Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Balance Sheets Table (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 5	$ 882
Other current assets	1,520
Intercompany receivable, net	0
Total Current Assets	1,525	2,142
Oil and natural gas properties at cost, based on full cost accounting, net	9,350
Other property and equipment, net	1,314	1,421
Property and equipment held for sale, net	16	29
Total Property and Equipment, Net	10,680	10,609
Other long-term assets	220	277
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany advances	0
TOTAL ASSETS	12,425	13,028
Current liabilities	2,356
Intercompany payable, net	0
Total Current Liabilities	2,356	3,648
Long-term debt, net	9,921	9,938
Other long-term liabilities	520
Total Long-Term Liabilities	10,441	10,583
Chesapeake stockholders’ equity	(496)	(1,331)
Noncontrolling interests	124	128
Total Equity (Deficit)	(372)	(1,203)	$ 2,397
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	12,425	$ 13,028
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	(3)
Other current assets	(1)
Intercompany receivable, net	(9,133)
Total Current Assets	(9,137)
Oil and natural gas properties at cost, based on full cost accounting, net	0
Other property and equipment, net	0
Property and equipment held for sale, net	0
Total Property and Equipment, Net	0
Other long-term assets	0
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany advances	(660)
TOTAL ASSETS	(9,797)
Current liabilities	(4)
Intercompany payable, net	(9,133)
Total Current Liabilities	(9,137)
Long-term debt, net	0
Other long-term liabilities	0
Total Long-Term Liabilities	0
Chesapeake stockholders’ equity	(660)
Noncontrolling interests	0
Total Equity (Deficit)	(660)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	(9,797)
Parent Company [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	5
Other current assets	154
Intercompany receivable, net	8,697
Total Current Assets	8,856
Oil and natural gas properties at cost, based on full cost accounting, net	435
Other property and equipment, net	0
Property and equipment held for sale, net	0
Total Property and Equipment, Net	435
Other long-term assets	52
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany advances	806
TOTAL ASSETS	10,149
Current liabilities	190
Intercompany payable, net	433
Total Current Liabilities	623
Long-term debt, net	9,921
Other long-term liabilities	101
Total Long-Term Liabilities	10,022
Chesapeake stockholders’ equity	(496)
Noncontrolling interests	0
Total Equity (Deficit)	(496)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	10,149
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	1
Other current assets	1,364
Intercompany receivable, net	436
Total Current Assets	1,801
Oil and natural gas properties at cost, based on full cost accounting, net	8,888
Other property and equipment, net	1,314
Property and equipment held for sale, net	16
Total Property and Equipment, Net	10,218
Other long-term assets	168
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany advances	(146)
TOTAL ASSETS	12,041
Current liabilities	2,168
Intercompany payable, net	8,648
Total Current Liabilities	10,816
Long-term debt, net	0
Other long-term liabilities	419
Total Long-Term Liabilities	419
Chesapeake stockholders’ equity	806
Noncontrolling interests	0
Total Equity (Deficit)	806
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	12,041
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	2
Other current assets	3
Intercompany receivable, net	0
Total Current Assets	5
Oil and natural gas properties at cost, based on full cost accounting, net	27
Other property and equipment, net	0
Property and equipment held for sale, net	0
Total Property and Equipment, Net	27
Other long-term assets	0
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany advances	0
TOTAL ASSETS	32
Current liabilities	2
Intercompany payable, net	52
Total Current Liabilities	54
Long-term debt, net	0
Other long-term liabilities	0
Total Long-Term Liabilities	0
Chesapeake stockholders’ equity	(146)
Noncontrolling interests	124
Total Equity (Deficit)	(22)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 32