INCOME TAXES (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Total income taxes paid to all jurisdictions		$ 203	$ 893	$ 1,500
Tax refunds received from all jurisdictions		247	334	$ 257
Foreign tax credits		2,094	1,552
Minimum tax credits		444	569
Valuation allowances		6,058	4,183
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount		72
Net provision associated with an increase in the beginning of the year valuation allowance		$ (1,900)	$ (1,200)
U.S. federal statutory tax rate		35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Interest on income taxes accrued		$ 19	$ 16	$ 15
Unrecognized tax benefits		101	110	104	$ 110
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate		95
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate, net of tax benefits		68
Valuation allowance for operating loss carryforwards
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowances		2,900
Foreign Tax Credits
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowances		2,100
Impairment To Oil And Gas Properties
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowances		1,600	3,300
Net provision associated with an increase in the beginning of the year valuation allowance		(1,600)
Discontinued Operations
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Total income taxes paid to all jurisdictions		$ 27	$ 187	$ 11
SUNAT | Cerro Verde
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Foreign income tax rate under new stability agreement		32.00%
Foreign Tax Authority
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Foreign tax credits		$ 1,900
Foreign Tax Authority | Chili - Service of Internal Taxes
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
U.S. federal statutory tax rate		35.00%
Foreign Tax Authority | Chili - Service of Internal Taxes | Tax Years 2013 to 2017
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Mining royalty tax rate		4.00%
Foreign Tax Authority | Chili - Service of Internal Taxes | Tax Years 2018 to 2023 | Minimum
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Mining royalty tax rate		5.00%
Foreign Tax Authority | Chili - Service of Internal Taxes | Tax Years 2018 to 2023 | Maximum
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Mining royalty tax rate		14.00%
Foreign Tax Authority | Chili - Service of Internal Taxes | 2020 and thereafter
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
U.S. federal statutory tax rate		44.50%
Foreign Tax Authority | SUNAT | 2014
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
U.S. federal statutory tax rate		30.00%
Dividend tax rate		4.10%
Foreign Tax Authority | SUNAT | 2019 and thereafter
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
U.S. federal statutory tax rate		26.00%
Dividend tax rate		9.30%
Foreign Tax Authority | SUNAT | Tax Year 2017 [Member]
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Dividend tax rate	5.00%
Corporate Income Tax Rate	29.50%
Domestic Tax Authority
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowances		$ 574
Domestic Tax Authority | Minimum Tax Credit Carryforwards
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowances		$ 371