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Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
acre
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
acre
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
acre
Apr. 30, 2013
Jan. 31, 2015
Jan. 23, 2015
Dec. 19, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Area of land purchased         26us-gaap_AreaOfLand         26us-gaap_AreaOfLand            
General and administrative expenses                 $ 221,000,000us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense $ 191,000,000us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense $ 175,000,000us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense          
Interest expense                 59,000,000us-gaap_InterestExpense 42,000,000us-gaap_InterestExpense 35,000,000us-gaap_InterestExpense          
Other current assets 158,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent       48,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent       158,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent 48,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent   158,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent        
Revenues 962,000,000us-gaap_Revenues 928,000,000us-gaap_Revenues 1,035,000,000us-gaap_Revenues 1,113,000,000us-gaap_Revenues 907,000,000us-gaap_Revenues 868,000,000us-gaap_Revenues 862,000,000us-gaap_Revenues 734,000,000us-gaap_Revenues 4,038,000,000us-gaap_Revenues 3,371,000,000us-gaap_Revenues 2,730,000,000us-gaap_Revenues          
Operating income (loss) 285,000,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 286,000,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 367,000,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 435,000,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 317,000,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 309,000,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 325,000,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 252,000,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 1,373,000,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 1,204,000,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss (1,101,000,000)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss          
Cost to acquire property                 5,298,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireOilAndGasProperty 96,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireOilAndGasProperty            
Bridge Loan [Member]                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Bridge loan 4,500,000,000us-gaap_BridgeLoan
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BridgeLoanMember
              4,500,000,000us-gaap_BridgeLoan
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BridgeLoanMember
    4,500,000,000us-gaap_BridgeLoan
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BridgeLoanMember
      4,500,000,000us-gaap_BridgeLoan
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BridgeLoanMember
Debt instrument, term                 364 days              
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Term Loan [Member]                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Loans payable 500,000,000us-gaap_NotesAndLoansPayable
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= swn_TermLoanMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
              500,000,000us-gaap_NotesAndLoansPayable
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= swn_TermLoanMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
    500,000,000us-gaap_NotesAndLoansPayable
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= swn_TermLoanMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
      500,000,000us-gaap_NotesAndLoansPayable
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= swn_TermLoanMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Debt instrument, term                 2 years              
Chesapeake Property Acquisition [Member]                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Date of acquisition                 Dec. 22, 2014              
Area of land purchased 413,000us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
              413,000us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
    413,000us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
       
Cash consideration                 4,978,000,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
             
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed estimated fair value 4,978,000,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
              4,978,000,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
    4,978,000,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
       
General and administrative expenses                 1,000,000us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
             
Interest expense                 5,000,000us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
             
Other current assets 47,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
              47,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
    47,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
       
Unamortized fees 1,000,000us-gaap_UnamortizedLoanCommitmentAndOriginationFeesAndUnamortizedDiscountsOrPremiums
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
              1,000,000us-gaap_UnamortizedLoanCommitmentAndOriginationFeesAndUnamortizedDiscountsOrPremiums
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
    1,000,000us-gaap_UnamortizedLoanCommitmentAndOriginationFeesAndUnamortizedDiscountsOrPremiums
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
       
Revenues                 10,000,000us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
             
Operating income (loss)                 2,000,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_ChesapeakePropertyAcquisitionMember
             
Statoil Property Acquisition [Member]                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Area of land purchased 30,000us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_StatoilPropertyAcquisitionMember
              30,000us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_StatoilPropertyAcquisitionMember
    30,000us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_StatoilPropertyAcquisitionMember
       
Percentage of interest acquired 20.00%us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_StatoilPropertyAcquisitionMember
              20.00%us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_StatoilPropertyAcquisitionMember
    20.00%us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_StatoilPropertyAcquisitionMember
       
Cost to acquire property                       365,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireOilAndGasProperty
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_StatoilPropertyAcquisitionMember
       
WPX Property Acquisition [Member]                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Area of land purchased 46,700us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_WpxPropertyAcquisitionMember
              46,700us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_WpxPropertyAcquisitionMember
    46,700us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_WpxPropertyAcquisitionMember
       
Cost to acquire property                 300,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireOilAndGasProperty
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_WpxPropertyAcquisitionMember
             
Net production per day of acreage sold in MMcf 50swn_NetPerDayProductionInAcreage
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_WpxPropertyAcquisitionMember
              50swn_NetPerDayProductionInAcreage
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_WpxPropertyAcquisitionMember
    50swn_NetPerDayProductionInAcreage
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_WpxPropertyAcquisitionMember
       
Number of horizontal wells operated by SEECO in Arkansas                 63swn_NumberOfWells
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_WpxPropertyAcquisitionMember
             
Firm transportation capacity acquired 260swn_FirmTransportationCapacityAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_WpxPropertyAcquisitionMember
              260swn_FirmTransportationCapacityAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_WpxPropertyAcquisitionMember
    260swn_FirmTransportationCapacityAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= swn_WpxPropertyAcquisitionMember
       
Niobrara Formation In Colorado [Member]                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Area of land purchased 380,000us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= swn_NiobraraFormationInColoradoMember
              380,000us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= swn_NiobraraFormationInColoradoMember
    380,000us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= swn_NiobraraFormationInColoradoMember
       
Cost to acquire natural gas properties through definitive purchase agreement                 215,000,000swn_DefinitivePurchaseAgreementToAcquireNaturalGasProperties
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= swn_NiobraraFormationInColoradoMember
             
Marcellus Shale In Pennsylvania [Member]                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Cost to acquire natural gas properties through definitive purchase agreement                         82,000,000swn_DefinitivePurchaseAgreementToAcquireNaturalGasProperties
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= swn_MarcellusShaleInPennsylvaniaMember
     
Subsequent Event [Member]                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Debt issuance expense                           47,000,000us-gaap_DebtRelatedCommitmentFeesAndDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
   
Subsequent Event [Member] | Bridge Loan [Member]                                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                                
Repayment of debt                           $ 4,500,000,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BridgeLoanMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
$ 4,500,000,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BridgeLoanMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember