SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES As of September 30, 2013, Apache’s significant accounting policies are consistent with those discussed in Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of its consolidated financial statements contained in Apache’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates with regard to these financial statements include the fair value determination of acquired assets and liabilities, the estimate of proved oil and gas reserves and related present value estimates of future net cash flows therefrom, assessing asset retirement obligations, and the estimate of income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Oil and Gas Property The Company follows the full-cost method of accounting for its oil and gas properties. Under this method of accounting, all costs incurred for both successful and unsuccessful exploration and development activities, including salaries, benefits and other internal costs directly identified with these activities, and oil and gas property acquisitions are capitalized. The net book value of oil and gas properties, less related deferred income taxes, may not exceed a calculated “ceiling.” The ceiling limitation is the estimated after-tax future net cash flows from proved oil and gas reserves, discounted at 10 percent per annum and adjusted for designated cash flow hedges. Estimated future net cash flows are calculated using end-of-period costs and an unweighted arithmetic average of commodity prices in effect on the first day of each of the previous 12 months, held flat for the life of the production, except where prices are defined by contractual arrangements. Any excess of the net book value of proved oil and gas properties, less related deferred income taxes, over the ceiling is charged to expense and reflected as “Additional depreciation, depletion and amortization” (DD&A) in the accompanying statement of consolidated operations. Such limitations are imposed separately on a country-by-country basis and are tested quarterly. For a discussion of the calculation of estimated future net cash flows, please refer to Note 14—Supplemental Oil and Gas Disclosures in Apache’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. In the third quarter of 2013, the Company recorded $552 million ($356 million net of tax) and $116 million ($76 million net of tax) in non-cash write-downs of the carrying value of the Company’s U.S. and Argentinian proved oil and gas properties, respectively. Additionally, the Company recorded a write-down of its Argentinian proved property balances of $65 million ($42 million net of tax) in the first quarter of 2013. Excluding the effects of cash flow hedges in calculating the ceiling limitation, the write-down amounts would not have been materially different. Separately, in the third quarter of 2013 the Company exited operations in Kenya and recorded $75 million, ($46 million net of tax), to additional DD&A associated with the impairment of the entire carrying value of the Kenyan oil and gas property leases. For the 2012 quarters ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, the Company recorded write-downs of its Canadian proved property balances of $521 million ($390 million net of tax), $641 million ($480 million net of tax), and $721 million ($539 million net of tax), respectively. New Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, which requires entities to present unrecognized tax benefits as a decrease in a net operating loss, similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward if certain criteria are met. The guidance will eliminate the diversity in practice in the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits but will not alter the way in which entities assess deferred tax assets for realizability. ASU No. 2013-11 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment on its consolidated financial statements, and any changes will be applied prospectively.

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

As of September 30, 2013, Apache’s significant accounting policies are consistent with those discussed in Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of its consolidated financial statements contained in Apache’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates with regard to these financial statements include the fair value determination of acquired assets and liabilities, the estimate of proved oil and gas reserves and related present value estimates of future net cash flows therefrom, assessing asset retirement obligations, and the estimate of income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Oil and Gas Property

The Company follows the full-cost method of accounting for its oil and gas properties. Under this method of accounting, all costs incurred for both successful and unsuccessful exploration and development activities, including salaries, benefits and other internal costs directly identified with these activities, and oil and gas property acquisitions are capitalized. The net book value of oil and gas properties, less related deferred income taxes, may not exceed a calculated “ceiling.” The ceiling limitation is the estimated after-tax future net cash flows from proved oil and gas reserves, discounted at 10 percent per annum and adjusted for designated cash flow hedges. Estimated future net cash flows are calculated using end-of-period costs and an unweighted arithmetic average of commodity prices in effect on the first day of each of the previous 12 months, held flat for the life of the production, except where prices are defined by contractual arrangements.

Any excess of the net book value of proved oil and gas properties, less related deferred income taxes, over the ceiling is charged to expense and reflected as “Additional depreciation, depletion and amortization” (DD&A) in the accompanying statement of consolidated operations. Such limitations are imposed separately on a country-by-country basis and are tested quarterly. For a discussion of the calculation of estimated future net cash flows, please refer to Note 14—Supplemental Oil and Gas Disclosures in Apache’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.

In the third quarter of 2013, the Company recorded $552 million ($356 million net of tax) and $116 million ($76 million net of tax) in non-cash write-downs of the carrying value of the Company’s U.S. and Argentinian proved oil and gas properties, respectively. Additionally, the Company recorded a write-down of its Argentinian proved property balances of $65 million ($42 million net of tax) in the first quarter of 2013. Excluding the effects of cash flow hedges in calculating the ceiling limitation, the write-down amounts would not have been materially different. Separately, in the third quarter of 2013 the Company exited operations in Kenya and recorded $75 million, ($46 million net of tax), to additional DD&A associated with the impairment of the entire carrying value of the Kenyan oil and gas property leases.

For the 2012 quarters ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, the Company recorded write-downs of its Canadian proved property balances of $521 million ($390 million net of tax), $641 million ($480 million net of tax), and $721 million ($539 million net of tax), respectively.

New Pronouncements Issued But Not Yet Adopted

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, which requires entities to present unrecognized tax benefits as a decrease in a net operating loss, similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward if certain criteria are met. The guidance will eliminate the diversity in practice in the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits but will not alter the way in which entities assess deferred tax assets for realizability. ASU No. 2013-11 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this amendment on its consolidated financial statements, and any changes will be applied prospectively.