CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Capital In Excess Of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Murphy Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 195,056	$ 917,665	$ 5,245,242	$ (462,243)	$ (1,275,529)
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits		9	(175)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes					(52,275)				$ (52,275)
Net income (loss) for the period				168,253					168,253	[1]
Reclassification of certain tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive loss				30,237	(30,237)				(30,237)
Other					(3,737)				(3,737)
Restricted stock transactions and other			(32,486)
Cash dividends				(43,258)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes					3,170				3,170
Stock-based compensation			6,187
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes					585				585
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures						25,843
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2018		195,065	891,191	5,400,474	(544,737)	(1,249,686)	$ 4,692,307		4,692,307
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018		195,077	979,642	5,513,529	(609,787)	(1,249,162)		$ 368,343	5,197,642	[1]
Exercise of stock options, including income tax benefits		6	(123)
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes					25,449				25,449
Acquisition closing adjustments								(4,592)
Net income (loss) for the period				40,182				32,587	40,182
Distributions to noncontrolling Interest Owners								(18,437)
Sale and leaseback gain recognized upon adoption of ASC 842, net of tax impact				116,768
Restricted stock transactions and other			(38,732)
Cash dividends				(43,398)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes					2,754				2,754
Stock-based compensation			8,636
Adjustments to acquisition valuation									(24,519)
Deferred loss on interest rate hedges reclassified to interest expense, net of income taxes					585				585
Awarded restricted stock, net of forfeitures						31,869
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2019		$ 195,083	$ 924,904	$ 5,627,081	$ (580,999)	$ (1,217,293)	$ 4,948,776	$ 377,901	$ 5,326,677

[1] Reclassified to conform to current presentation (see Note A).