| **Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)**                                                      | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                             | 0 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **Reconciliation of Weighted-Average Diluted Shares Outstanding**                             |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic                                            | 36,349,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic                                                                                            | 35,690,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic                                                                                               |   |
| Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding - Diluted                                       | 36,981,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding                                                                                          | 35,690,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding                                                                                             |   |
| **Anti-dilutive Effect**                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount               | 62,000us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount                                                                        | 1,551,000us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount                                                                        |   |
| Restricted stock                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| **Reconciliation of Weighted-Average Diluted Shares Outstanding**                             |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Share-based Payment Arrangements | 226,000us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember                    | 0us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember                             |   |
| **Anti-dilutive Effect**                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount               | 51,000us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember                  | 832,000us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember                    |   |
| SARs                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| **Reconciliation of Weighted-Average Diluted Shares Outstanding**                             |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Share-based Payment Arrangements | 60,000us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= pdce_StockAppreciationRightsMember                | 0us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= pdce_StockAppreciationRightsMember                        |   |
| **Anti-dilutive Effect**                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount               | 11,000us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= pdce_StockAppreciationRightsMember             | 97,000us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= pdce_StockAppreciationRightsMember                |   |
| Stock options                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| **Reconciliation of Weighted-Average Diluted Shares Outstanding**                             |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Share-based Payment Arrangements | 1,000us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember                  | 0us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember                         |   |
| **Anti-dilutive Effect**                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount               | 0us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember                   | 3,000us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember                  |   |
| Non employee director deferred compensation                                                   |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| **Reconciliation of Weighted-Average Diluted Shares Outstanding**                             |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Share-based Payment Arrangements | 6,000us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= pdce_NonEmployeeDirectorDeferredCompensationMember | 0us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= pdce_NonEmployeeDirectorDeferredCompensationMember        |   |
| **Anti-dilutive Effect**                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount               | 0us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= pdce_NonEmployeeDirectorDeferredCompensationMember  | 5,000us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= pdce_NonEmployeeDirectorDeferredCompensationMember |   |
| Convertible senior note                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| **Reconciliation of Weighted-Average Diluted Shares Outstanding**                             |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Share-based Payment Arrangements | 339,000us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= pdce_A325ConvertibleNoteMember                   | 0us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= pdce_A325ConvertibleNoteMember                            |   |
| **Anti-dilutive Effect**                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount               | 0us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= pdce_A325ConvertibleNoteMember                      | 614,000us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis= pdce_A325ConvertibleNoteMember                   |   |
| 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016                                                       |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| **Convertible Senior Note Due 2016**                                                          |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          |   |
| 3.25% Convertible Note, Shares To Be Received Upon Conversion                                 |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          | 2,700,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleNumberOfEquityInstruments/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember |
| 3.25% Convertible Note, Conversion Price                                                      |                                                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                          | $ 42.40us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember |

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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.
+ References
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument.
+ References
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The number of equity instruments that the holder of the debt instrument would receive if the debt was converted to equity.
+ References
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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.
+ References
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.
+ References
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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.
+ References
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