CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016	[1]
Revenues
Revenue from sales to customers	$ 2,586,627,000	$ 2,078,548,000	[1]	$ 1,862,891,000
(Loss) gain on crude contracts	(41,975,000)	9,566,000	[1]	(63,412,000)
Gain on sale of assets and other income	25,951,000	137,015,000	[1]	11,759,000
Total revenues	2,570,603,000	2,225,129,000	[1]	1,811,238,000
Costs and Expenses
Lease operating expenses	555,894,000	468,323,000	[1]	559,360,000
Severance and ad valorem taxes	52,072,000	43,618,000	[1]	43,826,000
Exploration expenses, including undeveloped lease amortization	103,977,000	122,834,000	[1]	101,861,000
Selling and general expenses	216,024,000	203,573,000	[1]	246,277,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	971,901,000	957,719,000	[1]	1,054,081,000
Impairment of assets	20,000,000	0		95,088,000
Redetermination expense	11,332,000	15,000,000	[1]	39,100,000
Accretion of asset retirement obligations	44,559,000	42,590,000	[1]	46,742,000
Other (income) expense	(34,873,000)	30,706,000	[1]	13,806,000
Total costs and expenses	1,940,886,000	1,884,363,000	[1]	2,200,141,000
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	629,717,000	340,766,000	[1]	(388,903,000)
Other income (loss)
Interest and other income (loss)	(15,775,000)	(87,181,000)	[1]	43,958,000
Interest expense, net	(181,604,000)	(181,783,000)	[1]	(148,170,000)
Total other loss	(197,379,000)	(268,964,000)	[1]	(104,212,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	432,338,000	71,802,000	[1]	(493,115,000)
Income tax expense (benefit)	9,330,000	382,738,000	[1]	(219,172,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	423,008,000	(310,936,000)	[1]	(273,943,000)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(3,522,000)	(853,000)	[1]	(2,027,000)
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	419,486,000	(311,789,000)	[1]	(275,970,000)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	8,392,000
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO MURPHY	$ 411,094,000	$ (311,789,000)	[1]	$ (275,970,000)
INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC
Continuing operations	$ 2.39	$ (1.81)	[1]	$ (1.59)
Discontinued operations	(0.01)			(0.01)
Net income (loss)	2.38	(1.81)	[1]	(1.60)
INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED
Continuing operations	2.37	(1.81)	[1]	(1.59)
Discontinued operations	(0.01)			(0.01)
Net income (loss)	2.36	(1.81)	[1]	(1.60)
Cash dividends per Common share	$ 1.00	$ 1.00	[1]	$ 1.20
Average Common shares outstanding
Basic	172,974,491	172,524,061	[1]	172,173,012
Diluted	174,208,765	172,524,061	[1]	172,173,012

[1] Reclassified to conform to current presentation (see Note B).