Debt - Debt for Apache and Subsidiaries (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	$ 12,411	$ 7,262
Debt before unamortized discount	(66)	(46)
Total debt	12,345	7,216
Current maturities	(990)	(431)
Long-term debt	11,355	6,785
Money Market Lines of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	13
Commercial Paper [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	489
6.25% notes due 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount		400
5.25% notes due 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	500	500
6.0% notes due 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	400	400
5.625% notes due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	500	500
One Point Seven Five Percentage Notes Due Twenty Seventeen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	400
6.9% notes due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	400	400
7.0% notes due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	150	150
7.625% notes due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	150	150
3.625% notes due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	500	500
Three Point Two Five Percentage Notes Due Twenty Twenty Two [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	1,100
Two Point Six Two Five Percentage Notes Due Twenty Twenty Three [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	1,200
7.7% notes due 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	100	100
7.95% notes due 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	180	180
6.0% notes due 2037 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	1,000	1,000
5.1% notes due 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	1,500	1,500
5.25% notes due 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	500	500
Four Point Seven Five Percentage Notes Due Twenty Forty Three [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	1,500
Four Point Two Five Percentage Notes Due Twenty Forty Four [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	800
7.375% debentures due 2047 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	150	150
7.625% debentures due 2096 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	150	150
United States [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	11,682	6,580
Argentina Overdraft Lines of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	69	31
Foreign Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	9
Apache Finance Canada 4.375% notes due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	350	350
Notes Due In Twenty Sixteen And Twenty Seventeen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	1	1
Apache finance Canada 7.75% notes due 2029 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	300	300
Subsidiary And Other Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	$ 729	$ 682