CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Capital In Excess Of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total
Balance at beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2012		$ 194,616	$ 873,934	$ 7,717,389	$ 408,901	$ (252,805)
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits		304	563
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes					(308,300)		$ (308,300)
Purchase of treasury shares						(500,000)
Net income (loss) for the year				1,123,473			1,123,473
Restricted stock transactions and other			(28,339)
Cash dividends				(235,108)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes					69,583		(69,583)
Sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans			(147)			1,015
Distribution of common stock of Murphy USA Inc. to shareholders				(546,962)
Stock-based compensation			56,622
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges, reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes					1,935		1,935
Awarded restricted stock						19,056
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2013		194,920	902,633	8,058,792	172,119	(732,734)	8,595,730
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits		120	(11,422)
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes					(271,491)		(271,491)
Purchase of treasury shares						(375,000)
Net income (loss) for the year				905,611			905,611
Restricted stock transactions and other			(27,920)
Cash dividends				(236,371)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes					(72,796)		72,796
Sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans			(40)			420
Stock-based compensation			43,490
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges, reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes					1,913		1,913
Awarded restricted stock						21,190
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2014		195,040	906,741	8,728,032	(170,255)	(1,086,124)	8,573,434	[1]
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits		16	(376)
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes					(546,705)		(546,705)
Purchase of treasury shares						(250,000)
Net income (loss) for the year				(2,270,833)			(2,270,833)
Restricted stock transactions and other			(38,415)
Cash dividends				(244,998)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes					10,492		(10,492)
Sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans			(198)			491
Stock-based compensation			42,322
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges, reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes					1,926		1,926
Awarded restricted stock						29,572
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2015		$ 195,056	$ 910,074	$ 6,212,201	$ (704,542)	$ (1,306,061)	$ 5,306,728

[1] Reclassified to conform to current presentation.