CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Total revenues		$ 5,296	$ 8,595	$ 10,030
Gains (losses) on sales of assets		30	43	(264)
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Severance and ad valorem taxes		149	224	189
General and administrative		267	315	335
Separation and other termination costs		44	12	38
Provision for legal contingencies		27	19	26
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		1,097	2,264	1,737
Impairments		8,535	11	131
Other operating expense		109	92	0
Total Operating Expenses		13,999	8,626	9,648
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS		(8,703)	(31)	382
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense		(331)	(651)	(633)
Gains (losses) on investments		(20)	(71)	139
Gains on purchases or exchanges of debt		65	75	263
Other income		16	39	67
Reorganization items, net		(796)	0	0
Total Other Expense		(1,066)	(608)	(164)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES		(9,769)	(639)	218
Current income taxes		(9)	(26)	0
Deferred income taxes		(10)	(305)	(10)
Total Income Tax Expense (Benefit)		(19)	(331)	(10)
NET INCOME (LOSS)		(9,750)	(308)	228
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		16	0	(2)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHESAPEAKE		(9,734)	(308)	226
Preferred stock dividends		(22)	(91)	(92)
Loss on exchange of preferred stock		0	(17)	0
Earnings allocated to participating securities		0	0	(1)
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS		$ (9,756)	$ (416)	$ 133
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE:
Basic (in usd per share)	[1]	$ (998.26)	$ (49.97)	$ 29.26
Diluted (in usd per share)	[1]	$ (998.26)	$ (49.97)	$ 29.26
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON AND COMMON EQUIVALENT SHARES OUTSTANDING (in thousands):(a)
Basic (in shares)	[1]	9,773	8,325	4,546
Diluted (in shares)	[1]	9,773	8,325	4,546
Oil, Natural Gas and NGL
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Total revenues		$ 3,341	$ 4,522	$ 5,155
Oil, natural gas and NGL production
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of goods and services		373	520	474
Oil, natural gas and NGL gathering, processing and transportation
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of goods and services		1,082	1,082	1,398
Marketing
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Total revenues		1,869	3,967	5,076
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of goods and services		1,889	4,003	5,158
Oil, Natural gas and NGL and Marketing
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Total revenues		5,210	8,489	10,231
Other
REVENUES AND OTHER:
Total revenues		56	63	63
Exploration
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Cost of goods and services		$ 427	$ 84	$ 162

[1] Amounts and shares have been retroactively adjusted to reflect a 1-for-200 (1:200) reverse stock split effective April 14, 2020. See Note 11 for additional information.