Derivative Instruments - Interest-Rate Derivatives Table (Detail) - Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Interest-Rate Swap 1 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional principal amount of interest-rate swap	$ 500
Reference period start date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2016
Reference period end date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2046
Mandatory termination date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2018
Weighted-average interest rate for interest-rate swap	6.559%
Interest-Rate Swap 2 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional principal amount of interest-rate swap	$ 300
Reference period start date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2016
Reference period end date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2046
Mandatory termination date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2020
Weighted-average interest rate for interest-rate swap	6.509%
Interest-Rate Swap 3 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional principal amount of interest-rate swap	$ 450
Reference period start date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2017
Reference period end date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2047
Mandatory termination date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2018
Weighted-average interest rate for interest-rate swap	6.445%
Interest-Rate Swap 4 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional principal amount of interest-rate swap	$ 100
Reference period start date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2017
Reference period end date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2047
Mandatory termination date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2020
Weighted-average interest rate for interest-rate swap	6.891%
Interest-Rate Swap 5 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional principal amount of interest-rate swap	$ 250
Reference period start date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2017
Reference period end date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2047
Mandatory termination date for interest-rate swap	Sep. 15, 2021
Weighted-average interest rate for interest-rate swap	6.57%

End date of the interest-rate swap reference period, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

No definition available.

Name:	apc_ReferencePeriodEndDate
Namespace Prefix:	apc_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Start date of the interest-rate swap reference period, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	apc_ReferencePeriodStartDate
Namespace Prefix:	apc_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 12
-Section 13
-Sentence Column B

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Average fixed interest rate related to the group of interest rate derivatives.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFixedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- 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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the derivative contract matures, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeMaturityDates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=apc_InterestRateSwap1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=apc_InterestRateSwap2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=apc_InterestRateSwap3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=apc_InterestRateSwap4Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=apc_InterestRateSwap5Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: