Retirement Plans - Change in Benefit Obligation, Fair Value of Plan Assets, and Funded Status of Pension Plans and Postretirement Medical Plan (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Change In Fair Value of Plan Assets
Beginning balance	$ 2,284
Ending balance	2,732	$ 2,284
Funded Pension Plans
Change In Benefit Obligation
Beginning balance	2,560	2,321
Service cost	36	44
Interest cost	93	98
Actuarial loss (gain)	138	162
Benefit payments	(113)	(132)
Plan curtailments	(3)	(2)
Special termination benefits	0	1
Assumption of HOVENSA pension plan	0	151
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	54	(83)
Ending balance	2,765	2,560	$ 2,321
Change In Fair Value of Plan Assets
Beginning balance	2,284	2,206
Actual return on plan assets	351	153
Employer contributions	158	26
Benefit payments	(113)	(132)
Assumption of HOVENSA pension plan	0	126
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	52	(95)
Ending balance	2,732	2,284	2,206
Funded Status (Plan assets greater (less) than benefit obligations) at December 31	(33)	(276)
Unrecognized Net Actuarial (Gains) Losses	789	895
Unfunded Pension Plan
Change In Benefit Obligation
Beginning balance	256	259
Service cost	13	16
Interest cost	9	9
Actuarial loss (gain)	10	(5)
Benefit payments	(39)	(23)
Plan curtailments	0	0
Special termination benefits	0	0
Assumption of HOVENSA pension plan	0	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0	0
Ending balance	249	256	259
Change In Fair Value of Plan Assets
Beginning balance	0	0
Actual return on plan assets	0	0
Employer contributions	39	23
Benefit payments	(39)	(23)
Assumption of HOVENSA pension plan	0	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0	0
Ending balance	0	0	0
Funded Status (Plan assets greater (less) than benefit obligations) at December 31	(249)	(256)
Unrecognized Net Actuarial (Gains) Losses	84	93
Postretirement Medical Plan
Change In Benefit Obligation
Beginning balance	84	98
Service cost	4	4	4
Interest cost	3	3	3
Actuarial loss (gain)	3	(13)
Benefit payments	(7)	(8)
Plan curtailments	0	0
Special termination benefits	0	0
Assumption of HOVENSA pension plan	0	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0	0
Ending balance	87	84	98
Change In Fair Value of Plan Assets
Beginning balance	0	0
Actual return on plan assets	0	0
Employer contributions	7	8
Benefit payments	(7)	(8)
Assumption of HOVENSA pension plan	0	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0	0
Ending balance	0	0	$ 0
Funded Status (Plan assets greater (less) than benefit obligations) at December 31	(87)	(84)
Unrecognized Net Actuarial (Gains) Losses	$ (10)	$ (13)

Defined benefit plan assumption of pension plan.

No definition available.

Name:	hes_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionOfPensionPlan
Namespace Prefix:	hes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Defined benefit plan assumption of pension plan assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hes_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionOfPensionPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	hes_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before tax, of accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss for defined benefit plan, that has not been recognized in net periodic benefit cost (credit).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=SL7669686-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (i-k)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in plan assets of defined benefit plan from actual return (loss) determined by change in fair value of plan assets adjusted for contributions, benefit payments, and other expenses.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActualReturnOnPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) from change in actuarial assumptions which (increases) decreases benefit obligation of defined benefit plan. Assumptions include, but are not limited to, interest, mortality, employee turnover, salary, and temporary deviation from substantive plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActuarialGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of actuarial present value of benefits attributed to service rendered by employee for defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of payment to participant of defined benefit plan which decreases benefit obligation. For pension plan, payment includes, but is not limited to, pension benefits and death benefits. For other postretirement plan, payment includes, but is not limited to, prescription drug benefits, health care benefits, life insurance benefits, and legal, educational and advisory services.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 60
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414203&loc=d3e39716-114964

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(6)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligationBenefitsPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanChangeInBenefitObligationRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanChangeInFairValueOfPlanAssetsRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of contribution received by defined benefit plan from employer which increases plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(5)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e2709-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(5)(iv)(01)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of (increase) decrease in benefit obligation of defined benefit plan from event reducing expected years of future service of present employees or eliminating accrual of benefits for some or all future services of present employees.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanCurtailments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of assets that have been segregated and restricted to provide pension or postretirement benefits. Assets include, but are not limited to, stocks, bonds, other investments, earnings from investments, and contributions by the employer and employees.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) which (increases) decreases benefit obligation of defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanForeignCurrencyExchangeRateChangesBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of funded (unfunded) status of defined benefit plan, measured as difference between fair value of plan assets and benefit obligation. Includes, but is not limited to, overfunded (underfunded) status.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of cost recognized for passage of time related to defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) which increases (decreases) plan assets of defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAssetsForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cost for actuarial present value of benefits attributed to service rendered by employee for defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in benefit obligation for benefits provided to employees payable from defined benefit plan or payable upon retirement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanSpecialTerminationBenefits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=hes_FundedPensionPlansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPostretirementHealthCoverageMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: