Derivative and Hedging Activities - Fair Value Level 3 Measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net, beginning of period	$ 282
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net, end of period	262
Energy related derivative
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net, beginning of period	282
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net, end of period	262
Future Natural Gas Prices \| Utica Shale \| Energy related derivative
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net, beginning of period	7
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net, end of period	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net, beginning of period	94
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net, end of period	22
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) \| Commodity contract
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net, beginning of period	87	$ (15)
Gains (loses) included in earnings	(64)	(32)
Settlements	(1)	2
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net, end of period	22	(45)
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) \| Commodity contract \| Oil, natural gas and NGL sales
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Gains (loses) included in earnings	(64)	(32)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) related to assets still held at reporting date	(66)	(30)
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) \| Future Natural Gas Prices \| Utica Shale \| Energy related derivative
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net, beginning of period	7	0
Gains (loses) included in earnings	(7)	0
Settlements	0	0
Derivative assets (liabilities), at fair value, net, end of period	0	0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) \| Future Natural Gas Prices \| Utica Shale \| Energy related derivative \| Oil, natural gas and NGL sales
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Gains (loses) included in earnings	(7)	0
Change in unrealized gains (losses) related to assets still held at reporting date	$ (7)	$ 0

Fair values as of the balance sheet date of the net amount of all assets and liabilities resulting from contracts that meet the criteria of being accounted for as derivative instruments.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117331979&loc=d3e41228-113958

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAssetsLiabilitiesAtFairValueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of unrealized gain (loss) recognized in income from asset measured at fair value on recurring basis using unobservable input (level 3) and still held.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income from derivative asset (liability) after deduction of derivative liability (asset), measured at fair value on recurring basis using unobservable input (level 3).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19279-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationGainLossIncludedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of settlements of financial instrument classified as a derivative asset (liability) after deduction of derivative liability, measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19279-110258

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueNetDerivativeAssetLiabilityMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputsReconciliationSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_EnergyRelatedDerivativeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContingentConsiderationByTypeAxis=chk_FutureNaturalGasPricesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=chk_UticaShaleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=chk_OilNaturalGasandNGLSalesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: