Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) CONTINUING OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 2,211	$ 2,557
CASH PROVIDED BY DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	82	64
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	2,293	2,621
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(2,362)	(2,511)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(344)	(254)
Acquisitions, other		(148)
Proceeds from Kitimat LNG transaction, net		405
Other	9	(41)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY -USED IN) CONTINUING INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(2,697)	(2,549)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	748	(43)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY -USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(1,949)	(2,592)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper and bank credit facilities, net	(2)	155
Dividends paid	(79)	(86)
Other		12
Treasury stock activity, net	(484)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) CONTINUING FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(565)	81
NET CASH USED IN DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	(42)	(22)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(607)	59
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(263)	88
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	1,906	160
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	1,643	248
Reclassifications & Eliminations [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in subsidiaries, net	(1,320)	(770)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY -USED IN) CONTINUING INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(1,320)	(770)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY -USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(1,320)	(770)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Intercompany borrowings	1,319	764
Other		6
Other common stock activity	1
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) CONTINUING FINANCING ACTIVITIES	1,320	770
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	1,320	770
Apache Corporation [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) CONTINUING OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(186)	149
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(186)	149
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(740)	(908)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(19)	(45)
Investment in subsidiaries, net	1,320	770
Other	(7)	(44)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY -USED IN) CONTINUING INVESTING ACTIVITIES	554	(227)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY -USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES	554	(227)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper and bank credit facilities, net	42	157
Dividends paid	(79)	(86)
Other		12
Treasury stock activity, net	(484)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) CONTINUING FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(521)	83
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(521)	83
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(153)	5
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	155
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	2	5
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) CONTINUING OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(15)	(61)
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(15)	(61)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Intercompany borrowings	10
Other		56
Other common stock activity	5
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) CONTINUING FINANCING ACTIVITIES	15	56
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	15	56
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(5)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	3	5
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	3
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) CONTINUING OPERATING ACTIVITIES	2,412	2,469
CASH PROVIDED BY DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	82	64
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	2,494	2,533
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(1,622)	(1,603)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(325)	(209)
Acquisitions, other		(148)
Proceeds from Kitimat LNG transaction, net		405
Other	16	3
NET CASH PROVIDED BY -USED IN) CONTINUING INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(1,931)	(1,552)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	748	(43)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY -USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(1,183)	(1,595)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper and bank credit facilities, net	(44)	(2)
Intercompany borrowings	(1,329)	(764)
Other		(62)
Other common stock activity	(6)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) CONTINUING FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(1,379)	(828)
NET CASH USED IN DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS	(42)	(22)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(1,421)	(850)
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(110)	88
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	1,748	155
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$ 1,638	$ 243