-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O5/RvVAS4IrHQtcjDgGvf3xGlcuPtvMvRsMpi5FAonZqXZH1Ja4bxr9pdderrYtP
 qiW1lXLAUqsAFtgEqZFTaQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193409-04-000002.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0001193409-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106174259
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193409-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAXWELL CHARLEST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193409

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13726
		FILM NUMBER:		04511161

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6100 NORTH WESTERN AVE
		CITY:			OKLAHOME CITY
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			73118

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000895126
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				731395733
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OK
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6100 N WESTERN AVE
		CITY:			OKLAHOMA CITY
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			73118
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4058488000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6100 NORTH WESTERN AVE
		CITY:			OKLAHOMA CITY
		STATE:			OK
		ZIP:			73118
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000895126</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193409</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MAXWELL CHARLEST</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>33 ORIOLE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRONXVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10708</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.37</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-01-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Jennifer M. Grigsby  For: Charles T. Maxwell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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