| **FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND DISCLOSURES Reconciliation of Level 3 Fair Value Measurements (Details) - Derivative Financial Instrument Net Assets [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands** | 12 Months Ended |            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|------------|
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| **Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]**                                                                                       |            |       |   |   |
| Fair Value, Measured With Unobservable Input Reconcilition, Recurring Basis, Net Asset Value                                                                                           | $ (9,687)       | $ (9,574)  | $ 91,288 | $ 62,356 |
| Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets (liabilities) still held as of period end, included in statement of operations line item;                                      | (866)           | (12,905)   | 43,540 |   |
| Commodity Price Risk Management, net                                                                                                                                                   |            |       |   |   |
| **Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]**                                                                                       |            |       |   |   |
| Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Net Assets, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings                                                         | 6,241           | (28,550)   | 65,164 |   |
| Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Net Asset, Purchases, Sales, Issues, Settlements                                                     | (6,354)         | (72,312)   | (36,232) |   |
| Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets (liabilities) still held as of period end, included in statement of operations line item;                                      | $ (866)         | $ (12,905) | $ 43,540 |   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Net Asset, Period Increase (Decrease).
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_ChangesInUnrealizedGainsLossesRelatingToAssetsLiabilitiesStillHeldAsOfPeriodEndIncludedInStatementOfOperationsLineItem**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This element represents net assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which is required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_FairValueMeasuredWithUnobservableInputReconcilitionRecurringBasisNetAssetValue**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of purchases, sales, issues, and settlements (net) which have taken place in relation to net assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (level 3).
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisNetAssetPurchasesSalesIssuesSettlements**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Description of where the gain (loss), arising from net assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (level 3), is to be recognized in earnings.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisNetAssetsGainLossIncludedInEarnings**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=pdce_DerivativeFinancialInstrumentNetAssetsMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**pdce_IncomeStatementAndBalanceSheetLocationAxis=pdce_CommodityPriceRiskManagementNetMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |