Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015		Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net Operating Revenues	$ 2,402,039		$ 2,118,504		$ 1,775,740		$ 1,354,349		$ 1,796,761		$ 2,172,428		$ 2,469,701		$ 2,318,538		$ 7,650,632	[1]	$ 8,757,428	[2]	$ 18,035,340	[3]
Operating Income	(105,487)		(193,480)		(288,173)		(638,141)		(329,753)		(6,222,957)		39,626		(172,995)		(1,225,281)		(6,686,079)		5,241,823
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	(194,010)		(272,250)		(380,277)		(710,968)		(398,826)		(6,274,921)		(11,478)		(236,331)		(1,557,505)		(6,921,556)		4,995,315
Income Tax (Benefit) Provision	(51,658)		(82,250)		(87,719)		(239,192)		(114,530)		(2,199,182)		(16,746)		(66,583)		(460,819)		(2,397,041)		2,079,828
Net Income (Loss)	$ (142,352)		$ (190,000)		$ (292,558)		$ (471,776)		$ (284,296)		$ (4,075,739)		$ 5,268		$ (169,748)		$ (1,096,686)		$ (4,524,515)		$ 2,915,487
Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.25)	[4]	$ (0.35)	[4]	$ (0.53)	[4]	$ (0.86)	[4]	$ (0.52)	[4]	$ (7.47)	[4]	$ 0.01	[4]	$ (0.31)	[4]	$ (1.98)		$ (8.29)		$ 5.36
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.25)	[4]	$ (0.35)	[4]	$ (0.53)	[4]	$ (0.86)	[4]	$ (0.52)	[4]	$ (7.47)	[4]	$ 0.01	[4]	$ (0.31)	[4]	$ (1.98)		$ (8.29)		$ 5.32
Average Number of Common Shares [Abstract]
Basic (in shares)	567,337		547,838		547,335		546,715		546,432		545,920		545,504		544,998		553,384		545,697		543,443
Diluted (in shares)	567,337		547,838		547,335		546,715		546,432		545,920		549,683		544,998		553,384		545,697		548,539

[1] EOG had sales activity with three significant purchasers in 2016, one totaling $1.2 billion, one totaling $1.1 billion and one totaling $1.0 billion of consolidated Net Operating Revenues in the United States segment.

[2] EOG had sales activity with two significant purchasers in 2015, one totaling $1.7 billion and the other totaling $1.4 billion of consolidated Net Operating Revenues in the United States segment.

[3] EOG had sales activity with two significant purchasers in 2014, one totaling $4.0 billion and the other totaling $3.0 billion of consolidated Net Operating Revenues in the United States segment.

[4] The sum of quarterly net income (loss) per share may not agree with total year net income (loss) per share as each quarterly computation is based on the weighted average of common shares outstanding.