Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	May 02, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	FOREST OIL CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000038079
Document Type	10-Q/A
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2014
Amendment Flag	true
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	No
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		119,028,774
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Description	Amendment to 10-Q