INCOME TAXES (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Total income taxes paid to all jurisdictions			$ 702	$ 203	$ 893
Tax refunds received from all jurisdictions			329	247	334
Tax Attributes
Foreign tax credits		$ 2,129	2,129	2,094
Valuation allowances		4,575	4,575	6,058
Net provision associated with an increase in the beginning of the year valuation allowance			1,500	(1,200)
Decrease associated with reduction in corporate income Tax Reform			1,100
Reversal of valuation allowance for minimum tax credit carryforwords due to Tax Reform			371
Provisional net tax benefits associated with Tax Reform			393	0	0
Reversal of valuation allowances due to 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act		(975)	272
Decrease in corporate income tax due to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act		121	121
AMT credits		490	490	444
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes			883	371	(1,951)
Tax charge to establish a reserve for uncertain tax positions		108	108
Income (loss) from continuing operation, foreign			2,882	1,707	461
Income (loss) from continuing operations, domestic			$ 20	$ (5,179)	$ (14,589)
U.S. federal statutory tax rate			35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Interest on income taxes accrued		22	$ 22	$ 19	$ 16
Unrecognized tax benefits		390	390	101	110	$ 104
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate		344	344
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the effective tax rate, net of tax benefits		272	272
Valuation allowance for operating loss carryforwards
Tax Attributes
Valuation allowances		2,100	2,100
Foreign Tax Credits
Tax Attributes
Valuation allowances		2,100	2,100
Impairment To Oil And Gas Properties
Tax Attributes
Valuation allowances				1,600	3,300
Discontinued Operations
Schedule Of Income Taxes [Line Items]
Total income taxes paid to all jurisdictions				$ 27	$ 187
SUNAT | Cerro Verde
Tax Attributes
Foreign income tax rate under new stability agreement				32.00%
Foreign Tax Authority
Tax Attributes
Foreign tax credits		1,100	1,100
Operating Loss Carryforwards		566	566
Income (loss) from continuing operation, foreign			$ 5,300
Foreign Tax Authority | Chili - Service of Internal Taxes
Tax Attributes
U.S. federal statutory tax rate			35.00%	35.00%		35.00%
Foreign Tax Authority | Chili - Service of Internal Taxes | 2020 and thereafter
Tax Attributes
U.S. federal statutory tax rate				44.50%
Foreign Tax Authority | Chili - Service of Internal Taxes | Tax Year 2022 and Thereafter
Tax Attributes
U.S. federal statutory tax rate			44.50%
Foreign Tax Authority | Chili - Service of Internal Taxes | Tax Years 2013 to 2017
Tax Attributes
Mining royalty tax rate			4.00%
Foreign Tax Authority | Chili - Service of Internal Taxes | Tax Years 2018 to 2023 | Minimum
Tax Attributes
Mining royalty tax rate			5.00%
Foreign Tax Authority | Chili - Service of Internal Taxes | Tax Years 2018 to 2023 | Maximum
Tax Attributes
Mining royalty tax rate			14.00%
Foreign Tax Authority | SUNAT | 2014
Tax Attributes
U.S. federal statutory tax rate				30.00%
Dividend tax rate				4.10%
Foreign Tax Authority | SUNAT | 2019 and thereafter
Tax Attributes
U.S. federal statutory tax rate				26.00%
Dividend tax rate				9.30%
Foreign Tax Authority | SUNAT | Tax Year 2017
Tax Attributes
Dividend tax rate	5.00%
Corporate Income Tax Rate	29.50%
Domestic Tax Authority
Tax Attributes
Operating Loss Carryforwards		6,400	$ 6,400
Capital Loss Carryforwards		160	160
Valuation allowances		280	280
Income (loss) from continuing operations, domestic			5,300
State and Local Jurisdiction
Tax Attributes
Operating Loss Carryforwards		$ 10,600	10,600
Alternative Minimum Tax Credit
Tax Attributes
Provisional net tax benefits associated with Tax Reform			380
AMT credit carryforwards				$ (72)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes			$ (38)