Asset Retirement Obligation - Asset Retirement Obligation (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]
Asset retirement obligation at beginning of year	$ 3,222us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation	$ 4,578us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
Liabilities incurred	171	481
Liabilities acquired		53
Liabilities divested	(471)	(1,692)
Liabilities settled	(146)	(497)
Accretion expense	181	243
Revisions in estimated liabilities	128	56
Asset retirement obligation at end of year	3,085us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation	3,222us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
Less current portion	(37)	(121)
Asset retirement obligation, long-term	$ 3,048	$ 3,101

Asset retirement obligation liabilities acquired.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Divested

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	apa_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesDivested
Namespace Prefix:	apa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of accretion expense, which includes, but is not limited to, accretion expense from asset retirement obligations, environmental remediation obligations, and other contingencies.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccretionExpenseIncludingAssetRetirementObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Asset Retirement Obligation

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505190

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Current portion of the carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationDisclosureAbstract
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of asset retirement obligations incurred during the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of asset retirement obligations settled, or otherwise disposed of, during the period. This may include asset retirement obligations transferred to third parties associated with the sale of a long-lived asset.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the Increase or Decrease in the amount of the asset retirement obligation during the current period for changes in the amount or timing of the estimated cash flows associated with the settlement of the obligation.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Noncurrent portion of the carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant