CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total		Cumulative Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Capital In Excess Of Par Value	Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock	Murphy Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017				$ 195,056	$ 917,665	$ 5,245,242		$ (462,243)	$ (1,275,529)		$ 0
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits				(9)	(175)
Restricted stock transactions and other					(32,766)
Stock-based compensation					13,402
Adjustments to acquisition valuation					0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	$ 213,772	[1],[2]				213,772					0
Reclassification of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive loss	30,237					30,237		(30,237)
Sale and leaseback gain recognized upon adoption of ASC 842, net of tax impact						0
Cash dividends						(86,517)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	(87,185)							(87,185)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes	7,108							7,108
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	1,171							1,171
Other	(3,737)							(3,737)
Repurchase of common stock									0
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures									26,367
Acquisition closing adjustments											0
Distributions to noncontrolling Interest Owners											0
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2018	4,671,640		$ 0	195,065	898,126	5,402,734		(575,123)	(1,249,162)	$ 4,671,640	0
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2018				195,065	891,191	5,400,474		(544,737)	(1,249,686)		0
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits				0	0
Restricted stock transactions and other					(280)
Stock-based compensation					7,215
Adjustments to acquisition valuation					0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	45,519	[1],[2]				45,519	[2]				0
Reclassification of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0					0		0
Sale and leaseback gain recognized upon adoption of ASC 842, net of tax impact						0
Cash dividends						(43,259)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	(34,910)							(34,910)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes	3,938							3,938
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	586							586
Other	0							0
Repurchase of common stock									0
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures									524
Acquisition closing adjustments											0
Distributions to noncontrolling Interest Owners											0
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2018	4,671,640		0	195,065	898,126	5,402,734		(575,123)	(1,249,162)	4,671,640	0
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018	5,197,642	[2]		195,077	979,642	5,513,529		(609,787)	(1,249,162)		368,343
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits				(6)	(123)
Restricted stock transactions and other					(38,732)
Stock-based compensation					17,676
Adjustments to acquisition valuation					(24,519)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	132,454					132,454					63,557
Reclassification of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0					0		0
Sale and leaseback gain recognized upon adoption of ASC 842, net of tax impact						116,768
Cash dividends						(85,503)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	54,055							54,055
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes	5,516							5,516
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	1,171							1,171
Other	0							0
Repurchase of common stock									(299,924)
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures									31,869
Acquisition closing adjustments											(4,592)
Distributions to noncontrolling Interest Owners											(68,777)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2019	5,098,544		0	195,083	933,944	5,677,248		(549,045)	(1,517,217)	4,740,013	358,531
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2019				195,083	924,904	5,627,081		(580,999)	(1,217,293)		377,901
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits				0	0
Restricted stock transactions and other					0
Stock-based compensation					9,040
Adjustments to acquisition valuation					0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	92,272					92,272					30,970
Reclassification of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0					0		0
Sale and leaseback gain recognized upon adoption of ASC 842, net of tax impact						0
Cash dividends						(42,105)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	28,606							28,606
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes	2,762							2,762
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	586							586
Other	0							0
Repurchase of common stock									(299,924)
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures									0
Acquisition closing adjustments											0
Distributions to noncontrolling Interest Owners											(50,340)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 5,098,544		$ 0	$ 195,083	$ 933,944	$ 5,677,248		$ (549,045)	$ (1,517,217)	$ 4,740,013	$ 358,531

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

[2] Reclassified to conform to current presentation (see Note A).