| **SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - NATURAL GAS AND CRUDE OIL PROPERTIES Prices Used to Estimate Reserves (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)** | Dec. 31, 2014                                                                                                                                                                | Dec. 31, 2013                                                                                                                                                                | Dec. 31, 2012                                                                                                                                                                |
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| Crude Oil (Bbls)                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **Schedule of Prices Used to Estimate Reserves [Line Items]**                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                         |
| prices used to estimate oil and gas reserves                                                                                       | $ 84.65pdce_PricesUsedToEstimateOilAndGasReserves/ us-gaap_AverageSalesPriceAndProductionCostsPerUnitOfProductionProductionTypeAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                  | $ 82.18pdce_PricesUsedToEstimateOilAndGasReserves/ us-gaap_AverageSalesPriceAndProductionCostsPerUnitOfProductionProductionTypeAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                  | $ 87.51pdce_PricesUsedToEstimateOilAndGasReserves/ us-gaap_AverageSalesPriceAndProductionCostsPerUnitOfProductionProductionTypeAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                  |
| Natural Gas (Mcf)                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **Schedule of Prices Used to Estimate Reserves [Line Items]**                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                         |
| prices used to estimate oil and gas reserves                                                                                       | 3.92pdce_PricesUsedToEstimateOilAndGasReserves/ us-gaap_AverageSalesPriceAndProductionCostsPerUnitOfProductionProductionTypeAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember           | 3.22pdce_PricesUsedToEstimateOilAndGasReserves/ us-gaap_AverageSalesPriceAndProductionCostsPerUnitOfProductionProductionTypeAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember           | 2.35pdce_PricesUsedToEstimateOilAndGasReserves/ us-gaap_AverageSalesPriceAndProductionCostsPerUnitOfProductionProductionTypeAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember           |
| Natural Gas Liquids (Bbls)                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                         |
| **Schedule of Prices Used to Estimate Reserves [Line Items]**                                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                         |
| prices used to estimate oil and gas reserves                                                                                       | $ 32.27pdce_PricesUsedToEstimateOilAndGasReserves/ us-gaap_AverageSalesPriceAndProductionCostsPerUnitOfProductionProductionTypeAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember | $ 29.92pdce_PricesUsedToEstimateOilAndGasReserves/ us-gaap_AverageSalesPriceAndProductionCostsPerUnitOfProductionProductionTypeAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember | $ 28.02pdce_PricesUsedToEstimateOilAndGasReserves/ us-gaap_AverageSalesPriceAndProductionCostsPerUnitOfProductionProductionTypeAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember |

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| - Definition
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+ References
No definition available.
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