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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Policy Text Block [Abstract]  
Consolidation

Basis of Presentation   The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Anadarko and entities in which it holds a controlling interest. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Undivided interests in oil and natural-gas exploration and production joint ventures are consolidated on a proportionate basis. Investments in non-controlled entities, over which Anadarko has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for using the equity method. In applying the equity method of accounting, the investments are initially recognized at cost, and subsequently adjusted for the Company's proportionate share of earnings and losses and distributions. Other investments are carried at original cost. Investments accounted for using the equity- and cost-method are reported as a component of other assets. Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current-year presentation.

Noncontrolling Interests   Noncontrolling interests represent third-party ownership in the net assets of the Company's consolidated subsidiaries and are presented as a component of equity. Changes in Anadarko's ownership interests in subsidiaries that do not result in deconsolidation are recognized in equity. See Note 8—Noncontrolling Interests.
Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates   In preparing financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, management makes informed judgments and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses. Management evaluates its estimates and related assumptions regularly, including those related to the value of properties and equipment; proved reserves; goodwill; intangible assets; asset retirement obligations; litigation reserves; environmental liabilities; pension assets, liabilities, and costs; income taxes; and fair values. Changes in facts and circumstances or additional information may result in revised estimates, and actual results may differ from these estimates.
Fair Value

Fair Value   Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or the price paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Inputs used in determining fair value are characterized according to a hierarchy that prioritizes those inputs based on the degree to which they are observable. The three input levels of the fair-value hierarchy are as follows:

 

Level 1—Inputs represent quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (for example, exchange-traded commodity derivatives).

 

Level 2—Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly (for example, quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets not considered to be active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or market-corroborated inputs).

 

Level 3—Inputs that are not observable from objective sources, such as the Company's internally developed assumptions used in pricing an asset or liability (for example, an estimate of future cash flows used in the Company's internally developed present value of future cash flows model that underlies the fair-value measurement).

       In determining fair value, the Company utilizes observable market data when available, or models that incorporate observable market data. In addition to market information, the Company incorporates transaction-specific details that, in management's judgment, market participants would take into account in measuring fair value.

       In arriving at fair-value estimates, the Company utilizes the most observable inputs available for the valuation technique employed. If a fair-value measurement reflects inputs at multiple levels within the hierarchy, the fair-value measurement is characterized based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair-value measurement. For Anadarko, recurring fair-value measurements are performed for interest-rate derivatives, commodity derivatives, and investments in trading securities.

       The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets approximates fair value. The fair value of debt is the estimated amount the Company would have to pay to repurchase its debt, including any premium or discount attributable to the difference between the stated interest rate and market rate of interest at each balance sheet date. Debt fair values, as disclosed in Note 12—Debt and Interest Expense, are based on quoted market prices for identical instruments, if available, or based on valuations of similar debt instruments.

       Non-financial assets and liabilities initially measured at fair value include certain assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination or through a non-monetary exchange transaction, intangible assets, goodwill, asset retirement obligations, exit or disposal costs, and capital lease assets where the present value of lease payments is greater than the fair value of the leased asset.
Revenues

Revenues   The Company's natural gas is sold primarily to interstate and intrastate natural-gas pipelines, direct end-users, industrial users, local distribution companies and natural-gas marketers. Oil and condensate are sold primarily to marketers, gatherers, and refiners. NGLs are sold primarily to direct end-users, refiners, and marketers. In 2011, 2010, and 2009, there were no sales to individual customers that exceeded 10% of the Company's total sales revenues.

       The Company recognizes sales revenues for natural gas, oil and condensate, and NGLs based on the amount of each product sold to purchasers when delivery to the purchaser has occurred and title has transferred. This occurs when product has been delivered to a pipeline or a tanker lifting has occurred. The Company follows the sales method of accounting for natural-gas production imbalances. If the Company's sales volumes for a well exceed the Company's proportionate share of production from the well, a liability is recognized to the extent that the Company's share of estimated remaining recoverable reserves from the well is insufficient to satisfy this imbalance. No receivables are recorded for those wells on which the Company has taken less than its proportionate share of production.

       The Company enters into buy/sell arrangements for a portion of its crude-oil production. Under these arrangements, barrels are sold at prevailing market prices at a location, and in an additional transaction entered into in contemplation of the sale transaction with the same third party, barrels are re-purchased at a different location at the market prices prevailing at that location. The barrels are then sold at prevailing market prices at the re-purchase location. These arrangements are often required by private transporters. In these transactions, the re-purchase price is more than the original sales price with the difference representing a transportation fee. Other buy/sell arrangements are entered in order to shift the ultimate sales point of the Company's production to a more liquid location, thereby avoiding potential marketing fees and other market-price reductions. In these transactions, the sales price in the field and the re-purchase price are each at prevailing market prices at the respective locations. Anadarko uses buy/sell arrangements in its marketing and trading activities and reports these transactions in the Consolidated Statements of Income on a net basis.

       Anadarko provides gathering, processing, treating, and transportation services pursuant to a variety of contracts. Under these arrangements, the Company receives fees, or retains a percentage of products or a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of products and recognizes revenue at the time the services are performed or product is sold. These revenues are included in gathering, processing, and marketing sales.

       Marketing margins related to the Company's production are included in natural-gas sales, oil and condensate sales, and NGLs sales. Marketing margins related to sales of commodities purchased from third parties, as well as realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivatives related to such marketing activities are included in gathering, processing, and marketing sales.
Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents   The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts   The Company conducts credit analyses of customers prior to making any sales to new customers or increasing credit for existing customers. Based on these analyses, the Company may require a standby letter of credit or a financial guarantee. The Company charges uncollectible accounts receivable against the allowance for uncollectible accounts when it determines collection will no longer be pursued. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, accounts receivable are shown net of allowance for uncollectible accounts of $6 million and $9 million, respectively.
Inventories

Inventories   Commodity inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market.
Properties and Equipment

Properties and Equipment   Properties and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense (DD&A). Costs of improvements that appreciably improve the efficiency or productive capacity of existing properties or extend their lives are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of properties and equipment, net of the related accumulated DD&A, is removed and, if appropriate, gain or loss is recognized in gains (losses) on divestitures and other, net.

Capitalized Interest   For significant projects, interest is capitalized as part of the historical cost of developing and constructing assets. Significant oil and gas investments in unproved properties, significant exploration and development projects for which DD&A is not currently recognized, and exploration or development activities that are in progress qualify for interest capitalization. Interest is capitalized until the asset is ready for service. Capitalized interest is determined by multiplying the Company's weighted-average borrowing cost on debt by the average amount of qualifying costs incurred. Once an asset subject to interest capitalization is completed and placed in service, the associated capitalized interest is expensed through depreciation or impairment.

Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization   Costs of drilling and equipping successful wells, costs to construct or acquire facilities other than offshore platforms, associated asset retirement costs, and capital lease assets are depreciated using the unit-of-production (UOP) method based on total estimated proved developed oil and gas reserves. Costs of acquiring proved properties, including leasehold acquisition costs transferred from unproved properties and costs to construct or acquire offshore platforms and associated asset retirement costs, are depleted using the UOP method based on total estimated proved developed and undeveloped reserves. Mineral properties are also depleted using the UOP method. All other properties are stated at historical acquisition cost, net of impairments, and are depreciated using the straight-line method over the useful lives of the assets, which range from 3 to 15 years for furniture and equipment, up to 40 years for buildings, and up to 47 years for gathering facilities.
Oil and Gas Properties

Oil and Gas Properties   The Company applies the successful efforts method of accounting for oil and gas properties. Exploration costs such as exploratory geological and geophysical costs, delay rentals, and exploration overhead are charged against earnings as incurred. If an exploratory well provides evidence to justify potential completion as a producing well, drilling costs associated with the well are initially capitalized, or suspended, pending a determination as to whether a commercially sufficient quantity of proved reserves can be attributed to the area as a result of drilling. This determination may take longer than one year in certain areas (generally, deepwater and international locations) depending on, among other things, the amount of hydrocarbons discovered, the outcome of planned geological and engineering studies, the need for additional appraisal drilling activities to determine whether the discovery is sufficient to support an economic development plan, and government sanctioning of development activities in certain international locations. At the end of each quarter, management reviews the status of all suspended exploratory drilling costs in light of ongoing exploration activities—in particular, whether the Company is making sufficient progress in its ongoing exploration and appraisal efforts or, in the case of discoveries requiring government sanctioning, whether development negotiations are underway and proceeding as planned. If management determines that future appraisal drilling or development activities are unlikely to occur, associated suspended exploratory drilling costs are expensed.

       Acquisition costs of unproved properties are periodically assessed for impairment and are transferred to proved oil and gas properties to the extent the costs are associated with successful exploration activities. Significant undeveloped leases are assessed individually for impairment, based on the Company's current exploration plans, and a valuation allowance is provided if impairment is indicated. Unproved oil and gas properties with individually insignificant lease acquisition costs are amortized on a group basis (thereby establishing a valuation allowance) over the average terms of the leases, at rates that provide for full amortization of unsuccessful leases upon lease expiration or abandonment. Costs of expired or abandoned leases are charged against the valuation allowance, while costs of productive leases are transferred to proved oil and gas properties. Costs of maintaining and retaining unproved properties, as well as amortization of individually insignificant leases and impairment of unsuccessful leases, are included in exploration expense.
Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations   Asset retirement obligations (AROs) associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets are recognized as liabilities with an increase to the carrying amounts of the related long-lived assets in the period incurred. The cost of the tangible asset, including the asset retirement cost, is depreciated over the useful life of the asset. AROs are recorded at estimated fair value, measured by reference to the expected future cash outflows required to satisfy the retirement obligations discounted at the Company's credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. Accretion expense is recognized over time as the discounted liabilities are accreted to their expected settlement value. If estimated future costs of AROs change, an adjustment is recorded to both the asset retirement obligation and the long-lived asset. Revisions to estimated AROs can result from changes in retirement cost estimates, revisions to estimated inflation rates, and changes in the estimated timing of abandonment.
Impairments

Impairments   Properties and equipment, net of salvage value, are reviewed for impairment at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are independent of cash flows from other assets, and when facts and circumstances indicate that net book values may not be recoverable. In performing this review, an undiscounted cash flow test is performed on the impairment unit. If the sum of the undiscounted future net cash flows is less than the net book value of the property, an impairment loss is recognized for the excess, if any, of the property's net book value over its estimated fair value.
Goodwill

Goodwill is subject to annual impairment testing at October 1 (or more frequent testing as circumstances dictate). Anadarko has allocated goodwill to four reporting units: oil and gas exploration and production; other gathering and processing; Western Gas Partners, LP (WES) gathering and processing; and transportation. Changes in goodwill may result from, among other things, impairments, future acquisitions, or future divestitures. See Note 7—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
Other Intangible Assets

Other intangible assets represent contractual rights obtained in connection with business combinations that had favorable contractual terms relative to market at the acquisition date. Other intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives and are assessed for impairment whenever impairment indicators are present. See Note 7—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
Derivative Instruments

Derivative Instruments   Anadarko uses derivative instruments to manage its exposure to cash-flow variability from commodity-price and interest-rate risk. All derivatives that do not satisfy the normal purchases and sales exception criteria are carried on the balance sheet at fair value and are included in other current assets, other assets, accrued expenses, or other long-term liabilities, depending on the derivative position and the expected timing of settlement. Where the Company has the contractual right and intends to net settle, derivative assets and liabilities are reported on a net basis.

       Realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments are recognized on a current basis. Net derivative losses attributable to derivatives previously subject to hedge accounting reside in accumulated other comprehensive income and will be reclassified to earnings in future periods as the economic transactions to which the derivatives relate affect earnings. See Note 10—Derivative Instruments.
Legal Contingencies

Legal Contingencies   The Company is subject to legal proceedings, claims, and liabilities that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Except for legal contingencies acquired in a business combination, which are recorded at fair value, the Company accrues losses associated with legal claims when such losses are probable and reasonably estimable. Estimates are adjusted as additional information becomes available or circumstances change. Legal defense costs associated with loss contingencies are expensed in the period incurred. See Note 2—Deepwater Horizon Events and Note 16—Contingencies.
Environmental Contingencies

Environmental Contingencies   Except for environmental contingencies acquired in a business combination, which are recorded at fair value, the Company accrues losses associated with environmental obligations when such losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Accruals for estimated environmental losses are recognized no later than at the time the remediation feasibility study, or the evaluation of response options, is complete. These accruals are adjusted as additional information becomes available or as circumstances change. Future environmental expenditures are not discounted to their present value. Recoveries of environmental costs from other parties are recorded separately as assets at their undiscounted value when receipt of such recoveries is probable. See Note 2—Deepwater Horizon Events and Note 16—Contingencies.
Pension Plans, Other Postretirement Benefits, and Defined-Contribution Plans

Pension Plans, Other Postretirement Benefits, and Defined-Contribution Plans   The Company measures pension plan assets at fair value. Defined-benefit plan obligations and costs are actuarially determined, incorporating the use of various assumptions. Critical assumptions for pension and other postretirement plans include the discount rate, the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets (for funded pension plans), the rate of future compensation increases, and the health care cost trend rate. Other assumptions involve demographic factors such as retirement age, mortality, and turnover. The Company evaluates and updates its actuarial assumptions at least annually.

       The Company amortizes prior service costs and credits on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of employees expected to receive benefits under each plan. Actuarial gains and losses that exceed 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation and the market-related value of assets are amortized over the average remaining service period of participating employees expected to receive benefits under each plan. See Note 21—Pension Plans, Other Postretirement Benefits, and Defined-Contribution Plans.

       Accumulated and projected benefit obligations are measured as the present value of future cash payments. The Company discounts those cash payments using a discount rate that reflects the weighted average of market-observed yields for select high quality (AA-rated) fixed-income securities with cash flows that correspond to the expected amounts and timing of benefit payments. Discount-rate selection for measurements prior to December 31, 2011, was based on a similar cash-flow-matching analysis, although, instead of using a portfolio of select high quality fixed-income securities to determine the effective settlement rate for a given plan obligation, the Company relied primarily on a published yield curve derived from market-observed yields for a universe of high quality bonds. Both methods are acceptable and result in a discount-rate assumption that represents an estimate of the interest rate at which the pension and other postretirement benefit obligations could effectively be settled on the measurement date. However, the Company believes a discount rate reflecting yields for high-quality fixed-income securities better corresponds to the Company's expectations as to the amount and timing of its benefit payments.

Investment Policies and Strategies   The Company has adopted a balanced, diversified investment strategy, with the intent of maximizing returns without exposure to undue risk. Investments are typically made through investment managers across several investment categories (domestic large- and small-capitalization equity securities, international equity securities, fixed-income securities, real estate, hedge funds, and private equity), with selective exposure to Growth/Value investment styles. Performance for each investment is measured relative to the appropriate index benchmark for its category. Target asset-allocation percentages by major category are 45%-55% equity securities, 20%-30% fixed income, and up to 25% in a combination of other investments such as real estate, hedge funds, and private equity. Investment managers have full discretion as to investment decisions regarding all funds under their management to the extent permitted within investment guidelines.

       Although investment managers may, at their discretion and within investment guidelines, invest in Anadarko securities, there are no direct investments in Anadarko securities included in plan assets. There may be, however, indirect investments in Anadarko securities through the plans' collective fund investments. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption was determined using the year-end 2011 pension investment balances by asset class and expected long-term asset allocation. The expected return for each asset class reflects capital-market projections formulated using a forward-looking building-block approach, while also taking into account historical return trends and current market conditions. Equity returns generally reflect long-term expectations of real earnings growth, dividend yield, and inflation. Returns on fixed-income securities are generally developed based on expected inflation, real bond yield, and risk spread (as appropriate), adjusted for the expected effect that changing yields have on the rate of return. Other asset-class returns are derived from their relationship to the equity and fixed-income markets.
Income Taxes

Income Taxes   The Company files various U.S. federal, state, and foreign income tax returns. Deferred federal, state, and foreign income taxes are provided on temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. The Company routinely assesses the realizability of its deferred tax assets. If the Company concludes that is it more likely than not that some of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, the tax asset is reduced by a valuation allowance. The Company recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit recorded is equal to the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized through final settlement with a taxing authority. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized in income tax expense (benefit). See Note 18—Income Taxes.
Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation   The Company accounts for share-based compensation at fair value. The Company grants equity-classified awards including stock options and non-vested equity shares (restricted stock awards and units). The Company also grants equity-classified and liability-classified awards based on a comparison of the Company's total shareholder return (TSR) to the TSR of a predetermined group of peer companies (performance units).

       The fair value of stock option awards is determined on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Restricted stock awards and units are valued using the market price of Anadarko common stock on the grant date. For equity- and liability-classified performance units, fair value is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation or discounted cash flow methodology.

       The Company records compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, for share-based compensation awards over the requisite service period. As each award of stock options or equity shares vests, an adjustment is made to compensation cost for any difference between the estimated forfeitures and the actual forfeitures related to the vested awards. For share-based awards that contain service conditions, compensation cost is recorded using the straight-line method. If the requisite service period is satisfied, compensation cost is not adjusted. For liability-classified performance units, expense is recognized over the requisite performance period for those awards expected to ultimately be paid. The amount of expense reported is adjusted throughout the performance period for fair-value changes so that the expense recognized for each award is equivalent to the amount to be paid. See Note 14—Share-Based Compensation.
Acquisitions

       The Wattenberg Plant and Platte Valley acquisitions constitute business combinations and were accounted for using the acquisition method.

       All fair-value measurements of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on inputs that are not observable in the market and thus represent Level 3 inputs. The fair value of acquired properties and equipment is based on market and cost approaches. Intangible assets consist of customer contracts, the fair value of which was determined using an income approach. Deferred tax assets represent the tax effects of differences in the tax basis and acquisition-date fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Liabilities assumed include asset retirement obligations existing at the date of acquisition, and are valued consistent with the Company's policy for estimating such obligations.