|**SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - NATURAL GAS AND CRUDE OIL PROPERTIES Changes in Estimated Proved Reserves (Unaudited) (Details)**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
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|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 250,129,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 265,774,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Undeveloped Reserves Converted to Developed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 0pdce_UndevelopedReservesConvertedToDeveloped                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 0pdce_UndevelopedReservesConvertedToDeveloped                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Revisions of Previous Estimates                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | (64,825,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | (46,480,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Extensions, Discoveries, and Other Additions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 98,029,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 141,935,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Purchases of Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 17,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 1,043,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Dispositions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (39,572,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | (16,104,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Production                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | (9,294,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | (7,430,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Crude Oil (Bbls)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 100,515,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 93,830,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Revisions of Previous Estimates                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | (29,777,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | (18,420,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Extensions, Discoveries, and Other Additions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 40,792,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 55,759,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Purchases of Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 5,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 343,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|Dispositions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (13,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (252,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Production                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | (4,322,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | (2,910,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Proved Developed Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 26,798,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedReservesVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 23,997,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedReservesVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Proved Undeveloped Reserve                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 73,717,000us-gaap_ProvedUndevelopedReserveVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 69,833,000us-gaap_ProvedUndevelopedReserveVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_CrudeOilMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Natural Gas (Mcf)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 536,972,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 739,640,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Revisions of Previous Estimates                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | (149,064,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | (117,068,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Extensions, Discoveries, and Other Additions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 202,957,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 365,563,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Purchases of Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 43,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 2,894,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Dispositions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (237,306,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | (94,927,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Production                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | (19,298,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | (20,860,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Proved Developed Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 186,633,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedReservesVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 220,387,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedReservesVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Proved Undeveloped Reserve                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 350,339,000us-gaap_ProvedUndevelopedReserveVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 519,253,000us-gaap_ProvedUndevelopedReserveVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Natural Gas Liquids (Bbls)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 60,119,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 48,671,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Revisions of Previous Estimates                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | (10,204,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | (8,549,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Extensions, Discoveries, and Other Additions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 23,411,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 25,249,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Purchases of Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 5,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 217,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Dispositions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (8,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (30,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Production                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | (1,756,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | (1,043,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Proved Developed Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 17,002,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedReservesVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | 14,825,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedReservesVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Proved Undeveloped Reserve                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 43,117,000us-gaap_ProvedUndevelopedReserveVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 33,846,000us-gaap_ProvedUndevelopedReserveVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasLiquidsReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Crude Oil Equivalent (Boe)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 250,129,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 265,774,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Revisions of Previous Estimates                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | (64,825,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | (46,480,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Extensions, Discoveries, and Other Additions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 98,029,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 141,935,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Purchases of Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 17,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 1,043,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|Dispositions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (39,572,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | (16,104,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Production                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | (9,294,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | (7,430,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Developed Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 74,905,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedReservesVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 75,553,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedReservesVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Proved Undeveloped Reserve                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 175,224,000us-gaap_ProvedUndevelopedReserveVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 190,221,000us-gaap_ProvedUndevelopedReserveVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Permian Asset Group | Crude Oil (Bbls)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Developed Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Undeveloped Reserve                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Permian Asset Group | Natural Gas (Mcf)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Developed Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Undeveloped Reserve                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Permian Asset Group | Natural Gas Liquids (Bbls)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Developed Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Undeveloped Reserve                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Permian Asset Group | Crude Oil Equivalent (Boe)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Developed Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Undeveloped Reserve                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Piceance and NECO Asset Group [Member] | Crude Oil (Bbls)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Developed Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Piceance and NECO Asset Group [Member] | Natural Gas (Mcf)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Developed Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Piceance and NECO Asset Group [Member] | Crude Oil Equivalent (Boe)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Developed Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Marcellus Shale Asset Group | Natural Gas (Mcf)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 235,950,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= pdce_MarcellusShaleAssetGroupMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Proved Developed Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 53,904,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedReservesVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= pdce_MarcellusShaleAssetGroupMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Proved Undeveloped Reserve                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 182,046,000us-gaap_ProvedUndevelopedReserveVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= us-gaap_NaturalGasReservesMember/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= pdce_MarcellusShaleAssetGroupMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Marcellus Shale Asset Group | Crude Oil Equivalent (Boe)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 39,325,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= pdce_MarcellusShaleAssetGroupMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Developed Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 8,984,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedReservesVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= pdce_MarcellusShaleAssetGroupMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Proved Undeveloped Reserve                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 30,341,000us-gaap_ProvedUndevelopedReserveVolume/ us-gaap_ReserveQuantitiesByTypeOfReserveAxis= pdce_CrudeOilEquivalentMember/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis= pdce_MarcellusShaleAssetGroupMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Proved Developed Reserves [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 74,905,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 75,553,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Undeveloped Reserves Converted to Developed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 12,730,000pdce_UndevelopedReservesConvertedToDeveloped/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 3,212,000pdce_UndevelopedReservesConvertedToDeveloped/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Revisions of Previous Estimates                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | (22,827,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | (6,751,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Extensions, Discoveries, and Other Additions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 27,957,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 19,830,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Purchases of Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 17,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 1,043,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Dispositions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (9,231,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | (16,104,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Production                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | (9,294,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | (7,430,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedDevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|Proved Undeveloped Reserves [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|**Reserve Quantities [Line Items]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Proved Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 175,224,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 190,221,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesNet/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Undeveloped Reserves Converted to Developed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | (12,730,000)pdce_UndevelopedReservesConvertedToDeveloped/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | (3,212,000)pdce_UndevelopedReservesConvertedToDeveloped/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|Revisions of Previous Estimates                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | (41,998,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | (39,729,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesRevisionsOfPreviousEstimatesIncreaseDecrease/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|Extensions, Discoveries, and Other Additions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 70,072,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 122,105,000us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesExtensionsDiscoveriesAndAdditions/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Purchases of Reserves                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 0us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 0us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesPurchasesOfMineralsInPlace/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|Dispositions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (30,341,000)us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | 0us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesSalesOfMineralsInPlace/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Production                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 0us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 0us-gaap_ProvedDevelopedAndUndevelopedReservesProduction/ pdce_ReserveDevelopmentAxis= pdce_ProvedUndevelopedReservesMember                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|[1]
              Includes estimated reserve data related to our Marcellus Shale assets, which were divested in October 2014. See Note 14, Assets Held for Sale, Divestitures and Discontinued Operations, for additional details related to the divestiture of our Marcellus Shale assets. Total proved reserves included 235,950 MMcf of natural gas, for an aggregate of 39,325 Mboe of crude oil equivalent, related to our Marcellus Shale assets. Total proved developed reserves related to those assets included 53,904 MMcf and 8,984 MBoe, respectively, and proved undeveloped reserves included 182,046 MMcf and 30,341 MBoe, respectively.[2]
              Includes estimated reserve data related to our Piceance and NECO assets, which were divested in June 2013. See Note 14, Assets Held for Sale, Divestitures and Discontinued Operations, for additional details related to the divestiture of our Piceance and NECO assets. Total proved reserves include 148 MBbls of crude oil and 83,656 MMcf of natural gas, for an aggregate of 14,091 MBoe of crude oil equivalent related to our Piceance and NECO assets. There were no proved undeveloped reserves attributable to the Piceance and NECO assets as of December 31, 2012.[3]
              Includes estimated reserve data related to our Permian Basin assets, which were divested in February 2012. See Note 14, Assets Held for Sale, Divestitures and Discontinued Operations, for additional details related to the divestiture of our Permian Basin assets. Total proved reserves included 7,825 MBbls of crude oil, 6,242 MMcf of natural gas and 1,970 MBbls of NGLs, for an aggregate of 10,835 Mboe of crude oil equivalent, related to our Permian assets. Total proved developed reserves related to those assets included 1,815 MBbls, 1,750 MMcf, 550 MBbls and 2,657 MBoe, respectively, and proved undeveloped reserves included 6,010 MBbls, 4,492 MMcf, 1,420 MBbls and 8,179 MBoe, respectively. | [1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | Includes estimated reserve data related to our Marcellus Shale assets, which were divested in October 2014. See Note 14, Assets Held for Sale, Divestitures and Discontinued Operations, for additional details related to the divestiture of our Marcellus Shale assets. Total proved reserves included 235,950 MMcf of natural gas, for an aggregate of 39,325 Mboe of crude oil equivalent, related to our Marcellus Shale assets. Total proved developed reserves related to those assets included 53,904 MMcf and 8,984 MBoe, respectively, and proved undeveloped reserves included 182,046 MMcf and 30,341 MBoe, respectively.
|[1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Includes estimated reserve data related to our Marcellus Shale assets, which were divested in October 2014. See Note 14, Assets Held for Sale, Divestitures and Discontinued Operations, for additional details related to the divestiture of our Marcellus Shale assets. Total proved reserves included 235,950 MMcf of natural gas, for an aggregate of 39,325 Mboe of crude oil equivalent, related to our Marcellus Shale assets. Total proved developed reserves related to those assets included 53,904 MMcf and 8,984 MBoe, respectively, and proved undeveloped reserves included 182,046 MMcf and 30,341 MBoe, respectively.                                                                                   
|[2]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Includes estimated reserve data related to our Piceance and NECO assets, which were divested in June 2013. See Note 14, Assets Held for Sale, Divestitures and Discontinued Operations, for additional details related to the divestiture of our Piceance and NECO assets. Total proved reserves include 148 MBbls of crude oil and 83,656 MMcf of natural gas, for an aggregate of 14,091 MBoe of crude oil equivalent related to our Piceance and NECO assets. There were no proved undeveloped reserves attributable to the Piceance and NECO assets as of December 31, 2012.                                                                                                                                        
|[3]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Includes estimated reserve data related to our Permian Basin assets, which were divested in February 2012. See Note 14, Assets Held for Sale, Divestitures and Discontinued Operations, for additional details related to the divestiture of our Permian Basin assets. Total proved reserves included 7,825 MBbls of crude oil, 6,242 MMcf of natural gas and 1,970 MBbls of NGLs, for an aggregate of 10,835 Mboe of crude oil equivalent, related to our Permian assets. Total proved developed reserves related to those assets included 1,815 MBbls, 1,750 MMcf, 550 MBbls and 2,657 MBoe, respectively, and proved undeveloped reserves included 6,010 MBbls, 4,492 MMcf, 1,420 MBbls and 8,179 MBoe, respectively.

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                    duration X- DefinitionNet quantities of an enterprise's interests in proved developed reserves of either crude oil (including condensate and natural gas liquids), natural gas, synthetic oil and gas, or other nonrenewable natural resource that is intended to be upgraded into synthetic oil and gas as of the beginning and the end of the year. "Net" quantities of reserves include those relating to the enterprise's operating and nonoperating interests in properties. Quantities of reserves relating to royalty interests owned are included in "net" quantities if the necessary information is available to the enterprise. "Net" quantities does not include reserves relating to interests of others in properties owned by the enterprise. The unit of measure for reserve quantities is defined as "barrels" for oil and synthetic oil reserves or "cubic feet" or "cubic meters" for natural gas and synthetic gas reserves.+ ReferencesReference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e61797-109447Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 235 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e61884-109447+ Details**Name:**
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