Cover Page - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Apr. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-8590
Entity Registrant Name	MURPHY OIL CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	71-0361522
Entity Address, Address Line One	300 Peach Street, P.O. Box 7000
Entity Address, City or Town	El Dorado,
Entity Address, State or Province	AR
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	71731-7000
City Area Code	(870)
Local Phone Number	862-6411
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value
Trading Symbol	MUR
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		153,572,954
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Central Index Key	0000717423
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31