| **Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding Derivative Contracts (Details) $ in Millions**              | 3 Months Ended |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|
||
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| FV Commodity Derivatives Assets measured with Level 3                                                      | 21.50%         |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ (108.5)      |
| FV Commodity Derivatives Liabilities measured with Level 3                                                 | 10.90%         |
| Natural Gas [Member]                                                                                       |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ 5.0          |
| Crude Oil [Member]                                                                                         |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | (134.3)        |
| 2018 | Natural Gas [Member]                                                                                |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | 5.1            |
| 2018 | Crude Oil [Member]                                                                                  |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | (91.4)         |
| 2019 | Natural Gas [Member]                                                                                |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | (0.1)          |
| 2019 | Crude Oil [Member]                                                                                  |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ (42.9)       |
| CMA [Member] | Crude Oil [Member] | 2018                                                                   |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Swap Type, Average Fixed Price | $ / Unit                                                      | 0.12           |
| Mont Belvieu [Member] | Propane [Member] | 2018                                                            |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Swap Type, Average Fixed Price | $ / Unit                                                      | 32.52          |
| El Paso [Member] | Natural Gas [Member] | 2018                                                             |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Swap Type, Average Fixed Price | $ / Unit                                                      | (0.62)         |
| Waha [Member] | Natural Gas [Member] | 2018                                                                |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Swap Type, Average Fixed Price | $ / Unit                                                      | (0.50)         |
| CIG [Member] | Natural Gas [Member] | 2018                                                                 |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Swap Type, Average Fixed Price | $ / Unit                                                      | (0.43)         |
| CIG [Member] | Natural Gas [Member] | 2019                                                                 |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Swap Type, Average Fixed Price | $ / Unit                                                      | (0.88)         |
| CME SWAPS MARKETS (NYMEX) [Member] | Natural Gas [Member] | 2018                                           |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Swap Type, Average Fixed Price | $ / Unit                                                      | 2.94           |
| Derivative, Floor Price | $ / Unit                                                                         | 3.00           |
| Derivative, Cap Price | $ / Unit                                                                           | 3.56           |
| CME SWAPS MARKETS (NYMEX) [Member] | Natural Gas [Member] | 2019                                           |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Swap Type, Average Fixed Price | $ / Unit                                                      | 2.77           |
| CME SWAPS MARKETS (NYMEX) [Member] | Crude Oil [Member] | 2018                                             |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Swap Type, Average Fixed Price | $ / Unit                                                      | 52.54          |
| Derivative, Floor Price | $ / Unit                                                                         | 46.64          |
| Derivative, Cap Price | $ / Unit                                                                           | 57.53          |
| CME SWAPS MARKETS (NYMEX) [Member] | Crude Oil [Member] | 2019                                             |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Swap Type, Average Fixed Price | $ / Unit                                                      | 53.20          |
| Derivative, Floor Price | $ / Unit                                                                         | 50.00          |
| Derivative, Cap Price | $ / Unit                                                                           | 60.67          |
| Basis Protection Contracts Related to Natural Gas and Crude Oil Sales [Member] | Crude Oil [Member] | 2018 |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Swap Type, Average Fixed Price | $ / Unit                                                      | (0.10)         |
| Commodity Option [Member] | Natural Gas [Member]                                                           |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure | MMBTU                                            | 2,735.0        |
| Commodity Option [Member] | Crude Oil [Member]                                                             |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | MBbls                                                    | 2,184.0        |
| Commodity Option [Member] | 2018 | Natural Gas [Member]                                                    |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure | MMBTU                                            | 2,735.0        |
| Commodity Option [Member] | 2018 | Crude Oil [Member]                                                      |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | MBbls                                                    | 1,784.0        |
| Commodity Option [Member] | 2019 | Natural Gas [Member]                                                    |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure | MMBTU                                            | 0.0            |
| Commodity Option [Member] | 2019 | Crude Oil [Member]                                                      |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | MBbls                                                    | 400.0          |
| Rollfactor - CMA [Member] | Crude Oil [Member]                                                             |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | MBbls                                                    | 4,192          |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ (1.8)        |
| Rollfactor - CMA [Member] | 2018 | Crude Oil [Member]                                                      |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | MBbls                                                    | 4,192          |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ (1.8)        |
| Basis Protection Contracts Related to Natural Gas Marketing [Member] | Natural Gas [Member]                |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ 17.2         |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure | MMBTU                                            | 42,787.7       |
| Basis Protection - El Paso [Member] | 2018 | Natural Gas [Member]                                          |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ 1.6          |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure | MMBTU                                            | 2,450.0        |
| Basis Protection - Waha [Member] | 2018 | Natural Gas [Member]                                             |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ 3.4          |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure | MMBTU                                            | 4,923.8        |
| Basis Protection - CIG [Member] | 2018 | Natural Gas [Member]                                              |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ 12.3         |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure | MMBTU                                            | 31,409.9       |
| Basis Protection - CIG [Member] | 2019 | Natural Gas [Member]                                              |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ (0.1)        |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure | MMBTU                                            | 4,004.0        |
| Basis Protection - Midland Cushing [Member] | Crude Oil [Member]                                           |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | MBbls                                                    | 1,456.1        |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ 5.4          |
| Basis Protection - Midland Cushing [Member] | 2018 | Crude Oil [Member]                                    |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | MBbls                                                    | 1,456.1        |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ 5.4          |
| Energy Related Derivative [Member] | Propane [Member]                                                      |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | MBbls                                                    | 714.4          |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ 0.0          |
| Energy Related Derivative [Member] | Natural Gas [Member]                                                  |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure | MMBTU                                            | 44,339.0       |
| Energy Related Derivative [Member] | Crude Oil [Member]                                                    |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | MBbls                                                    | 15,504.0       |
| Energy Related Derivative [Member] | 2018 | Propane [Member]                                               |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | MBbls                                                    | 714.4          |
| Derivative, Fair Value, Net                                                                                | $ 0.0          |
| Energy Related Derivative [Member] | 2018 | Natural Gas [Member]                                           |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure | MMBTU                                            | 40,335.0       |
| Energy Related Derivative [Member] | 2018 | Crude Oil [Member]                                             |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | MBbls                                                    | 7,704.0        |
| Energy Related Derivative [Member] | 2019 | Natural Gas [Member]                                           |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure | MMBTU                                            | 4,004.0        |
| Energy Related Derivative [Member] | 2019 | Crude Oil [Member]                                             |           |
| **Derivative [Line Items]**                                                                                |           |
| Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | MBbls                                                    | 7,800.0        |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Percentage of the Fair Value of Commodity Derivatives Assets measured using significantly unobservable inputs (Level 3).
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_FVCommodityDerivativesAssetsmeasuredwithLevel3**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**num:percentItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Percentage of the Fair Value of Commodity Derivatives Liabilities measured using significantly unobservable inputs (Level 3).
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**pdce_FVCommodityDerivativesLiabilitiesmeasuredwithLevel3**Namespace Prefix:**pdce_**Data Type:**num:percentItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The cap rate on a price risk derivative such as a cap or collar. A payment or receipt is triggered if the market rate exceeds the cap rate on the contract.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeCapPrice**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**us-types:perUnitItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Fair value of the assets less the liabilities of a derivative or group of derivatives.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77997519&loc=d3e13433-108611Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77997519&loc=d3e13495-108611
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeNet**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Floor rate on a price risk derivative such as a floor or a collar. A payment or receipt is triggered if the market rate falls below the floor rate on the contract.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeFloorPrice**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**us-types:perUnitItemType**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_DerivativeLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Nominal energy measure used to calculate payments on a derivative instrument.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmountEnergyMeasure**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**num:energyItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Nominal volume used to calculate payments on a derivative instrument.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmountVolume**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**num:volumeItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Average fixed price related to the group of price risk swap derivatives.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeSwapTypeAverageFixedPrice**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**us-types:perUnitItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                           |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                 |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_EnergyAxis=us-gaap_CrudeOilMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**pdce_MaturityPeriodAxis=pdce_A2018Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**pdce_MaturityPeriodAxis=pdce_A2019Member**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_ForwardContractIndexedToIssuersEquityTypeAxis=pdce_CMAMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                    |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_ForwardContractIndexedToIssuersEquityTypeAxis=pdce_MontBelvieuMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                               |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                               |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_ForwardContractIndexedToIssuersEquityTypeAxis=pdce_WahaMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_ForwardContractIndexedToIssuersEquityTypeAxis=exch_NYMS**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CommodityOptionMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                     |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=pdce_BasisProtectionContractsRelatedToNaturalGasMarketingMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=pdce_BasisProtectionElPasoMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_EnergyRelatedDerivativeMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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