Supplemental Information On Oil And Gas Operations (Results Of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Results of Operations for Oil and Gas Producing Activities, by Geographic Area [Line Items]
Oil, gas and NGL sales		$ 9,910us-gaap_OilAndGasSalesRevenue	$ 8,522us-gaap_OilAndGasSalesRevenue	$ 7,153us-gaap_OilAndGasSalesRevenue
Lease operating expenses		(2,332)us-gaap_LeaseOperatingExpense	(2,268)us-gaap_LeaseOperatingExpense	(2,074)us-gaap_LeaseOperatingExpense
General and administrative expenses		(210)	(202)	(296)
Production and property taxes		(503)us-gaap_ResultsOfOperationsExpenseOther	(439)us-gaap_ResultsOfOperationsExpenseOther	(395)us-gaap_ResultsOfOperationsExpenseOther
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		(2,896)	(2,465)	(2,526)
Gain on sale of assets		1,077
Asset impairments			(1,953)	(1,956)
Accretion of asset retirement obligations		(88)	(111)	(109)
Income tax benefit (expense)		(1,767)	(422)	96
Results of operations		3,191	662	(107)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization per Boe		11.79	9.75	10.12
Goodwill impairments		1,941us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss	0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss	0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
United States [Member]
Results of Operations for Oil and Gas Producing Activities, by Geographic Area [Line Items]
Oil, gas and NGL sales		7,867	5,964	4,679
Lease operating expenses		(1,559)	(1,257)	(1,059)
General and administrative expenses		(153)	(125)	(159)
Production and property taxes		(466)	(380)	(340)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		(2,365)	(1,640)	(1,563)
Asset impairments			(1,110)	(1,793)
Accretion of asset retirement obligations		(49)	(47)	(40)
Income tax benefit (expense)		(1,199)	(510)	99
Results of operations		2,076	895	(176)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization per Boe		11.41	8.69	8.55
Canada [Member]
Results of Operations for Oil and Gas Producing Activities, by Geographic Area [Line Items]
Oil, gas and NGL sales		2,043	2,558	2,474
Lease operating expenses		(773)	(1,011)	(1,015)
General and administrative expenses		(57)	(77)	(137)
Production and property taxes		(37)	(59)	(55)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		(531)	(825)	(963)
Gain on sale of assets		1,077
Asset impairments			(843)	(163)
Accretion of asset retirement obligations		(39)	(64)	(69)
Income tax benefit (expense)		(568)	88	(3)
Results of operations		1,115	(233)	69
Depreciation, depletion and amortization per Boe		13.80	12.87	14.41
Goodwill impairments	$ 1,900

Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Per Boe

No definition available.

Name:	dvn_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPerBoe
Namespace Prefix:	dvn_
Data Type:	us-types:boeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Results of Operations, Gain on sale of assets

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dvn_ResultsOfOperationsGainOnSaleOfAssets
Namespace Prefix:	dvn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of loss from the write-down of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13854-109267

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13777-109266

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of lease operating expense related to property used in oil and gas production.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6453985&loc=d3e41499-112717

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 10

-Paragraph a

-Subparagraph 17

-Article 4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseOperatingExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Revenue from the sale of oil and gas during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 932

-SubTopic 235

-Section 50

-Paragraph 23

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e62136-109447

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 932

-SubTopic 235

-Section 50

-Paragraph 24

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e62246-109447

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OilAndGasSalesRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Accretion expense of asset retirement obligations related to oil and gas producing activities.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ResultsOfOperationsAccretionOfAssetRetirementObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Depreciation, depletion, amortization, and accretion related to oil and gas producing activities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ResultsOfOperationsDepreciationDepletionAmortizationAndAccretion
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other costs for oil and gas producing activities.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ResultsOfOperationsExpenseOther
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ResultsOfOperationsForOilAndGasProducingActivitiesByGeographicAreaLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

General and administrative costs from oil & gas producing activities.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 932

-SubTopic 235

-Section 50

-Paragraph 23

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e62136-109447

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 932

-SubTopic 235

-Section 50

-Paragraph 26

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e62299-109447

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ResultsOfOperationsGeneralAndAdministrativeRelatedToOilAndGasProducingActivities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Costs related to the impairment of oil and gas properties.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 932

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-10.(c)(3)(ii)(A)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27015464&loc=d3e511914-122862

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ResultsOfOperationsImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Income tax expense for oil and gas producing activities.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 932

-SubTopic 235

-Section 50

-Paragraph 25

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e62259-109447

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 932

-SubTopic 235

-Section 50

-Paragraph 23

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e62136-109447

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ResultsOfOperationsIncomeTaxExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The results of operations for oil and gas producing activities, excluding corporate overhead and interest costs.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 932

-SubTopic 235

-Section 50

-Paragraph 26

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e62299-109447

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 932

-SubTopic 235

-Section 50

-Paragraph 23

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e62136-109447

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ResultsOfOperationsOilAndGasProducingActivitiesNetIncomeExcludingCorporateOverheadAndInterestCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_CA
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: