Allocated share-based compensation expense after tax.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Maximum units awarded based upon measurement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	apa_MaximumUnitsAwardedBasedUponMeasurement
Namespace Prefix:	apa_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum units awarded based upon measurement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	apa_MinimumUnitsAwardedBasedUponMeasurement
Namespace Prefix:	apa_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of additional vest on succeeding anniversaries.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	apa_PercentageOfAdditionalVestOnSucceedingAnniversaries
Namespace Prefix:	apa_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Award Remaining Vesting Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	apa_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRemainingVestingPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	apa_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award Allocation Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	apa_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAllocationPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	apa_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sharebased compensation arrangement by sharebased payment award granted percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	apa_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardGrantedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	apa_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted-average remaining life of unvested restricted stock units.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	apa_WeightedAverageRemainingLifeOfUnvestedRestrictedStockUnits
Namespace Prefix:	apa_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 14.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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

- Definition

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Antidilution
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505113

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Diluted Earnings Per Share
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510752

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Contingent Stock Agreement
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6508534

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the compensation cost capitalized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, units, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(1)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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

- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)(i)-(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of vesting of share-based compensation awards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total number of shares issued during the period, including shares forfeited, as a result of Restricted Stock Awards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares issued during the period related to Restricted Stock Awards, net of any shares forfeited.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares of restricted stock determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that restricted shares have been outstanding to the total time in that period. Restricted shares are subject to sales, contractual, regulatory or other restrictions that prevent or inhibit the holder from freely disposing of them before the restriction ends.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64863997&loc=d3e2646-109256

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesRestrictedStock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=apa_ShareholderReturnStockUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=apa_ConditionalRestrictedStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=apa_TwoThousandThirteenShareholderReturnProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=apa_TwoThousandFourteenShareholderReturnProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=apa_PerformanceProgramTwoThousandFifteenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=apa_PerformanceProgramTwoThousandSixteenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=apa_ShareholderReturnProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=apa_BusinessPerformanceProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VestingAxis=us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockSubjectToMandatoryRedemptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Capital Stock - Additional Information 1 (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016	Feb. 28, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	May 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities, shares					7,000,000	4,500,000	6,800,000
Percentage of additional vest on succeeding anniversaries					25.00%
Compensation expense					$ 100,000	$ 148,000	$ 136,000
Stock-based compensation expenses, after tax					65,000	95,000	94,000
Restricted stock, capitalized					$ 53,000	$ 62,000	55,000
Unvested restricted stock units					4,570,203
Weighted average grant date fair value per share					$ 61.65
Total Shareholder Return Stock Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Nonvested shares outstanding					172,000	354,000
Compensation expense					$ 648	$ 18,000	27,000
Stock-based compensation expenses, after tax					418	11,000	17,000
Restricted stock, capitalized					0	$ 7,000	$ 13,000
Total compensation cost related to non-vested options not yet recognized					$ 4,700
Unvested restricted stock units					172,212
Weighted-average remaining life of unvested restricted stock units					1 year 9 months 18 days
Weighted average grant date fair value per share					$ 0
Conditional Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Nonvested shares outstanding					500,972
Compensation expense					$ 3,400
Stock-based compensation expenses, after tax					2,200
Restricted stock, capitalized					1,400
Total compensation cost related to non-vested options not yet recognized					$ 29,000
Weighted-average remaining life of unvested restricted stock units					2 years 4 months 24 days
2013 Total Shareholder Return Program [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Initial conditional restricted stock unit awards granted to eligible employees				1,232,176
Nonvested shares outstanding								918,016
Minimum units awarded based upon measurement					0
Maximum units awarded based upon measurement					216,434
Total awards, outstanding					108,217
2014 Total Shareholder Return Program [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Initial conditional restricted stock unit awards granted to eligible employees			157,406
Minimum units awarded based upon measurement					0
Maximum units awarded based upon measurement					127,990
Total awards, outstanding					63,995
Performance Program 2015 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Initial conditional restricted stock unit awards granted to eligible employees		602,304
Minimum units awarded based upon measurement					0
Maximum units awarded based upon measurement					751,458
Total awards, outstanding					500,972
Performance Program 2016 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Minimum units awarded based upon measurement					0
Maximum units awarded based upon measurement					1,710,526
Weighted average grant date fair value per share					$ 36.55
Performance Program 2016 [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Initial conditional restricted stock unit awards granted to eligible employees	855,263
Total Shareholder Return Program [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares allocation percentage					50.00%
Business Performance Program [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Nonvested shares outstanding					501,000
Percentage of shares awarded					150.00%
Weighted average grant date fair value per share					$ 66.63
Business Performance Program [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares vesting percentage					50.00%
Remaining shares vesting percentage					50.00%
Shares vesting period					3 years
Business Performance Program [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of shares awarded					0.00%
Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One [Member] \| Business Performance Program [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares vesting percentage					50.00%
Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities, shares							8,300,000