| **Document and Entity Information**         | May 07, 2020                            |
|---------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| **Cover page.**                             |                                    |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | DE                                      |
| Title of 12(b) Security                     | Common stock, par value $0.01 per share |
| Security Exchange Name                      | NASDAQ                                  |
| Entity Tax Identification Number            | 95-2636730                              |
| Entity Address, State or Province           | CO                                      |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code             | 80203                                   |
| City Area Code                              | 303                                     |
| Local Phone Number                          | 860-5800                                |
| Written Communications                      | false                                   |
| Entity Registrant Name                      | PDC Energy, Inc.                        |
| Entity Address, Address Line One            | 1775 Sherman Street                     |
| Entity Address, Address Line Two            | Suite 3000                              |
| Entity Address, City or Town                | Denver                                  |
| Entity Central Index Key                    | 0000077877                              |
| Trading Symbol                              | PDCE                                    |
| Document Type                               | 8-K                                     |
| Document Period End Date                    | May  07,  2020                          |
| Entity File Number                          | 001-37419                               |
| Amendment Flag                              | false                                   |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company              | false                                   |
| Written Communications                      | false                                   |
| Pre-commencement Tender Offer               | false                                   |
| Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer        | false                                   |

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The end date of the period reflected on the cover page if a periodic report. For all other reports and registration statements containing historical data, it is the date up through which that historical data is presented.  If there is no historical data in the report, use the filing date. The format of the date is CCYY-MM-DD.
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The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word 'Other'.
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Address Line 1 such as Attn, Building Name, Street Name
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Name of the state or province.
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A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.
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Commission file number. The field allows up to 17 characters. The prefix may contain 1-3 digits, the sequence number may contain 1-8 digits, the optional suffix may contain 1-4 characters, and the fields are separated with a hyphen.
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The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.
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The Tax Identification Number (TIN), also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a unique 9-digit value assigned by the IRS.
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Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act.
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Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act.
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Title of a 12(b) registered security.
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Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act.
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Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act.
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