| **Long-Term Debt Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands** |                |               |               |               |                 |                |                 | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |          |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|
||
| 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016                                                           |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| **Debt Instrument**                                                                               |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                                                 |           |          |          |          |            |           |            | 3.25%          | 3.25%                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |     |
| Debt Instrument, Issuance Date                                                                    |           |          |          |          |            | Nov. 15,  2010 |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Debt Instrument, Maturity Date                                                                    |           |          | May 15,  2016 |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| 3.25% Convertible Debt, Liability Component ($)                                                   |           |          |          |          |            | $ 94,300       |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Effective Interest Rate on Convertible Debt                                                       |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           | 7.40%                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |     |
| Debt Instrument, Convertible, Terms of Conversion Feature                                         |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           | Upon conversion, the Convertible Notes may be settled, at our election, in shares of our common stock, cash or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. We have initially elected a net-settlement method to satisfy our conversion obligation, which allows us to settle the principal amount of the Convertible Notes in cash and to settle the excess conversion value in shares, as well as cash in lieu of fractional shares. |     |
| Debt Instrument, Convertible, Stock Price Trigger                                                 |           |          |          |          |            |           |            | $ 55.12        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Percentage of Stock Price Trigger                         |           |          |          |          |            |           |            | 130.00%        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| PDC Energy Stock Price                                                                            |           |          |          |          |            |           |            | $ 53.64        | $ 53.64                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |     |
| Convertible Note, If-converted Value in Excess of Principal                                       |           |          |          |          |            |           |            | $ 30,500       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| 7.75% Senior Notes due 2022                                                                       |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| **Debt Instrument**                                                                               |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage                                                 |           |          |          |          |            |           |            | 7.75%          | 7.75%                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |     |
| Debt Instrument, Issuance Date                                                                    |           |          |          |          | Oct.  03,  2012 |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Debt Instrument, Maturity Date                                                                    | Oct. 15,  2022 |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Revolving Credit Facility                                                                         |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| **Debt Instrument**                                                                               |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Debt agreement Amendment date                                                                     |           |          |          | May 21,  2013 |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Line of Credit Facility, Initiation Date                                                          |           |          |          |          |            |           | Nov.  05,  2010 |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity ($)                                           |           |          |          |          |            |           |            | $ 1,000,000    | $ 1,000,000                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |     |
| Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity ($)                                           |           |          |          |          |            |           |            | 450,000        | $ 450,000                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |     |
| Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date                                                          |           | May 21,  2018 |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Debt Instrument, Covenant Description                                                             |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           | The revolving credit facility contains covenants customary for agreements of this type, with the most restrictive being certain financial tests on a quarterly basis. The financial tests, as defined per the revolving credit facility, include requirements to: (a) maintain a minimum current ratio of 1.00 to 1.00 and (b) not exceed a maximum leverage ratio of 4.25 to 1.00.                                                             |     |
| Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity                                             |           |          |          |          |            |           |            | 385,300        | $ 385,300                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |     |
| RNG Credit Facility [Member]                                                                      |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| **Debt Instrument**                                                                               |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| PDC Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit ($)                                                      |           |          |          |          |            |           |            | 11,700         | $ 11,700                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |     |
| First Payment | 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016                                           |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| **Debt Instrument**                                                                               |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment                                                    |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           | May 15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |     |
| First Payment | 7.75% Senior Notes due 2022                                                       |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| **Debt Instrument**                                                                               |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment                                                    |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           | April 15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |     |
| Second Payment | 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016                                          |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| **Debt Instrument**                                                                               |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment                                                    |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           | November 15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |     |
| Second Payment | 7.75% Senior Notes due 2022                                                      |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| **Debt Instrument**                                                                               |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment                                                    |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           | October 15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |     |
| Revolving Credit Facility                                                                         |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| **Debt Instrument**                                                                               |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Long-term Line of Credit                                                                          |           |          |          |          |            |           |            | $ 53,000       | $ 53,000                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | $ 56,000 |
| Weighted Average Interest Rate                                                                    |           |          |          |          |            |           |            | 3.00%          | 3.00%                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 3.80%    |
| Maximum Borrowing Base [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility                                       |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| **Debt Instrument**                                                                               |           |          |          |          |            |           |            |           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |     |
| Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity ($)                                           |           |          |          |          |            |           |            | $ 700,000      | $ 700,000                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |     |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The carrying amount of the liability component of 3.25% convertible debt which may be settled in cash upon conversion.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Debt agreement Amendment date
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No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount by which the convertible debt's if-converted value exceeds its principle amount at the balance sheet date, regardless of whether the instrument is currently convertible. This element applies to public companies only.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Price of the entity's common stock which would be required to be attained for the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument to become effective.
+ References
No definition available.
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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Description of the conversion terms of a debt instrument which may include the conversion ratio (including all potential conversion ratios if contingently adjustable), type of debt or equity security into which the debt is convertible, the dollars of debt or the number of shares into which the instrument is convertible (or potentially convertible into), the conversion period, any contingencies associated with the conversion terms, and the existence and amount of a beneficial conversion feature.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Minimum percentage of common stock price to conversion price of convertible debt instruments to determine eligibility of conversion.
+ References
No definition available.
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Description of minimum financial levels (for example, tangible net worth and working capital) and achievement of certain financial ratios (for example, working capital ratio and debt service coverage ratio), and adherence to certain clauses which generally require or restrict certain actions (for example, entering into a debt arrangement with equal or greater seniority, and selling or discontinuing a certain business segment or material subsidiary) to be in compliance with the covenant clauses of the debt agreement. May also include a discussion of the adverse consequences that would result if the entity violates or fails to satisfy the covenants.
+ References
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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Description of the frequency of periodic payments (monthly, quarterly, annual).
+ References
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The average effective interest rate during the reporting period.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Date the debt instrument was issued, in CCYY-MM-DD format.
+ References
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.
+ References
No definition available.
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.
+ References
No definition available.
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|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.
+ References
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|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format.
+ References
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|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Date the credit facility first became available, in CCYY-MM-DD format.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Price of a single share of a number of saleable stocks of a company.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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| X                                                                                                                                                        |
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| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                               |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=pdce_RNGCreditFacilityMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=pdce_FirstPaymentMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                             |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=pdce_SecondPaymentMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=pdce_MaximumBorrowingBaseMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |