Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,251	$ 160	$ 318	$ 295
Receivables, net of allowance	3,086	3,086
Inventories	889	908
Drilling advances	452	584
Derivative instruments	3	31
Prepaid assets and other	335	193
Total current assets	6,016	4,962
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	51,462	53,280
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill, net	1,369	1,289
Deferred charges and other	1,392	1,206
Total assets	60,239	60,737	58,810
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	1,345	1,092
Current debt	57	990
Asset retirement obligation	139	478
Derivative instruments	205	116
Other current liabilities	2,777	2,860
Total current liabilities	4,523	5,536
LONG-TERM DEBT	10,868	11,355
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	8,297	8,024
Asset retirement obligation	3,123	4,100
Other	447	391
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	11,867	12,515
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	32,981	31,331	30,714	28,993
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	60,239	60,737
Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	628		32	41
Receivables, net of allowance	1,100	876
Inventories	52	95
Drilling advances	21	21
Derivative instruments	3	31
Prepaid assets and other	158	102
Intercompany receivable	4,863	3,766
Total current assets	6,825	4,891
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	15,051	18,517
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable	4,044	4,628
Equity in affiliates	23,009	21,047
Goodwill, net	173	173
Deferred charges and other	167	152
Total assets	49,269	49,408
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	866	639
Current debt		912
Asset retirement obligation	132	471
Derivative instruments	204	96
Other current liabilities	986	893
Total current liabilities	2,188	3,011
LONG-TERM DEBT	10,219	10,706
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	3,074	2,990
Asset retirement obligation	338	992
Other	469	378
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	3,881	4,360
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	32,981	31,331
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	49,269	49,408
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	0		1	5
Drilling advances	1	1
Total current assets	1	1
OTHER ASSETS:
Equity in affiliates	936	934
Deferred charges and other	1,002	1,002
Total assets	1,939	1,937
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	2	1
Other current liabilities	12	3
Total current liabilities	14	4
LONG-TERM DEBT	648	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	1,022	1,031
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,939	1,937
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	623	160	285	249
Receivables, net of allowance	1,986	2,210
Inventories	837	813
Drilling advances	430	562
Prepaid assets and other	177	91
Total current assets	4,053	3,836
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	36,411	34,763
OTHER ASSETS:
Equity in affiliates	86	97
Goodwill, net	1,196	1,116
Deferred charges and other	1,223	1,052
Total assets	42,969	40,864
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	477	452
Current debt	57	78
Asset retirement obligation	7	7
Derivative instruments	1	20
Other current liabilities	1,779	1,964
Intercompany payable	4,863	3,766
Total current liabilities	7,184	6,287
LONG-TERM DEBT	1	2
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Intercompany payable	4,044	4,628
Income taxes	5,218	5,029
Asset retirement obligation	2,785	3,108
Other	728	763
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	12,775	13,528
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	23,009	21,047
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	42,969	40,864
Reclassifications & Eliminations [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable	(4,863)	(3,766)
Total current assets	(4,863)	(3,766)
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable	(4,044)	(4,628)
Equity in affiliates	(24,031)	(22,078)
Deferred charges and other	(1,000)	(1,000)
Total assets	(33,938)	(31,472)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Intercompany payable	(4,863)	(3,766)
Total current liabilities	(4,863)	(3,766)
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Intercompany payable	(4,044)	(4,628)
Other	(1,000)	(1,000)
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	(5,044)	(5,628)
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	(24,031)	(22,078)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (33,938)	$ (31,472)