Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 184	$ 160	$ 361	$ 295
Receivables, net of allowance	2,914	3,086
Inventories	973	908
Drilling advances	298	584
Derivative instruments	87	31
Prepaid assets and other	302	193
Total current assets	4,758	4,962
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	55,821	53,280
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill, net	1,369	1,289
Deferred charges and other	1,402	1,206
Total assets	63,350	60,737	57,217
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	1,346	1,092
Current debt	478	990
Asset retirement obligation	475	478
Derivative instruments	22	116
Other current liabilities	2,837	2,860
Total current liabilities	5,158	5,536
LONG-TERM DEBT	12,297	11,355
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	8,496	8,024
Asset retirement obligation	4,278	4,100
Other	400	391
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	13,174	12,515
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	32,721	31,331	30,673	28,993
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	63,350	60,737
Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents			9	41
Receivables, net of allowance	979	876
Inventories	93	95
Drilling advances	7	21
Derivative instruments	87	31
Prepaid assets and other	157	102
Intercompany receivable	4,503	3,766
Total current assets	5,826	4,891
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	19,893	18,517
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable	3,376	4,628
Equity in affiliates	22,389	21,047
Goodwill, net	173	173
Deferred charges and other	234	152
Total assets	51,891	49,408
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	874	639
Current debt	417	912
Asset retirement obligation	471	471
Derivative instruments	22	96
Other current liabilities	957	893
Total current liabilities	2,741	3,011
LONG-TERM DEBT	11,649	10,706
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	3,323	2,990
Asset retirement obligation	1,048	992
Other	409	378
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	4,780	4,360
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	32,721	31,331
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	51,891	49,408
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents			1	5
Drilling advances	1	1
Total current assets		1
OTHER ASSETS:
Equity in affiliates	938	934
Deferred charges and other	1,002	1,002
Total assets	1,941	1,937
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	2	1
Other current liabilities	4	3
Total current liabilities	6	4
LONG-TERM DEBT	647	647
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	6	5
Other	250	250
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	256	255
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	1,032	1,031
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,941	1,937
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	184	160	351	249
Receivables, net of allowance	1,935	2,210
Inventories	880	813
Drilling advances	290	562
Prepaid assets and other	247	91
Total current assets	3,536	3,836
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	35,928	34,763
OTHER ASSETS:
Equity in affiliates	94	97
Goodwill, net	1,196	1,116
Deferred charges and other	1,166	1,052
Total assets	41,920	40,864
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	470	452
Current debt	61	78
Asset retirement obligation	4	7
Derivative instruments		20
Other current liabilities	1,978	1,964
Intercompany payable	4,503	3,766
Total current liabilities	7,016	6,287
LONG-TERM DEBT	1	2
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Intercompany payable	3,376	4,628
Income taxes	5,167	5,029
Asset retirement obligation	3,230	3,108
Other	741	763
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	12,514	13,528
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	22,389	21,047
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	41,920	40,864
Reclassifications & Eliminations [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Prepaid assets and other	(102)
Intercompany receivable	(4,503)	(3,766)
Total current assets	(4,605)	(3,766)
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable	(3,376)	(4,628)
Equity in affiliates	(23,421)	(22,078)
Deferred charges and other	(1,000)	(1,000)
Total assets	(32,402)	(31,472)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Other current liabilities	(102)
Intercompany payable	(4,503)	(3,766)
Total current liabilities	(4,605)	(3,766)
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Intercompany payable	(3,376)	(4,628)
Other	(1,000)	(1,000)
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	(4,376)	(5,628)
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	(23,421)	(22,078)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (32,402)	$ (31,472)