Debt - Debt for Apache and Subsidiaries (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	$ 8,831
Unamortized discount	(53)
Current maturities	(1)
LONG-TERM DEBT	8,777	$ 11,245
Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	8,831	11,301
Unamortized discount	(53)	(56)
Total debt	8,778	11,245
Current maturities	(1)
LONG-TERM DEBT	8,777	11,245
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Commercial Paper [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount		1,570
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| United States [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	8,530	11,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 5.625% notes due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount		500
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 1.75% Notes Due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount		400
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 6.9% notes due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	400	400
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 7.0% notes due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	150	150
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 7.625% notes due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	150	150
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 3.625% notes due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	500	500
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 3.25% notes due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	919	919
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 2.625% notes due 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	531	531
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 7.7% notes due 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	100	100
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 7.95% notes due 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	180	180
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 6.0% notes due 2037 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	1,000	1,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 5.1% notes due 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	1,500	1,500
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 5.25% notes due 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	500	500
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 4.75% notes due 2043 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	1,500	1,500
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 4.25% notes due 2044 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	800	800
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 7.375% debentures due 2047 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	150	150
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| 7.625% debentures due 2096 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	150	150
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Notes due In 2016 and 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	1	1
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Apache finance Canada 7.75% notes due 2029 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	300	300
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Subsidiary And Other Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt before unamortized discount	$ 301	$ 301

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 20, 22
-Article 5

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt, after unamortized discount or premium, scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer (current maturities). Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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