<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.3.0.15</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ReportType />
  <ContextCount>193</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>293</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>57</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>4</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000000 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DocumentDocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000110 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheet</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheet</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheet</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000111 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheetParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000120 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementOfIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement of Income</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000130 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementOfStockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000131 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementOfStockholdersEquityParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000140 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>100101 - Disclosure - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>100201 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/EarningsPerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>100301 - Disclosure - Comprehensive Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureComprehensiveIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Comprehensive Income</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>100401 - Disclosure - Oil and Gas Assets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/OilAndGasAssets</Role>
      <ShortName>Oil and Gas Assets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>100501 - Disclosure - Derivative Financial Instruments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DerivativeFinancialInstruments</Role>
      <ShortName>Derivative Financial Instruments</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>100601 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/AccountsReceivable</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounts Receivable</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>100701 - Disclosure - Accrued Liabilities</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/AccruedLiabilities</Role>
      <ShortName>Accrued Liabilities</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>100801 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureFairValueMeasurements</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>100901 - Disclosure - Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureDebt</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>101001 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>101101 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/StockBasedCompensation</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>101201 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>101301 - Disclosure - Segment Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureSegmentInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>200101 - Disclosure - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/OrganizationAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>300101 - Disclosure - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/OrganizationAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>300201 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureEarningsPerShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>300301 - Disclosure - Comprehensive Income (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureComprehensiveIncomeTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Comprehensive Income (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>300401 - Disclosure - Oil and Gas Assets (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/OilAndGasAssetsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Oil and Gas Assets (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>300501 - Disclosure - Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DerivativeFinancialInstrumentsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>300601 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureAccountsReceivableTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounts Receivable (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>300701 - Disclosure - Accrued Liabilities (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureAccruedLiabilitiesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Accrued Liabilities (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>300801 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureFairValueMeasurementsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>300901 - Disclosure - Debt (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureDebtTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>301001 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>301101 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureStockBasedCompensationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>301301 - Disclosure - Segment Information (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureSegmentInformationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400101 - Disclosure - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400201 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureEarningsPerShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400301 - Disclosure - Comprehensive Income (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureComprehensiveIncomeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Comprehensive Income (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400401 - Disclosure - Oil and Gas Assets (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureOilAndGasAssetsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Oil and Gas Assets (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400501 - Disclosure - Outstanding Natural Gas Contracts That Are Not Designated For Hedge Accounting (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureOutstandingNaturalGasContractsThatAreNotDesignatedForHedgeAccountingDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Outstanding Natural Gas Contracts That Are Not Designated For Hedge Accounting (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400502 - Disclosure - Outstanding Oil Contracts That Are Not Designated For Hedge Accounting (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureOutstandingOilContractsThatAreNotDesignatedForHedgeAccountingDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Outstanding Oil Contracts That Are Not Designated For Hedge Accounting (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400503 - Disclosure - Natural Gas Basis Contracts That are Not Designated for Hedge Accounting (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/NaturalGasBasisContractsThatAreNotDesignatedForHedgeAccountingDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Natural Gas Basis Contracts That are Not Designated for Hedge Accounting (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400504 - Disclosure - Derivative Financial Instruments Recorded in Balance Sheet (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsRecordedInBalanceSheetDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Derivative Financial Instruments Recorded in Balance Sheet (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400505 - Disclosure - Amount of Gain Loss Recognized in Income Related to Derivative Financial Instruments (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/AmountOfGainLossRecognizedInIncomeRelatedToDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Amount of Gain Loss Recognized in Income Related to Derivative Financial Instruments (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400506 - Disclosure - Derivative Financial Instruments (Textuals) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsTextualsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Derivative Financial Instruments (Textuals) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400601 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/AccountsReceivableDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounts Receivable (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400701 - Disclosure - Accrued Liabilities (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/AccruedLiabilitiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Accrued Liabilities (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400801 - Disclosure - Valuation of Investments and Financial Instrument Assets Liabilities By Pricing Levels (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureValuationOfInvestmentsAndFinancialInstrumentAssetsLiabilitiesByPricingLevelsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Valuation of Investments and Financial Instrument Assets Liabilities By Pricing Levels (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400802 - Disclosure - Reconciliation of Changes in Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Classified as Level Three In Fair Value Hierarchy (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureReconciliationOfChangesInFairValueOfFinancialAssetsAndLiabilitiesClassifiedAsLevelThreeInFairValueHierarchyDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Reconciliation of Changes in Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Classified as Level Three In Fair Value Hierarchy (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R48.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400803 - Disclosure - Estimated Fair Value of Notes Based on Quoted Market Prices (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureEstimatedFairValueOfNotesBasedOnQuotedMarketPricesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Estimated Fair Value of Notes Based on Quoted Market Prices (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R49.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400804 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Textuals) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureFairValueMeasurementsTextualsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements (Textuals) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R50.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>400901 - Disclosure - Debt (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureDebtDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R51.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>401001 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R52.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>401101 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureStockBasedCompensationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R53.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>401301 - Disclosure - Segment Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://newfield.com/role/DisclosureSegmentInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted had a mix of decimals attribute values: 2 0.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted had a mix of decimals attribute values: 2 0.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '400101 - Disclosure - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '400501 - Disclosure - Outstanding Natural Gas Contracts That Are Not Designated For Hedge Accounting (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '400502 - Disclosure - Outstanding Oil Contracts That Are Not Designated For Hedge Accounting (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '400503 - Disclosure - Natural Gas Basis Contracts That are Not Designated for Hedge Accounting (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '400901 - Disclosure - Debt (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '401101 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Shares' elements on report '401101 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 000110 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheet</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Sep. 30, 2010'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2009'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 000111 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 000120 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Income</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 000131 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 000140 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>nfx-20110930.xml</File>
    <File>nfx-20110930.xsd</File>
    <File>nfx-20110930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>nfx-20110930_def.xml</File>
    <File>nfx-20110930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>nfx-20110930_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
