|**Common Stock (Tables)**                                                                                                | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|**Equity [Abstract]**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Schedule of Compensation Cost for Share-based Payment Arrangements, Allocation of Share-based Compensation Costs by Plan | The following table provides a summary of the impact of our outstanding stock-based compensation plans on the results of operations for the periods presented:Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,2017201620172016(in thousands)Stock-based compensation expense$5,372$6,444$9,826$11,126Income tax benefit(2,010)(2,452)(3,676)(4,233)Net stock-based compensation expense$3,362$3,992$6,150$6,893                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|                                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Stock-based compensation expense                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Income tax benefit                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Net stock-based compensation expense                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions                                              | he Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors awarded SARs to our executive officers during thesixmonths endedJune 30, 2017and 2016.  The fair value of each SAR award was estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes pricing model using the following assumptions:Six Months Ended June 30,20172016Expected term of award (in years)66Risk-free interest rate2.0%1.8%Expected volatility53.3%54.5%Weighted-average grant date fair value per share$38.58$26.96                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|                                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         | Six Months Ended June 30,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|                                                                                                                         | 2017                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Expected term of award (in years)                                                                                        | 6                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Risk-free interest rate                                                                                                  | 2.0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Expected volatility                                                                                                      | 53.3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|Weighted-average grant date fair value per share                                                                         | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Appreciation Rights Award Activity                                           | The following table presents the changes in our SARs for thesixmonths endedJune 30, 2017:Number ofSARsWeighted-AverageExercisePriceAverage Remaining ContractualTerm       (in years)Aggregate IntrinsicValue(in thousands)Outstanding at December 31, 2016244,078$41.366.9$7,620Awarded54,14274.57——Outstanding at June 30, 2017298,22047.397.01,158Exercisable at June 30, 2017186,24839.385.81,093                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|                                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         | Number ofSARs                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Outstanding at December 31, 2016                                                                                         | 244,078                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Awarded                                                                                                                  | 54,142                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Outstanding at June 30, 2017                                                                                             | 298,220                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Exercisable at June 30, 2017                                                                                             | 186,248                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity                               | The following table presents the changes in non-vested time-based awards to all employees, including executive officers, for thesixmonths endedJune 30, 2017:SharesWeighted-AverageGrant DateFair ValueNon-vested at December 31, 2016479,642$56.09Granted248,94667.02Vested(202,427)56.43Forfeited(5,311)67.20Non-vested at June 30, 2017520,85061.06The following table presents the weighted-average grant date fair value per share and related information as of/for the periods presented:As of/Six Months Ended June 30,20172016(in thousands, except per share data)Total intrinsic value of time-based awards vested$13,103$13,314Total intrinsic value of time-based awards non-vested22,45431,506Market price per common share as of June 30,43.1157.61Weighted-average grant date fair value per share67.0257.11                                                                                                                                         
|                                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         | Shares                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Non-vested at December 31, 2016                                                                                          | 479,642                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Granted                                                                                                                  | 248,946                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Vested                                                                                                                   | (202,427                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Forfeited                                                                                                                | (5,311                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Non-vested at June 30, 2017                                                                                              | 520,850                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         | As of/Six Months Ended June 30,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         | 2017                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|                                                                                                                         | (in thousands, except per share data)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Total intrinsic value of time-based awards vested                                                                        | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Total intrinsic value of time-based awards non-vested                                                                    | 22,454                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Market price per common share as of June 30,                                                                             | 43.11                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Weighted-average grant date fair value per share                                                                         | 67.02                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Restricted Stock Awards, Market-Based, Valuation assumptions                                                             | he Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors awarded a total of28,069market-basedrestricted shares to our executive officers during thesixmonths endedJune 30, 2017.  In addition to continuous employment, the vesting of these shares is contingent on our total stockholder return ("TSR"), which is essentially our stock price change including any dividends as compared to the TSR of a group of peer companies.  The shares are measured over a three-year period ending on December 31, 2019, and can result in a payout between0 percentand200 percentof the total shares awarded.  The weighted-average grant date fair value per market-based share for these awards was computed using the Monte Carlo pricing model using the following assumptions:Six Months Ended June 30,20172016Expected term of award (in years)33Risk-free interest rate1.4%1.2%Expected volatility51.4%52.3%Weighted-average grant date fair value per share$94.02$72.54
|                                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         | Six Months Ended June 30,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|                                                                                                                         | 2017                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Expected term of award (in years)                                                                                        | 3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Risk-free interest rate                                                                                                  | 1.4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Expected volatility                                                                                                      | 51.4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|Weighted-average grant date fair value per share                                                                         | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Schedule of Nonvested Performance-based Units Activity                                                                   | The following table presents the change in non-vested market-based awards during thesixmonths endedJune 30, 2017:SharesWeighted-AverageGrant DateFair Value per ShareNon-vested at December 31, 201648,420$64.97Granted28,06994.02Non-vested at June 30, 201776,48975.63The following table presents the weighted-average grant date fair value per share and related information as of/for the periods presented:As of /Six Months Ended June 30,20172016(in thousands, except per share data)Total intrinsic value of market-based awards vested$—$1,174Total intrinsic value of market-based awards non-vested3,2974,871Market price per common share as of June 30,43.1157.61Weighted-average grant date fair value per share94.0272.54                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|                                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Non-vested at December 31, 2016                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Granted                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Non-vested at June 30, 2017                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                        
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                         | As of /Six Months Ended June 30,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|                                                                                                                         | 2017                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|                                                                                                                         | (in thousands, except per share data)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Total intrinsic value of market-based awards vested                                                                      | $                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Total intrinsic value of market-based awards non-vested                                                                  | 3,297                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Market price per common share as of June 30,                                                                             | 43.11                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Weighted-average grant date fair value per share                                                                         | 94.02                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

X- DefinitionRestricted Stock Awards, Market-Based, Valuation assumptions [Table Text Block]
+ ReferencesNo definition available.
+ Details**Name:**
pdce_RestrictedStockAwardsMarketBasedValuationAssumptionsTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**
pdce_**Data Type:**
nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration X- ReferencesNo definition available.
+ Details**Name:**
us-gaap_EquityAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**
us-gaap_**Data Type:**
xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration X- DefinitionTabular disclosure of the amount of total share-based compensation cost, including the amounts attributable to each share-based compensation plan and any related tax benefits.
+ ReferencesReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (h)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901
+ Details**Name:**
us-gaap_ScheduleOfCompensationCostForShareBasedPaymentArrangementsAllocationOfShareBasedCompensationCostsByPlanTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**
us-gaap_**Data Type:**
nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration X- DefinitionTabular disclosure of the changes in outstanding nonvested performance-based units.
+ ReferencesReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901
+ Details**Name:**
us-gaap_ScheduleOfNonvestedPerformanceBasedUnitsActivityTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**
us-gaap_**Data Type:**
nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration X- DefinitionTabular disclosure of the number and weighted-average exercise prices (or conversion ratios) for stock appreciation rights awards that were outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, and the number of stock appreciation rights awards that were granted, exercised or converted, forfeited, and expired during the year.
+ ReferencesReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901
+ Details**Name:**
us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationStockAppreciationRightsAwardActivityTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**
us-gaap_**Data Type:**
nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration X- DefinitionTabular disclosure of the significant assumptions used during the year to estimate the fair value of stock options, including, but not limited to: (a) expected term of share options and similar instruments, (b) expected volatility of the entity's shares, (c) expected dividends, (d) risk-free rate(s), and (e) discount for post-vesting restrictions.
+ ReferencesReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (f)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901
+ Details**Name:**
us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedPaymentAwardStockOptionsValuationAssumptionsTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**
us-gaap_**Data Type:**
nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration X- DefinitionDisclosure of the number and weighted-average grant date fair value for restricted stock and restricted stock units that were outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, and the number of restricted stock and restricted stock units that were granted, vested, or forfeited during the year.
+ ReferencesNo definition available.
+ Details**Name:**
us-gaap_ScheduleOfSharebasedCompensationRestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsActivityTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**
us-gaap_**Data Type:**
nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**
na**Period Type:**
duration