CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Murphy Shareholders' Equity	Cumulative Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Capital In Excess Of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018				$ 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)
Share-based compensation					8,636
Adjustments to acquisition valuation					(24,519)
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	$ 40,182					40,182			32,587
Sale and leaseback gain recognized upon adoption of ASC 842, net of tax impact						116,768
Cash dividends						(43,398)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	25,449						25,449
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes	2,754						2,754
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	585						585
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures								31,869
Acquisition closing adjustments									(4,592)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners									(18,437)
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2019	5,326,677	$ 4,948,776	$ 0	195,083	924,904	5,627,081	(580,999)	(1,217,293)	377,901
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019	5,804,611			195,089	949,445	6,614,304	(574,161)	(1,717,217)	337,151
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits				(12)	(156)
Restricted stock transactions and other					(32,604)
Share-based compensation					8,245
Adjustments to acquisition valuation					0
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(416,104)					(416,104)			(92,598)
Sale and leaseback gain recognized upon adoption of ASC 842, net of tax impact						0
Cash dividends						(38,392)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	(118,411)						(118,411)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes	(9,711)						(9,711)
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	299						299
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures								25,511
Acquisition closing adjustments									0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners									(32,399)
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 5,098,303	$ 4,886,149	$ 0	$ 195,101	$ 924,930	$ 6,159,808	$ (701,984)	$ (1,691,706)	$ 212,154