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					(626)			525
Restricted stock transactions and other					(38,347)
Share-based compensation					12,462
Net income (loss)	$ (350,520)					(350,520)			56,656
Cash dividends paid						(38,590)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	37,842						37,842
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes							8,282
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	1,690						1,690
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures								33,545
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners									(75,238)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2021	4,041,828	$ 3,880,600	$ 0	195,101	915,181	4,980,428	(553,519)	(1,656,591)	161,228
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2021				195,101	914,303	5,062,813	(575,610)	(1,661,416)	164,418
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits					(587)			486
Restricted stock transactions and other					(5,347)
Share-based compensation					6,812
Net income (loss)	(63,082)					(63,082)			36,042
Cash dividends paid						(19,303)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	17,945						17,945
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes							4,146
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	0
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures								4,339
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners									(39,232)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2021	4,041,828	3,880,600	0	195,101	915,181	4,980,428	(553,519)	(1,656,591)	161,228
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					(10,635)			6,810
Restricted stock transactions and other					(45,169)
Share-based compensation					12,474
Net income (loss)	237,221					237,221			106,797
Cash dividends paid						(50,491)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	(33,525)						(33,525)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes							6,509
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									(94,854)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2022	4,488,230	4,312,802	0	195,101	883,368	5,405,400	(554,727)	(1,616,340)	175,428
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2022				195,101	880,537	5,082,034	(506,355)	(1,618,478)	171,451
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits					(3,415)			2,138
Share-based compensation					6,246
Net income (loss)	350,557					350,557			58,947
Cash dividends paid						(27,191)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	(51,545)						(51,545)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes							3,173
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners									(54,970)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2022	$ 4,488,230	$ 4,312,802	$ 0	$ 195,101	$ 883,368	$ 5,405,400	$ (554,727)	$ (1,616,340)	$ 175,428