| **Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contigencies (Details) (USD $)In Thousands, unless otherwise specified** | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 75,366us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume                                                                                                                                           |
| Dollar Commitment ($ in thousands)                                                                                       | 94,707us-gaap_SignificantSupplyCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted                                                                                                                                                   |
| Appalachiain Basin                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 52,536us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_AppalachiainBasinMember                                                                      |
| Utica Shale                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 22,830us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_UticaShaleMember                                                                             |
| Wattenberg Field                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 12,074us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_WattenbergFieldMember                                                                        |
| First Year Commitment [Member]                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 9,881us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_FirstYearCommitmentMember                                                                              |
| Dollar Commitment ($ in thousands)                                                                                       | 15,526us-gaap_SignificantSupplyCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_FirstYearCommitmentMember                                                                                     |
| First Year Commitment [Member] | Appalachiain Basin                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 7,136us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_AppalachiainBasinMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_FirstYearCommitmentMember         |
| First Year Commitment [Member] | Utica Shale                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 2,745us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_UticaShaleMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_FirstYearCommitmentMember                |
| First Year Commitment [Member] | Wattenberg Field                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 2,017us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_WattenbergFieldMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_FirstYearCommitmentMember           |
| Second Year Commitment [Member]                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 9,854us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_SecondYearCommitmentMember                                                                             |
| Dollar Commitment ($ in thousands)                                                                                       | 17,575us-gaap_SignificantSupplyCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_SecondYearCommitmentMember                                                                                    |
| Second Year Commitment [Member] | Appalachiain Basin                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 7,117us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_AppalachiainBasinMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_SecondYearCommitmentMember        |
| Second Year Commitment [Member] | Utica Shale                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 2,737us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_UticaShaleMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_SecondYearCommitmentMember               |
| Second Year Commitment [Member] | Wattenberg Field                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 2,413us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_WattenbergFieldMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_SecondYearCommitmentMember          |
| Third Year Commitment [Member]                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 9,854us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_ThirdYearCommitmentMember                                                                              |
| Dollar Commitment ($ in thousands)                                                                                       | 16,850us-gaap_SignificantSupplyCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_ThirdYearCommitmentMember                                                                                     |
| Third Year Commitment [Member] | Appalachiain Basin                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 7,117us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_AppalachiainBasinMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_ThirdYearCommitmentMember         |
| Third Year Commitment [Member] | Utica Shale                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 2,737us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_UticaShaleMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_ThirdYearCommitmentMember                |
| Third Year Commitment [Member] | Wattenberg Field                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 2,413us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_WattenbergFieldMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_ThirdYearCommitmentMember           |
| Fourth Year Commitment [Member]                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 9,854us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_FourthYearCommitmentMember                                                                             |
| Dollar Commitment ($ in thousands)                                                                                       | 16,326us-gaap_SignificantSupplyCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_FourthYearCommitmentMember                                                                                    |
| Fourth Year Commitment [Member] | Appalachiain Basin                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 7,117us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_AppalachiainBasinMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_FourthYearCommitmentMember        |
| Fourth Year Commitment [Member] | Utica Shale                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 2,737us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_UticaShaleMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_FourthYearCommitmentMember               |
| Fourth Year Commitment [Member] | Wattenberg Field                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 2,413us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_WattenbergFieldMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_FourthYearCommitmentMember          |
| commitments 5 years and beyond [Member]                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 35,923us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_Commitments5YearsAndBeyondMember                                                                      |
| Dollar Commitment ($ in thousands)                                                                                       | 28,430us-gaap_SignificantSupplyCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_Commitments5YearsAndBeyondMember                                                                              |
| commitments 5 years and beyond [Member] | Appalachiain Basin                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 24,049us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_AppalachiainBasinMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_Commitments5YearsAndBeyondMember |
| commitments 5 years and beyond [Member] | Utica Shale                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 11,874us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_UticaShaleMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_Commitments5YearsAndBeyondMember        |
| commitments 5 years and beyond [Member] | Wattenberg Field                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Oil and Gas Delivery Commitments Volumes (MMcf)                                                                          | 2,818us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume/ invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis= pdce_WattenbergFieldMember/ us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis= pdce_Commitments5YearsAndBeyondMember    |
| Supply Contract Expiration Date [Member] | Appalachiain Basin                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Supply Commitments Contract Expiration Date                                                                              | Aug. 31,  2022                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Supply Contract Expiration Date [Member] | Utica Shale                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Supply Commitments Contract Expiration Date                                                                              | Jul. 22,  2023                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Supply Contract Expiration Date [Member] | Wattenberg Field                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| **Supply Commitment**                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Supply Commitments Contract Expiration Date                                                                              | May 31,  2020                                                                                                                                                                                                              |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Supply Commitments Contract Expiration Date
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_SupplyCommitmentsContractExpirationDate**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**xbrli:dateItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Total amount of product committed to be supplied under existing contracts or agreements.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Industry Guide -Number 2 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph A
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_OilAndGasDeliveryCommitmentsAndContractsRemainingContractualVolume**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**num:volumeItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The floor amount as of the balance sheet date that the entity must expend to satisfy the terms of disclosed arrangements (excluding long-term commitments) in which the entity must commit resources to supply goods or services to one or more customers.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 25 -Article 5Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 19 -Article 7Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 17 -Article 9Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a)(19)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_SignificantSupplyCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis=pdce_AppalachiainBasinMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis=pdce_UticaShaleMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**invest_InvestmentGeographicRegionAxis=pdce_WattenbergFieldMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis=pdce_Commitments5YearsAndBeyondMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis=pdce_FirstYearCommitmentMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis=pdce_FourthYearCommitmentMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis=pdce_SecondYearCommitmentMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis=pdce_SupplyContractExpirationDateMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_SupplyCommitmentAxis=pdce_ThirdYearCommitmentMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |