Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Financial Assets:
Financial Assets: Crude Oil Derivative Contracts	$ 75	$ 29
Financial Assets: Crude Oil Options/Swaptions	39	4
Financial Assets: Natural Gas Derivative Contracts	20	81
Financial Assets: Natural Gas Options/Swaptions	118	372
Financial Liabilities:
Financial Liabilities: Crude Oil Options/Swaptions	1
Financial Liabilities: Natural Gas Options/Swaptions	6
Financial Liabilities: Foreign Currency Rate Swap	57	52
Financial Liabilities: Interest Rate Swap	4	3
Proved Oil and Gas Properties and Other Property, Plant and Equipment Written Down to Fair Value During the Period - Carrying Amount	197
Proved Oil and Gas Properties and Other Property, Plant and Equipment Written Down During the Period - Fair value at End of Period	87
Impairment Charge for Proved Oil and Gas Properties and Other Property, Plant and Equipment, in which EOG utilized an accepted offer from a third-party buyer	60
Impairment Charge For Proved Oil And Gas Properties And Other Property, Plant And Equipment	110
Fair Value of Debt	7,048	5,657
Total Long-Term Debt	6,290	5,040
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Financial Assets:
Financial Assets: Crude Oil Derivative Contracts	0	0
Financial Assets: Crude Oil Options/Swaptions	0	0
Financial Assets: Natural Gas Derivative Contracts	0	0
Financial Assets: Natural Gas Options/Swaptions	0	0
Financial Liabilities:
Financial Liabilities: Crude Oil Options/Swaptions	0
Financial Liabilities: Natural Gas Options/Swaptions	0
Financial Liabilities: Foreign Currency Rate Swap	0	0
Financial Liabilities: Interest Rate Swap	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Financial Assets:
Financial Assets: Crude Oil Derivative Contracts	75	29
Financial Assets: Crude Oil Options/Swaptions	39	4
Financial Assets: Natural Gas Derivative Contracts	20	81
Financial Assets: Natural Gas Options/Swaptions	118	372
Financial Liabilities:
Financial Liabilities: Crude Oil Options/Swaptions	1
Financial Liabilities: Natural Gas Options/Swaptions	6
Financial Liabilities: Foreign Currency Rate Swap	57	52
Financial Liabilities: Interest Rate Swap	4	3
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Financial Assets:
Financial Assets: Crude Oil Derivative Contracts	0	0
Financial Assets: Crude Oil Options/Swaptions	0	0
Financial Assets: Natural Gas Derivative Contracts	0	0
Financial Assets: Natural Gas Options/Swaptions	0	0
Financial Liabilities:
Financial Liabilities: Crude Oil Options/Swaptions	0
Financial Liabilities: Natural Gas Options/Swaptions	0
Financial Liabilities: Foreign Currency Rate Swap	0	0
Financial Liabilities: Interest Rate Swap	$ 0	$ 0

No authoritative reference available.

No definition available.

Name:	eog_FinancialAssetsNaturalGasDerivativeContracts
Namespace Prefix:	eog_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

No authoritative reference available.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eog_FinancialAssetsNaturalGasOptionsSwaptions
Namespace Prefix:	eog_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

No authoritative reference available.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eog_FinancialLiabilitiesCrudeOilOptionsSwaptions
Namespace Prefix:	eog_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

No authoritative reference available.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eog_FinancialLiabilitiesNaturalGasOptionsSwaptions
Namespace Prefix:	eog_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The expense recorded to reduce the value of property, plant and equipment to estimated fair value when circumstances indicate such property, plant and equipment has been impaired and to reduce the value of oil and gas assets consisting of proved properties as the estimate of future successful production from these properties is reduced.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eog_ImpairmentChargeForProvedOilAndGasPropertiesAndOtherPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	eog_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The expense recorded to reduce the value of oil and gas assets consisting of proved properties as the estimate of future successful production from these properties is reduced.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eog_ImpairmentChargeForShallowNaturalGasAssetsSoldInCanada
Namespace Prefix:	eog_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Financial commodity price swap contract which provides the counterparty option to enter into a price swap contract at a later date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eog_NaturalGasSwaptions
Namespace Prefix:	eog_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Net dollar amount capitalized on balance sheet representing an enterprise's interests in proved crude oil (including condensate and natural gas liquids) and/or natural gas properties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eog_ProvedOilAndGasPropertyCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	eog_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of proved oil and gas property and other property, plant and equipment as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eog_ProvedOilAndGasPropertyFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	eog_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Details

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- Definition

Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any). May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number APB14-1

-Paragraph 31

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Fair values as of the balance sheet date of all assets resulting from contracts that meet the criteria of being accounted for as derivative instruments, net of the effects of master netting arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958

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-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FIN39-1

-Paragraph 10A, 10B

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 4, 17

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13495-108611

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents contracts related to the exchange of different currencies, including foreign currency options, forward (delivery or nondelivery) contracts, and swaps entered into and existing as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of interest rate derivative liabilities, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as liabilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7491637&loc=d3e13433-108611

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 107

-Paragraph 10

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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