v2.3.0.15

Derivative Financial Instruments (Schedule of Open Commodity Derivative Positions) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011
Q4 2011 [Member] | Bbl [Member] | Open Oil Derivative Positions [Member] | Price Collars [Member]
Volume per day	45,000
Weighted Average Floor Price	75.00
Weighted Average Ceiling Price	108.89
Q4 2011 [Member] | Bbl [Member] | Open Oil Derivative Positions [Member] | Call Options Sold [Member]
Volume per day	19,500
Weighted Average Price	95.00
Q4 2011 [Member] | Bbl [Member] | Open NGL Derivative Positions [Member] | NGL Basis Swap [Member]
Volume per day	332
Weighted average differential between WTI and Natural Gasoline Dollars Per Barrel	(9.75)
Q4 2011 [Member] | MMBtu [Member] | Open Natural Gas Derivative Positions [Member] | Price Swaps [Member]
Volume per day	712,500
Weighted Average Price	5.51
Q4 2011 [Member] | MMBtu [Member] | Open Natural Gas Derivative Positions [Member] | Price Collars [Member]
Volume per day	287,935
Weighted Average Floor Price	4.66
Weighted Average Ceiling Price	5.07
Q4 2011 [Member] | MMBtu [Member] | Open Natural Gas Derivative Positions [Member] | Gas Basis Swap [Member]
Volume per day	150,000
Weighted Average Differential Between Henry Hub and Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Dollars Per Millions of British Thermal Units	(0.33)
Q1-Q4 2012 [Member] | Bbl [Member] | Open Oil Derivative Positions [Member] | Price Swaps [Member]
Volume per day	22,000
Weighted Average Price	107.17
Q1-Q4 2012 [Member] | Bbl [Member] | Open Oil Derivative Positions [Member] | Price Collars [Member]
Volume per day	54,000
Weighted Average Floor Price	85.74
Weighted Average Ceiling Price	126.42
Q1-Q4 2012 [Member] | Bbl [Member] | Open Oil Derivative Positions [Member] | Call Options Sold [Member]
Volume per day	19,500
Weighted Average Price	95.00
Q1-Q4 2012 [Member] | Bbl [Member] | Open NGL Derivative Positions [Member] | NGL Basis Swap [Member]
Volume per day	500
Weighted average differential between WTI and Natural Gasoline Dollars Per Barrel	(10.10)
Q1-Q4 2012 [Member] | MMBtu [Member] | Open Natural Gas Derivative Positions [Member] | Price Swaps [Member]
Volume per day	325,000
Weighted Average Price	5.09
Q1-Q4 2012 [Member] | MMBtu [Member] | Open Natural Gas Derivative Positions [Member] | Price Collars [Member]
Volume per day	490,000
Weighted Average Floor Price	4.75
Weighted Average Ceiling Price	5.57
Q1-Q4 2012 [Member] | MMBtu [Member] | Open Natural Gas Derivative Positions [Member] | Call Options Sold [Member]
Volume per day	487,500
Weighted Average Price	6.00
Q1-Q4 2013 [Member] | Bbl [Member] | Open Oil Derivative Positions [Member] | Price Collars [Member]
Volume per day	7,000
Weighted Average Floor Price	90.00
Weighted Average Ceiling Price	125.12
Q1-Q4 2013 [Member] | Bbl [Member] | Open NGL Derivative Positions [Member] | NGL Basis Swap [Member]
Volume per day	500
Weighted average differential between WTI and Natural Gasoline Dollars Per Barrel	(6.80)

X

- Definition

Weighted Average Differential To Henry Hub and Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Dollars Per Millions of British Thermal Units

+ Details

Name:	dvn_WeightedAverageDifferentialBetweenHenryHubAndPanhandleEasternPipelineDollarsPerMillionsOfBritishThermalUnits
Namespace Prefix:	dvn
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Weighted average differential between WTI and Natural Gasoline Dollars Per Barrel

+ Details

Name:	dvn_WeightedAverageDifferentialBetweenWtiAndNaturalGasolineDollarsPerBarrel
Namespace Prefix:	dvn
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of derivative expressed in nonmonetary units. For example, the number of barrels specified in a fuel oil forward purchase contract.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	invest
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The average cap rate on a group of price risk derivatives such as caps or collars. A payment or receipt is triggered if the market rate exceeds the cap rate on the contract.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAverageCapPrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The average floor rate on a group of price risk derivatives such as floors or collars. A payment or receipt is triggered if the market rate falls below the floor rate on the contract.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFloorPrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Average fixed price related to the group of price risk swap derivatives.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeSwapTypeAverageFixedPrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant