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 Loss [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Parent [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2015		$ 195,056	$ 910,074	$ 6,212,201	$ (704,542)	$ (1,306,061)
Exercise of stock options, inlcuding income tax benefits			(12,017)
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes					66,449				$ 66,449
Net income (loss) for the year attributable to Murphy				(275,970)					(275,970)	[1]
Restricted stock transactions and other			(10,078)
Cash dividends				(206,635)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes					7,955				7,955
Sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans						509
Stock-based compensation			29,119
Other			(299)
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes					1,926				1,926
Awarded restricted stock						8,992
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2016		195,056	916,799	5,729,596	(628,212)	(1,296,560)	$ 4,916,679		4,916,679
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes					171,725				171,725
Net income (loss) for the year attributable to Murphy				(311,789)					(311,789)	[1]
Restricted stock transactions and other			(26,553)
Cash dividends				(172,565)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes					(7,682)				(7,682)
Sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans						146
Stock-based compensation			27,496
Other			(77)
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes					1,926				1,926
Awarded restricted stock						20,885
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2017		195,056	917,665	5,245,242	(462,243)	(1,275,529)	4,620,191		4,620,191
Exercise of stock options, inlcuding income tax benefits		21	(362)
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes					(145,022)				(145,022)
Acquisition								$ 359,951
Net income (loss) for the year attributable to Murphy				411,094				8,392	411,094
Distributions to noncontrolling Interest Owners								0
Reclassification of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive loss				30,237	(30,237)				(30,237)
Other					(3,737)				(3,737)
Restricted stock transactions and other			(33,920)
Cash dividends				(173,044)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes					29,110				29,110
Stock-based compensation			27,920
Fair value increase in common controlled assets			68,339
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes					2,342				2,342
Awarded restricted stock						26,367
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 195,077	$ 979,642	$ 5,513,529	$ (609,787)	$ (1,249,162)	$ 4,829,299	$ 368,343	$ 5,197,642

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