Employee Benefit Plans (Details)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares		Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares		Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Total pension plan costs | $		$ 36,000,000		$ 41,000,000		$ 37,000,000
Company contributions to foreign pension plans | $		1,000,000		5,000,000		4,000,000
Benefit obligation | $		9,000,000		14,000,000
Fair value of foreign pension plan assets | $		7,000,000		12,000,000
Accrued benefit cost | $		(200,000)		(1,000,000)
Stock based compensation by job function [Line Items]
Compensation expense related to the company's stock-based compensation plans | $		130,577,000		144,842,000		134,467,000
Federal income tax (expense) / benefit recognized from stock-based compensation | $		26,000,000		99,000,000		56,000,000
Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options, SAR and ESPP grants | $		$ 56,000,000		$ 62,000,000		$ 53,000,000
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award [Abstract]
Common Shares Available for Grant		24,700,000
Performance Units and Performance Stock [Member]
Weighted Average Fair Value And Valuation Assumptions Used To Value Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Weighted Average Fair Value of Grants | $ / shares		$ 80.64		$ 119.27		$ 100.34
Expected Volatility (in hundredths)		29.35%		32.18%		33.63%
Risk-Free Interest Rate (in hundredths)		1.07%		1.18%		0.79%
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award [Abstract]
Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation expense will be recognized		3 years 3 months 18 days
Unrecognized compensation expense | $		$ 6,000,000
Number of Shares and Units [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at January 1 (in shares)		333,000	[1]	261,000	[1]	142,000
Granted (in shares)		72,000		72,000		119,000
Outstanding at December 31 [1] (in shares)	[1]	405,000		333,000		261,000
Weighted Average Grant Fair Value [Abstract]
Outstanding at January 1 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 90.17	[1]	$ 82.18	[1]	$ 67.05
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		80.64		119.27		100.34
Outstanding at December 31 [1] (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	[1]	$ 88.48		$ 90.17		$ 82.18
Intrinsic value of stock based compensation | $		$ 29,000,000		$ 31,000,000
Maximum vest period from the date of grant		5 years
Performance Units and Performance Stock [Abstract]
Minimum Performance Units and Stock Allowed to be Outstanding		0
Maximum performance units and stock allowed to be outstanding		810,000
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Performance Units and Stock Compensation Cost | $		$ 5,000,000		$ 9,000,000		$ 9,000,000
Term of Zero-Coupon Risk-Free Interest Rate Derived from the Treasury Constant Maturities Yield Curve		3 years 3 months 4 days
Performance Period for Performance Units and Stock		3 years
ESPP [Member]
Stock based compensation by job function [Line Items]
Maximum Percentage Of Employee Pay Eligible For Contribution To Espp Percentage		10.00%
Percentage of fair market value at which employees may purchase company stock via the ESPP		85.00%
Weighted Average Fair Value And Valuation Assumptions Used To Value Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Weighted Average Fair Value of Grants | $ / shares		$ 21.21		$ 21.65		$ 15.06
Expected Volatility (in hundredths)		32.08%		25.03%		29.89%
Risk-Free Interest Rate (in hundredths)		0.12%		0.08%		0.11%
Dividend Yield (in hundredths)		0.73%		0.46%		0.60%
Expected Life (in years)		6 months		6 months		6 months
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award [Abstract]
Common Shares Available for Grant		568,000
Approximate Number of Participants		1,963		1,991		1,844
Shares Purchased		225,000		202,000		256,000
Aggregate Purchase Price | $		$ 15,045,000		$ 14,927,000		$ 14,015,000
Stock Options and SARS [Member]
Stock based compensation by job function [Line Items]
Maximum term of stock options and SARs granted		7 years
Weighted Average Fair Value And Valuation Assumptions Used To Value Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Weighted Average Fair Value of Grants | $ / shares		$ 21.88		$ 30.75		$ 27.35
Expected Volatility (in hundredths)		38.03%		35.28%		35.86%
Risk-Free Interest Rate (in hundredths)		0.83%		0.95%		0.78%
Dividend Yield (in hundredths)		0.85%		0.61%		0.40%
Expected Life (in years)		5 years 3 months 18 days		5 years 2 months 12 days		5 years 6 months
Stock option and SAR Rollforward [Abstract]
Outstanding at January 1 (in shares)		10,493,000		10,452,000		12,438,000
Granted (in shares)		2,037,000		2,146,000		2,268,000
Exercised (in shares)	[2]	(1,518,000)		(1,718,000)		(4,046,000)
Forfeited (in shares)		(268,000)		(387,000)		(208,000)
Outstanding at December 31 (in shares)		10,744,000		10,493,000		10,452,000
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award [Abstract]
Outstanding at January 1 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 64.96		$ 54.43		$ 42.91
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		69.99		101.55		83.70
Exercised (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	[2]	47.64		45.68		35.62
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		80.31		68.95		50.78
Outstanding at December 31 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 67.98		$ 64.96		$ 54.43
Stock Options/SARs Exercisable at December 31 (in shares)		5,993,000		5,287,000		4,638,000
Stock Options/SARs Exercisable at December 31 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 57.96		$ 49.40		$ 43.95
Intrinsic value of stock options/SARs exercised during the period | $	[2]	$ 60,000,000		$ 95,000,000		$ 151,000,000
Stock options/SARs vested or expected to vest (in shares)		10,400,000
Weighted average grant price for stock options/SARs vested or expected to vest (per share) | $ / shares		$ 67.52
Intrinsic value of stock options/SARs vested or expected to vest | $		$ 52,000,000
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life for Stock Options/SARs Vested or Expected to Vest		4 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation expense will be recognized		2 years 9 months 18 days
Unrecognized compensation expense | $		$ 100,000,000
Weighted Average Grant Fair Value [Abstract]
Maximum vest period from the date of grant		4 years
Summary Information By Grant Price Range For Stock Options And SARs Outstanding And Exercisable At End Of Period [Line Items]
Stock Options and SARs Outstanding		10,744,000
Weighted Average Remaining Life for Outstanding Options and SARs		4 years
Weighted Average Grant Price For Outstanding Options and SARs | $ / shares		$ 67.98
Aggregate Intrinsic Value For Outstanding Options and SARs | $	[3]	$ 117,424
Stock Options and SARs Exercisable		5,993,000
Weighted Average Remaining Life For Exercisable Units		3 years
Weighted Average Grant Price For Exercisable Options and SARs | $ / shares		$ 57.96
Aggregate Intrinsic Value For Exercisable Units | $	[3]	$ 107,950
Restricted Stock And Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Stock option and SAR Rollforward [Abstract]
Outstanding at January 1 (in shares)		5,394,000	[4]	7,358,000	[4]	7,636,000
Granted (in shares)		1,044,000		1,132,000		1,294,000
Exercised (in shares)	[5]	(1,331,000)		(2,761,000)		(1,368,000)
Forfeited (in shares)		(199,000)		(335,000)		(204,000)
Outstanding at December 31 (in shares)	[4]	4,908,000		5,394,000		7,358,000
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award [Abstract]
Outstanding at January 1 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 64.39	[4]	$ 49.54	[4]	$ 45.53
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		77.94		98.72		76.04
Exercised (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	[5]	51.52		105.24		52.39
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		74.56		62.55		48.55
Outstanding at December 31 (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	[4]	$ 70.35		$ 64.39		$ 49.54
Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation expense will be recognized		2 years 6 months
Unrecognized compensation expense | $		$ 156,000,000
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Restricted Stock And Restricted Stock Units Compensation Cost | $		69,000,000		$ 74,000,000		$ 72,000,000
Weighted Average Grant Fair Value [Abstract]
Intrinsic value of stock based compensation | $		109,000,000		291,000,000		101,000,000
Intrinsic Value Of Restricted Stock And Restricted Stock Units Outstanding | $		$ 347,000,000		497,000,000
Maximum vest period from the date of grant		5 years
Lease And Well [Member]
Stock based compensation by job function [Line Items]
Compensation expense related to the company's stock-based compensation plans | $		$ 44,000,000		41,000,000		35,000,000
Gathering And Processing Costs [Member]
Stock based compensation by job function [Line Items]
Compensation expense related to the company's stock-based compensation plans | $		1,000,000		1,000,000		1,000,000
Exploration Costs [Member]
Stock based compensation by job function [Line Items]
Compensation expense related to the company's stock-based compensation plans | $		26,000,000		27,000,000		27,000,000
General And Administrative [Member]
Stock based compensation by job function [Line Items]
Compensation expense related to the company's stock-based compensation plans | $		$ 60,000,000		$ 76,000,000		$ 71,000,000
$22.00 to $ 44.99 | Stock Options and SARS [Member]
Summary Information By Grant Price Range For Stock Options And SARs Outstanding And Exercisable At End Of Period [Line Items]
Stock Options and SARs Outstanding		2,184,000
Weighted Average Remaining Life for Outstanding Options and SARs		2 years
Weighted Average Grant Price For Outstanding Options and SARs | $ / shares		$ 41.08
Stock Options and SARs Exercisable		2,182,000
Weighted Average Remaining Life For Exercisable Units		2 years
Weighted Average Grant Price For Exercisable Options and SARs | $ / shares		$ 41.08
45.00 to 56.99 | Stock Options and SARS [Member]
Summary Information By Grant Price Range For Stock Options And SARs Outstanding And Exercisable At End Of Period [Line Items]
Stock Options and SARs Outstanding		2,672,000
Weighted Average Remaining Life for Outstanding Options and SARs		3 years
Weighted Average Grant Price For Outstanding Options and SARs | $ / shares		$ 52.37
Stock Options and SARs Exercisable		2,229,000
Weighted Average Remaining Life For Exercisable Units		3 years
Weighted Average Grant Price For Exercisable Options and SARs | $ / shares		$ 51.64
57.00 to 69.99 | Stock Options and SARS [Member]
Summary Information By Grant Price Range For Stock Options And SARs Outstanding And Exercisable At End Of Period [Line Items]
Stock Options and SARs Outstanding		2,019,000
Weighted Average Remaining Life for Outstanding Options and SARs		7 years
Weighted Average Grant Price For Outstanding Options and SARs | $ / shares		$ 69.13
Stock Options and SARs Exercisable		51,000
Weighted Average Remaining Life For Exercisable Units		4 years
Weighted Average Grant Price For Exercisable Options and SARs | $ / shares		$ 62.11
70.00 to 84.99 | Stock Options and SARS [Member]
Summary Information By Grant Price Range For Stock Options And SARs Outstanding And Exercisable At End Of Period [Line Items]
Stock Options and SARs Outstanding		1,832,000
Weighted Average Remaining Life for Outstanding Options and SARs		4 years
Weighted Average Grant Price For Outstanding Options and SARs | $ / shares		$ 84.25
Stock Options and SARs Exercisable		936,000
Weighted Average Remaining Life For Exercisable Units		4 years
Weighted Average Grant Price For Exercisable Options and SARs | $ / shares		$ 84.36
85.00 to 116.99 | Stock Options and SARS [Member]
Summary Information By Grant Price Range For Stock Options And SARs Outstanding And Exercisable At End Of Period [Line Items]
Stock Options and SARs Outstanding		2,037,000
Weighted Average Remaining Life for Outstanding Options and SARs		5 years
Weighted Average Grant Price For Outstanding Options and SARs | $ / shares		$ 101.49
Stock Options and SARs Exercisable		595,000
Weighted Average Remaining Life For Exercisable Units		5 years
Weighted Average Grant Price For Exercisable Options and SARs | $ / shares		$ 101.61

[1] The total intrinsic value of performance units and performance stock outstanding at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $29 million and $31 million, respectively.

[2] The total intrinsic value of stock options/SARs exercised during the years 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $60 million, $95 million and $151 million, respectively. The intrinsic value is based upon the difference between the market price of the Common Stock on the date of exercise and the grant price of the stock options/SARs.

[3] Based upon the difference between the closing market price of the Common Stock on the last trading day of the year and the grant price of in-the-money stock options and SARs.

[4] The total intrinsic value of restricted stock and restricted stock units outstanding at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was approximately $347 million and $497 million, respectively.

[5] The total intrinsic value of restricted stock and restricted stock units released during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $109 million, $291 million and $101 million, respectively. The intrinsic value is based upon the closing price of EOG's common stock on the date restricted stock and restricted stock units are released.