Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefit Plans Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent	75.00%
Chesapeake Energy Corporation Savings and Incentive Stock Bonus Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount	$ 35,000,000	$ 39,000,000	$ 52,000,000
DC Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match	15.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount	$ 8,000,000	$ 9,000,000	$ 11,000,000
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay	100.00%
Defined Contribution Plan, Description	55
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Requisite Service Period	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Chesapeake Energy Corporation Savings and Incentive Stock Bonus Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Match	15.00%
Maximum [Member] | DC Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Top wage earners percentage of employees eligible to participate	10.00%
Minimum [Member] | DC Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Salaries, Wages and Officers' Compensation	$ 150,000
Deferred Bonus [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent	100.00%