DISPOSITIONS AND ACQUISITIONS (Oil and Gas Operations) (Details) $ in Millions					1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 15, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 25, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 17, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / bbl	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / bbl	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / bbl	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 20, 2014 USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Other assets					$ 1,956	$ 1,956				$ 1,956	$ 1,987
Net gain on sales of assets										(649)	(39)	$ (717)
Adjustment to goodwill												221
Vito Basin [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration transferred							$ 496
Lucas Heidelberg
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration transferred									$ 918
Deepwater Gulf of Mexico and onshore California oil and gas properties
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from sales										2,272	0	0
Eagle Ford shale assets
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from sales									3,100	0	$ 0	$ 2,910
Changes in deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax asset valuation allowances								$ 84
Adjustment to goodwill									$ 221
Deposits																$ 1,300
Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas | Deepwater Gulf of Mexico and onshore California oil and gas properties
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net gain on sales of assets										9
Preferred stock redemption amount					582	582				582
Gain on redemption of preferred stock					199	199				199
Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas | Onshore California
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Contingent consideration asset	$ 150
Other assets					$ 33	$ 33				$ 33
Proceeds from sales	592
Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas | Onshore California | Crude Oil
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Contingent consideration, reference threshold, price per barrel (in us dollars per pound) | $ / bbl					70	70				70
Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas | Onshore California | Forecast
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Contingent consideration asset													$ 50	$ 50	$ 50
Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas | Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Interests
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Contingent consideration asset	$ 150
Proceeds from sales		$ 2,000
Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas | Haynesville
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from sales			$ 87
Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas | Black Stone Minerals, L.P.
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from sales				$ 102