Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Oil and gas production revenues									$ 16,810	$ 12,183	$ 8,574
Other									78	(91)	41
Total revenues and other	4,297	4,328	4,338	3,925	3,434	3,013	2,972	2,673	16,888	12,092	8,615
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									4,204	3,083	5,213
Asset retirement obligation accretion									154	111	105
Lease operating expenses									2,605	2,032	1,662
Gathering and transportation									296	178	143
Taxes other than income									899	690	580
General and administrative									459	380	344
Merger, acquisitions & transition									20	183
Financing costs, net									158	229	242
Total operating expenses									8,795	6,886	8,289
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									8,093	5,206	326
Provision for income taxes									3,509	2,174	611
NET INCOME (LOSS)	1,189	1,002	1,259	1,134	689	778	860	705	4,584	3,032	(285)
Preferred stock dividends									76	32	7
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	1,170	983	1,240	1,115	670	765	860	705	4,508	3,000	(292)
Apache Corporation [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Oil and gas production revenues									4,380	3,665	2,770
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates									3,590	2,265	235
Other									9	27	(3)
Total revenues and other									7,979	5,957	3,002
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									1,257	1,041	2,097
Asset retirement obligation accretion									70	57	63
Lease operating expenses									794	797	691
Gathering and transportation									51	42	34
Taxes other than income									170	140	100
General and administrative									365	273	275
Merger, acquisitions & transition									14	183
Financing costs, net									149	158	228
Total operating expenses									2,870	2,691	3,488
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									5,109	3,266	(486)
Provision for income taxes									525	234	(201)
NET INCOME (LOSS)									4,584	3,032	(285)
Preferred stock dividends									76	32	7
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK									4,508	3,000	(292)
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates									234	81	(448)
Other									125	(1)	59
Total revenues and other									359	80	(389)
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Financing costs, net									(18)	(19)	(15)
Total operating expenses									(18)	(19)	(15)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									377	99	(374)
Provision for income taxes									97	25	(93)
NET INCOME (LOSS)									280	74	(281)
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK									280	74	(281)
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Oil and gas production revenues									12,430	8,518	5,804
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates									46	(7)	168
Other									(52)	(113)	(11)
Total revenues and other									12,424	8,398	5,961
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization									2,947	2,042	3,116
Asset retirement obligation accretion									84	54	42
Lease operating expenses									1,811	1,235	971
Gathering and transportation									245	136	109
Taxes other than income									729	550	480
General and administrative									98	111	73
Merger, acquisitions & transition									6
Financing costs, net									27	90	29
Total operating expenses									5,947	4,218	4,820
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									6,477	4,180	1,141
Provision for income taxes									2,887	1,915	905
NET INCOME (LOSS)									3,590	2,265	236
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK									3,590	2,265	236
Reclassifications and Eliminations [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates									(3,870)	(2,339)	45
Other									(4)	(4)	(4)
Total revenues and other									(3,874)	(2,343)	41
OPERATING EXPENSES:
General and administrative									(4)	(4)	(4)
Total operating expenses									(4)	(4)	(4)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									(3,870)	(2,339)	45
NET INCOME (LOSS)									(3,870)	(2,339)	45
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK									$ (3,870)	$ (2,339)	$ 45