Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 248	$ 160	$ 245	$ 295
Receivables, net of allowance	3,106	3,086
Inventories	885	908
Drilling advances	365	584
Derivative instruments	16	31
Prepaid assets and other	228	193
Total current assets	4,848	4,962
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	54,289	53,280
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill, net	1,369	1,289
Deferred charges and other	1,286	1,206
Total Assets	61,792	60,737	53,237
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	1,226	1,092
Current debt	994	990
Asset retirement obligation	468	478
Derivative instruments	151	116
Other current liabilities	2,723	2,860
Total current liabilities	5,562	5,536
LONG-TERM DEBT	11,485	11,355
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	8,163	8,024
Asset retirement obligation	4,197	4,100
Other	398	391
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	12,758	12,515
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	31,987	31,331	29,715	28,993
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	61,792	60,737
Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	5		11	41
Receivables, net of allowance	970	876
Inventories	87	95
Drilling advances	12	21
Derivative instruments	16	31
Prepaid assets and other	141	102
Intercompany receivable	4,124	3,766
Total current assets	5,355	4,891
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	19,228	18,517
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable	3,864	4,628
Equity in affiliates	21,664	21,047
Goodwill, net	173	173
Deferred charges and other	170	152
Total Assets	50,454	49,408
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	720	639
Current debt	940	912
Asset retirement obligation	471	471
Derivative instruments	140	96
Other current liabilities	860	893
Total current liabilities	3,131	3,011
LONG-TERM DEBT	10,837	10,706
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	3,085	2,990
Asset retirement obligation	1,015	992
Other	399	378
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	4,499	4,360
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	31,987	31,331
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	50,454	49,408
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		5	2	5
Drilling advances	1	1
Total current assets	1	1
OTHER ASSETS:
Equity in affiliates	931	934
Deferred charges and other	1,002	1,002
Total Assets	1,934	1,937
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	1	1
Other current liabilities	14	3
Total current liabilities	15	4
LONG-TERM DEBT	647	647
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	5	5
Other	250	250
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	255	255
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	1,017	1,031
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,934	1,937
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	243	155	232	249
Receivables, net of allowance	2,136	2,210
Inventories	798	813
Drilling advances	352	562
Prepaid assets and other	177	91
Intercompany receivable	5
Total current assets	3,711	3,836
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	35,061	34,763
OTHER ASSETS:
Equity in affiliates	86	97
Goodwill, net	1,196	1,116
Deferred charges and other	1,114	1,052
Total Assets	41,168	40,864
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	505	452
Current debt	54	78
Asset retirement obligation	(3)	7
Derivative instruments	11	20
Other current liabilities	1,944	1,964
Intercompany payable	4,124	3,766
Total current liabilities	6,635	6,287
LONG-TERM DEBT	1	2
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Intercompany payable	3,864	4,628
Income taxes	5,073	5,029
Asset retirement obligation	3,182	3,108
Other	749	763
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	12,863	13,528
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	21,664	21,047
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	41,168	40,864
Reclassifications & Eliminations [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Prepaid assets and other	(90)
Intercompany receivable	(4,129)	(3,766)
Total current assets	(4,219)	(3,766)
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable	(3,864)	(4,628)
Equity in affiliates	(22,681)	(22,078)
Deferred charges and other	(1,000)	(1,000)
Total Assets	(31,764)	(31,472)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	0	0
Other current liabilities	(95)
Intercompany payable	(4,124)	(3,766)
Total current liabilities	(4,219)	(3,766)
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Intercompany payable	(3,864)	(4,628)
Other	(1,000)	(1,000)
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	(4,864)	5,628
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	(22,681)	(22,078)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (31,764)	$ (31,472)