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, 2020				$ 195,101	$ 941,692	$ 5,369,538	$ (601,333)	$ (1,690,661)	$ 179,810
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits					(39)			39
Restricted stock transactions and other					(33,000)
Share-based compensation					5,650
Net income (loss)	$ (287,438)					(287,438)			20,614
Cash dividends						(19,287)
Foreign currency translation gain, net of income taxes	19,897						19,897
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes							4,136
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	1,690						1,690
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures								29,206
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners									(36,006)
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2021	4,099,609	$ 3,935,191	$ 0	195,101	914,303	5,062,813	(575,610)	(1,661,416)	164,418
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2021	4,320,796			195,101	926,698	5,218,670	(527,711)	(1,655,447)	163,485
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits					(7,220)			4,672
Restricted stock transactions and other					(45,169)
Share-based compensation					6,228
Net income (loss)	(113,336)					(113,336)			47,850
Cash dividends						(23,300)
Foreign currency translation gain, net of income taxes	18,020						18,020
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes							3,336
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	0
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures								32,297
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners									(39,884)
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2022	$ 4,204,290	$ 4,032,839	$ 0	$ 195,101	$ 880,537	$ 5,082,034	$ (506,355)	$ (1,618,478)	$ 171,451