Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Retained Earnings	Continental Resources Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests							$ 0
Total Equity	$ 5,131,203
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 3,752	$ 1,409,326	$ 307	$ 3,717,818	$ 5,131,203
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017		375,219,769
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Continental Resources	233,946				233,946	233,946
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0
Net income	233,946
Other comprehensive income, net of tax (unaudited)	2			2		2
Stock-based compensation (unaudited)	10,905		10,905			10,905
Restricted stock:
Granted (unaudited)	12	$ 12				12
Granted (unaudited), shares		1,180,032
Repurchased and canceled (unaudited)	(14,846)	$ (3)	(14,843)			(14,846)
Repurchased and canceled (unaudited), shares		(276,108)
Forfeited (unaudited), shares		(66,489)
Forfeitures (unaudited)	(1)	$ (1)				(1)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018		$ 3,760	1,405,388	309	3,951,764	5,361,221
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2018		376,057,204
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests							0
Total Equity	5,361,221
Noncontrolling interests	276,728						276,728
Total Equity	6,421,861
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 6,145,133	$ 3,760	1,434,823	415	4,706,135	6,145,133
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018	376,021,575	376,021,575
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Continental Resources	$ 186,976				186,976	186,976
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(483)						(483)
Net income	186,493
Other comprehensive income, net of tax (unaudited)	116			116		116
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interests	42,204						42,204
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests	(3,856)						(3,856)
Stock-based compensation (unaudited)	12,095		12,095			12,095
Restricted stock:
Granted (unaudited)	$ 13	$ 13				13
Granted (unaudited), shares	1,333,602	1,333,602
Repurchased and canceled (unaudited)	$ (20,622)	$ (4)	(20,618)			(20,622)
Repurchased and canceled (unaudited), shares	(439,419)	(439,419)
Forfeited (unaudited), shares	(147,074)	(147,074)
Forfeitures (unaudited)	$ (1)	$ (1)				(1)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 6,323,710	$ 3,768	$ 1,426,300	$ 531	$ 4,893,111	$ 6,323,710
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2019	376,768,684	376,768,684
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests	$ 314,593						$ 314,593
Total Equity	$ 6,638,303