v2.3.0.15

Restructuring Costs (Schedule Of The Activity And Balances Associated With Restructuring Liabilities) (Details) (USD $) In Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Other Current Liabilities [Member] | Cash Severance [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Cash severance/Lease obligations revision	$ 1	$ (18)
Other Current Liabilities [Member] | Cash Severance [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Cash severance/Lease obligations revision	(2)	(5)
Other Current Liabilities [Member] | Lease Obligations [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Cash severance/Lease obligations revision	1
Other Current Liabilities [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Beginning Balance	31	61
Cash severance settled	(13)	(17)
Lease obligations settled	(1)
Lease obligations incurred		17
Ending Balance	19	43
Other Current Liabilities [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Beginning Balance	16	23
Cash severance settled	(12)	(3)
Ending Balance	2	15
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member] | Lease Obligations [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Cash severance/Lease obligations revision	(6)
Other Long-Term Liabilities [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Beginning Balance	51
Lease obligations settled	(10)
Lease obligations incurred		53
Ending Balance	35	53
Cash Severance [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Cash severance/Lease obligations revision	1	(18)
Cash Severance [Member] | Discontinued Operations [Member]
Cash severance/Lease obligations revision	(2)	(5)
Lease Obligations [Member] | Continuing Operations [Member]
Cash severance/Lease obligations revision	(5)
Continuing Operations [Member]
Beginning Balance	82	61
Cash severance settled	(13)	(17)
Lease obligations settled	(11)
Lease obligations incurred		70
Ending Balance	54	96
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Beginning Balance	16	23
Cash severance settled	(12)	(3)
Ending Balance	$ 2	$ 15

X

- Definition

Accrual of costs that will continue to be incurred under a contract for its remaining term without economic benefit.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount of lease obligations settled.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions of the accrual) as of the balance sheet date pertaining to a specified type of cost associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring pursuant to a duly authorized plan.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 95-3

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount of any reversal and other adjustment made during the period to the amount of a previously accrued liability for a specified type of restructuring cost, excluding adjustments for costs incurred during the period, costs settled during the period, and foreign currency translation adjustments.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 95-3

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section 40

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394291&loc=d3e17658-110867



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 146

-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.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of cash paid in the period to fully or partially settle a specified, previously accrued type of restructuring cost.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b) (2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 95-3

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 146

-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.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration