Revenues from contracts with customers - Narrative (Detail) - Other Assets [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Utilities and Energy [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Receivables	$ 2,200	$ 2,000
Unbilled revenue	624	665
Railroad [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Receivables	$ 1,300	$ 1,200

For an unclassified balance sheet, the amount due from customers or clients for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to their estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(9))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section S99
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Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant