| **Impairment of Natural Gas and Crude Oil Properties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands** | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|
||
| **Continuing Operations:**                                                                |           |           |   |   |
| Amortization of Individually Insignificant Unproved Properties                            | $ 2,773        | $ 848          | $ 5,257 | $ 1,758 |
| Total continuing operations                                                               | 2,773          | 848            | 5,257 | 1,758 |
| **Discontinued operations:**                                                              |           |           |   |   |
| Amortization of Individually Insignificant Unproved Properties - discontinued operations  | 0              | 90             | 0 | 159 |
| Total impairment of crude oil and natural gas properties                                  | $ 2,773        | $ 938          | $ 5,257 | $ 1,917 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amortization of Individually Insignificant Unproved Properties
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amortization of Individually Insignificant Unproved Properties, discontinued operations
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_AmortizationofIndividuallyInsignificantUnprovedPropertiesdiscontinuedoperations**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Continuing Operations [Abstract]
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The expense recorded to reduce the value of oil and gas assets consisting of proved properties and unproved properties as the estimate of future successful production from these properties is reduced.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51719941&loc=d3e2921-110230Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 360 -Section 35 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28370743&loc=d3e66150-109466Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Costs related to the impairment of oil and gas properties.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-10.(c)(3)(ii)(A)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50486907&loc=d3e511914-122862
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