Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 7,358	$ 6,422
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(7,498)	(6,387)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(859)	(586)
Acquisition of Cordillera		(2,666)
Proceeds from divestiture of Shelf	3,594
Acquisition of Yara Pilbara Holdings Pty Limited		(439)
Proceeds from Kitimat LNG transaction, net	396
Acquisitions, other	(156)	(122)
Proceeds from sale of other oil and gas properties	199	26
Other	(10)	(386)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(4,334)	(10,560)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper and bank credit facilities, net	(516)	1,827
Fixed rate debt borrowings		2,991
Payments on fixed rate debt	(900)	(400)
Dividends paid	(280)	(246)
Treasury stock activity, net	(249)	2
Other	12	(13)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(1,933)	4,161
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	1,091	23
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	160	295
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	1,251	318
Apache Corporation [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	1,434	1,755
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(2,956)	(2,330)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(85)	(28)
Acquisition of Cordillera		(2,666)
Proceeds from divestiture of Shelf	3,594
Acquisitions, other		(56)
Proceeds from sale of other oil and gas properties		20
Investment in subsidiaries, net	596	(541)
Other	(41)	(340)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	1,108	(5,941)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper and bank credit facilities, net	(502)	1,792
Fixed rate debt borrowings		2,991
Payments on fixed rate debt	(900)	(400)
Dividends paid	(280)	(246)
Treasury stock activity, net	(249)	2
Other	17	38
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(1,914)	4,177
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	628	(9)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR		41
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	628	32
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(89)	(86)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Intercompany borrowings	1
Other	88	82
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	89	82
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	0	(4)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR		5
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	0	1
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	6,013	4,753
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(4,542)	(4,057)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(774)	(558)
Acquisition of Yara Pilbara Holdings Pty Limited		(439)
Proceeds from Kitimat LNG transaction, net	396
Acquisitions, other	(156)	(66)
Proceeds from sale of other oil and gas properties	199	6
Other	31	(46)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(4,846)	(5,160)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper and bank credit facilities, net	(14)	35
Intercompany borrowings	(585)	572
Other	(105)	(164)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(704)	443
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	463	36
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	160	249
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	623	285
Reclassifications & Eliminations [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in subsidiaries, net	(596)	541
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(596)	541
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Intercompany borrowings	584	(572)
Other	12	31
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	$ 596	$ (541)