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CeilingTest Charges
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Ceiling Test Charges [Abstract] 
Ceiling Test Charges
3. Ceiling Test Charges
     We are required to conduct quarterly impairment tests of our capitalized costs in each of our full cost pools. During the quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, we recorded the following ceiling test charges:
                                 
    Quarters Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2011     2010     2011     2010  
            (In millions)          
Full cost pool:
                               
Brazil
  $ 152     $ —     $ 152     $ —  
Egypt
    —       14       —       16  
 
                       
Total
  $ 152     $ 14     $ 152     $ 16  
 
                       
     Our Brazilian charge was driven, in part, by the release of certain unevaluated costs into the Brazilian full cost pool primarily as a result of the recent denial of a necessary environmental permit. See Note 8 for a further discussion. We may incur additional ceiling test charges in Brazil in the future depending on the value of our proved reserves, which are subject to change as a result of factors such as prices, costs and well performance. Additionally, we may incur ceiling test charges in Egypt depending on the results of our activities in that country.