| **Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands** | Jun. 30, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|
| Fair Value                                                                     |          |          |
| **Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value**                                       |          |          |
| Total assets                                                                   | $ 68,502      | $ 11,177      |
| Total liabilities                                                              | (12,449)      | (81,190)      |
| Net asset (fair value)                                                         | 56,053        | (70,013)      |
| Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)                     |          |          |
| **Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value**                                       |          |          |
| Total assets                                                                   | 58,226        | 6,350         |
| Total liabilities                                                              | (10,792)      | (66,789)      |
| Net asset (fair value)                                                         | 47,434        | (60,439)      |
| Fair Value | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)                         |          |          |
| **Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value**                                       |          |          |
| Total assets                                                                   | 10,276        | 4,827         |
| Total liabilities                                                              | (1,657)       | (14,401)      |
| Net asset (fair value)                                                         | $ 8,619       | $ (9,574)     |
| 1.125% Convertible Senior Notes due 2021 [Member]                              |          |          |
| **Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value**                                       |          |          |
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                              | 1.125%        |          |
| 7.75% senior notes fair value                                                  | $ 180,800     |          |
| 7.75% senior notes fair value as percentage of par                             | 90.40%        |          |
| 6.125% Senior Notes due 2024 [Member]                                          |          |          |
| **Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value**                                       |          |          |
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                              | 6.125%        |          |
| 7.75% senior notes fair value                                                  | $ 520,600     |          |
| 7.75% senior notes fair value as percentage of par                             | 101.50%       |          |
| 7.75% Senior Notes due 2022 [Member]                                           |          |          |
| **Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value**                                       |          |          |
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                              | 7.75%         |          |
| 7.75% senior notes fair value                                                  | $ 406,000     |          |
| 7.75% senior notes fair value as percentage of par                             | 104.10%       |          |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This element represents the fair value of 12% Senior Notes, as a percentage of par value as of the balance sheet date.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_A12SeniorNotesFairValue**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**num:percentItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This element represents the aggregate net assets reported on the balance sheet at period end measured at fair value by the entity. This element is intended to be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_NetAssetFairValue**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**num:percentItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| 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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value of financial and nonfinancial obligations.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value portion of notes payable.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20,22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis=us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=pdce_A1.125ConvertibleSeniorNotesdue2021Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=pdce_A6.125SeniorNotesdue2024Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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