INDUSTRY SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 segment	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
INDUSTRY SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
Number of reportable segments	3
Segment Information
Net sales	$ 23,939	$ 19,045	$ 14,814
Pretax operating profit (loss)	10,841	7,564	5,214
Income taxes	(4,201)	(2,995)	(2,063)
Discontinued operations, net	131	(39)	(236)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stock	6,771	4,530	2,915
Investments in unconsolidated entities	2,072	2,039	1,732
Property, plant and equipment additions, net	7,604	4,034	3,406
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	3,591	3,153	2,687
Total assets	60,044	52,432	44,229
Impairment charges		275
Charges for the termination of rig contracts			8
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		72	51
Total Foreign
Segment Information
Net sales	8,899	6,894	5,366
Colombia
Segment Information
Net sales	1,054	999	922
Colombian net worth tax	29
Pre-tax gain for sale of interest in Colombian pipeline	22
Libya
Segment Information
Net sales	151	373	243
Capitalized and suspended exploration costs written off	35
Oil and Gas
Segment Information
Net sales	18,419	14,276	11,009
Pretax operating profit (loss)	10,241	7,151	5,097
Net income (loss) attributable to common stock	10,241	7,151	5,097
Investments in unconsolidated entities	128	123	118
Property, plant and equipment additions, net	6,192	3,211	2,571
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	3,064	2,668	2,258
Total assets	38,967	31,855	26,854
Oil and Gas | Oil
Segment Information
Product revenue to net sales (as a percent)	87.00%	86.00%	86.00%
Chemical
Segment Information
Net sales	4,815	4,016	3,225
Pretax operating profit (loss)	861	438	389
Net income (loss) attributable to common stock	861	438	389
Investments in unconsolidated entities	121	135	131
Property, plant and equipment additions, net	241	248	213
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	330	321	298
Total assets	3,754	3,755	3,608
Chemical | Basic Chemicals
Segment Information
Product revenue to net sales (as a percent)	58.00%	57.00%	63.00%
Chemical | Vinyls
Segment Information
Product revenue to net sales (as a percent)	39.00%	40.00%	34.00%
Chemical | Other Chemicals
Segment Information
Product revenue to net sales (as a percent)	3.00%	3.00%	3.00%
Midstream, Marketing and Other
Segment Information
Net sales	1,447	1,471	1,016
Pretax operating profit (loss)	448	472	235
Net income (loss) attributable to common stock	448	472	235
Investments in unconsolidated entities	1,812	1,770	1,473
Property, plant and equipment additions, net	1,120	537	583
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	173	142	110
Total assets	11,962	10,445	8,773
Midstream, Marketing and Other | Gas Processing
Segment Information
Sales revenues for businesses as a percentage of total sales revenues	64.00%	52.00%	56.00%
Midstream, Marketing and Other | Power
Segment Information
Sales revenues for businesses as a percentage of total sales revenues	27.00%	27.00%	26.00%
Midstream, Marketing and Other | Marketing, Trading, Transportation and other
Segment Information
Sales revenues for businesses as a percentage of total sales revenues	9.00%	21.00%	18.00%
Corporate and Eliminations
Segment Information
Net sales	(742)	(718)	(436)
Pretax operating profit (loss)	(709)	(497)	(507)
Income taxes	(4,201)	(2,995)	(2,063)
Discontinued operations, net	131	(39)	(236)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stock	(4,779)	(3,531)	(2,806)
Investments in unconsolidated entities	11	11	10
Property, plant and equipment additions, net	51	38	39
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	24	22	21
Total assets	$ 5,361	$ 6,377	$ 4,994