CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues:
Oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids sales	$ 441,341	$ 605,523	$ 703,531
Interest and other	331	136	1,026
Total revenues	441,672	605,659	704,557
Costs, expenses, and other:
Lease operating expenses	76,675	108,027	99,158
Production and property taxes	14,857	34,249	40,632
Transportation and processing costs	11,895	14,633	13,728
General and administrative	54,826	59,262	65,105
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	171,557	280,458	219,684
Ceiling test write-down of oil and natural gas properties	57,636	992,404	0
Impairment of properties	0	79,529	0
Interest expense	119,829	141,831	149,755
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on derivative instruments, net	3,786	(72,646)	(88,064)
Other, net	(142,606)	83,406	17,164
Total costs, expenses, and other	368,455	1,721,153	517,162
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	73,217	(1,115,494)	187,395
Income tax (benefit) expense	(707)	173,437	89,135
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	73,924	(1,288,931)	98,260
Net earnings from discontinued operations	0	0	44,569
Net earnings (loss)	73,924	(1,288,931)	142,829
Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	4,987
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders	73,924	(1,288,931)	137,842
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.62	$ (11.21)	$ 0.86
Earnings from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.35
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.62	$ (11.21)	$ 1.21
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.62	$ (11.21)	$ 0.85
Earnings from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.34
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.62	$ (11.21)	$ 1.19
Amounts attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders:
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	73,924	(1,288,931)	98,260
Net earnings from discontinued operations	0	0	39,582
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest Oil Corporation common shareholders	$ 73,924	$ (1,288,931)	$ 137,842