Schedule Of Other Long-Term Liabilities (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 Property	Dec. 31, 2010 Property	Dec. 31, 2009 Property	Sep. 30, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other current liabilities	$ 3,397			$ 3,097
Other long-term liabilities	818			997
Number of real estate surface assets financed			113
Leased amount			145
Lease agreement contractual term, years			40 years
Net proceeds from lease			54
Number of real estate surface assets repurchased	1	2
Floating rate basis points			2.75%
Mortgage Term				five-year
Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net proceeds from lease			15
Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net proceeds from lease			27
Chk Utica
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other current liabilities	10			17
Other long-term liabilities	300			296
CHK C-T
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Other current liabilities				15
Other long-term liabilities				$ 182