Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefit Plans - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent	75.00%
Deferred Bonus [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent	100.00%
Chesapeake Energy Corporation Savings and Incentive Stock Bonus Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount	$ 39,000,000	$ 52,000,000	$ 61,000,000
Chesapeake Energy Corporation Savings and Incentive Stock Bonus Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match			15.00%
DC Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match	15.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount	$ 9,000,000	$ 11,000,000	$ 7,000,000
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay	100.00%
Description of Defined Contribution Pension and Other Postretirement Plans	55
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Requisite Service Period	5 years
DC Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Top wage earners percentage of employees eligible to participate	10.00%
DC Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Salaries, Wages and Officers' Compensation	$ 150,000