Segment Information - Financial Data by Operating Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues - Third parties	$ 973	$ 1,538
Intersegment Revenues	0	0
Operating Revenues	973	1,538
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Hess Corporation	(509)	(376)
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	868	956
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	(346)	(351)
Capital Expenditures	540	1,237
Identifiable assets	34,808		$ 34,157
Exploration and Production
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues - Third parties	973	1,538
Intersegment Revenues	0	0
Operating Revenues	973	1,538
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Hess Corporation	(451)	(314)
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	842	932
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	(314)	(311)
Capital Expenditures	505	1,197
Identifiable assets	28,827		28,863
Bakken Midstream
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues - Third parties	0	0
Intersegment Revenues	119	130
Operating Revenues	119	130
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Hess Corporation	14	27
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	23	21
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	8	16
Capital Expenditures	35	40
Identifiable assets	2,780		2,754
Corporate, Interest and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues - Third parties	0	0
Intersegment Revenues	0	0
Operating Revenues	0	0
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Hess Corporation	(72)	(89)
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	3	3
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	(40)	(56)
Capital Expenditures	0	0
Identifiable assets	3,201		$ 2,540
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Revenues - Third parties	0	0
Intersegment Revenues	(119)	(130)
Operating Revenues	(119)	(130)
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Hess Corporation	0	0
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	0	0
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	0	0
Capital Expenditures	$ 0	$ 0