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Deferred Taxation - Deferred tax liabilities and assets, prior to offsetting of balances (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [Line Items] |  |
Deferred tax liabilities | $ 6,440 | $ 6,340
Deferred tax assets | (6,207) | (6,947)
Charged/(credited) to the income statement | 695 | (548)
Capital allowances [member] |  |
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [Line Items] |  |
Deferred tax liabilities | 5,208 | 4,937
Deferred tax assets | (579) | (883)
Charged/(credited) to the income statement | 278 | (441)
Unremitted earnings [member] |  |
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [Line Items] |  |
Deferred tax liabilities | 588 | 659
Capitalised interest [member] |  |
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [Line Items] |  |
Deferred tax liabilities | 391 | 403
Unrealised exchange gains (losses) [member] |  |
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [Line Items] |  |
Deferred tax liabilities | 31 | 40
Deferred tax assets | (317) | (342)
Charged/(credited) to the income statement | 36 | 156
Other temporary differences [member] |  |
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [Line Items] |  |
Deferred tax liabilities | 222 | 301
Deferred tax assets | (682) | (548)
Charged/(credited) to the income statement | (235) | 150
Tax losses [member] |  |
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [Line Items] |  |
Deferred tax assets | (2,282) | (2,246)
Charged/(credited) to the income statement | 12 | (122)
Provisions [member] |  |
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [Line Items] |  |
Deferred tax assets | (1,731) | (2,040)
Charged/(credited) to the income statement | 451 | (279)
Post-retirement benefits [member] |  |
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [Line Items] |  |
Deferred tax assets | (616) | (888)
Charged/(credited) to the income statement | 149 | (6)
Tax on unremitted earnings [member] |  |
Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [Line Items] |  |
Charged/(credited) to the income statement | $ 4 | $ (6)

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- Definition The amount of tax expense or income relating to changes in deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, recognised in profit or loss. [Refer: Deferred tax assets; Deferred tax expense (income); Deferred tax liabilities] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 81 -Subparagraph g -Clause ii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=12&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_81_g_ii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Definition The amount of deferred tax assets net of deferred tax liabilities, when the absolute amount of deferred tax assets is greater than the absolute amount of deferred tax liabilities. [Refer: Deferred tax assets; Deferred tax liabilities] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 81 -Subparagraph g -Clause i -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=12&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_81_g_i&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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- Definition The amount of deferred tax liabilities net of deferred tax assets, when the absolute amount of deferred tax liabilities is greater than the absolute amount of deferred tax assets. [Refer: Deferred tax assets; Deferred tax liabilities] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2016-01-13 -Paragraph 81 -Subparagraph g -Clause i -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=12&date=2016-03-30&anchor=para_81_g_i&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2016-03-31 + Details
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