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Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
 0 Months Ended 2 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Jan. 21, 2015
Feb. 26, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Jan. 23, 2015
Jan. 31, 2015
Dec. 16, 2013
Dec. 19, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Senior notes     2,200,000,000us-gaap_SeniorLongTermNotes          
Debt percentage of adjusted book capital structure covenant     60.00%swn_CapitalStructureDebtPercentage          
Subsequent Event [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Proceeds from issuance of shares 2,300,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOrSaleOfEquity
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember		              
Over LIBOR [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Basis points   1.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember		 1.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember		 1.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
/ us-gaap_VariableRateAxis
= us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember		        
Credit Facility [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Unsecured revolving credit facility, borrowing capacity     2,000,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember		          
Unsecured revolving credit facility, maturity date     Dec. 01, 2018          
Number of extension options     2swn_NumberOfExtensionOptions
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember		          
Extension term     1 year          
Unsecured revolving credit facility, increase in current borrowing capacity potential             500,000,000swn_LineOfCreditFacilityIncreaseInCurrentBorrowingCapacityPotential
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember		  
Bridge Loan [Member]                
Debt Instrument [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
Debt instrument, term     364 days          
Bridge Loan [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]                
Debt Instrument [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		    
Term Loan [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Debt instrument, term     2 years          
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
Common Stock [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Proceeds from issuance of shares 669,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOrSaleOfEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember		              
Depositary Shares [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Proceeds from issuance of shares $ 1,700,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOrSaleOfEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= swn_DepositarySharesMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember