Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jul. 19, 2019
Cover page.
Document type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Registrant Name	ANADARKO PETROLEUM CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000773910
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		502,453,426
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share
Entity Trading Symbol	APC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity File Number	1-8968
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	76-0146568
Entity Address, Address Line One	1201 Lake Robbins Drive,
Entity Address, City or Town	The Woodlands,
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77380-1046
City Area Code	832
Local Phone Number	636-1000
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false