Noncontrolling Interests	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]
Noncontrolling Interests	8. Noncontrolling Interests WES, a consolidated subsidiary, is a limited partnership formed by Anadarko to own, operate, acquire, and develop midstream assets. In 2011 and 2010, WES issued approximately 10 million and 13 million common units to the public, respectively, raising net proceeds of $328 million and $338 million, respectively, which increased the noncontrolling interest component of total equity. In August 2011, the WES subordinated limited partner units held by Anadarko converted to common limited partner units on a one-for-one basis. Upon this conversion, $162 million related to pre-conversion changes in the Company's ownership interest in WES was transferred from noncontrolling interests to paid-in capital. Additionally, $32 million was recorded to paid-in capital as a result of WES's third-quarter 2011 issuance of common units. The Company's net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, together with the above-described increases to Anadarko's paid-in capital, for the year ended December 31, 2011, totaled $(2,455) million. At December 31, 2011, Anadarko's ownership interest in WES consisted of a 43.3% limited partner interest, a 2% general partner interest, and incentive distribution rights.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries, which could include the name of the subsidiary, the ownership percentage held by the parent, the ownership percentage held by the noncontrolling owners, the amount of the noncontrolling interest, the location of this amount on the balance sheet (when not reported separately), an explanation of the increase or decrease in the amount of the noncontrolling interest, the noncontrolling interest share of the net Income or Loss of the subsidiary, the location of this amount on the income statement (when not reported separately), the nature of the noncontrolling interest such as background information and terms, the amount of the noncontrolling interest represented by preferred stock, a description of the preferred stock, and the dividend requirements of the preferred stock.

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