Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Components of Inventories (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Tubular goods and equipment	$ 16,080	$ 15,633
Crude oil	76,814	78,518
Total	$ 92,894	$ 94,151

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of tubular goods and equipment used to support crude oil and natural gas drilling operations.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	clr_TubularGoodsAndEquipmentInventories
Namespace Prefix:	clr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of petroleum or crude oil.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EnergyRelatedInventoryPetroleum
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of finished goods inventories for petroleum products, crude oil, petrochemical products, and other oil and gas inventories.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.6)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InventoryCrudeOilProductsAndMerchandise
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant