Fair Value Measurements - Fair Values of Financial Instruments not Recorded at Fair Value (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
5% Senior Notes due 2022 (1)
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, stated interest rate	5.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date, Description	2022
4.5% Senior Notes due 2023
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, stated interest rate	4.50%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date, Description	2023
3.8% Senior Notes due 2024
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, stated interest rate	3.80%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date, Description	2024
4.375% Senior Notes Due 2028
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, stated interest rate	4.375%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date, Description	2028
4.9% Senior Notes due 2044
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, stated interest rate	4.90%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date, Description	2044
Carrying Amount
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility	$ 0	$ 188,000
Note payable	8,845	9,974
Total debt	6,166,543	6,353,691
Carrying Amount \| 5% Senior Notes due 2022 (1)
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Senior notes	1,997,782	1,997,576
Carrying Amount \| 4 1/2% Senior Notes Due 2023
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Senior notes	1,487,803	1,486,690
Carrying Amount \| 3.8% Senior Notes due 2024
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Senior notes	992,588	992,036
Carrying Amount \| 4.375% Senior Notes Due 2028
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Senior notes	988,090	988,061
Carrying Amount \| 4.9% Senior Notes due 2044
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Senior notes	691,435	691,354
Estimated Fair Value
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility	0	188,000
Note payable	8,800	9,900
Total debt	6,215,500	6,420,600
Estimated Fair Value \| 5% Senior Notes due 2022 (1)
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Senior notes	2,030,100	2,040,000
Estimated Fair Value \| 4 1/2% Senior Notes Due 2023
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Senior notes	1,522,900	1,526,800
Estimated Fair Value \| 3.8% Senior Notes due 2024
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Senior notes	976,000	988,800
Estimated Fair Value \| 4.375% Senior Notes Due 2028
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Senior notes	994,100	987,200
Estimated Fair Value \| 4.9% Senior Notes due 2044
Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]
Senior notes	$ 683,600	$ 679,900

Fair Value Measurements [Line Items]

No definition available.

Name:	clr_FairValueMeasurementsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	clr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the maturity date of the debt instrument including whether the debt matures serially and, if so, a brief description of the serial maturities.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of all types of notes payable, as of the balance sheet date, with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesPayable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion. Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SeniorLongTermNotes
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=clr_FivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=clr_FourPointFivePercentSeniorNotesdue2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=clr_ThreePointEightPercentSeniorNotesdue2024Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=clr_FourAndThreeSevenFifthsPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyEightMemberDomain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=clr_FourPointNinePercentSeniorNotesdue2044Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=clr_FourAndOneHalfPercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyThreDomain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: