SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR INFORMATION - Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 318	$ 295	$ 586	$ 134
Receivables, net of allowance	2,976	3,079
Inventories	774	655
Drilling advances	573	229
Derivative instruments	104	304
Prepaid assets and other	299	241
Total current assets	5,044	4,803
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	51,164	45,448
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill, net	1,114	1,114
Deferred charges and other	1,488	686
Total Assets	58,810	52,051
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	1,137	1,048
Current debt	964	431
Asset retirement obligation	434	447
Derivative instruments	56	113
Other current liabilities	2,799	2,924
Total current liabilities	5,390	4,963
LONG-TERM DEBT	10,670	6,785
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	7,602	7,197
Asset retirement obligation	3,794	3,440
Other	640	673
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	12,036	11,310
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	30,714	28,993	27,903	24,377
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	58,810	52,051
Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	31	41	41	6
Receivables, net of allowance	799	773
Inventories	73	51
Drilling advances	17	11
Derivative instruments	54	113
Prepaid assets and other	3,904	3,859
Total current assets	4,878	4,848
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	17,720	12,262
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	4,504	3,931
Equity in affiliates	20,761	20,214
Deferred charges and other	179	158
Total Assets	48,042	41,413
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	670	609
Current debt	899	400
Asset retirement obligation	434	434
Derivative instruments	20	76
Other current liabilities	793	614
Total current liabilities	2,816	2,133
LONG-TERM DEBT	10,022	6,137
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	2,878	2,622
Asset retirement obligation	1,006	936
Other	606	592
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	4,490	4,150
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	30,714	28,993
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	48,042	41,413
Apache Finance Canada [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	1	5
Drilling advances	1
Total current assets	2	5
OTHER ASSETS:
Equity in affiliates	741	1,372
Deferred charges and other	1,002	1,002
Total Assets	1,745	2,379
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	1	1
Other current liabilities	12	5
Total current liabilities	13	6
LONG-TERM DEBT	647	647
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	5	5
Other	250	250
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	255	255
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	830	1,471
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,745	2,379
All Other Subsidiaries of Apache Corporation [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	286	249	249	128
Receivables, net of allowance	2,177	2,306
Inventories	701	604
Drilling advances	555	218
Derivative instruments	50	191
Prepaid assets and other	(3,605)	(3,618)
Total current assets	164	(50)
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	33,444	33,186
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	(2,361)	(1,908)
Equity in affiliates	89	99
Goodwill, net	1,114	1,114
Deferred charges and other	1,307	526
Total Assets	33,757	32,967
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	2,609	2,461
Current debt	65	31
Asset retirement obligation		13
Derivative instruments	36	37
Other current liabilities	1,994	2,305
Total current liabilities	4,704	4,847
LONG-TERM DEBT	1	1
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	4,719	4,570
Asset retirement obligation	2,788	2,504
Other	784	831
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	8,291	7,905
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	20,761	20,214
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	33,757	32,967
Reclassifications & Eliminations [Member]
OTHER ASSETS:
Intercompany receivable, net	(2,143)	(2,023)
Equity in affiliates	(21,591)	(21,685)
Deferred charges and other	(1,000)	(1,000)
Total Assets	(24,734)	(24,708)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	(2,143)	(2,023)
Total current liabilities	(2,143)	(2,023)
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Other	(1,000)	(1,000)
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	(1,000)	(1,000)
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	(21,591)	(21,685)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	(24,734)	(24,708)
Consolidated [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	318	295	295	134
Receivables, net of allowance	2,976	3,079
Inventories	774	655
Drilling advances	573	229
Derivative instruments	104	304
Prepaid assets and other	299	241
Total current assets	5,044	4,803
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET	51,164	45,448
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill, net	1,114	1,114
Deferred charges and other	1,488	686
Total Assets	58,810	52,051
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	1,137	1,048
Current debt	964	431
Asset retirement obligation	434	447
Derivative instruments	56	113
Other current liabilities	2,799	2,924
Total current liabilities	5,390	4,963
LONG-TERM DEBT	10,670	6,785
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes	7,602	7,197
Asset retirement obligation	3,794	3,440
Other	640	673
Total deferred credits other noncurrent liabilities	12,036	11,310
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	30,714	28,993
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 58,810	$ 52,051