Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Current income taxes:
Federal	$ (1,026,000,000)	$ (400,000,000)	$ 30,000,000
Foreign	(334,000,000)	(287,000,000)	(250,000,000)
State	(109,000,000)	(42,000,000)	(24,000,000)
Total current	(1,469,000,000)	(729,000,000)	(244,000,000)
Deferred income taxes:
Federal	(28,000,000)	(124,000,000)	(237,000,000)
Foreign	57,000,000	3,000,000	(31,000,000)
State	1,000,000	(3,000,000)	(6,000,000)
Total deferred	30,000,000	(124,000,000)	(274,000,000)
Provision for income taxes	(1,439,000,000)	(853,000,000)	(518,000,000)
The United States and foreign components of income from continuing operations before income taxes [Abstract]
United States	4,040,000,000	1,918,000,000	589,000,000
Foreign	409,000,000	737,000,000	1,093,000,000
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	4,449,000,000	2,655,000,000	1,682,000,000
Reconciliations between the actual provision for income taxes on continuing operations [Abstract]
United States statutory rate (in hundredths)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Domestic manufacturing deduction (in hundredths)	(2.10%)	(1.80%)	0.00%
Impact of foreign income taxed at different rates (in hundredths)	(0.50%)	(1.30%)	(3.30%)
Adjustments of prior year taxes (in hundredths)	(1.30%)	(1.20%)	(2.10%)
Other impact of foreign operations (in hundredths)	(0.40%)	(1.30%)	(0.40%)
Impact of devaluation of Venezuelan Bolivar Fuerte (in hundredths)	0.00%	0.80%	0.00%
Other items, net (in hundredths)	1.60%	1.90%	1.60%
Total effective tax rate on continuing operations (in hundredths)	32.30%	32.10%	30.80%
Gross deferred tax assets:
Employee compensation and benefits	345,000,000	313,000,000
Accrued liabilities	64,000,000	77,000,000
Net operating loss carryforwards	139,000,000	52,000,000
Capitalized research and experimentation	29,000,000	44,000,000
Insurance accruals	48,000,000	47,000,000
Software revenue recognition	44,000,000	50,000,000
Inventory	30,000,000	28,000,000
Other	110,000,000	106,000,000
Total gross deferred tax assets	809,000,000	717,000,000
Gross deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and amortization	648,000,000	631,000,000
Joint ventures, partnerships, and unconsolidated affiliates	38,000,000	48,000,000
Other	68,000,000	57,000,000
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	754,000,000	736,000,000
Valuation allowances - net operating loss carryforwards	44,000,000	22,000,000
Net deferred income tax asset (liability)	11,000,000	(41,000,000)
Unrecognized tax benefits [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	177,000,000	263,000,000	300,000,000
Change in prior year tax positions	38,000,000	(74,000,000)	(42,000,000)
Change in current year tax positions	5,000,000	19,000,000	23,000,000
Cash settlements with taxing authorities	(12,000,000)	(28,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(3,000,000)	(3,000,000)	(11,000,000)
Ending balance	205,000,000	177,000,000	263,000,000
Interest and penalties [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	32,000,000	29,000,000	43,000,000
Change in prior year tax positions	41,000,000	7,000,000	(6,000,000)
Change in current year tax positions	1,000,000	2,000,000	2,000,000
Cash settlements with taxing authorities	(3,000,000)	(5,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(2,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(9,000,000)
Ending balance	69,000,000	32,000,000	29,000,000
Amounts to be settled in accordance with tax sharing agreement with KBR and foreign unrecognized tax benefits that would give rise to a United States tax credit	67,000,000	62,000,000
The remaining balance which if resolved favorably, would positively impact the effective tax rate, and therefore, be recognized as additional tax benefits in statements of operations	138,000,000	115,000,000
Portion of unrecognized tax benefits that could be resolved within the next 12 months	42,000,000
Foreign Country [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	346,000,000
Net operating loss carryforwards that expire	211,000,000
Operating loss carryforwards, expiration dates	2012 through 2032
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income tax filings, years under review	2008 and 2009
Investments in Foreign Subsidiaries and Foreign Corporate Joint Ventures that are Essentially Permanent in Duration [Member]
Deferred Tax Liability Not Recognized [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Liability Not Recognized, Cumulative Amount of Temporary Difference	$ 4,100,000,000