Guarantor Financial Statements (Unaudited) Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenues	$ 3,341	$ 3,242
Total costs and expenses	2,761	7,114
Operating (loss) income	580	(3,872)
Interest expense, net	167	191
Other income (expense), net	25	36
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in affiliated companies’ net earnings	438	(4,027)
Provision for income taxes	(174)	(77)
Equity in affiliated companies’ net (losses) earnings	4	7
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	268	(4,097)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	38	(4)
Net income (loss)	306	(4,101)
Continuing operations	(75)	(73)
Discontinued operations	(3)	(10)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	228	(4,184)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	11	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	239	(4,184)
Eliminations [Member]
Revenues	0	0
Total costs and expenses	2	6
Operating (loss) income	(2)	(6)
Interest expense, net	(79)	(64)
Other income (expense), net	(79)	(54)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in affiliated companies’ net earnings	(2)	4
Provision for income taxes	1	3
Equity in affiliated companies’ net (losses) earnings	(320)	8,627
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(321)	8,634
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	(10)
Net income (loss)	(321)	8,624
Continuing operations	(10)	(6)
Discontinued operations	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	(331)	8,618
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(11)	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(342)	8,618
FCX Issuer [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Revenues	0	0
Total costs and expenses	9	27
Operating (loss) income	(9)	(27)
Interest expense, net	122	137
Other income (expense), net	79	50
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in affiliated companies’ net earnings	(52)	(114)
Provision for income taxes	(60)	(1,784)
Equity in affiliated companies’ net (losses) earnings	340	(2,286)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	228	(4,184)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0
Net income (loss)	228	(4,184)
Continuing operations	0	0
Discontinued operations	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	228	(4,184)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	11	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	239	(4,184)
FM O&G LLC Guarantor [Member]
Production Related Impairments or Charges		1,300
FM O&G LLC Guarantor [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Revenues	13	78
Total costs and expenses	50	1,629
Operating (loss) income	(37)	(1,551)
Interest expense, net	53	4
Other income (expense), net	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in affiliated companies’ net earnings	(90)	(1,555)
Provision for income taxes	31	616
Equity in affiliated companies’ net (losses) earnings	20	(2,704)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(39)	(3,643)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0
Net income (loss)	(39)	(3,643)
Continuing operations	0	0
Discontinued operations	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	(39)	(3,643)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(39)	(3,643)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Production Related Impairments or Charges		2,500
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Revenues	3,328	3,164
Total costs and expenses	2,700	5,452
Operating (loss) income	628	(2,288)
Interest expense, net	71	114
Other income (expense), net	25	40
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in affiliated companies’ net earnings	582	(2,362)
Provision for income taxes	(146)	1,088
Equity in affiliated companies’ net (losses) earnings	(36)	(3,630)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	400	(4,904)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	38	6
Net income (loss)	438	(4,898)
Continuing operations	(65)	(67)
Discontinued operations	(3)	(10)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	370	(4,975)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	11	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$ 381	$ (4,975)