| **Properties and Equipment (Tables)**              | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|----------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **Oil and Gas Property [Abstract]**                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| Property, Plant and Equipment                      | The following table presents the components of properties and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization ("DD&A"): June 30, 2016 December 31, 2015 (in thousands)Properties and equipment, net:   Crude oil and natural gas properties   Proved$3,067,916 $2,881,189Unproved61,202 60,498Total crude oil and natural gas properties3,129,118 2,941,687Equipment and other31,566 30,098Land and buildings9,040 12,667Construction in progress117,190 113,115Properties and equipment, at cost3,286,914 3,097,567Accumulated DD&A(1,356,319) (1,157,015)Properties and equipment, net$1,930,595 $1,940,552     |
| Impairment of natural gas and crude oil properties | The following table presents impairment charges recorded for crude oil and natural gas properties: Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (in thousands)       Impairment of proved and unproved properties$1,084 $1,631 $2,053 $1,919Amortization of individually insignificant unproved properties54 2,773 86 5,257Impairment of crude oil and natural gas properties1,138 4,404 2,139 7,176Land and buildings3,032 — 3,032 —Impairment of properties and equipment$4,170 $4,404 $5,171 $7,176                                                                    |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
[Table Text Block] for Impairment of natural gas and crude oil properties [Table]
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_ImpairmentOfNaturalGasAndCrudeOilPropertiesTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_OilAndGasPropertyAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Includes, but is not limited to, balances by class of assets, depreciation and depletion expense and method used, including composite depreciation, and accumulated deprecation.
+ 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 210.5-02.13) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph b -Article 5
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |