Fair Value Measurements (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis
Unrealized losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income	$ 246.0	$ 208.0
Fair Value - Other Financial Instruments
Debt carrying value	8,300.0	8,300.0
Carrying value of debt, net of unamortized discount	8,300.0	8,300.0	$ 6,800.0
Impairment of Oil and Gas Properties	3,100.0
Impaired proved oil and gas assets - domestic
Fair Value - Other Financial Instruments
Net book value of impaired assets	2,654.0	2,654.0
Impairment of Oil and Gas Properties		1,583.0
Impaired proved oil and gas assets - international
Fair Value - Other Financial Instruments
Net book value of impaired assets	$ 1,767.0	1,767.0
Impairment of Oil and Gas Properties		$ 1,301.0
Level 1
Fair value of assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis
Investment recorded as available for sale asset, shares owned	71.5	71.5
Assets:
Available for sale investment	$ 186.0	$ 186.0	394.0
Level 2
Fair Value - Other Financial Instruments
Debt estimated fair value	68.0	68.0
Level 3 \| Impaired proved oil and gas assets - domestic
Fair Value - Other Financial Instruments
Fair value	1,071.0	1,071.0
Level 3 \| Impaired proved oil and gas assets - international
Fair Value - Other Financial Instruments
Fair value	466.0	466.0
Total Fair Value
Assets:
Available for sale investment	186.0	186.0	394.0
Fair Value - Other Financial Instruments
Debt estimated fair value	8,700.0	8,700.0	7,000.0
Recurring \| Level 1
Assets:
Commodity derivatives	235.0	235.0	712.0
Liabilities:
Commodity derivatives	251.0	251.0	750.0
Recurring \| Level 2
Assets:
Commodity derivatives	51.0	51.0	127.0
Liabilities:
Commodity derivatives	293.0	293.0	246.0
Recurring \| Netting and Collateral
Assets:
Commodity derivatives	(223.0)	(223.0)	(742.0)
Liabilities:
Commodity derivatives	(240.0)	(240.0)	(756.0)
Recurring \| Total Fair Value
Assets:
Commodity derivatives	63.0	63.0	97.0
Liabilities:
Commodity derivatives	$ 304.0	$ 304.0	$ 240.0

No definition available.

Name:	oxy_FairValueOtherFinancialInstrumentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	oxy_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Investment recorded as available for sale asset, shares owned.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	oxy_InvestmentRecordedAsAvailableForSaleAssetSharesOwned
Namespace Prefix:	oxy_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Net book value of impaired assets

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	oxy_NetBookValueOfImpairedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	oxy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Value of investment recorded as available for sale asset.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	oxy_ValueOfInvestmentRecordedAsAvailableForSaleAsset
Namespace Prefix:	oxy_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This element represents the aggregate of the assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureNonrecurring
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of unrealized loss before deducting unrealized gain on investments in available-for-sale securities.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13476-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- 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 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51719941&loc=d3e2921-110230

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 932

-SubTopic 360

-Section 35

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28370743&loc=d3e66150-109466

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOilAndGasProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of price risk derivative assets, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as assets on the balance sheet.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PriceRiskDerivativeAssetsAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of price risk derivative liabilities, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized as liabilities on the balance sheet.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PriceRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=oxy_DomesticImpairedProvedOilAndGasAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=oxy_InternationalImpairedProvedOilAndGasAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis=us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=oxy_NettingOrCollateralMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: