Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 361	$ 295	$ 1,107	$ 134
Receivables, net of allowance	2,625	3,079
Inventories	745	655
Drilling advances	356	229
Derivative instruments	232	304
Prepaid assets and other	320	241
Total current assets	4,639	4,803
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	50,135	45,448
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill, net	1,114	1,114
Deferred charges and other	1,329	686
Total assets	57,217	52,051	46,529
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	1,061	1,048
Current debt	568	431
Asset retirement obligation	447	447
Derivative instruments	41	113
Other current liabilities	3,004	2,924
Total current liabilities	5,121	4,963
LONG-TERM DEBT	9,670	6,785
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	7,383	7,197
Asset retirement obligation	3,739	3,440
Other	631	673
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	11,753	11,310
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY	30,673	28,993	26,667	24,377
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	57,217	52,051
Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	9	41	8	6
Receivables, net of allowance	667	773
Inventories	64	51
Drilling advances	18	11
Derivative instruments	118	113
Prepaid assets and other	4,409	3,859
Total current assets	5,285	4,848
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	16,780	12,262
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	3,344	3,931
Equity in affiliates	20,831	20,214
Deferred charges and other	189	158
Total assets	46,429	41,413
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	592	609
Current debt	500	400
Asset retirement obligation	434	434
Derivative instruments	19	76
Other current liabilities	772	614
Total current liabilities	2,317	2,133
LONG-TERM DEBT	9,022	6,137
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	2,848	2,622
Asset retirement obligation	981	936
Other	588	592
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	4,417	4,150
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY	30,673	28,993
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	46,429	41,413
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	1	5
Total current assets	1	5
OTHER ASSETS:
Equity in affiliates	950	1,372
Deferred charges and other	1,002	1,002
Total assets	1,953	2,379
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	1	1
Other current liabilities	2	5
Total current liabilities	3	6
LONG-TERM DEBT	647	647
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	5	5
Other	250	250
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	255	255
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY	1,048	1,471
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,953	2,379
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	351	249	1,099	128
Receivables, net of allowance	1,958	2,306
Inventories	681	604
Drilling advances	338	218
Derivative instruments	114	191
Prepaid assets and other	(4,089)	(3,618)
Total current assets	(649)	(50)
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	33,355	33,186
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	(1,626)	(1,908)
Equity in affiliates	98	99
Goodwill, net	1,114	1,114
Deferred charges and other	1,138	526
Total assets	33,432	32,967
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	2,186	2,461
Current debt	68	31
Asset retirement obligation	13	13
Derivative instruments	22	37
Other current liabilities	2,230	2,305
Total current liabilities	4,519	4,847
LONG-TERM DEBT	1	1
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	4,530	4,570
Asset retirement obligation	2,758	2,504
Other	793	831
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	8,081	7,905
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY	20,831	20,214
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	33,432	32,967
Reclassifications and Eliminations [Member]
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	(1,718)	(2,023)
Equity in affiliates	(21,879)	(21,685)
Deferred charges and other	(1,000)	(1,000)
Total assets	(24,597)	(24,708)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	(1,718)	(2,023)
Total current liabilities	(1,718)	(2,023)
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Other	(1,000)	(1,000)
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	(1,000)	(1,000)
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY	(21,879)	(21,685)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (24,597)	$ (24,708)