Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 2,621	$ 2,007
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(2,546)	(1,705)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(256)	(262)
Acquisition of Yara Pilbara Holdings Pty Limited		(439)
Acquisitions, other	(148)	(200)
Proceeds from Kitimat LNG transaction, net	405
Other	(47)	(36)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(2,592)	(2,642)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper and bank credit facilities, net	133	657
Dividends paid	(86)	(77)
Other	12	5
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	59	585
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	88	(50)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	160	295
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	248	245
Apache Corporation [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	149	230
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(908)	(417)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(45)
Acquisitions, other		(200)
Investment in subsidiaries, net	770	(210)
Other	(44)	(23)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(227)	(850)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper and bank credit facilities, net	157	657
Dividends paid	(86)	(77)
Other	12	10
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	83	590
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	5	(30)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR		41
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	5	11
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(61)	(7)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Other	56	4
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	56	4
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(5)	(3)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	5	5
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD		2
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	2,533	1,784
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(1,638)	(1,288)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(211)	(262)
Acquisition of Yara Pilbara Holdings Pty Limited		(439)
Acquisitions, other	(148)
Proceeds from Kitimat LNG transaction, net	405
Other	(3)	(13)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(1,595)	(2,002)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper and bank credit facilities, net	(24)
Intercompany borrowings	(764)	225
Other	(62)	(24)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(850)	201
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	88	(17)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	155	249
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	243	232
Reclassifications & Eliminations [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in subsidiaries, net	(770)	210
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(770)	210
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Intercompany borrowings	764	(225)
Other	6	15
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	$ 770	$ (210)