Accounting for Suspended Exploratory Wells (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Accounting for Suspended Exploratory Wells [Abstract]
Capitalized cost of exploratory wells	$ 3,600
Decrease in capitalized cost of suspended wells from the prior year end		$ (124)
Capitalized exploratory well cost, charged to expense	$ 313

Accounting for suspended exploratory wells.

No definition available.

Name:	cvx_AccountingForSuspendedExploratoryWellsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	cvx_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expense for capitalized exploratory well costs for which proved reserves were not found at the exploratory well.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 235
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68064819&loc=SL6806780-109447

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostChargedToExpense1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in capitalized exploratory well costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 235
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph a
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68064819&loc=SL6806780-109447

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of capitalized exploratory well costs that is pending the determination of proved reserves. This does not include amounts that were capitalized and subsequently expensed in the same annual period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 235
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68064819&loc=SL6806780-109447

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant