Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 295	$ 134	$ 2,048	$ 1,181
Receivables, net of allowance	3,079	2,134
Inventories	655	564
Drilling advances	229	259
Derivative instruments	304	167
Prepaid assets and other	241	222
Total current assets	4,803	3,480
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	45,448	38,151	22,901
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	0	0
Equity in affiliates	0	0
Goodwill, net	1,114	1,032
Deferred charges and other	686	762
Total Assets	52,051	43,425	28,186
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	1,048	779
Accrued exploration and development	2,648	1,816
Current debt	431	46
Asset retirement obligation	447	407
Derivative instruments	113	194
Accrued income taxes	533	2
Other	276	282
Total current liabilities	4,963	3,524
LONG-TERM DEBT	6,785	8,095
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	7,197	4,249
Asset retirement obligation	3,440	2,465
Other	673	715
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	11,310	7,429
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY	28,993	24,377	15,779	16,509
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	52,051	43,425
Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	41	6	647	142
Receivables, net of allowance	773	691
Inventories	51	55
Drilling advances	11	10
Derivative instruments	113	31
Prepaid assets and other	3,859	3,282
Total current assets	4,848	4,075
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	12,262	11,314
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	3,931	4,695
Equity in affiliates	20,214	16,649
Goodwill, net	0	0
Deferred charges and other	158	178
Total Assets	41,413	36,911
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	609	480
Accrued exploration and development	468	535
Current debt	400	16
Asset retirement obligation	434	317
Derivative instruments	76	153
Other	146	139
Total current liabilities	2,133	1,640
LONG-TERM DEBT	6,137	7,447
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	2,622	1,803
Asset retirement obligation	936	1,001
Other	592	643
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	4,150	3,447
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY	28,993	24,377
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	41,413	36,911
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	5	0	2	2
Receivables, net of allowance	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Drilling advances	0	2
Derivative instruments	0	0
Prepaid assets and other	0	0
Total current assets	5	2
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	0	0
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	0	0
Equity in affiliates	1,372	1,275
Goodwill, net	0	0
Deferred charges and other	1,002	1,003
Total Assets	2,379	2,280
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	1	2
Accrued exploration and development	0	0
Current debt	0	0
Asset retirement obligation	0	0
Derivative instruments	0	0
Other	5	3
Total current liabilities	6	5
LONG-TERM DEBT	647	647
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	5	5
Asset retirement obligation	0	0
Other	250	250
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	255	255
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY	1,471	1,373
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,379	2,280
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	249	128	1,399	1,037
Receivables, net of allowance	2,306	1,443
Inventories	604	509
Drilling advances	218	247
Derivative instruments	191	136
Prepaid assets and other	(3,618)	(3,060)
Total current assets	(50)	(597)
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	33,186	26,837
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	(1,908)	(3,149)
Equity in affiliates	99	98
Goodwill, net	1,114	1,032
Deferred charges and other	526	581
Total Assets	32,967	24,802
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	2,461	1,843
Accrued exploration and development	2,180	1,281
Current debt	31	30
Asset retirement obligation	13	90
Derivative instruments	37	41
Other	125	140
Total current liabilities	4,847	3,425
LONG-TERM DEBT	1	1
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	4,570	2,441
Asset retirement obligation	2,504	1,464
Other	831	822
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	7,905	4,727
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY	20,214	16,649
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	32,967	24,802
Reclassifications and Eliminations [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Receivables, net of allowance	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Drilling advances	0	0
Derivative instruments	0	0
Prepaid assets and other	0	0
Total current assets	0	0
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	0	0
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	(2,023)	(1,546)
Equity in affiliates	(21,685)	(18,022)
Goodwill, net	0	0
Deferred charges and other	(1,000)	(1,000)
Total Assets	(24,708)	(20,568)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	(2,023)	(1,546)
Accrued exploration and development	0	0
Current debt	0	0
Asset retirement obligation	0	0
Derivative instruments	0	0
Other	0	0
Total current liabilities	(2,023)	(1,546)
LONG-TERM DEBT	0	0
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	0	0
Asset retirement obligation	0	0
Other	(1,000)	(1,000)
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	(1,000)	(1,000)
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY	(21,685)	(18,022)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (24,708)	$ (20,568)