Financial Instruments (Unaudited) Unsettled Derivatives (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		$ 194	$ 330
Derivative Liability		70	99
Paid to brokers associated with margin requirements		9	10
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		3	5
Derivative Liability		53	56
Other Current Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		174	316
Derivative Liability		0	0
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		17	9
Derivative Liability		17	43
Commodity Contract [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset position		195	331
Liability position		71	100
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Liability		1	1
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Asset		1	1
Derivative Asset		194	330
Derivative Liability		70	99
Commodity Contract [Member] | Copper Derivatives [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset position		0	0
Liability position		6	7
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Liability		0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Asset		0	0
Derivative Asset		0	0
Derivative Liability		6	7
Commodity Contract [Member] | Copper futures and swap contracts [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Liability position	[1]	5	7
Commodity Contract [Member] | Copper forward contracts [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Liability position		1	0
Commodity Contract [Member] | Embedded derivatives in provisional sales/purchases contracts [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset position		21	15
Liability position		65	93
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Liability		1	1
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Asset		1	1
Derivative Asset		20	14
Derivative Liability		64	92
Commodity Contract [Member] | Crude Oil and Natural Gas Derivatives [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset position		174	316
Liability position		0	0
Derivative Asset		174	316
Derivative Liability		0	0
Commodity Contract [Member] | Crude Oil Options [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Asset position	[2]	174	316
Deferred Option Premiums and Accrued Interest [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative Asset		$ 106	$ 210

[1] FCX paid $9 million to brokers at June 30, 2015, and $10 million at December 31, 2014, for margin requirements (recorded in other current assets).

[2] Amounts are net of $106 million at June 30, 2015, and $210 million at December 31, 2014, for deferred premiums and accrued interest.