| **Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)**        | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 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| **Accounting Policies [Abstract]**                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                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| Consolidation, Policy                                 | The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PDC, our wholly-owned subsidiaries, and our proportionate share of our two affiliated partnerships.  Pursuant to the proportionate consolidation method, our accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include our pro rata share of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the entities which we proportionately consolidate.  All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    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| Basis of Accounting, Policy                           | In our opinion, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of our financial statements for interim periods in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the SEC.  Accordingly, pursuant to such rules and regulations, certain notes and other financial information included in audited financial statements have been condensed or omitted.  The December 31, 2016 condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP.  The information presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2016 Form 10-K.  Our results of operations and cash flows for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any other future period                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Reclassification, Policy                              | .Certain immaterial reclassifications have been made to our prior period statement of operations to conform to the current period presentation. The reclassifications had no impact on previously reported cash flows, net earnings, earnings per share or stockholders' equity.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             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| Recently Issued Accounting Policy [Policy Text Block] | Recently Issued Accounting StandardsIn May 2014, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board issued their converged standard on revenue recognition that provides a single, comprehensive model that entities will apply to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is recognized.  The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.  The standard outlines a five-step approach to apply the underlying principle: (1) identify the contract with the customer, (2) identify the separate performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to separate performance obligations, and (5) recognize revenue when or as each performance obligation is satisfied.   In March 2016, the FASB issued an update to the standard intended to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations when recognizing revenue.  In December 2016, the FASB issued technical corrections and improvements to the standard.  The revenue standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period.  The revenue standard can be adopted under the full retrospective method or simplified transition method.  Entities are permitted to adopt the revenue standard early, beginning with annual reporting periods after December 15, 2016.  We are in the process of assessing potential impacts of the new standard on our existing revenue recognition criteria, as well as on related revenue recognition disclosures.In February 2016, the FASB issued an accounting update aimed at increasing the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about related leasing arrangements.  For leases with terms of more than 12 months, the accounting update requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability for its right to use the underlying asset and the corresponding lease obligation.  Both the lease asset and liability will initially be measured at the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term.  Subsequent measurement, including the presentation of expenses and cash flows, will depend upon the classification of the lease as either a finance or operating lease.  The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted, and is to be applied as of the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach.  We are in the process of assessing the impact these changes may have on our consolidated financial statements.In August 2016, the FASB issued an accounting update on statements of cash flows to address diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows.  The update addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice.  The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted.  We are currently evaluating the impact these changes may have on our consolidated financial statements.In November 2016, the FASB issued an accounting update on statements of cash flows to address diversity in practice in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash.  The accounting update requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents.  Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts shown on the statement of cash flows.  The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted.  We are currently evaluating the impact these changes may have on our consolidated financial statements.In January 2017, the FASB issued an accounting update to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill.  The update eliminates the two-step process that required identification of potential impairment and a separate measure of actual impairment.  The annual and/or interim assessments are still required to be completed.  The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted.  We elected to early adopt this standard in the second quarter of 2017 and will implement the new guidance accordingly in performing impairment testing in 2017.  Our annual evaluation of goodwill for impairment is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2017, at which time we will apply this accounting update and the impact can be determined. In May 2017, the FASB issued an accounting update clarifying when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification.  The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted.  Adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements. |
| Earnings Per Share, Policy                            | Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  Diluted earnings per share is similarly computed, except that the denominator includes the effect, using the treasury stock method, of unvested restricted stock, outstanding SARs, stock options, convertible notes, and shares held pursuant to our non-employee director deferred compensation plan, if including such potential shares of common stock is dilutive.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  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Disclosure of accounting policy for basis of accounting, or basis of presentation, used to prepare the financial statements (for example, US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting, IFRS).
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Disclosure of accounting policy regarding (1) the principles it follows in consolidating or combining the separate financial statements, including the principles followed in determining the inclusion or exclusion of subsidiaries or other entities in the consolidated or combined financial statements and (2) its treatment of interests (for example, common stock, a partnership interest or other means of exerting influence) in other entities, for example consolidation or use of the equity or cost methods of accounting.  The accounting policy may also address the accounting treatment for intercompany accounts and transactions, noncontrolling interest, and the income statement treatment in consolidation for issuances of stock by a subsidiary.
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The entire disclosure for a new accounting pronouncement that has been issued but not yet adopted.
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Disclosure of accounting policy for computing basic and diluted earnings or loss per share for each class of common stock and participating security. Addresses all significant policy factors, including any antidilutive items that have been excluded from the computation and takes into account stock dividends, splits and reverse splits that occur after the balance sheet date of the latest reporting period but before the issuance of the financial statements.
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Disclosure of accounting policy for reclassifications that affects the comparability of the financial statements.
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