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Taxation - Summary of prima facie tax reconciliation (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Reconciliation Of Accounting Profit Multiplied By Applicable Tax Rates [Abstract]      
Profit/(loss) before taxation $ 12,816 $ 6,343 $ (726)
Deduct: share of profit after tax of equity accounted units (339) (321) (361)
Parent companies' and subsidiaries' profit/(loss) before tax 12,477 6,022 (1,087)
Prima facie tax payable/(receivable) at UK rate of 19 per cent (2016: 20 per cent; 2015: 20 per cent) 2,371 1,204 (217)
Higher rate of taxation on Australian underlying earnings 1,069 604 506
Impact of items excluded in arriving at underlying earnings      
– Impairment charges net of reversals 10 (16) 615
– Gains and losses on disposal of businesses (123) 30 (11)
– Exchange and gains/losses on derivatives (48) (33) 481
– Onerous port and rail contracts   (46)  
– Closure provision for legacy operations   (40)  
– Tax provision   380  
– Adjustment to deferred tax assets relating to expected divestments 202   (250)
– Other exclusions 14 (48) (17)
– Changes in corporate tax rates in the US and France 439    
Impact of changes in tax rates and laws 21 (9) (3)
Other tax rates applicable outside the UK and Australia on underlying earnings (92) (283) (68)
Resource depletion and other depreciation allowances (33) (15) (15)
Research, development and other investment allowances (13) (15) (21)
Recognition of previously unrecognised deferred tax assets (40) (154) (40)
Write-down of previously recognised deferred tax assets 160    
Unrecognised current year operating losses 26 25 45
Other items 2 (17) (12)
Taxation charge $ 3,965 $ 1,567 $ 993