Derivative Financial Instruments (Schedule Of Open NGL Derivative Positions) (Details)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017 $ / bbl bbl
OPIS Mont Belvieu Texas Propane Price Swaps NGL Q3-Q4 2017 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volume Per Day (Bbls/d) \| bbl	1,000
Weighted Average Price Swap	29.61
OPIS Mont Belvieu Texas Propane Price Collars NGL Q3- Q4 2017 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Volume Per Day (Bbls/d) \| bbl	1,000
Weighted Average Floor Price	27.83
Weighted Average Ceiling Price	29.93

- Definition

The average cap rate on a group of price risk derivatives such as caps or collars. A payment or receipt is triggered if the market rate exceeds the cap rate on the contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAverageCapPrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The average floor rate on a group of price risk derivatives such as floors or collars. A payment or receipt is triggered if the market rate falls below the floor rate on the contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFloorPrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Nominal volume used to calculate payments on a derivative instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmountVolume
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Average fixed price related to the group of price risk swap derivatives.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeSwapTypeAverageFixedPrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=dvn_OPISMontBelvieuTexasPropanePriceSwapsNGLQ3Q42017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=dvn_OPISMontBelvieuTexasPropanePriceCollarsNGLQ3Q42017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: