Crude Oil and Natural Gas Property Information - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industries Disclosures [Abstract]
Development costs included in asset retirement costs	$ (9.6)	$ 22.8	$ 20.3

Asset retirement costs included in development costs incurred during period

No definition available.

Name:	clr_AssetRetirementCostsIncludedInDevelopmentCostsIncurredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	clr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration