Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies, Condensed Consolidated Income Statement Restatements Table (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Provision for legal contingencies	$ 17	$ 71	$ 15	$ 104
Oil, natural gas and NGL depreciation, depletion and amortization	202	277	399	540
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties	0	1,070	0	2,067
Total operating expenses	1,882	3,405	4,394	6,457
Loss from operations	399	(1,783)	640	(2,882)
Loss before income taxes	496	(1,776)	638	(2,844)
Net loss	495	(1,776)	636	(2,844)
Net loss attributable to Chesapeake	494	(1,776)	634	(2,844)
Net loss available to common stockholders	$ 470	$ (1,818)	$ 547	$ (2,929)
Earnings (loss) per common share basic	$ 0.52	$ (2.51)	$ 0.60	$ (4.21)
Earnings (loss) per common share diluted	$ 0.47	$ (2.51)	$ 0.59	$ (4.21)
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Provision for legal contingencies		$ 82		$ 104
Oil, natural gas and NGL depreciation, depletion and amortization		265		536
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties		1,045		1,898
Total operating expenses		3,379		6,284
Loss from operations		(1,757)		(2,709)
Loss before income taxes		(1,750)		(2,671)
Net loss		(1,750)		(2,671)
Net loss attributable to Chesapeake		(1,750)		(2,671)
Net loss available to common stockholders		$ (1,792)		$ (2,756)
Earnings (loss) per common share basic		$ (2.48)		$ (3.97)
Earnings (loss) per common share diluted		$ (2.48)		$ (3.97)
Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Provision for legal contingencies		$ (11)		$ 0
Oil, natural gas and NGL depreciation, depletion and amortization		12		4
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties		25		169
Total operating expenses		26		173
Loss from operations		(26)		(173)
Loss before income taxes		(26)		(173)
Net loss		(26)		(173)
Net loss attributable to Chesapeake		(26)		(173)
Net loss available to common stockholders		$ (26)		$ (173)
Earnings (loss) per common share basic		$ (0.03)		$ (0.24)
Earnings (loss) per common share diluted		$ (0.03)		$ (0.24)