Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended						3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Wpx Energy Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exploration and production operations [Member] Powder River [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Exploration and production operations [Member] Barnett Shale And Piceance Combined [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exploration and production operations [Member] Barnett Shale [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exploration and production operations [Member] Arkoma [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exploration and production operations [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member] Minimum [Member] Wpx Energy Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exploration and production operations [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member] Maximum [Member] Wpx Energy Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exploration and production operations [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] Level 3 [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member] Wpx Energy Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Exploration and production operations [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] Level 3 [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member] Barnett Shale And Piceance Combined [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exploration and production operations [Member] Restructuring Charges [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Exploration and production operations [Member] Impairment of Goodwill [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Exploration and production operations [Member] Impairment of Goodwill [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] Level 3 [Member] Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exploration and production operations [Member] Investments Impairment Charge [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exploration and production operations [Member] Investments Impairment Charge [Member] Natural Gas Reserves [Member] Proved Reserves [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exploration and production operations [Member] Investments Impairment Charge [Member] Natural Gas Reserves [Member] Probable Reserves [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exploration and production operations [Member] Investments Impairment Charge [Member] Natural Gas Reserves [Member] Probable Reserves [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exploration and production operations [Member] Investments Impairment Charge [Member] Natural Gas Reserves [Member] Possible Reserves [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exploration and production operations [Member] Investments Impairment Charge [Member] Natural Gas Reserves [Member] Possible Reserves [Member] Maximum [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Venezuela operations [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Venezuela operations [Member] Minimum [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Venezuela operations [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Former power operations [Member]
Summarized Results of Discontinued Operations
Revenues	$ 0	$ 3,997,000,000	$ 4,042,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before gain on reconsolidation, impairments and income taxes	(16,000,000)	223,000,000	350,000,000										(42,000,000)
Gain on reconsolidation	144,000,000	0	0																			144,000,000
Impairments	0	(755,000,000)	(1,682,000,000)		(367,000,000)	(678,000,000)	(180,000,000)	(29,000,000)						(1,003,000,000)		(179,000,000)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	8,000,000	115,000,000	139,000,000																						26,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	136,000,000	(417,000,000)	(1,193,000,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
Attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	10,000,000	8,000,000
Attributable to The Williams Companies, Inc.	136,000,000	(427,000,000)	(1,201,000,000)
Textuals [Abstract]
Former Business Ownership Interest		100.00%		100.00%
Cash Payments Received Related To Former Venezuela Operations Settlement																						98,000,000
Cash Installments Related To Former Operations Settlement																						15,000,000
Gain on reconsolidation	144,000,000	0	0																			144,000,000
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Notes Receivable, Fair Value Disclosure																						88,000,000
Goodwill, Fair Value Disclosure															0
Property, Plant, and Equipment, Fair Value Disclosure												320,000,000
Investments, Fair Value Disclosure									$ 4,500,000,000	$ 6,700,000,000	$ 5,500,000,000
Fair Value Inputs [Abstract]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate																	11.25%	13.25%	15.25%	15.25%	18.25%	12.00%
Fair Value Inputs, Probability of Default																							15.00%	100.00%
Fair Value Inputs, Control Premium																30.00%