Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 160	$ 295	$ 134	$ 2,048
Receivables, net of allowance	3,086	3,079
Inventories	908	655
Drilling advances	584	229
Derivative instruments	31	304
Prepaid assets and other	193	241
Total current assets	4,962	4,803
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	53,280	45,448	38,151
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill, net	1,289	1,114
Deferred charges and other	1,206	686
Total Assets	60,737	52,051	43,425
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	1,092	1,048
Current debt	990	431
Asset retirement obligation	478	447
Derivative instruments	116	113
Other current liabilities	2,860	2,924
Total current liabilities	5,536	4,963
LONG-TERM DEBT	11,355	6,785
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	8,024	7,197
Asset retirement obligation	4,100	3,440
Other	391	673
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	12,515	11,310
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	31,331	28,993	24,377	15,779
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	60,737	52,051
Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		41	6	647
Receivables, net of allowance	876	773
Inventories	95	51
Drilling advances	21	11
Derivative instruments	31	113
Prepaid assets and other	3,868	3,859
Total current assets	4,891	4,848
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	18,517	12,262
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	4,628	3,931
Equity in affiliates	21,047	20,214
Goodwill, net	173
Deferred charges and other	152	158
Total Assets	49,408	41,413
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	639	609
Current debt	912	400
Asset retirement obligation	471	434
Derivative instruments	96	76
Other current liabilities	893	614
Total current liabilities	3,011	2,133
LONG-TERM DEBT	10,706	6,137
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	2,990	2,622
Asset retirement obligation	992	936
Other	378	592
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	4,360	4,150
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	31,331	28,993
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	49,408	41,413
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		5		2
Drilling advances	1
Total current assets	1	5
OTHER ASSETS:
Equity in affiliates	934	1,372
Deferred charges and other	1,002	1,002
Total Assets	1,937	2,379
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	1	1
Other current liabilities	3	5
Total current liabilities	4	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
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	1,031	1,471
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,937	2,379
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	160	249	128	1,399
Receivables, net of allowance	2,210	2,306
Inventories	813	604
Drilling advances	562	218
Derivative instruments		191
Prepaid assets and other	(3,675)	(3,618)
Total current assets	70	(50)
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	34,763	33,186
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	(2,917)	(1,908)
Equity in affiliates	97	99
Goodwill, net	1,116	1,114
Deferred charges and other	1,052	526
Total Assets	34,181	32,967
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	2,163	2,461
Current debt	78	31
Asset retirement obligation	7	13
Derivative instruments	20	37
Other current liabilities	1,964	2,305
Total current liabilities	4,232	4,847
LONG-TERM DEBT	2	1
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	5,029	4,570
Asset retirement obligation	3,108	2,504
Other	763	831
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	8,900	7,905
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	21,047	20,214
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	34,181	32,967
Reclassifications & Eliminations [Member]
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	(1,711)	(2,023)
Equity in affiliates	(22,078)	(21,685)
Deferred charges and other	(1,000)	(1,000)
Total Assets	(24,789)	(24,708)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	(1,711)	(2,023)
Total current liabilities	(1,711)	(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
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	(22,078)	(21,685)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (24,789)	$ (24,708)