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RETIREMENT AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
RETIREMENT AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS RETIREMENT AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS
Apache Corporation provides retirement benefits to its U.S. employees through the use of multiple plans: a 401(k) savings plan, a money purchase retirement plan, a non-qualified retirement savings plan, and a non-qualified restorative retirement savings plan. The 401(k) savings plan provides participating employees the ability to elect to contribute up to 50 percent of eligible compensation, as defined, to the plan with the Company making matching contributions up to a maximum of 8 percent of each employee’s annual eligible compensation. In addition, the Company contributes 6 percent of each participating employee’s annual eligible compensation to a money purchase retirement plan. The 401(k) savings plan and the money purchase retirement plan are subject to certain annually-adjusted, government-mandated restrictions that limit the amount of employee and Company contributions. For certain eligible employees, the Company also provides a non-qualified retirement savings plan or a non-qualified restorative retirement savings plan. These plans allow the deferral of up to 50 percent of eligible employee’s base salary, up to 75 percent of each employee’s annual bonus (that accepts employee contributions) and the Company’s matching contributions in excess of the government mandated limitations imposed in the 401(k) savings plan and money purchase retirement plan.
Vesting in the Company’s contributions in the 401(k) savings plan, the money purchase retirement plan, the non-qualified retirement savings plan and the non-qualified restorative retirement savings plan occurs at the rate of 20 percent for every completed year of employment. Upon a change in control of ownership of Apache Corporation, immediate and full vesting occurs.
Additionally, Apache North Sea Limited maintains a separate retirement plan, as required under the laws of the U.K.
The aggregate annual cost to Apache of all U.S. and international savings plans, the money purchase retirement plan, non-qualified retirement savings plan, and non-qualified restorative retirement savings plan was $43 million, $52 million, and $52 million for 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
Apache also provides a funded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (U.K. Pension Plan) covering certain employees of the Company’s North Sea operations in the U.K. The plan provides defined pension benefits based on years of service and final salary. The plan applies only to employees who were part of BP North Sea’s pension plan as of April 2, 2003, prior to the acquisition of BP North Sea by the Company effective July 1, 2003.
Additionally, the Company offers postretirement medical benefits to U.S. employees who meet certain eligibility requirements. Eligible participants receive medical benefits up until the age of 65 or at the date they become eligible for Medicare, provided the participant remits the required portion of the cost of coverage. The plan is contributory with participants’ contributions adjusted annually. The postretirement benefit plan does not cover benefit expenses once a covered participant becomes eligible for Medicare.
The following tables set forth the benefit obligation, fair value of plan assets and funded status as of December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, and the underlying weighted average actuarial assumptions used for the U.K. Pension Plan and U.S. postretirement benefit plan. Apache uses a measurement date of December 31 for its pension and postretirement benefit plans.
 202020192018
 Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits		Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits		Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits
 (In millions)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year$199 $20 $187 $27 $216 $27 
Service cost3 1 3 2 4 2 
Interest cost4 — 5 1 5 1 
Foreign currency exchange rates8 — 7 — (11)— 
Actuarial losses (gains)30 1 15 (9)(11)(2)
Plan settlements— — (14)— (11)— 
Benefits paid(11)(4)(4)(2)(5)(3)
Retiree contributions— 2 — 1 — 2 
Projected benefit obligation at end of year233 20 199 20 187 27 
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year228 — 208 — 238 — 
Actual return on plan assets31 — 25 — (6)— 
Foreign currency exchange rates9 — 8 — (13)— 
Employer contributions5 2 5 1 5 2 
Plan settlements— — (14)— (11)— 
Benefits paid(11)(4)(4)(2)(5)(4)
Retiree contributions— 2 — 1 — 2 
Fair value of plan assets at end of year262 — 228 — 208 — 
Funded status at end of year$29 $(20)$29 $(20)$21 $(27)
Amounts recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheet
Current liability$— $(2)$— $(2)$— $(2)
Non-current asset (liability)29 (18)29 (18)21 (25)
$29 $(20)$29 $(20)$21 $(27)
Pre-tax Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Accumulated gain (loss)$(11)$16 $(7)$19 $(13)$10 
Weighted Average Assumptions used as of December 31
Discount rate1.40 %2.06 %2.10 %3.00 %2.90 %4.13 %
Salary increases4.50 %N/A4.30 %N/A4.70 %N/A
Expected return on assets2.20 %N/A2.20 %N/A2.80 %N/A
Healthcare cost trend
InitialN/A6.00 %N/A6.25 %N/A6.50 %
Ultimate in 2025N/A5.00 %N/A5.00 %N/A5.00 %
As of December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, the accumulated benefit obligation for the U.K. Pension Plan was $207 million, $181 million, and $167 million, respectively.
Apache’s defined benefit pension plan assets are held by a non-related trustee who has been instructed to invest the assets in a blend of equity securities and low-risk debt securities. The Company intends that this blend of investments will provide a reasonable rate of return such that the benefits promised to members are provided. The U.K. Pension Plan policy is to target an ongoing funding level of 100 percent through prudent investments and includes policies and strategies such as investment goals, risk management practices, and permitted and prohibited investments. A breakout of previous allocations for plan asset holdings and the target allocation for the Company’s plan assets are summarized below:
 Target
Allocation		Percentage of
Plan Assets at
Year-End
 202020202019
Asset Category
Equity securities:
Overseas quoted equities19 %19 %23 %
Total equity securities19 %19 %23 %
Debt securities:
U.K. government bonds65 %64 %62 %
U.K. corporate bonds16 %16 %15 %
Total debt securities81 %80 %77 %
Cash— 1 %— 
Total100 %100 %100 %
The plan’s assets do not include any direct ownership of equity or debt securities of Apache. The fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2020 and 2019 are based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets, which is a Level 1 fair value measurement. The following tables present the fair values of plan assets for each major asset category based on the nature and significant concentration of risks in plan assets at December 31, 2020 and 2019:
December 31,
 20202019
 (In millions)
Equity securities:
Overseas quoted equities$49 $52 
Total equity securities49 52 
Debt securities:
U.K. government bonds168 140 
U.K. corporate bonds43 35 
Total debt securities211 175 
Cash2 1 
Fair value of plan assets$262 $228 
The expected long-term rate of return on assets assumptions are derived relative to the yield on long-dated fixed-interest bonds issued by the U.K. government (gilts). For equities, outperformance relative to gilts is assumed to be 3.5 percent per year.
The following tables set forth the components of the net periodic cost and the underlying weighted average actuarial assumptions used for the pension and postretirement benefit plans as of December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018: 
 202020192018
 Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits		Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits		Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits
 (In millions)
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost$3 $1 $3 $2 $4 $2 
Interest cost4 — 5 1 5 1 
Expected return on assets(5)— (5)— (7)— 
Amortization of gain— (1)— (1)— — 
Settlement loss— — — — 1 — 
Net periodic benefit cost$2 $— $3 $2 $3 $3 
Weighted Average Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost for the Years Ended December 31
Discount rate2.10 %3.00 %2.90 %4.13 %2.60 %3.44 %
Salary increases4.30 %N/A4.70 %N/A4.70 %N/A
Expected return on assets2.20 %N/A2.80 %N/A2.90 %N/A
Healthcare cost trend
InitialN/A6.25 %N/A6.50 %N/A6.75 %
Ultimate in 2025N/A5.00 %N/A5.00 %N/A5.00 %
Apache expects to contribute approximately $5 million to its pension plan and $2 million to its postretirement benefit plan in 2021. The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid:
Pension
Benefits		Postretirement
Benefits
 (In millions)
2021$5 $2 
20226 2 
20237 2 
20246 2 
20256 2 
Years 2026-203036 6