Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012 number
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Consolidation net oil and gas property assets	$ 445
Consolidated current liabilities	20
Consolidated cash and cash equivalents	1
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Liabilities	5
Consolidated long-term liabilities	3
Number of Equity Holders	3
Cardinal Gas Services Llc
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Consolidation net oil and gas property assets	121
Consolidated current liabilities	31
Ownership interest	66.00%
Consolidated current assets	14
Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P.
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership interest	46.00%
Utica East Ohio Midstream L.L.C
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership interest	59.00%
Glass Mountain Pipeline Limited Liability Company \| Maximum
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Length of pipeline	210
Glass Mountain Pipeline Limited Liability Company \| Minimum
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Ownership interest	25.00%
Mineral Acquisition Company I, L.P.
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Percentage of acquisition	10.00%
Percentage of royalty minimum	7.00%
Percentage of royalty maximum	22.50%
Mineral Acquisition Company I, L.P. \| Limited Partnership
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Percentage of acquisition	90.00%
Mineral Acquisition Company I, L.P. \| Maximum
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price	25
Mineral Acquisition Company I, L.P. \| Maximum \| Limited Partnership
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price	$ 225

Business Acquisition, Percentage of Interests Acquired

No definition available.

Name:	chk_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfInterestsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	chk_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Length Of Pipeline

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	chk_LengthOfPipeline
Namespace Prefix:	chk_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Equity Holders

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	chk_NumberOfEquityHolders
Namespace Prefix:	chk_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Royalty Rate Lower Limit

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	chk_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Royalty Rate Upper Limit

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	chk_RoyaltyRateUpperLimit
Namespace Prefix:	chk_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Variable Interest Entity Consolidated Carrying Amount Cash And Cash Equivalents

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	chk_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountCashAndCashEquivalents
Namespace Prefix:	chk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Variable Interest Entity Consolidated Carrying Amount Current Assets

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	chk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Variable Interest Entity Consolidated Carrying Amount Current Liabilities

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	chk_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountCurrentLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	chk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Variable Interest Entity Consolidated Carrying Amount Long Term Derivative Assets

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	chk_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountLongTermDerivativeAssets
Namespace Prefix:	chk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (bb)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7880789&loc=d3e5710-111685

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's liabilities included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of the Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) voting interest owned by (or beneficial interest in) the reporting entity (directly or indirectly).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7880789&loc=SL6759159-111685

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration