Properties and Equipment	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]
Properties and Equipment	4. Properties and Equipment Suspended Exploratory Well Costs The Company's suspended exploratory well costs at June 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011, were $1.9 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively. The increase in suspended exploratory well costs during 2012 primarily relates to the capitalization of costs associated with successful exploration drilling in Mozambique, the Gulf of Mexico, the Utica and Marcellus shales in the Southern and Appalachia Region, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, $39 million of exploratory well costs previously capitalized as suspended well costs for greater than one year were charged to dry hole expense and $82 million of capitalized suspended well costs were reclassified to proved properties. Management believes projects with suspended exploratory well costs exhibit sufficient quantities of hydrocarbons to justify potential development and is actively pursuing efforts to assess whether reserves can be attributed to these projects. If additional information becomes available that raises substantial doubt as to the economic or operational viability of any of these projects, the associated costs will be expensed at that time. Impairments of Unproved Properties In the second quarter of 2012, the Company recognized a $720 million impairment of unproved Powder River coalbed methane properties primarily due to lower natural-gas prices. The Company also recognized a $124 million impairment of an unproved Gulf of Mexico natural-gas property due to a reduction of estimated recoverable reserves as a result of the forecasted natural-gas price environment. This Gulf of Mexico property is located on a lease that is close to expiration and the Company does not plan to pursue the exploitation of this property under the forecasted natural-gas price environment. These impairments are included in exploration expense in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, and the impacted assets were impaired to fair value, estimated using Level 3 fair-value inputs. Impairments Impairment expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, was $112 million and $162 million, respectively. In the second quarter of 2012, due to lower natural-gas prices, the Company recognized impairments of $79 million related to certain onshore domestic oil and gas exploration and production reporting segment properties and $4 million related to midstream reporting segment properties. The Company also recognized impairments of $50 million and $17 million in the first and second quarter of 2012, respectively, related to downward reserves revisions for a Gulf of Mexico property included in the oil and gas exploration and production reporting segment that is near the end of its economic life. These properties were impaired to an aggregate fair value of $41 million based on an income approach, estimated using Level 3 fair-value inputs. Also in the second quarter of 2012, the Company recognized impairment expense of $11 million ($4 million net of tax) related to the Company's investment in Venezuelan assets due to declines in estimated recoverable reserves and lower crude-oil prices. These assets are included in the oil and gas exploration and production reporting segment and were impaired to fair value based on an income approach, estimated using Level 3 fair-value inputs. At June 30, 2012, the Company's after-tax net investment in these assets was $34 million. Impairment expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, was $102 million and $104 million, respectively, including $100 million recognized in the second quarter of 2011 related to onshore domestic properties due to a change in projected cash flows resulting from the Company's intent to divest of the properties. These properties were included in the oil and gas exploration and production reporting segment and were impaired to a fair value of $491 million based on an income approach, estimated using Level 3 fair-value inputs. Assets Held for Sale In 2011, the Company began marketing domestic properties from the oil and gas exploration and production reporting segment and the midstream reporting segment in order to redirect its operating activities and capital investment to other areas. During the first quarter of 2012, the Company decided not to proceed with the sale of properties from the midstream reporting segment. In 2012, the Company sold certain domestic oil and gas exploration and production reporting segment properties and recognized losses of $13 million and $30 million included in gains (losses) on divestitures and other, net in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. At June 30, 2012, the remaining balances of assets and liabilities associated with assets held for sale were not material.

Properties and Equipment

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

4. Properties and Equipment

Suspended Exploratory Well Costs The Company's suspended exploratory well costs at June 30, 2012, and December 31, 2011, were $1.9 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively. The increase in suspended exploratory well costs during 2012 primarily relates to the capitalization of costs associated with successful exploration drilling in Mozambique, the Gulf of Mexico, the Utica and Marcellus shales in the Southern and Appalachia Region, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, $39 million of exploratory well costs previously capitalized as suspended well costs for greater than one year were charged to dry hole expense and $82 million of capitalized suspended well costs were reclassified to proved properties.

Management believes projects with suspended exploratory well costs exhibit sufficient quantities of hydrocarbons to justify potential development and is actively pursuing efforts to assess whether reserves can be attributed to these projects. If additional information becomes available that raises substantial doubt as to the economic or operational viability of any of these projects, the associated costs will be expensed at that time.

Impairments of Unproved Properties In the second quarter of 2012, the Company recognized a $720 million impairment of unproved Powder River coalbed methane properties primarily due to lower natural-gas prices. The Company also recognized a $124 million impairment of an unproved Gulf of Mexico natural-gas property due to a reduction of estimated recoverable reserves as a result of the forecasted natural-gas price environment. This Gulf of Mexico property is located on a lease that is close to expiration and the Company does not plan to pursue the exploitation of this property under the forecasted natural-gas price environment. These impairments are included in exploration expense in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, and the impacted assets were impaired to fair value, estimated using Level 3 fair-value inputs.

Impairments Impairment expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, was $112 million and $162 million, respectively. In the second quarter of 2012, due to lower natural-gas prices, the Company recognized impairments of $79 million related to certain onshore domestic oil and gas exploration and production reporting segment properties and $4 million related to midstream reporting segment properties. The Company also recognized impairments of $50 million and $17 million in the first and second quarter of 2012, respectively, related to downward reserves revisions for a Gulf of Mexico property included in the oil and gas exploration and production reporting segment that is near the end of its economic life. These properties were impaired to an aggregate fair value of $41 million based on an income approach, estimated using Level 3 fair-value inputs.

Also in the second quarter of 2012, the Company recognized impairment expense of $11 million ($4 million net of tax) related to the Company's investment in Venezuelan assets due to declines in estimated recoverable reserves and lower crude-oil prices. These assets are included in the oil and gas exploration and production reporting segment and were impaired to fair value based on an income approach, estimated using Level 3 fair-value inputs. At June 30, 2012, the Company's after-tax net investment in these assets was $34 million.

Impairment expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, was $102 million and $104 million, respectively, including $100 million recognized in the second quarter of 2011 related to onshore domestic properties due to a change in projected cash flows resulting from the Company's intent to divest of the properties. These properties were included in the oil and gas exploration and production reporting segment and were impaired to a fair value of $491 million based on an income approach, estimated using Level 3 fair-value inputs.

Assets Held for Sale In 2011, the Company began marketing domestic properties from the oil and gas exploration and production reporting segment and the midstream reporting segment in order to redirect its operating activities and capital investment to other areas. During the first quarter of 2012, the Company decided not to proceed with the sale of properties from the midstream reporting segment. In 2012, the Company sold certain domestic oil and gas exploration and production reporting segment properties and recognized losses of $13 million and $30 million included in gains (losses) on divestitures and other, net in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. At June 30, 2012, the remaining balances of assets and liabilities associated with assets held for sale were not material.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software. This disclosure may include property plant and equipment accounting policies and methodology, a schedule of property, plant and equipment gross, additions, deletions, transfers and other changes, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, net, accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and useful lives, income statement disclosures, assets held for sale and public utility disclosures.

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