Impairments and other charges (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Impairments and other charges [Abstract]

Restructuring and Related Costs [Table Text Block]

The following table presents various charges we recorded during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 as a result of the downturn in the energy industry and other matters, all of which were recorded within "Impairments and other charges" on our consolidated statements of operations:

	Year Ended December 31
Millions of dollars	2016			2015		2014
Industry downturn:
Fixed asset impairments	$	2,550		$	760	$	47
Severance costs	315			352		28
Inventory write-downs	166			484		24
Intangible asset impairments	88			212		10
Other	67			201		20
Other matters:
Venezuela promissory note loss	148			—		—
Country closures	39			80		—
Other	(16		)	88		—
Total impairments and other charges	$	3,357		$	2,177	$	129