| **DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Fair Value of Derivative and Balance Sheet Location (Details) (USD $)In Thousands, unless otherwise specified** | Dec. 31, 2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | Dec. 31, 2013                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
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| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability                                                                                                  | $ 767us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability                                                                                                                                                                                                     | $ 17,531us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset                                                                                                          | 300,314us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 6,024us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Current Assets [Member]                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset                                                                                                          | 187,495us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentAssetsMember                                                                                                                                           | 1,521us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentAssetsMember                                                                                                                                             |
| Non Current Assets [Member]                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset                                                                                                          | 112,819us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_NonCurrentAssetsMember                                                                                                                                        | 4,503us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_NonCurrentAssetsMember                                                                                                                                          |
| Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability                                                                                                  | 570us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentLiabilitiesMember                                                                                                                                      | 14,689us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentLiabilitiesMember                                                                                                                                   |
| Non Current Liabilities [Member]                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability                                                                                                  | 197us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_NonCurrentLiabilitiesMember                                                                                                                                   | 2,842us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_NonCurrentLiabilitiesMember                                                                                                                                 |
| Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas and Crude Oil Sales [Member] | Current Assets [Member]                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                          | 186,886us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentAssetsMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasAndCrudeOilSalesMember       | 1,086us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentAssetsMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasAndCrudeOilSalesMember         |
| Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas and Crude Oil Sales [Member] | Non Current Assets [Member]                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                          | 112,599us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_NonCurrentAssetsMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasAndCrudeOilSalesMember    | 4,225us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_NonCurrentAssetsMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasAndCrudeOilSalesMember      |
| Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas and Crude Oil Sales [Member] | Current Liabilities [Member]                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                          | 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentLiabilitiesMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasAndCrudeOilSalesMember        | 14,437us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentLiabilitiesMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasAndCrudeOilSalesMember   |
| Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas and Crude Oil Sales [Member] | Non Current Liabilities [Member]                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                          | 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_NonCurrentLiabilitiesMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasAndCrudeOilSalesMember     | 2,609us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_NonCurrentLiabilitiesMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasAndCrudeOilSalesMember |
| Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Current Assets [Member]                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                          | 590us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentAssetsMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasMarketingMember                  | 361us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentAssetsMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasMarketingMember                  |
| Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Non Current Assets [Member]                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                          | 220us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_NonCurrentAssetsMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasMarketingMember               | 278us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_NonCurrentAssetsMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasMarketingMember               |
| Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Current Liabilities [Member]                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                          | 545us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentLiabilitiesMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasMarketingMember             | 247us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentLiabilitiesMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasMarketingMember             |
| Commodity Contracts Related to Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Non Current Liabilities [Member]                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                          | 197us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_NonCurrentLiabilitiesMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasMarketingMember          | 233us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_NonCurrentLiabilitiesMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_CommodityContractsRelatedToNaturalGasMarketingMember          |
| Basis Protection Contracts Related to Natural Gas and Crude Oil Sales [Member] | Current Assets [Member]                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                          | 19us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentAssetsMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_BasisProtectionContractsRelatedToNaturalGasAndCrudeOilSalesMember      | 74us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentAssetsMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_BasisProtectionContractsRelatedToNaturalGasAndCrudeOilSalesMember      |
| Basis Protection Contracts Related to Natural Gas and Crude Oil Sales [Member] | Current Liabilities [Member]                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                          | 25us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentLiabilitiesMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_BasisProtectionContractsRelatedToNaturalGasAndCrudeOilSalesMember | 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentLiabilitiesMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_BasisProtectionContractsRelatedToNaturalGasAndCrudeOilSalesMember  |
| Basis Protection Contracts Related to Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Current Liabilities [Member]                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]**                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Fair Value of Derivatives                                                                                                                          | $ 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentLiabilitiesMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_BasisProtectionContractsRelatedToNaturalGasMarketingMember       | $ 5us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis= pdce_CurrentLiabilitiesMember/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis= pdce_BasisProtectionContractsRelatedToNaturalGasMarketingMember       |

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| - Definition
Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Excludes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4B -Subparagraph (a),(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624163-113959Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226000-175313
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities elected not to be offset. Excludes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4B -Subparagraph (a),(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624163-113959Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226000-175313
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value as of the balance sheet date of derivative instrument not designated as hedging instrument and classified as an asset.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4B -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624163-113959
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