Consolidated Statement of Equity (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Deferred Compensation and Benefit Plan Trust	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par	Treasury Stock at Cost	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2008								$ (3,909)
Unrealized net holding gain on securities, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2008								13
Net derivatives gain (loss) on hedge transactions, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2008								143
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2008			0	1,832	14,448	(26,376)	101,102
Currency Translation Adjustment, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2008								(171)
Shares, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2008			0	2,442,677		438,445
Deferred Compensation and Benefit Plan Trust Deferred Compensation, Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2008		(194)
Treasury Stock Transaction					183
Net Income Attributable to Chevron Corporation	10,483						10,483
Cash dividends - common stock							(5,302)
Tax benefit from dividends paid on unallocated ESOP shares and other							6
Currency translation adjustment
Unrealized net change arising during period	60							60
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans
Change to defined benefit plans during year								(399)
Unrealized net holding gain on securities
Change during year (Unrealized net holding gain on securities)	2							2
Net derivatives gain (loss) on hedge transactions
Change during year (derivatives)								(60)
Net reduction of ESOP debt and other		85
Benefit Plan Trust (Common Stock)		(240)
Benefit Plan Trust (Common Stock), shares		14,168
Treasury Stock at Cost, Purchases						(6)
Treasury Stock at Cost, Purchases, shares						85
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans						214
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans, Shares						(3,575)
Noncontrolling interests	647
Total Equity	92,561
Net derivatives gain (loss) on hedge transactions, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2009								83
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	91,914	(349)	0	1,832	14,631	(26,168)	106,289	(4,321)
Unrealized net holding gain on securities, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2009								15
Currency Translation Adjustment, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2009								(111)
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2009								(4,308)
Shares, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2009		14,168	0	2,442,677		434,955
Deferred Compensation and Benefit Plan Trust Deferred Compensation, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2009		(109)
Treasury Stock Transaction					165
Net Income Attributable to Chevron Corporation	19,024						19,024
Cash dividends - common stock							(5,674)
Tax benefit from dividends paid on unallocated ESOP shares and other							2
Currency translation adjustment
Unrealized net change arising during period	6							6
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans
Change to defined benefit plans during year								(167)
Unrealized net holding gain on securities
Change during year (Unrealized net holding gain on securities)	(4)							(4)
Net derivatives gain (loss) on hedge transactions
Change during year (derivatives)								20
Net reduction of ESOP debt and other		38
Benefit Plan Trust (Common Stock)		(240)
Benefit Plan Trust (Common Stock), shares		14,168
Treasury Stock at Cost, Purchases						(775)
Treasury Stock at Cost, Purchases, shares						9,091
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans						532
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans, Shares						(8,850)
Noncontrolling interests	730
Total Equity	105,811
Net derivatives gain (loss) on hedge transactions, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010								103
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	105,081	(311)	0	1,832	14,796	(26,411)	119,641	(4,466)
Unrealized net holding gain on securities, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010								11
Currency Translation Adjustment, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010								(105)
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010								(4,475)
Shares, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010		14,168	0	2,442,677		435,196
Deferred Compensation and Benefit Plan Trust Deferred Compensation, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010		(71)
Treasury Stock Transaction					360
Net Income Attributable to Chevron Corporation	26,895						26,895
Cash dividends - common stock							(6,139)
Tax benefit from dividends paid on unallocated ESOP shares and other							2
Currency translation adjustment
Unrealized net change arising during period	17							17
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans
Change to defined benefit plans during year								(1,581)
Unrealized net holding gain on securities
Change during year (Unrealized net holding gain on securities)	(11)							(11)
Net derivatives gain (loss) on hedge transactions
Change during year (derivatives)								19
Net reduction of ESOP debt and other		13
Benefit Plan Trust (Common Stock)		(240)
Benefit Plan Trust (Common Stock), shares		14,168
Treasury Stock at Cost, Purchases						(4,262)
Treasury Stock at Cost, Purchases, shares						42,424
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans						988
Issuances - mainly employee benefit plans, Shares						(16,110)
Noncontrolling interests	799
Total Equity	122,181
Net derivatives gain (loss) on hedge transactions, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011								122
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	121,382	(298)	0	1,832	15,156	(29,685)	140,399	(6,022)
Unrealized net holding gain on securities, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011								0
Currency Translation Adjustment, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011								(88)
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011								(6,056)
Shares, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011		14,168	0	2,442,677		461,510
Deferred Compensation and Benefit Plan Trust Deferred Compensation, Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011		$ (58)