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Intangible assets - Summary of intangible assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | $ 3,119 | $ 3,279 |
Adjustment on currency translation | (245) | 216 |
Expenditure during the year | 174 | 122 |
Amortisation for the year | (133) | (177) | $ (227)
Impairment charges | (2) | (357) |
Disposals, transfers and other movements | (134) | 36 |
Intangible assets at end of period | 2,779 | 3,119 | 3,279
Cost [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 7,857 |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | 7,215 | 7,857 |
Accumulated amortisation and impairment [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | (4,738) |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | (4,436) | (4,738) |
Exploration and evaluation [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 393 | 711 |
Adjustment on currency translation | (25) | 27 |
Expenditure during the year | 90 | 57 |
Impairment charges |  | (357) |
Disposals, transfers and other movements | (225) | (45) |
Intangible assets at end of period | 233 | 393 | 711
Exploration and evaluation [member] | Cost [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 2,658 |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | 2,346 | 2,658 |
Exploration and evaluation [member] | Accumulated amortisation and impairment [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | (2,265) |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | (2,113) | (2,265) |
Trademarks, patented and non-patented technology [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 75 | 78 |
Adjustment on currency translation | (3) | 10 |
Expenditure during the year | 1 |  |
Amortisation for the year | (14) | (13) |
Intangible assets at end of period | 59 | 75 | 78
Trademarks, patented and non-patented technology [member] | Cost [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 224 |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | 217 | 224 |
Trademarks, patented and non-patented technology [member] | Accumulated amortisation and impairment [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | (149) |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | (158) | (149) |
Contract based intangible assets [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 2,188 | 2,103 |
Adjustment on currency translation | (171) | 150 |
Amortisation for the year | (23) | (67) |
Disposals, transfers and other movements | (12) | 2 |
Intangible assets at end of period | 1,982 | 2,188 | 2,103
Contract based intangible assets [member] | Cost [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 3,438 |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | 3,114 | 3,438 |
Contract based intangible assets [member] | Accumulated amortisation and impairment [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | (1,250) |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | (1,132) | (1,250) |
Other intangible assets [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 463 | 387 |
Adjustment on currency translation | (46) | 29 |
Expenditure during the year | 83 | 65 |
Amortisation for the year | (96) | (97) |
Impairment charges | (2) |  |
Disposals, transfers and other movements | 103 | 79 |
Intangible assets at end of period | 505 | 463 | $ 387
Other intangible assets [Member] | Cost [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 1,537 |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | 1,538 | 1,537 |
Other intangible assets [Member] | Accumulated amortisation and impairment [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | (1,074) |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | $ (1,033) | $ (1,074) |

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- Definition The decrease in intangible assets other than goodwill resulting from disposals. [Refer: Intangible assets other than goodwill] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 38 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 118 -Subparagraph e -Clause ii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=38&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_118_e_ii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The increase (decrease) in intangible assets other than goodwill resulting from net exchange differences arising on the translation of the financial statements from the functional currency into a different presentation currency, including the translation of a foreign operation into the presentation currency of the reporting entity. [Refer: Intangible assets other than goodwill] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 38 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 118 -Subparagraph e -Clause vii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=38&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_118_e_vii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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