CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Murphy Shareholders’ Equity	Cumulative Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Cumulative Effect, Period Of Adoption, Adjustment	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2018				$ 195,077	$ 979,642	$ 5,513,529	$ 114,712	$ (609,787)	$ (1,249,162)	$ 368,343
Exercise of stock options				12	(182)
Stock-based compensation					33,235
Restricted stock transactions and other					(38,731)
Fair value increase in common controlled assets					(24,519)
Net income (loss)	$ 1,253,302					1,149,732				103,570
Cash dividends						(163,669)
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes	66,600							66,600
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes								(35,979)
Deferred loss on interest rate hedge reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	5,005							5,005
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures									31,869
Purchase of treasury shares									(499,924)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners										(128,158)
Acquisition closing adjustments										(6,604)
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2019	5,804,611	$ 5,467,460	$ 0	195,089	949,445	6,614,304		(574,161)	(1,717,217)	337,151
Exercise of stock options				12	(156)
Stock-based compensation					26,052
Restricted stock transactions and other					(33,649)
Net income (loss)	(1,262,445)					(1,148,777)				(113,668)
Cash dividends						(95,989)
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes	29,241							29,241
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes								(57,617)
Deferred loss on interest rate hedge reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	1,204							1,204
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures									26,556
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners										(43,673)
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2020	4,394,147	4,214,337	0	195,101	941,692	5,369,538		(601,333)	(1,690,661)	179,810
Exercise of stock options				0	(1,674)				1,326
Stock-based compensation					25,429
Restricted stock transactions and other					(38,749)
Net income (loss)	47,528					(73,664)				121,192
Cash dividends						(77,204)
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net of income taxes	12,116							12,116
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes								59,816
Deferred loss on interest rate hedge reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	1,690							1,690
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures									33,888
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners										(137,517)
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 4,320,796	$ 4,157,311	$ 0	$ 195,101	$ 926,698	$ 5,218,670		$ (527,711)	$ (1,655,447)	$ 163,485