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					(661)			549
Restricted stock transactions and other					(38,749)
Share-based compensation					18,945
Net income (loss)	$ (242,064)					(242,064)			85,509
Cash dividends paid						(57,896)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	6,534						6,534
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes							12,935
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	1,690						1,690
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures								33,888
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners									(100,880)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2021	4,113,947	$ 3,949,508	$ 0	195,101	921,227	5,069,578	(580,174)	(1,656,224)	164,439
Balance at beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2021				195,101	915,181	4,980,428	(553,519)	(1,656,591)	161,228
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits					(35)			24
Restricted stock transactions and other					(402)
Share-based compensation					6,483
Net income (loss)	108,456					108,456			28,853
Cash dividends paid						(19,306)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	(31,308)						(31,308)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes							4,653
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	0
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures								343
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners									(25,642)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2021	4,113,947	3,949,508	0	195,101	921,227	5,069,578	(580,174)	(1,656,224)	164,439
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					(12,591)			8,123
Restricted stock transactions and other					(45,169)
Share-based compensation					18,792
Net income (loss)	765,649					765,649			152,445
Cash dividends paid						(89,354)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	(135,791)						(135,791)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes							9,674
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									(145,273)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2022	4,879,598	4,708,941	0	195,101	887,730	5,894,965	(653,828)	(1,615,027)	170,657
Balance at beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2022				195,101	883,368	5,405,400	(554,727)	(1,616,340)	175,428
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits					(1,956)			1,313
Share-based compensation					6,318
Net income (loss)	528,428					528,428			45,648
Cash dividends paid						(38,863)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes	(102,266)						(102,266)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes							3,165
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners									(50,419)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 4,879,598	$ 4,708,941	$ 0	$ 195,101	$ 887,730	$ 5,894,965	$ (653,828)	$ (1,615,027)	$ 170,657