Name:	ec_ExplorationForAndEvaluationOfMineralResourcesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ec_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase (decrease) in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of extensions, discoveries and improved recovery of proved oil and gas reserves.

No definition available.

Name:	ec_ExtensionsDiscoveriesAdditionsAndImprovedRecovery
Namespace Prefix:	ec_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase (decrease) in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of purchases and sales of minerals in place.

No definition available.

Name:	ec_NetChangeDueToPurchasesAndSalesOfMineralsInPlace
Namespace Prefix:	ec_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase (decrease) in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of revisions of estimated quantity of oil and gas in proved reserves.

No definition available.

Name:	ec_NetChangeDueToRevisionsOfPreviousQuantityEstimates
Namespace Prefix:	ec_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase (decrease) in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of change in the estimated future income tax on future pretax net cash flows related to the entity's proved oil and gas reserves.

No definition available.

Name:	ec_NetChangesInFutureIncomeTaxExpenseEstimatesOnFutureCashFlowsRelatedToProvedOilAndGasReserves
Namespace Prefix:	ec_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase (decrease) in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of net change in sales and transfer prices and in production (lifting) cost related to future production.

No definition available.

Name:	ec_NetIncreaseDecreaseInNetChangeInSalesAndTransferPricesAndInProductionLiftingCostRelatedToFutureProduction
Namespace Prefix:	ec_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of (increase) decrease in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of sales and transfers of oil and gas produced.

No definition available.

Name:	ec_SalesAndTransferOfCrudeOilAndGasProduced
Namespace Prefix:	ec_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase (decrease) in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of changes from timing and other sources.

No definition available.

Name:	ec_StandardizedMeasureOfDiscountedFutureNetCashFlowOfProvedCrudeOilAndGasReservesTimingAndOther
Namespace Prefix:	ec_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of accretion of discount for the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow related to proved oil and gas reserves.

No definition available.

Name:	ec_StandardizedMeasureOfDiscountedFutureNetCashFlowRelatingToProvedCrudeOilAndGasReservesAccretionOfDiscounts
Namespace Prefix:	ec_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase (decrease) in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of change in estimated future development costs.

No definition available.

Name:	ec_StandardizedMeasureOfDiscountedFutureNetCashFlowRelatingToProvedCrudeOilAndGasReservesChangesInEstimatedFutureDevelopmentCosts
Namespace Prefix:	ec_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of increase in standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow as a result of previously estimated development costs incurred.

No definition available.