| **Subsequent Event Subsequent Event (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 0 Months Ended       |        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|--------|
||
| **Subsequent Event:**                                                                          |                 |   |   |   |
| Purchase and Sale Agreement Execution Date                                                     | Oct.				08,				 2013 |   |   |   |
| Oil and gas assets sale price before adjustments ($ in millions)                               |                 | $ 18.8 | $ 6.2 |   |
| PDC Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit ($)                                                   |                 |   |   | $ 6.7 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Oil and gas assets sale price before adjustments
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_OilAndGasAssetsSalePriceBeforeAdjustments**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Date the event occurred after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issues or available to be issued, in CCYY-MM-DD format.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 855 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6842918&loc=SL6314017-165662
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_SubsequentEventsDate**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:dateItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |