XML 113 R49.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 plants refineries branded_wholesale_sites
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |
Number of refineries owned | 15 vlo_NumberOfRefineriesOwnedByCompany
Combined total throughput capacity of petroleum refining (barrels per day) | 2,900,000 vlo_CombinedTotalThroughputCapacityOfPetroleumRefining
Number of branded wholesale sites | 7,400 vlo_NumberOfBrandedWholesaleSites
Number of ethanol plants owned | 11 vlo_NumberOfEthanolPlantsOwnedByCompany
Combined capacity of ethanol (gallons per year) | 1,300,000,000 vlo_CombinedCapacityOfEthanol
Minimum [Member] |
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 25 years
Maximum [Member] |
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) |
Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 30 years

X
- Definition Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Combined capacity of ethanol (gallons per year) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vlo_CombinedCapacityOfEthanol
Namespace Prefix: | vlo_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Combined total throughput capacity of petroleum refining. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vlo_CombinedTotalThroughputCapacityOfPetroleumRefining
Namespace Prefix: | vlo_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of branded wholesale sites that sell our refined products. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vlo_NumberOfBrandedWholesaleSites
Namespace Prefix: | vlo_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of Ethanol Plants Owned by Company. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vlo_NumberOfEthanolPlantsOwnedByCompany
Namespace Prefix: | vlo_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Total number of refineries owned by Valero. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | vlo_NumberOfRefineriesOwnedByCompany
Namespace Prefix: | vlo_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | vlo_SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | vlo_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |