenditures	1,387	1,400		2,727
Europe | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	629	610		870
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation	(1,383)	(439)		(408)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	381	502		635
Impairment	2,503	0		279
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(1,999)	243		(84)
Identifiable assets	1,024	5,180
Property, plant and equipment, net	946	4,907	[1]
Capital expenditures	141	59		297
Africa | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	675	601		945
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation	259	(355)		(274)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	263	375		539
Impairment	0	0		100
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	197	244		(48)
Identifiable assets	428	1,507
Property, plant and equipment, net	365	1,266	[1]
Capital expenditures	30	10		160
Asia and Other Countries | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues	470	466		671
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation	(54)	(1,775)		(115)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	273	224		317
Impairment	0	0		251
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(9)	715		(405)
Identifiable assets	3,850	3,238
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,964	2,779	[1]
Capital expenditures	$ 415	$ 452		$ 865

[1] Of the total Europe, Property, plant and equipment (net), Norway represented $3,893 million in 2016.