Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Oil and gas production revenues	$ 4,146	$ 4,457
Other	(70)	79
Total revenues and other	4,076	4,536
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	1,435	1,740
Asset retirement obligation accretion	65	55
Lease operating expenses	771	673
Gathering and transportation	74	77
Taxes other than income	242	257
General and administrative	116	128
Merger, acquisitions & transition		6
Financing costs, net	53	40
Total operating expenses	2,756	2,976
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	1,320	1,560
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	603	763
NET INCOME	717	797
Preferred stock dividends	19	19
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	698	778
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	696	745
Apache Corporation [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Oil and gas production revenues	1,146	1,058
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	610	555
Other	(102)	(1)
Total revenues and other	1,654	1,612
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	401	292
Asset retirement obligation accretion	20	19
Lease operating expenses	281	215
Gathering and transportation	14	12
Taxes other than income	44	50
General and administrative	100	99
Merger, acquisitions & transition		6
Financing costs, net	34	44
Total operating expenses	894	737
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	760	875
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	43	78
NET INCOME	717	797
Preferred stock dividends	19	19
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	698	778
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	696	745
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	(11)	(174)
Other	15	17
Total revenues and other	4	(157)
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Financing costs, net	14	14
Total operating expenses	14	14
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(10)	(171)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(2)	(43)
NET INCOME	(8)	(128)
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	(8)	(128)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	(8)	(128)
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Oil and gas production revenues	3,000	3,399
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	3	46
Other	19	64
Total revenues and other	3,022	3,509
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	1,034	1,448
Asset retirement obligation accretion	45	36
Lease operating expenses	490	458
Gathering and transportation	60	65
Taxes other than income	198	207
General and administrative	18	30
Financing costs, net	5	(18)
Total operating expenses	1,850	2,226
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	1,172	1,283
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	562	728
NET INCOME	610	555
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	610	555
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	610	555
Reclassifications & Eliminations [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	(602)	(427)
Other	(2)	(1)
Total revenues and other	(604)	(428)
OPERATING EXPENSES:
General and administrative	(2)	(1)
Total operating expenses	(2)	(1)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(602)	(427)
NET INCOME	(602)	(427)
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	(602)	(427)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	$ (602)	$ (427)