Drilling and Completion Costs Associated to Joint Ventures (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash Proceeds Received at Closing	$ 7,100
Total Drilling Carries	9,036
Total Cash and Drilling Carry Proceeds	16,136
Drilling Carries Remaining	1,870	[1]
Utica
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Joint Venture Partner	TOT	[2]
Joint Venture Date	December 2011
Interest Sold	25.00%
Cash Proceeds Received at Closing	610
Total Drilling Carries	1,422
Total Cash and Drilling Carry Proceeds	2,032
Drilling Carries Remaining	1,351	[1]
Niobrara
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Joint Venture Partner	CNOOC	[2]
Joint Venture Date	February 2011
Interest Sold	33.30%
Cash Proceeds Received at Closing	570
Total Drilling Carries	697
Total Cash and Drilling Carry Proceeds	1,267
Drilling Carries Remaining	519	[1]
Eagle Ford
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Joint Venture Partner	CNOOC	[2]
Joint Venture Date	November 2010
Interest Sold	33.30%
Cash Proceeds Received at Closing	1,120
Total Drilling Carries	1,080
Total Cash and Drilling Carry Proceeds	2,200
Barnett Shale
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Joint Venture Partner	TOT	[2]
Joint Venture Date	January 2010
Interest Sold	25.00%
Cash Proceeds Received at Closing	800
Total Drilling Carries	1,404	[3]
Total Cash and Drilling Carry Proceeds	2,204
Marcellus
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Joint Venture Partner	STO	[2]
Joint Venture Date	November 2008
Interest Sold	32.50%
Cash Proceeds Received at Closing	1,250
Total Drilling Carries	2,125
Total Cash and Drilling Carry Proceeds	3,375
Fayetteville
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Joint Venture Partner	BP	[2]
Joint Venture Date	September 2008
Interest Sold	25.00%
Cash Proceeds Received at Closing	1,100
Total Drilling Carries	800
Total Cash and Drilling Carry Proceeds	1,900
Haynesville & Bossier
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Joint Venture Partner	PXP	[2]
Joint Venture Date	July 2008
Interest Sold	20.00%
Cash Proceeds Received at Closing	1,650
Total Drilling Carries	1,508	[4]
Total Cash and Drilling Carry Proceeds	$ 3,158

[1] As of June 30, 2012. The Utica drilling carries cover 60% of our drilling and completion costs for Utica wells drilled and must be used by December 2018. The Niobrara drilling carries cover 67% of our drilling and completion costs for Niobrara wells drilled and must be used by December 2014. We expect to fully utilize these drilling carry commitments prior to expiration. See Note 4 for further discussion of the Utica drilling carries.

[2] Joint venture partners include Total S.A. (TOT), CNOOC Limited (CNOOC), Statoil (STO), BP America (BP) and Plains Exploration & Production Company (PXP).

[3] In conjunction with an agreement requiring us to maintain our operated rig count at no less than 12 rigs in the Barnett Shale through December 31, 2012, TOT accelerated the payment of its remaining joint venture drilling carry in exchange for an approximate 9% reduction in the total amount of drilling carry obligation owed to us at that time. As a result, in October 2011, we received $471 million in cash from TOT, which included $46 million of drilling carry obligation billed and $425 million for the remaining drilling carry obligation. In January 2012, Chesapeake and TOT agreed to reduce the minimum rig count from 12 to six rigs. In May 2012, Chesapeake and TOT agreed to further reduce the minimum rig count from six to two rigs.

[4] In September 2009, PXP accelerated the payment of its remaining drilling carry in exchange for an approximate 12% reduction to the remaining drilling carry obligation owed to us at that time.