| **Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Details) (USD $)**    | 9 Months Ended    |              |              |             |              |              |              |             |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|--------------|--------------|-------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|-------------|
||
| **Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value**                         |              |         |         |        |         |         |         |        |   |
| Document Period End Date                                         | Sep. 30,				 2013 |         |         |        |         |         |         |        |   |
| Commodity-based derivative - assets                              |              | $ 12,328,000 | $ 42,788,000 | $ 3,060,000 | $ 15,734,000 | $ 15,388,000 | $ 58,522,000 |        |   |
| Basis protection derivative - assets                             |              | 182,000      | 387,000      | 12,000      | 16,000       | 194,000      | 403,000      |        |   |
| Total assets                                                     |              | 12,510,000   | 43,175,000   | 3,072,000   | 15,750,000   | 15,582,000   | 58,925,000   |        |   |
| Commodity-based derivative - liabilities                         |              | 17,293,000   | 9,839,000    | 2,340,000   | 2,081,000    | 19,633,000   | 11,920,000   |        |   |
| Basis protection derivative - liabilities                        |              | 1,563,000    | 16,656,000   | 0           | 0            | 1,563,000    | 16,656,000   |        |   |
| Total liabilities                                                |              | 18,856,000   | 26,495,000   | 2,340,000   | 2,081,000    | 21,196,000   | 28,576,000   |        |   |
| Net asset (fair value)                                           |              | (6,346,000)  | 16,680,000   | 732,000     | 13,669,000   | (5,614,000)  | 30,349,000   |        |   |
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                |              |         |         |        |         |         |         | 3.25%       | 7.75% |
| 3.25% convertible senior notes fair value                        |              |         |         |        |         |         |         | 176,400,000 |   |
| 3.25% convertible senior notes fair value as a percentage of par |              |         |         |        |         |         |         | 153.40%     |   |
| 7.75% senior notes fair value                                    |              |         |         |        |         |         |         |        | $ 528,800,000 |
| 7.75% senior notes fair value as percentage of par               |              |         |         |        |         |         |         |        | 105.70% |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The end date of the period reflected on the cover page if a periodic report. For all other reports and registration statements containing historical data, it is the date up through which that historical data is presented.  If there is no historical data in the report, use the filing date. The format of the date is CCYY-MM-DD.
+ References
No definition available.
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| 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 fair value of 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes, as a percentage of par value as of the balance sheet date.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value as of the balance sheet date of CIG Basis Protection Swaps that are in an asset position.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_BasisProtectionDerivativeAssets**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value as of the balance sheet date of CIG Basis Protection Swaps that are in a liability position.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value as of the balance sheet date of financial instruments consisting of floors, collars, and swaps that are in an asset position.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_CommodityBasedDerivativeAssets**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value as of the balance sheet date of financial instruments consisting of floors, collars, and swaps that are in a liability position.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_CommodityBasedDerivativeLiabilities**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**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
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of a written promise to pay a note, initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer, which can be exchanged for a specified amount of one or more securities (typically common stock), at the option of the issuer or the holder.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value of financial and nonfinancial obligations.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value portion of notes payable.
+ References
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