CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues:
Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids sales	$ 605,523	$ 703,531	$ 707,692
Interest and other	136	1,026	989
Total revenues	605,659	704,557	708,681
Costs, expenses, and other:
Lease operating expenses	108,027	99,158	92,394
Production and property taxes	34,249	40,632	43,656
Transportation and processing costs	14,633	13,728	13,242
General and administrative	59,262	65,105	64,886
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	280,458	219,684	187,973
Ceiling test write-down of oil and natural gas properties	992,404	0	0
Impairment of properties	79,529	0	0
Interest expense	141,831	149,755	149,891
Realized and unrealized gains on derivative instruments, net	(72,646)	(88,064)	(150,132)
Other, net	83,406	17,164	7,339
Total costs, expenses, and other	1,721,153	517,162	409,249
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(1,115,494)	187,395	299,432
Income tax	173,437	89,135	109,770
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(1,288,931)	98,260	189,662
Net earnings from discontinued operations	0	44,569	37,859
Net earnings (loss)	(1,288,931)	142,829	227,521
Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	4,987	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders	(1,288,931)	137,842	227,521
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (11.21)	$ 0.86	$ 1.68
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.35	$ 0.33
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ (11.21)	$ 1.21	$ 2.01
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (11.21)	$ 0.85	$ 1.67
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.34	$ 0.33
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ (11.21)	$ 1.19	$ 2.00
Amounts attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders:
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(1,288,931)	98,260	189,662
Net earnings from discontinued operations	0	39,582	37,859
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders	$ (1,288,931)	$ 137,842	$ 227,521