Investments and Advances (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	$ 7,363	$ 5,637	$ 3,316
Investments and advances	22,150	20,816
Other at or Below Cost, Investment and Advances	718	704
Total Investment and Advances	22,868	21,520
Caspian Pipeline Consortium [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments and advances	1,094
Upstream [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	5,706	4,304	2,889
Investments and advances	13,682	13,076
Upstream [Member] | Angola LNG Limited [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	(42)	(21)	(12)
Investments and advances	2,921	2,481
Upstream [Member] | Petroboscan [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	247	222	171
Investments and advances	1,032	937
Upstream [Member] | Tengizchevroil LLP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	5,097	3,398	2,216
Investments and advances	5,306	5,789
Upstream [Member] | Caspian Pipeline Consortium [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	122	124	105
Investments and advances	1,094	974
Upstream [Member] | Petropiar [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	116	262	122
Investments and advances	909	973
Upstream [Member] | Other [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	166	319	287
Investments and advances	2,420	1,922
Downstream [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	1,608	1,279	344
Investments and advances	7,952	7,231
Downstream [Member] | Star Petroleum Refining Company Limited [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	75	122	(4)
Investments and advances	1,022	947
Downstream [Member] | Caltex Australia Limited [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	117	101	11
Investments and advances	819	767
Downstream [Member] | Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	985	704	328
Investments and advances	2,909	2,419
Downstream [Member] | GS Caltex Corporation [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	248	158	(191)
Investments and advances	2,572	2,496
Downstream [Member] | Colonial Pipeline Company [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings		43	51
Downstream [Member] | Other [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	183	151	149
Investments and advances	630	602
All Other [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	49	54	83
Investments and advances	516	509
Investments and Advances [Member] | United States [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total Investment and Advances	4,847	3,769
Investments and Advances [Member] | International [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total Investment and Advances	18,021	17,751
Equity in Earnings [Member] | United States [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	1,119	846	511
Equity in Earnings [Member] | International [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity in Earnings	$ 6,244	$ 4,791	$ 2,805