| **Derivative Financial Instruments Additional Information (Details)** | Sep. 30, 2013MBblsMMBTU |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
| **Derivatives in Place for Anticipated Production**                   |                    |
| Anticipated natural gas production hedged (MMBtu)                     | 51,305,000              |
| Anticipated crude oil production hedged (MBbls)                       | 7,735                   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Portion of Anticipated Natural Gas Production Hedged
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_PortionOfAnticipatedNaturalGasProductionHedged**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**num:energyItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The quantity of future oil and gas production being hedged.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 360 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 12.D.3(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27015634&loc=d3e516453-122869Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 12 -Section D -Paragraph b -Subsection 3
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_PortionOfFutureOilAndGasProductionBeingHedged**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**num:volumeItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |