2.2.0.7 false Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) 0203 - Disclosure - Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) [Abstract] 0 cop_VariableInterestEntitiesViesAbstract cop false na duration Variable Interest Entities VIEs. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Variable Interest Entities VIEs. false 3 Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) 1 us-gaap_ScheduleOfVariableInterestEntitiesTextBlock us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10.5pt; margin-top: 21pt"><b>Note 3—Variable Interest Entities (VIEs)</b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10.5pt; margin-top: 10.5pt">We hold significant variable interests in VIEs that have not been consolidated because we are not considered the primary beneficiary. Information on these VIEs follows: </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10.5pt; margin-top: 10.5pt">We have a 30 percent ownership interest with a 50 percent governance interest in the OOO Naryanmarneftegaz (NMNG) joint venture to develop resources in the Timan-Pechora province of Russia. The NMNG joint venture is a VIE because we and LUKOIL have disproportionate interests, and LUKOIL was a related party at inception of the joint venture. Since LUKOIL is no longer a related party, we do not believe NMNG would be a VIE if reconsidered today. LUKOIL owns 70 percent versus our 30 percent direct interest; therefore, we have determined we are not the primary beneficiary of NMNG, and we use the equity method of accounting for this investment. The funding of NMNG has been provided with equity contributions, primarily for the development of the Yuzhno Khylchuyu (YK) Field. At September 30, 2010, the book value of our investment in the venture was $1,414 million. </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10.5pt; margin-top: 10.5pt">We have an agreement with Freeport LNG Development, L.P. (Freeport LNG) to participate in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal in Quintana, Texas. We have no ownership in Freeport LNG; however, we own a 50 percent interest in Freeport LNG GP, Inc. (Freeport GP), which serves as the general partner managing the venture. We entered into a credit agreement with Freeport LNG, whereby we agreed to provide loan financing for the construction of the terminal. We also entered into a long-term agreement with Freeport LNG to use 0.9 billion cubic feet per day of regasification capacity. The terminal became operational in June 2008, and we began making payments under the terminal use agreement. Freeport LNG began making loan repayments in September 2008, and the loan balance outstanding as of September 30, 2010, was $663 million. Freeport LNG is a VIE because Freeport GP holds no equity in Freeport LNG, and the limited partners of Freeport LNG do not have any substantive decision making ability. We are not the primary beneficiary because the equity holders of Freeport GP are not related parties and have equally shared power. Neither party has the power to direct the significant activities without the consent of the other party, in which case neither party is considered to be the primary beneficiary. The loan to Freeport LNG is accounted for as a financial asset, and our investment in Freeport GP is accounted for as an equity investment. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Disclosure of variable interest entities (VIE), including, but not limited to the nature, purpose, size, and activities of the VIE, the carrying amount and classification of consolidated assets that are collateral for the VIE's obligations, lack of recourse if creditors (or beneficial interest holders) of a consolidated VIE have no recourse to the general credit of the primary beneficiary. An enterprise that holds a significant variable interest in a VIE but is not the primary beneficiary may disclose the nature of its involvement with the VIE and when that involvement began, the nature, purpose, size, and activities of the VIE and the enterprise's maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the VIE. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 140 -Paragraph 35 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 46R -Paragraph 2, 14, 15, 16, 23, 24, 25, 26 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 46R -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph g Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FAS140-4 and FIN46(R)-8 -Paragraph C4 -Subparagraph d false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true