Segment Information - Financial Information by Major Geographic Area (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		$ 4,762	$ 6,636	$ 10,737
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation		(6,132)	(3,008)	1,692
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		3,244	3,955	3,224
Impairment		67	1,616	0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		2,222	(1,299)	744
Identifiable assets		28,621	34,157
Property, plant and equipment, net	[1]	23,595	26,352
Capital expenditures		1,921	4,049	5,274
Corporate, Interest and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		0	0	0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation		(1,210)	(377)	(404)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		10	15	14
Impairment		0	0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		609	(240)	(252)
Identifiable assets		2,600	2,540
Property, plant and equipment, net	[1]	47	121
Capital expenditures		0	0	53
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		3,085	4,150	6,270
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation		(2,353)	(1,834)	654
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		2,133	2,449	1,751
Impairment		67	986
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		411	(522)	446
Identifiable assets		16,096	18,365
Property, plant and equipment, net	[1]	14,596	15,729
Capital expenditures		1,400	2,727	3,467
Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		610	870	1,557
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation		(439)	(408)	226
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		502	635	683
Impairment		0	279
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		243	(84)	91
Identifiable assets		5,180	6,207
Property, plant and equipment, net	[1]	4,907	5,300
Capital expenditures		59	297	524
Africa
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		601	945	2,002
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation		(355)	(274)	545
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		375	539	487
Impairment		0	100
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		244	(48)	435
Identifiable assets		1,507	2,178
Property, plant and equipment, net	[1]	1,266	1,682
Capital expenditures		10	160	399
Asia and Other Countries
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating revenues		466	671	908
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Hess Corporation		(1,775)	(115)	671
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		224	317	289
Impairment		0	251
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		715	(405)	24
Identifiable assets		3,238	4,867
Property, plant and equipment, net	[1]	2,779	3,520
Capital expenditures		$ 452	$ 865	$ 831

[1] Of the total Europe, Property, plant and equipment (net), Norway represented $3,893 million in 2016 (2015: $4,108 million).