CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	PAID-IN CAPITAL	RETAINED EARNINGS	ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	TREASURY STOCK - COMMON	Parent	NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2010		$ 3,065	$ 7	$ 12,194	$ 190	$ (168)	$ (24)		$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Exchange of 0 and 3,000 shares of preferred stock for common stock		(3)
Stock-based compensation				120
Exchange of 0 and 3,000 shares of preferred stock for common stock				3
Purchase of contingent convertible notes				(123)
Reduction in tax benefit from stock-based compensation				(5)
Dividends on common stock				(48)
Dividends on preferred stock	(128)			(15)	(113)
Exercise of stock options				2
Net income (loss) attributable to Chesapeake	1,269				1,269
Dividends on common stock					(112)
Hedging activity						66
Investment activity						(4)
Purchase of 357,565 and 191,153 shares for company benefit plans							(5)
Release of 49,591 and 74,004 shares from company benefit plans							2
Sales of noncontrolling interests									0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0								0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners									0
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2011	16,298	3,062		12,128	1,234	(106)	(27)	16,298	0
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2011	17,961	3,062	7	12,146	1,608	(166)	(33)		1,337
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Exchange of 0 and 3,000 shares of preferred stock for common stock		0
Stock-based compensation				116
Exchange of 0 and 3,000 shares of preferred stock for common stock				0
Purchase of contingent convertible notes				0
Reduction in tax benefit from stock-based compensation				(18)
Dividends on common stock				0
Dividends on preferred stock	(128)			0	(128)
Exercise of stock options				2
Net income (loss) attributable to Chesapeake	(1,069)				(1,069)
Dividends on common stock					(170)
Hedging activity						(15)
Investment activity						(7)
Purchase of 357,565 and 191,153 shares for company benefit plans							(9)
Release of 49,591 and 74,004 shares from company benefit plans							1
Sales of noncontrolling interests									1,056
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(131)								131
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners									(160)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 17,691	$ 3,062		$ 12,246	$ 241	$ (188)	$ (41)	$ 15,327	$ 2,364