Investments and Advances (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	$ 23,068	$ 22,150
Equity in Earnings	6,889	7,363	5,637
Other at or below cost	650	718
Total investment and advances	23,718	22,868
Investments and Advances [Member] | United States [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total investment and advances	5,788	4,847
Investments and Advances [Member] | International [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total investment and advances	17,930	18,021
Equity in Earnings [Member] | United States [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	1,268	1,119	846
Equity in Earnings [Member] | International [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	5,621	6,244	4,791
Upstream [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	14,695	13,682
Equity in Earnings	5,154	5,706	4,304
Upstream [Member] | Tengizchevroil LLP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	5,451	5,306
Equity in Earnings	4,614	5,097	3,398
Upstream [Member] | Petropiar [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	952	909
Equity in Earnings	55	116	262
Upstream [Member] | Caspian Pipeline Consortium [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	1,187	1,094
Equity in Earnings	96	122	124
Upstream [Member] | Petroboscan [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	1,261	1,032
Equity in Earnings	229	247	222
Upstream [Member] | Angola LNG Limited [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	3,186	2,921
Equity in Earnings	(106)	(42)	(21)
Upstream [Member] | Other [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	2,658	2,420
Equity in Earnings	266	166	319
Downstream [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	7,733	7,952
Equity in Earnings	1,750	1,608	1,279
Downstream [Member] | Other [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	837	630
Equity in Earnings	196	183	151
Downstream [Member] | GS Caltex Corporation [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	2,610	2,572
Equity in Earnings	249	248	158
Downstream [Member] | Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	3,451	2,909
Equity in Earnings	1,206	985	704
Downstream [Member] | Star Petroleum Refining Company Limited [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	0	1,022
Equity in Earnings	22	75	122
Downstream [Member] | Caltex Australia Limited [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	835	819
Equity in Earnings	77	117	101
Downstream [Member] | Colonial Pipeline Company [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	0	0
Equity in Earnings	0	0	43
All Other [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and Advances	640	516
Equity in Earnings	$ (15)	$ 49	$ 54