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Intangible assets - Summary of intangible assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | $ 2,779 | $ 3,119 |
Adjustment on currency translation | 71 | (245) |
Expenditure during the year | 91 | 174 |
Amortisation for the year | (133) | (133) | $ (177)
Impairment charges | (1) | (2) |
Disposals, transfers and other movements | (170) | (134) |
Intangible assets at end of period | 2,637 | 2,779 | 3,119
Cost [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 7,215 |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | 7,038 | 7,215 |
Accumulated amortisation and impairment [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | (4,436) |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | (4,401) | (4,436) |
Exploration and evaluation |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 233 | 393 |
Adjustment on currency translation | (1) | (25) |
Expenditure during the year | 57 | 90 |
Amortisation for the year | 0 | 0 |
Impairment charges | 0 | 0 |
Disposals, transfers and other movements | (116) | (225) |
Intangible assets at end of period | 173 | 233 | 393
Exploration and evaluation | Cost [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 2,346 |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | 2,306 | 2,346 |
Exploration and evaluation | Accumulated amortisation and impairment [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | (2,113) |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | (2,133) | (2,113) |
Trademarks, patented and non-patented technology |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 59 | 75 |
Adjustment on currency translation | (1) | (3) |
Expenditure during the year | 0 | 1 |
Amortisation for the year | (14) | (14) |
Impairment charges | 0 | 0 |
Disposals, transfers and other movements | 0 | 0 |
Intangible assets at end of period | 44 | 59 | 75
Trademarks, patented and non-patented technology | Cost [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 217 |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | 214 | 217 |
Trademarks, patented and non-patented technology | Accumulated amortisation and impairment [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | (158) |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | (170) | (158) |
Contract based intangible assets |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 1,982 | 2,188 |
Adjustment on currency translation | 74 | (171) |
Expenditure during the year | 0 | 0 |
Amortisation for the year | (8) | (23) |
Impairment charges | 0 | 0 |
Disposals, transfers and other movements | (101) | (12) |
Intangible assets at end of period | 1,947 | 1,982 | 2,188
Contract based intangible assets | Cost [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 3,114 |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | 3,002 | 3,114 |
Contract based intangible assets | Accumulated amortisation and impairment [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | (1,132) |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | (1,055) | (1,132) |
Other intangible assets |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 505 | 463 |
Adjustment on currency translation | (1) | (46) |
Expenditure during the year | 34 | 83 |
Amortisation for the year | (111) | (96) |
Impairment charges | (1) | (2) |
Disposals, transfers and other movements | 47 | 103 |
Intangible assets at end of period | 473 | 505 | $ 463
Other intangible assets | Cost [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | 1,538 |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | 1,516 | 1,538 |
Other intangible assets | Accumulated amortisation and impairment [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets at beginning of period | (1,033) |  |
Intangible assets at end of period | $ (1,043) | $ (1,033) |

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- Definition The amount of additions to intangible assets other than goodwill, other than those acquired through business combinations. [Refer: Business combinations [member]; Intangible assets other than goodwill] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 38 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 118 -Subparagraph e -Clause i -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=38&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_118_e_i&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The amount of amortisation of intangible assets other than goodwill. [Refer: Depreciation and amortisation expense; Intangible assets other than goodwill] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 38 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 118 -Subparagraph e -Clause vi -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=38&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_118_e_vi&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + 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 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 118 -Subparagraph e -Clause vii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=38&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_118_e_vii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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