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This element represents the pre-tax corporate litigation reserves.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the total corporate significant items affecting earnings before taxes.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the total tax effect on corporate significant items affecting earnings.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Pretax charge for the estimated cost related to the employment and post-employment benefits for former executives and consultants.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Spin-off and other cost.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The expense recorded to reduce the value of oil and gas assets consisting of proved properties and unproved properties as the estimate of future successful production from these properties is reduced.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

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- Definition

The amount of other than temporary impairment losses on investments in debt and equity securities categorized as Available-for-sale which have been recognized in earnings during the period. Such impairment losses consist of other than temporary impairments (OTTI) on equity securities, credit losses on investments in debt securities, and when the entity intends to sell an impaired debt security or it is more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the impaired debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.

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- Definition

Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Number 210

-Section 03

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-Article 5

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Industry Segments (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 15, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Information
Net sales		$ 19,312us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 20,170us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 20,100us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Property, plant and equipment, net		39,730us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	55,821us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	52,064us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/Pre-tax operating profit (loss)
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/spin-off and other cost		(61)oxy_SpinOffAndOtherCost
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/charge for former executives and consultants	(55)oxy_PostEmploymentBenefitCharge
United States
Segment Information
Net sales		11,943	11,724	11,287
Property, plant and equipment, net		26,673	42,956	40,786
Foreign oil and gas assets
Segment Information
Net sales		7,369	8,446	8,813
Property, plant and equipment, net		13,057	12,865	11,278
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/Pre-tax operating profit (loss)
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/impairment of oil and gas properties		1,100
Qatar
Segment Information
Net sales		2,803	2,995	3,356
Property, plant and equipment, net		2,605	2,605	2,676
Oman
Segment Information
Net sales		2,524	2,567	2,578
Property, plant and equipment, net		2,876	2,509	2,353
Colombia
Segment Information
Net sales		938	1,022	1,027
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,396	1,259	1,041
United Arab Emirates
Segment Information
Property, plant and equipment, net		4,312	3,131	2,104
Other Foreign
Segment Information
Net sales		1,104	1,862	1,852
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,868	3,361	3,104
Joslyn oil sands project member
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/Pre-tax operating profit (loss)
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/other than temperary loss		(805)
Corporate
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/Pre-tax operating profit (loss)
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/Pre-tax operating profit (loss) total		(1,419)	(55)	(20)
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/Income Taxes
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/Income Taxes Total		927	(167)	612
Corporate \| Litigation reserves
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/Pre-tax operating profit (loss)
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/Litigation reserves				(20)
Corporate \| Charge for former executives and consultants
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/Pre-tax operating profit (loss)
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/charge for former executives and consultants			(55)
Corporate \| Spin-off California Resources Corp \| Premium on debt extinguishments
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/Pre-tax operating profit (loss)
Corporate significant items affecting earnings/other than temperary loss		$ (553)