SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR INFORMATION - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	$ 6,422	$ 7,171
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(6,387)	(4,758)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(586)	(472)
Acquisition of Cordillera	(2,666)
Equity investment in Yara Pilbara Holdings Pty Limited	(439)
Acquisitions, other	(122)	(509)
Proceeds from sale of oil and gas properties	26	202
Other	(386)	(89)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(10,560)	(5,626)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper, credit facility and bank notes, net	1,827	(940)
Fixed rate debt borrowings	2,991
Payments on fixed rate debt	(400)
Dividends paid	(246)	(230)
Other	(11)	77
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	4,161	(1,093)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	23	452
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	295	134
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	318	586
Apache Corporation [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	1,755	1,573
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(2,330)	(1,280)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(28)
Acquisition of Cordillera	(2,666)
Acquisitions, other	(56)	(416)
Proceeds from sale of oil and gas properties	20	6
Investment in subsidiaries, net	(541)	1,256
Other	(340)	(65)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(5,941)	(499)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper, credit facility and bank notes, net	1,792	(928)
Fixed rate debt borrowings	2,991
Payments on fixed rate debt	(400)
Dividends paid	(246)	(230)
Other	40	97
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	4,177	(1,061)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(9)	13
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	41	6
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	31	41
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(86)	(34)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Intercompany borrowings		(1)
Other	82	35
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	82	34
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(4)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	5
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	1
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	4,753	5,632
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(4,057)	(3,478)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(558)	(472)
Equity investment in Yara Pilbara Holdings Pty Limited	(439)
Acquisitions, other	(66)	(93)
Proceeds from sale of oil and gas properties	6	196
Other	(46)	(24)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(5,160)	(3,871)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper, credit facility and bank notes, net	35	(12)
Intercompany borrowings	572	(1,248)
Other	(164)	(62)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	443	(1,322)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	36	439
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	249	128
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	286	249
Reclassifications & Eliminations [Member]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in subsidiaries, net	541	(1,256)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	541	(1,256)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Intercompany borrowings	(572)	1,249
Other	31	7
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(541)	1,256
Consolidated [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	6,422	7,171
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to oil and gas property	(6,387)	(4,758)
Additions to gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities	(586)	(472)
Acquisition of Cordillera	(2,666)
Equity investment in Yara Pilbara Holdings Pty Limited	(439)
Acquisitions, other	(122)	(509)
Proceeds from sale of oil and gas properties	26	202
Other	(386)	(89)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(10,560)	(5,626)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Commercial paper, credit facility and bank notes, net	1,827	(940)
Fixed rate debt borrowings	2,991
Payments on fixed rate debt	(400)
Dividends paid	(246)	(230)
Other	(11)	77
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES	4,161	(1,093)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	23	452
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	295	134
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$ 318	$ 295