Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies	Contingencies QEP is involved in various commercial and regulatory claims, litigation and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. QEP assesses these claims in an effort to determine the degree of probability and range of possible loss for potential accrual in its Consolidated Financial Statements. In accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies, an accrual is recorded for a material loss contingency when its occurrence is probable and damages are reasonably estimable based on the anticipated most likely outcome or the minimum amount within a range of possible outcomes. Because legal proceedings are inherently unpredictable, and unfavorable resolutions can occur, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about uncertain future events. When evaluating contingencies, QEP may be unable to provide a meaningful estimate due to a number of factors, including the procedural status of the matter in question, the presence of complex or novel legal theories, the ongoing discovery and/or development of information important to the matter. Except for the Rocky Mountain Resources Lawsuit (discussed below), QEP is unable to estimate reasonably possible losses (in excess of recorded accruals, if any) for its material loss contingencies for the reasons set forth above. QEP believes, however, that the resolution of pending proceedings (after accruals, insurance coverage, and indemnification arrangements) will not be material to QEP's financial position but could be material to results of operations in a particular quarter or year. Litigation Rocky Mountain Resources Lawsuit - Rocky Mountain Resources, LLC (Rocky Mountain) filed its complaint in March 2011, seeking determination of the existence of a 4% overriding royalty interest in an oil and gas lease. Rocky Mountain alleges that the defendants have failed to pay Rocky Mountain monies associated with the claimed 4% overriding royalty interest since the issuance of the lease by the State of Wyoming in 1980. In February 2015, a jury rendered a verdict against QEP and awarded Rocky Mountain damages in the amount of $16.7 million, including interest. QEP is appealing the verdict to the Wyoming Supreme Court, and, in connection with such appeal, has posted a bond for approximately $20.0 million (representing the amount of the verdict and two years of accrued interest at the statutory rate of 10%). QEP estimates that, notwithstanding the verdict, the range of reasonably possible losses is still zero to approximately $20.0 million. Yannick Gagné Lawsuit and Related Suits - Plaintiffs seek to represent a class of all persons who sustained damages as a result of the July 6, 2013 train derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, which resulted in substantial loss of life and property. The rail company that transported the crude oil filed for bankruptcy protection following the accident. The plaintiffs contend that QEP, and other producer defendants, sold Bakken crude oil to third-party purchasers in North Dakota, who resold the oil and transported it on the derailed train. Plaintiffs allege that QEP and the producer defendants, among other things, failed to ensure that the oil was adequately processed to remove volatile gases and vapors, failed to take reasonable care to ensure that the oil was properly labeled and shipped and failed to identify the risk of the train derailment and take action to prevent it. The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages. A court order regarding class certification is pending. Many of the defendants, including QEP, have reached a confidential settlement agreement with trustees in both Canadian and U.S. bankruptcy courts to resolve all of these claims, which is subject to the approval of such courts. During the third quarter of 2015, QEP was served with additional complaints in state and federal courts in Maine, Texas and Illinois, each of which makes similar claims to those in the Yannick Gagné case, and plaintiff's in each matter support the current settlement plans. If the courts approve the current settlement plan, the plan will settle these additional cases.

Contingencies

QEP is involved in various commercial and regulatory claims, litigation and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. QEP assesses these claims in an effort to determine the degree of probability and range of possible loss for potential accrual in its Consolidated Financial Statements. In accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies, an accrual is recorded for a material loss contingency when its occurrence is probable and damages are reasonably estimable based on the anticipated most likely outcome or the minimum amount within a range of possible outcomes. Because legal proceedings are inherently unpredictable, and unfavorable resolutions can occur, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about uncertain future events. When evaluating contingencies, QEP may be unable to provide a meaningful estimate due to a number of factors, including the procedural status of the matter in question, the presence of complex or novel legal theories, the ongoing discovery and/or development of information important to the matter. Except for the Rocky Mountain Resources Lawsuit (discussed below), QEP is unable to estimate reasonably possible losses (in excess of recorded accruals, if any) for its material loss contingencies for the reasons set forth above. QEP believes, however, that the resolution of pending proceedings (after accruals, insurance coverage, and indemnification arrangements) will not be material to QEP's financial position but could be material to results of operations in a particular quarter or year.

Litigation

Rocky Mountain Resources Lawsuit - Rocky Mountain Resources, LLC (Rocky Mountain) filed its complaint in March 2011, seeking determination of the existence of a 4% overriding royalty interest in an oil and gas lease. Rocky Mountain alleges that the defendants have failed to pay Rocky Mountain monies associated with the claimed 4% overriding royalty interest since the issuance of the lease by the State of Wyoming in 1980. In February 2015, a jury rendered a verdict against QEP and awarded Rocky Mountain damages in the amount of $16.7 million, including interest. QEP is appealing the verdict to the Wyoming Supreme Court, and, in connection with such appeal, has posted a bond for approximately $20.0 million (representing the amount of the verdict and two years of accrued interest at the statutory rate of 10%). QEP estimates that, notwithstanding the verdict, the range of reasonably possible losses is still zero to approximately $20.0 million.

Yannick Gagné Lawsuit and Related Suits - Plaintiffs seek to represent a class of all persons who sustained damages as a result of the July 6, 2013 train derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, which resulted in substantial loss of life and property. The rail company that transported the crude oil filed for bankruptcy protection following the accident. The plaintiffs contend that QEP, and other producer defendants, sold Bakken crude oil to third-party purchasers in North Dakota, who resold the oil and transported it on the derailed train. Plaintiffs allege that QEP and the producer defendants, among other things, failed to ensure that the oil was adequately processed to remove volatile gases and vapors, failed to take reasonable care to ensure that the oil was properly labeled and shipped and failed to identify the risk of the train derailment and take action to prevent it. The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages. A court order regarding class certification is pending. Many of the defendants, including QEP, have reached a confidential settlement agreement with trustees in both Canadian and U.S. bankruptcy courts to resolve all of these claims, which is subject to the approval of such courts. During the third quarter of 2015, QEP was served with additional complaints in state and federal courts in Maine, Texas and Illinois, each of which makes similar claims to those in the Yannick Gagné case, and plaintiff's in each matter support the current settlement plans. If the courts approve the current settlement plan, the plan will settle these additional cases.