Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Oil and gas production revenues									$ 16,947	$ 16,810	$ 12,183
Other									131	78	(91)
Total revenues and other	4,391	4,179	3,972	4,536	4,297	4,328	4,338	3,925	17,078	16,888	12,092
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization									7,109	4,204	3,083
Asset retirement obligation accretion									232	154	111
Lease operating expenses									2,968	2,605	2,032
Gathering and transportation									303	296	178
Taxes other than income									862	899	690
General and administrative									531	459	380
Merger, acquisitions & transition									31	20	183
Financing costs, net									165	158	229
Total operating expenses									12,201	8,795	6,886
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									4,877	8,093	5,206
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									2,876	3,509	2,174
NET INCOME	668	180	356	797	1,189	1,002	1,259	1,134	2,001	4,584	3,032
Preferred stock dividends									76	76	32
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	649	161	337	778	1,170	983	1,240	1,115	1,925	4,508	3,000
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK									1,803	4,640	3,149
Apache Corporation [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Oil and gas production revenues									4,237	4,380	3,665
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates									1,523	3,590	2,265
Other									(80)	9	27
Total revenues and other									5,680	7,979	5,957
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization									1,391	1,257	1,041
Asset retirement obligation accretion									76	70	57
Lease operating expenses									957	794	797
Gathering and transportation									51	51	42
Taxes other than income									185	170	140
General and administrative									425	365	273
Merger, acquisitions & transition									25	14	183
Financing costs, net									94	149	158
Total operating expenses									3,204	2,870	2,691
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									2,476	5,109	3,266
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									475	525	234
NET INCOME									2,001	4,584	3,032
Preferred stock dividends									76	76	32
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK									1,925	4,508	3,000
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK									1,803	4,640	3,149
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates									(737)	234	81
Other									69	125	(1)
Total revenues and other									(668)	359	80
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Financing costs, net									(20)	(18)	(19)
Total operating expenses									(20)	(18)	(19)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									(648)	377	99
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									(159)	97	25
NET INCOME									(489)	280	74
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK									(489)	280
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK									(489)	280
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Oil and gas production revenues									12,710	12,430	8,518
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates									248	46	(7)
Other									146	(52)	(113)
Total revenues and other									13,104	12,424	8,398
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization									5,718	2,947	2,042
Asset retirement obligation accretion									156	84	54
Lease operating expenses									2,011	1,811	1,235
Gathering and transportation									252	245	136
Taxes other than income									677	729	550
General and administrative									110	98	111
Merger, acquisitions & transition									6	6
Financing costs, net									91	27	90
Total operating expenses									9,021	5,947	4,218
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									4,083	6,477	4,180
Provision (benefit) for income taxes									2,560	2,887	1,915
NET INCOME									1,523	3,590	2,265
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK									1,523	3,590	2,265
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK									1,523	3,590	2,265
Reclassifications & Eliminations [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates									(1,034)	(3,870)	(2,339)
Other									(4)	(4)	(4)
Total revenues and other									(1,038)	(3,874)	(2,343)
OPERATING EXPENSES:
General and administrative									(4)	(4)	(4)
Total operating expenses									(4)	(4)	(4)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									(1,034)	(3,870)	(2,339)
NET INCOME									(1,034)	(3,870)	(2,339)
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK									(1,034)	(3,870)	(2,339)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK									$ (1,034)	$ (3,870)	$ (2,339)