Weighted Average Common Shares - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Net income (loss) attributable to Hess Corporation Common Stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes	$ (488)	$ (376)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	21	0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation	(509)	(376)
Less: Preferred stock dividends	6	0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation Common Stockholders	(515)	(376)
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	(13)
Net Income (Loss) Applicable to Hess Corporation Common Stockholders	$ (515)	$ (389)
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Shares outstanding – Basic	299,800,000	283,500,000
Shares outstanding – Diluted	299,800,000	283,500,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Hess Corporation Per Share – Basic :
Continuing operations	$ (1.72)	$ (1.32)
Discontinued operations	0	(0.05)
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share	(1.72)	(1.37)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Hess Corporation Per Share – Diluted:
Continuing operations	(1.72)	(1.32)
Discontinued operations	0	(0.05)
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share	$ (1.72)	$ (1.37)
Restricted Common Stock
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Shares outstanding – Effect of dilutive securities	0	0
Antidilutive shares excluded from computation of diluted shares	3,036,611	2,876,887
Stock Options
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Shares outstanding – Effect of dilutive securities	0	0
Antidilutive shares excluded from computation of diluted shares	6,720,462	6,790,531
Performance Share Units
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Shares outstanding – Effect of dilutive securities	0	0
Antidilutive shares excluded from computation of diluted shares	885,939	1,139,268
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Shares outstanding – Effect of dilutive securities	0	0
Antidilutive shares excluded from computation of diluted shares	7,214,291	0