DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Table Text Block]

The table below sets forth the effects of changes in Forest’s ownership interest in Lone Pine on Forest’s equity, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 when Forest had an ownership interest in Lone Pine.

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2011		Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
	(In Thousands)
Net earnings attributable to Forest Oil Corporation	$	38,910	$	35,580
Transfers from (to) the noncontrolling interest:
Increase in Forest Oil Corporation’s capital surplus for sale of 15 million Lone Pine Resources Inc. common shares	112,879		112,879
Change from net earnings attributable to Forest Oil Corporation and transfers from (to) noncontrolling interest	$	151,789	$	148,459

Schedule of Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Income Statement

The table below presents the major components of earnings from discontinued operations for the periods presented.

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2011			Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
	(In Thousands)
	(Unaudited)
Total revenues	$	51,263		$	87,536
Production expenses	13,993			26,448
General and administrative	2,377			5,591
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	20,962			39,981
Interest expense	1,155			1,239
Unrealized gains on derivative instruments	(5,130		)	(5,130		)
Realized foreign currency exchange gains	(33,892		)	(33,892		)
Unrealized foreign currency exchange losses, net	36,360			28,540
Other, net	617			691
Earnings from discontinued operations before tax	14,821			24,068
Income tax	4,951			7,607
Net earnings from discontinued operations	$	9,870		$	16,461