Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Retained Earnings	Continental Resources Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests								$ 276,728
Total Equity	$ 6,421,861
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 3,760	$ 1,434,823		$ 415	$ 4,706,135	$ 6,145,133
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018		376,021,575
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Continental Resources	186,976					186,976	186,976
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(483)							(483)
Net income (loss)	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
Repurchased and canceled (unaudited)	(20,622)	$ (4)	(20,618)				(20,622)
Repurchased and canceled (unaudited), shares		(439,419)
Forfeited (unaudited), shares		(147,074)
Forfeitures (unaudited)	(1)	$ (1)					(1)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019		$ 3,768	1,426,300		531	4,893,111	6,323,710
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2019		376,768,684
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests								314,593
Total Equity	6,638,303
Noncontrolling interests	366,684							366,684
Total Equity	7,108,351
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 6,741,667	$ 3,711	1,274,732		0	5,463,224	6,741,667
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2019	371,074,036	371,074,036
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Continental Resources	$ (185,664)					(185,664)	(185,664)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,120)							(1,120)
Net income (loss)	(186,784)
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of ASU 2016-13	(137)					(137)	(137)
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(18,580)					(18,580)	(18,580)
Change in dividends payable	2					2	2
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	(126,906)			$ (126,906)			(126,906)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Retired		(8,122,104)
Treasury Stock, Retired, Cost Method, Amount	(126,900)	$ (81)	(126,825)	$ (126,906)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax (unaudited)	0
Contributions from Noncontrolling Interests	16,950							16,950
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests	(5,618)							(5,618)
Stock-based compensation (unaudited)	16,411		16,411				16,411
Restricted stock:
Granted (unaudited)	$ 24	$ 24					24
Granted (unaudited), shares	2,454,235	2,454,235
Repurchased and canceled (unaudited)	$ (6,454)	$ (2)	(6,452)				(6,454)
Repurchased and canceled (unaudited), shares	(8,100,000)	(246,346)
Forfeited (unaudited), shares	(42,818)	(42,818)
Forfeitures (unaudited)	$ (1)	$ (1)					(1)
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 6,420,362	$ 3,651	$ 1,157,866		$ 0	$ 5,258,845	$ 6,420,362
Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2020	365,117,003	365,117,003
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests	$ 376,896							$ 376,896
Total Equity	$ 6,797,258