8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 3, 2012 (May 3, 2012)

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

Oklahoma	1-13726	73-1395733
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File No.)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

6100 North Western Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	73118
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(405) 848-8000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

*           Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

*           Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

*           Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

*           Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Section 8 – Other Events

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On May 3, 2012, Chesapeake Energy Corporation issued a press release confirming that the company and its Chairman and CEO, Aubrey K. McClendon, have been notified by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that its Fort Worth Regional Office has commenced an informal inquiry and requested that the company and Mr. McClendon retain certain documents. The SEC noted in its request, which was received yesterday, that its inquiry should not be construed as an indication that any violation of the federal securities laws has occurred.  The company and Mr. McClendon intend to cooperate with the SEC in responding to its inquiry.  A copy of this press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report.

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)Exhibits.  See "Exhibit Index" attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated by reference herein.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
By:	/s/ JENNIFER M. GRIGSBY
	Jennifer M. Grigsby Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary

Date:           May 3, 2012

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Document Description
99.1	Chesapeake Energy Corporation press release dated May 3, 2012

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 3, 2012

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION CONFIRMS SEC INFORMAL INQUIRY

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, MAY 3, 2012 – Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK) today confirmed that the company and its Chairman and CEO, Aubrey K. McClendon, have been notified by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that its Fort Worth Regional Office has commenced an informal inquiry and requested that the company and Mr. McClendon retain certain documents. The SEC noted in its request, which was received yesterday, that its inquiry should not be construed as an indication that any violation of the federal securities laws has occurred.  The company and Mr. McClendon intend to cooperate with the SEC in responding to its inquiry.

Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK) is the second-largest producer of natural gas, a Top 15 producer of oil and natural gas liquids and the most active driller of new wells in the U.S.  Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the company's operations are focused on discovering and developing unconventional natural gas and oil fields onshore in the U.S.  Chesapeake owns leading positions in the Barnett, Haynesville, Bossier, Marcellus and Pearsall natural gas shale plays and in the Eagle Ford, Utica, Granite Wash, Cleveland, Tonkawa, Mississippi Lime, Bone Spring, Avalon, Wolfcamp, Wolfberry and Niobrara unconventional liquids plays.  The company has also vertically integrated its operations and owns substantial marketing, midstream and oilfield services businesses directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries Chesapeake Energy Marketing Inc., Chesapeake Midstream Development, L.P. and Chesapeake Oilfield Services, L.L.C. and its affiliate Chesapeake Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:CHKM).  Further information is available at www.chk.com where Chesapeake routinely posts announcements, updates, events, investor information, presentations and news releases.

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" that give Chesapeake's current expectations.  Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance they will prove to have been correct.  They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ from the expectation expressed.  We caution you not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release, and we undertake no obligation to update this information.

INVESTOR CONTACTS:		MEDIA CONTACTS:		CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
Jeffrey L. Mobley, CFA	John J. Kilgallon	Michael Kehs	Jim Gipson	6100 North Western Avenue
(405) 767-4763	(405) 935-4441	(405) 935-2560	(405) 935-1310	P.O. Box 18496
jeff.mobley@chk.com	john.kilgallon@chk.com	michael.kehs@chk.com	jim.gipson@chk.com	Oklahoma City, OK 73154