Cover - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Oct. 31, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-4300
Entity Registrant Name	APACHE CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	41-0747868
Entity Address, Address Line One	One Post Oak Central, 2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 100
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77056-4400
City Area Code	713
Local Phone Number	296-6000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		377,478,182
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0000006769
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Nasdaq Global Select Market
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.625 par value
Trading Symbol	APA
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ