Segment information (Condensed Statements Of Comprehensive Earnings And Balance Sheets Of Reportable Segments) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) segment	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	$ 2,488	$ 3,393	$ 4,614	$ 6,658
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	484	814	1,026	1,744
Interest expense	165	126	330	245
Asset impairments	1,497	4,168	4,532	9,628
Restructuring and transaction costs	24		271
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(1,745)	(4,479)	(5,430)	(10,103)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(182)	(1,686)	(399)	(3,721)
Net earnings (loss)	(1,563)	(2,793)	(5,031)	(6,382)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	7	23	(405)	33
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	(1,570)	(2,816)	(4,626)	(6,415)
Property and equipment, net	16,815	27,824	16,815	27,824	$ 19,068
Total assets	27,244	40,526	27,244	40,526	$ 29,451
Capital expenditures, including acquisitions	452	1,191	2,971	3,273
Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	(23)	(11)	(43)	(23)
Total assets	(57)	(111)	(57)	(111)
Eliminations [Member] | Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	(176)	(171)	$ (359)	(327)
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment			1
United States [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	1,365	1,930	$ 2,667	4,189
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	256	595	567	1,307
Interest expense	108	88	215	175
Asset impairments	885	4,168	2,493	9,628
Restructuring and transaction costs	19		255
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(1,097)	(4,498)	(3,162)	(9,986)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(6)	(1,736)	(11)	(3,729)
Net earnings (loss)	(1,091)	(2,762)	(3,151)	(6,257)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1	1	1	1
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	(1,092)	(2,763)	(3,152)	(6,258)
Property and equipment, net	7,823	15,852	7,823	15,852
Total assets	12,856	21,897	12,856	21,897
Capital expenditures, including acquisitions	284	887	2,177	2,231
Canada [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	266	360	383	581
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	103	121	212	248
Interest expense	33	23	67	48
Asset impairments	612		1,166
Restructuring and transaction costs	4		10
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(647)	(36)	(1,396)	(208)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(174)	40	(382)	(13)
Net earnings (loss)	(473)	(76)	(1,014)	(195)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	(473)	(76)	(1,014)	(195)
Property and equipment, net	2,832	6,422	2,832	6,422
Total assets	4,283	7,637	4,283	7,637
Capital expenditures, including acquisitions	29	146	110	370
General Partner And EnLink [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	857	1,103	1,564	1,888
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	125	98	247	189
Interest expense	47	26	91	45
Asset impairments			873
Restructuring and transaction costs	1		6
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(1)	55	(872)	91
Income tax expense (benefit)	(2)	10	(6)	21
Net earnings (loss)	1	45	(866)	70
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	6	22	(406)	32
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Devon	(5)	23	(460)	38
Property and equipment, net	6,160	5,550	6,160	5,550
Total assets	10,162	11,103	10,162	11,103
Capital expenditures, including acquisitions	139	158	684	672
General Partner And EnLink [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from external customers	$ 176	$ 171	$ 359	$ 327