Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 4	$ 5	$ 882	$ 825
Other current assets	1,594	1,520
Intercompany receivable, net	0	0
Total Current Assets	1,598	1,525
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Oil and natural gas properties at cost, based on full cost accounting, net	7,924	9,350
Other property and equipment, net	1,091	1,314
Property and equipment held for sale, net	15	16
Total Property and Equipment, Net	9,030	10,680
LONG-TERM ASSETS:
Other long-term assets	319	220
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany advances	0	0
TOTAL ASSETS	10,947	12,425
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current liabilities	2,828	2,356
Intercompany payable, net	0	0
Total Current Liabilities	2,828	2,356
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt, net	7,341	9,921
Other long-term liabilities	311	520
Total Long-Term Liabilities	7,652	10,441
EQUITY:
Chesapeake stockholders’ equity	344	(496)
Noncontrolling interests	123	124
Total Equity (Deficit)	467	(372)	(1,203)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	10,947	12,425
Eliminations [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	(2)	(3)	(25)
Other current assets	0	(1)
Intercompany receivable, net	(6,301)	(9,133)
Total Current Assets	(6,303)	(9,137)
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Oil and natural gas properties at cost, based on full cost accounting, net	0	0
Other property and equipment, net	0	0
Property and equipment held for sale, net	0	0
Total Property and Equipment, Net	0	0
LONG-TERM ASSETS:
Other long-term assets	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany advances	(1,403)	(660)
TOTAL ASSETS	(7,706)	(9,797)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current liabilities	(2)	(4)
Intercompany payable, net	(6,301)	(9,133)
Total Current Liabilities	(6,303)	(9,137)
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt, net	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total Long-Term Liabilities	0	0
EQUITY:
Chesapeake stockholders’ equity	(1,403)	(660)
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total Equity (Deficit)	(1,403)	(660)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	(7,706)	(9,797)
Parent [Member] | Reportable legal entities [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	4	5	904
Other current assets	60	154
Intercompany receivable, net	6,098	8,697
Total Current Assets	6,162	8,856
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Oil and natural gas properties at cost, based on full cost accounting, net	598	435
Other property and equipment, net	0	0
Property and equipment held for sale, net	0	0
Total Property and Equipment, Net	598	435
LONG-TERM ASSETS:
Other long-term assets	26	52
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany advances	1,500	806
TOTAL ASSETS	8,286	10,149
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current liabilities	523	190
Intercompany payable, net	25	433
Total Current Liabilities	548	623
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt, net	7,341	9,921
Other long-term liabilities	53	101
Total Long-Term Liabilities	7,394	10,022
EQUITY:
Chesapeake stockholders’ equity	344	(496)
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total Equity (Deficit)	344	(496)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	8,286	10,149
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable legal entities [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	1	1	2
Other current assets	1,532	1,364
Intercompany receivable, net	203	436
Total Current Assets	1,736	1,801
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Oil and natural gas properties at cost, based on full cost accounting, net	7,302	8,888
Other property and equipment, net	1,091	1,314
Property and equipment held for sale, net	15	16
Total Property and Equipment, Net	8,408	10,218
LONG-TERM ASSETS:
Other long-term assets	293	168
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany advances	(97)	(146)
TOTAL ASSETS	10,340	12,041
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current liabilities	2,306	2,168
Intercompany payable, net	6,276	8,648
Total Current Liabilities	8,582	10,816
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt, net	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	258	419
Total Long-Term Liabilities	258	419
EQUITY:
Chesapeake stockholders’ equity	1,500	806
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total Equity (Deficit)	1,500	806
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	10,340	12,041
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable legal entities [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	1	2	$ 1
Other current assets	2	3
Intercompany receivable, net	0	0
Total Current Assets	3	5
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Oil and natural gas properties at cost, based on full cost accounting, net	24	27
Other property and equipment, net	0	0
Property and equipment held for sale, net	0	0
Total Property and Equipment, Net	24	27
LONG-TERM ASSETS:
Other long-term assets	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany advances	0	0
TOTAL ASSETS	27	32
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current liabilities	1	2
Intercompany payable, net	0	52
Total Current Liabilities	1	54
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt, net	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total Long-Term Liabilities	0	0
EQUITY:
Chesapeake stockholders’ equity	(97)	(146)
Noncontrolling interests	123	124
Total Equity (Deficit)	26	(22)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 27	$ 32