Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Nature of Business (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Nature Of Business [Abstract]
Value of business sold	$ 2,500.0qep_ValueOfBusinessSold
Debt refinanced in business sale	230.0qep_DebtRefinancedInBusinessSale
Pre-tax gain on sale of discontinued operations	$ 1,793.4

Amount of gain (loss), before tax expense or benefit and not previously recognized, resulting from the sale of a business component.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration