Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 2,007	$ 1,979
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(1,705)	(1,571)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(262)	(125)
Equity investment in BHL	(439)
Deposit related to acquisition of Cordillera Energy Partners III LLC	(200)
Other	(36)	(53)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(2,642)	(1,749)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper, credit facility and bank notes, net	657	19
Dividends paid	(77)	(76)
Common stock activity	2	26
Other	3	23
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	585	(8)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(50)	222
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	295	134
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	245	356
Apache Corporation [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	230	392
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(417)	(469)
Deposit related to acquisition of Cordillera Energy Partners III LLC	(200)
Investment in subsidiaries, net	(210)	(95)
Other	(23)	(17)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(850)	(391)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper, credit facility and bank notes, net	657	19
Dividends paid	(77)	(76)
Common stock activity	2	26
Other	8	31
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	590
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(30)	1
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	41	6
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	11	7
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(7)	(5)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Intercompany borrowings		1
Common stock activity	4	4
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	4	5
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(3)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	5
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	2
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	1,784	1,592
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(1,288)	(1,102)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(262)	(125)
Equity investment in BHL	(439)
Other	(13)	(36)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(2,002)	(1,263)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Intercompany borrowings	225	(96)
Common stock activity	(19)	(4)
Other	(5)	(8)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	201	(108)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(17)	221
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	249	128
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	232	349
Reclassifications and Eliminations [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in subsidiaries, net	210	(95)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	210	(95)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Intercompany borrowings	(225)	95
Common stock activity	15
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	$ (210)	$ 95