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Operating segments - Summary of non-current assets other than excluded items (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
--- | --- | ---
Disclosure Of Geographical Areas [Line Items] |  |
Non-current assets other than excluded items | $ 71,063 | $ 68,451
Deferred tax assets | 3,395 | 3,728
Other financial assets (including loans to equity accounted units) | 510 | 822
Tax recoverable | 30 | 38
Trade and other receivables | 1,397 | 975
Total non-current assets | 76,554 | 74,177
Quasi equity loans [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Geographical Areas [Line Items] |  |
Quasi equity loans to equity accounted units | 159 | 163
Australia [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Geographical Areas [Line Items] |  |
Non-current assets other than excluded items | 32,890 | 30,602
Deferred tax assets | 1,055 | 1,072
Canada [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Geographical Areas [Line Items] |  |
Non-current assets other than excluded items | 14,640 | 14,362
Deferred tax assets | 546 | 470
Mongolia [Member] |  |
Disclosure Of Geographical Areas [Line Items] |  |
Non-current assets other than excluded items | 8,582 | 7,743
Deferred tax assets | 631 | 441
United States [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Geographical Areas [Line Items] |  |
Non-current assets other than excluded items | 4,812 | 4,958
Deferred tax assets | 877 | 1,239
Africa [Member] |  |
Disclosure Of Geographical Areas [Line Items] |  |
Non-current assets other than excluded items | 3,781 | 3,882
South America [Member] |  |
Disclosure Of Geographical Areas [Line Items] |  |
Non-current assets other than excluded items | 3,304 | 3,785
Indonesia [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Geographical Areas [Line Items] |  |
Non-current assets other than excluded items | 1,458 | 1,482
Europe excluding France and the UK [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Geographical Areas [Line Items] |  |
Non-current assets other than excluded items | 362 | 429
United Kingdom [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Geographical Areas [Line Items] |  |
Non-current assets other than excluded items | 66 | 66
France [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Geographical Areas [Line Items] |  |
Non-current assets other than excluded items | 276 | 251
Deferred tax assets |  | 330
Other countries [member] |  |
Disclosure Of Geographical Areas [Line Items] |  |
Non-current assets other than excluded items | 892 | 891
Deferred tax assets | $ 286 | $ 176

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