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Summary of Major Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Segment
Dec. 31, 2014
Segment
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2014
Unit
Summary of Major Accounting Policies [Abstract]          
Number of business segments 4us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments 4us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments      
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]          
Percentage of revenue recognized under the accounting rules for construction-type and production-type contracts (in hundredths) 31.00%cam_RevenueRecognizedLongTermContractsPercentage 31.00%cam_RevenueRecognizedLongTermContractsPercentage 31.00%cam_RevenueRecognizedLongTermContractsPercentage 26.00%cam_RevenueRecognizedLongTermContractsPercentage  
Inventories [Abstract]          
Percentage of inventories carried on the LIFO method (in hundredths) 54.00%us-gaap_PercentageOfLIFOInventory 54.00%us-gaap_PercentageOfLIFOInventory 49.00%us-gaap_PercentageOfLIFOInventory    
Intangible Assets [Abstract]          
Amount of goodwill included in reporting units $ 2,461us-gaap_Goodwill $ 2,461us-gaap_Goodwill $ 2,925us-gaap_Goodwill    
Minimum percentage of carrying value by unit (in hundredths)   75.00%cam_MinimumPercentageOfCarryingValueByUnit      
Foreign Currency Derivatives [Abstract]          
Foreign currency transactions gain (loss)   22us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossRealized 1us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossRealized 12us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossRealized  
Minimum [Member]          
Intangible Assets [Abstract]          
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life   5 years      
Maximum [Member]          
Intangible Assets [Abstract]          
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life   28 years      
Buildings and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]          
Estimated useful life   10 years      
Buildings and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]          
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]          
Estimated useful life   40 years      
Machinery, Equipment and Tooling [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]          
Estimated useful life   3 years      
Machinery, Equipment and Tooling [Member] | Maximum [Member]          
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]          
Estimated useful life   18 years      
Office Furniture, Software and Other [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]          
Estimated useful life   3 years      
Office Furniture, Software and Other [Member] | Maximum [Member]          
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]          
Estimated useful life   10 years      
V&M [Member]          
Intangible Assets [Abstract]          
Amount of goodwill included in reporting units 311us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cam_ValvesAndMeasurementSystemsMember
311us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cam_ValvesAndMeasurementSystemsMember
318us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cam_ValvesAndMeasurementSystemsMember
  311us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cam_ValvesAndMeasurementSystemsMember
V&M [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Intangible Assets [Abstract]          
Number of reporting units within the segment 2cam_NumberOfReportingUnitsWithinTheSegment
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cam_ValvesAndMeasurementSystemsMember
       
V&M [Member] | Maximum [Member]          
Intangible Assets [Abstract]          
Number of reporting units within the segment         5cam_NumberOfReportingUnitsWithinTheSegment
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cam_ValvesAndMeasurementSystemsMember
CPS [Member]          
Intangible Assets [Abstract]          
Amount of goodwill included in reporting units $ 571us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cam_CustomProcessingSystemsMember
$ 571us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cam_CustomProcessingSystemsMember
     
CPS [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Intangible Assets [Abstract]          
Percentage of estimated fair value (in hundredths)   10.00%cam_PercentageOfEstimatedFairValue
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cam_CustomProcessingSystemsMember
     
CPS [Member] | Maximum [Member]          
Intangible Assets [Abstract]          
Percentage of estimated fair value (in hundredths)   15.00%cam_PercentageOfEstimatedFairValue
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cam_CustomProcessingSystemsMember