SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR INFORMATION - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Oil and Gas Production Revenues	$ 4,141	$ 4,282	$ 12,554	$ 12,515
Other	38	46	133	76
Total revenues and other	4,179	4,328	12,687	12,591
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			5,701	3,030
Asset retirement obligation accretion	60	39	172	114
Lease operating expenses	801	661	2,178	1,946
Gathering and transportation	86	72	235	221
Taxes other than income	167	244	627	663
General and administrative	124	112	384	327
Merger, acquisitions & transition	7	4	29	15
Financing costs, net	40	37	125	123
Total operating expenses	3,314	2,234	9,451	6,439
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	865	2,094	3,236	6,152
NET INCOME	180	1,002	1,333	3,395
Preferred stock dividends	19	19	57	57
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	161	983	1,276	3,338
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	61	1,245	1,196	3,541
Apache Corporation [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Oil and Gas Production Revenues	1,030	1,097	3,070	3,230
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	41	821	813	2,687
Other		18	(1)	23
Total revenues and other	1,071	1,936	3,882	5,940
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	349	323	997	938
Asset retirement obligation accretion	20	18	57	52
Lease operating expenses	277	199	708	603
Gathering and transportation	15	13	38	37
Taxes other than income	52	49	146	140
General and administrative	97	86	302	262
Merger, acquisitions & transition	7	3	23	10
Financing costs, net	20	33	71	104
Total operating expenses	837	724	2,342	2,146
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	234	1,212	1,540	3,794
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	54	210	207	399
NET INCOME	180	1,002	1,333	3,395
Preferred stock dividends	19	19	57	57
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	161	983	1,276	3,338
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	61	1,245	1,196	3,541
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	(271)	188	(672)	163
Other	18	148	52	109
Total revenues and other	(253)	336	(620)	272
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Financing costs, net	14	14	42	42
Total operating expenses	14	14	42	42
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(267)	322	(662)	230
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(67)	69	(166)	50
NET INCOME	(200)	253	(496)	180
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	(200)	253	(496)	180
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	(200)	253	(496)	180
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Oil and Gas Production Revenues	3,111	3,185	9,484	9,285
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	71	65	176	17
Other	21	(119)	85	(53)
Total revenues and other	3,203	3,131	9,745	9,249
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	1,680	742	4,704	2,092
Asset retirement obligation accretion	40	21	115	62
Lease operating expenses	524	462	1,470	1,343
Gathering and transportation	71	59	197	184
Taxes other than income	115	195	481	523
General and administrative	28	27	85	68
Merger, acquisitions & transition		1	6	5
Financing costs, net	6	(10)	12	(23)
Total operating expenses	2,464	1,497	7,070	4,254
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	739	1,634	2,675	4,995
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	698	813	1,862	2,308
NET INCOME	41	821	813	2,687
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	41	821	813	2,687
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	41	821	813	2,687
Reclassifications & Eliminations [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	159	(1,074)	(317)	(2,867)
Other	(1)	(1)	(3)	(3)
Total revenues and other	158	(1,075)	(320)	(2,870)
OPERATING EXPENSES:
General and administrative	(1)	(1)	(3)	(3)
Total operating expenses	(1)	(1)	(3)	(3)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	159	(1,074)	(317)	(2,867)
NET INCOME	159	(1,074)	(317)	(2,867)
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	159	(1,074)	(317)	(2,867)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	159	(1,074)	(317)	(2,867)
Consolidated [Member]
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Oil and Gas Production Revenues	4,141	4,282	12,554	12,515
Other	38	46	133	76
Total revenues and other	4,179	4,328	12,687	12,591
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	2,029	1,065	5,701	3,030
Asset retirement obligation accretion	60	39	172	114
Lease operating expenses	801	661	2,178	1,946
Gathering and transportation	86	72	235	221
Taxes other than income	167	244	627	663
General and administrative	124	112	384	327
Merger, acquisitions & transition	7	4	29	15
Financing costs, net	40	37	125	123
Total operating expenses	3,314	2,234	9,451	6,439
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	865	2,094	3,236	6,152
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	685	1,092	1,903	2,757
NET INCOME	180	1,002	1,333	3,395
Preferred stock dividends	19	19	57	57
INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	161	983	1,276	3,338
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK	$ 61	$ 1,245	$ 1,196	$ 3,541