Noncontrolling Interests	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]
Noncontrolling Interests	10. Noncontrolling Interests In December 2012, Western Gas Equity Partners, LP (WGP), a consolidated subsidiary formed to own Anadarko's partnership interests in WES, completed its initial public offering (IPO) of approximately 20 million common units representing limited partner interests in WGP at a price of $22.00 per common unit, for net proceeds of $411 million. At December 31, 2012, Anadarko's ownership interest in WGP consisted of a 91.0% limited partner interest and the entire general partner interest. WES, a consolidated subsidiary, is a limited partnership formed by Anadarko to own, operate, acquire, and develop midstream assets. WES issued approximately 5 million common units to the public raising net proceeds of $212 million in 2012, approximately 10 million common units were issued to the public raising net proceeds of $328 million in 2011, and approximately 13 million common units were issued to the public raising net proceeds of $338 million in 2010. At December 31, 2012, WGP's ownership interest in WES consisted of a 46.2% limited partner interest, the entire 2.0% general partner interest, and all of the WES incentive distribution rights.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries, which could include the name of the subsidiary, the ownership percentage held by the parent, the ownership percentage held by the noncontrolling owners, the amount of the noncontrolling interest, the location of this amount on the balance sheet (when not reported separately), an explanation of the increase or decrease in the amount of the noncontrolling interest, the noncontrolling interest share of the net Income or Loss of the subsidiary, the location of this amount on the income statement (when not reported separately), the nature of the noncontrolling interest such as background information and terms, the amount of the noncontrolling interest represented by preferred stock, a description of the preferred stock, and the dividend requirements of the preferred stock.

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