Revenues (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018		Sep. 30, 2018		Jun. 30, 2018		Mar. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017		Sep. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2017		Mar. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Item Effected [Line Items]
Crude oil and natural gas sales																	$ 4,678,722	$ 2,982,966	$ 2,026,958
Gain (loss) on crude oil and natural gas derivatives, net	$ (19,394)	[1]	$ (2,025)	[1]	$ (12,685)	[1]	$ 10,174	[1]	$ 8,165	[1]	$ 8,602	[1]	$ 28,022	[1]	$ 46,858	[1]	(23,930)	91,647	(71,859)
Crude oil and natural gas service operations																	54,794	46,215	25,174
Total revenues	1,149,294	[1]	1,282,151	[1]	1,137,113	[1]	1,141,028	[1]	1,047,172	[1]	726,743	[1]	661,486	[1]	685,427	[1]	4,709,586	3,120,828	1,980,273
Transportation expenses	49,000		46,000		47,300		49,300										191,587	0	0
Net income (loss)	199,121		314,169		242,464		233,946										989,700	789,447	(399,679)
Net income (loss) attributable to Continental Resources	$ 197,738		$ 314,169		$ 242,464		$ 233,946		$ 841,914		$ 10,621		$ (63,557)		$ 469		988,317	$ 789,447	$ (399,679)
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Crude oil and natural gas sales																	4,487,135
Gain (loss) on crude oil and natural gas derivatives, net																	(23,930)
Crude oil and natural gas service operations																	54,794
Total revenues																	4,517,999
Transportation expenses																	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Continental Resources																	989,700
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Crude oil and natural gas sales																	191,587
Gain (loss) on crude oil and natural gas derivatives, net																	0
Crude oil and natural gas service operations																	0
Total revenues																	191,587
Transportation expenses																	191,587
Net income (loss) attributable to Continental Resources																	$ 0

[1] Gains and losses on natural gas derivative instruments are reflected in “Total revenues” on both the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) and this table of unaudited quarterly financial data. Natural gas derivative gains and losses have been shown separately to illustrate the fluctuations in revenues that are attributable to the Company’s derivative instruments. Commodity price fluctuations each quarter can result in significant swings in mark-to-market gains and losses, which affects comparability between periods. Additionally, beginning in 2018 certain transportation expenses are no longer netted within "Total revenues" as a result of the Company's January 1, 2018 prospective adoption of ASU 2016-08, which affects comparability of 2017 and 2018 revenues. Transportation expenses totaled $49.3 million, $47.3 million, $46.0 million, and $49.0 million for the first, second, third, and fourth quarters of 2018, respectively.