Retirement and Postretirement Benefit Plans (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Components of the net periodic benefit costs

The following tables set forth the components of the net periodic benefit costs for Occidental’s defined benefit plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, and 2017 (in millions):

Three months ended September 30	2018					2017
Net Periodic Benefit Costs	Pension Benefit			Postretirement Benefit		Pension Benefit			Postretirement Benefit
Service cost	$	—		$	5	$	2		$	5
Interest cost	4			8		4			9
Expected return on plan assets	(7		)	—		(6		)	—
Recognized actuarial loss	2			2		2			3
Additional settlement cost	3			—		—			—
Total	$	2		$	15	$	2		$	17

Nine months ended September 30	2018					2017
Net Periodic Benefit Costs	Pension Benefit			Postretirement Benefit		Pension Benefit			Postretirement Benefit
Service cost	$	4		$	17	$	6		$	15
Interest cost	12			26		12			29
Expected return on plan assets	(19		)	—		(18		)	—
Recognized actuarial loss	4			12		6			11
Additional settlement cost	3			—		—			—
Total	$	4		$	55	$	6		$	55