Contingencies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies [Text Block]	The Company is involved in various commercial and regulatory claims, litigation and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. In each reporting period, the Company assesses these claims in an effort to determine the degree of probability and range of possible loss for potential accrual in its Condensed 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 related to legal proceedings, the Company may be unable to estimate losses due to a number of factors, including the potential defenses, procedural status of the matter in question, the presence of complex legal or factual issues, or the ongoing discovery and/or development of information important to the matter. 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 the Company and awarded Rocky Mountain damages in the amount of $16.7 million, including interest. The Company 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%). In accordance with the Court’s order, the Company is depositing the future monthly revenues attributable to the 4% overriding royalty interest with the Court as it becomes due and payable. The overriding royalty payments will be subject to the direction of the Court following the conclusion of the appeal. QEP estimates that, notwithstanding the verdict, the range of reasonably possible losses in excess of current accruals, if any, is zero to approximately $20.0 million. Claims of Former Limited Partners – The Company received a demand from certain former limited partners of terminated drilling partnerships of the Company (acting as the general partner). The former limited partners allege that distributions to which they were entitled from the drilling partnerships were not made or were calculated incorrectly. Other former limited partners may assert claims. No litigation has been filed, and the Company is in the process of evaluating the allegations and its defenses. The Company believes that it is not possible to reasonably estimate a range of possible losses at this time. The cost to settle legal proceedings (alleged or threatened), or satisfy any resulting judgment against the Company in such proceedings could result in a substantial liability, which could materially and adversely impact the Company’s cash flows and operating results for a particular period. Arbitration Regarding Gas Purchase Agreement – An entity that purchases, gathers and processes natural gas produced from oil wells operated by the Company in the Williston Basin has claimed that the decline in commodity prices has rendered its gathering and processing operations "uneconomic" and demanded that, effective March 1, 2016, QEP pay additional fees for gathering and processing services. The midstream provider has been unwilling to connect new wells unless the Company agrees to pay the increased fees for production from the new wells. QEP initiated arbitration proceedings in May 2016 to enforce the terms of the existing agreement. The Company estimates that, notwithstanding the arbitration outcome, the range of reasonably possible losses in excess of current accruals, if any, is zero to approximately $2.5 million per month, effective March 1, 2016.

The Company is involved in various commercial and regulatory claims, litigation and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. In each reporting period, the Company assesses these claims in an effort to determine the degree of probability and range of possible loss for potential accrual in its Condensed 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 related to legal proceedings, the Company may be unable to estimate losses due to a number of factors, including the potential defenses, procedural status of the matter in question, the presence of complex legal or factual issues, or the ongoing discovery and/or development of information important to the matter.

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 the Company and awarded Rocky Mountain damages in the amount of $16.7 million, including interest. The Company 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%). In accordance with the Court’s order, the Company is depositing the future monthly revenues attributable to the 4% overriding royalty interest with the Court as it becomes due and payable. The overriding royalty payments will be subject to the direction of the Court following the conclusion of the appeal. QEP estimates that, notwithstanding the verdict, the range of reasonably possible losses in excess of current accruals, if any, is zero to approximately $20.0 million.

Claims of Former Limited Partners – The Company received a demand from certain former limited partners of terminated drilling partnerships of the Company (acting as the general partner). The former limited partners allege that distributions to which they were entitled from the drilling partnerships were not made or were calculated incorrectly. Other former limited partners may assert claims. No litigation has been filed, and the Company is in the process of evaluating the allegations and its defenses. The Company believes that it is not possible to reasonably estimate a range of possible losses at this time. The cost to settle legal proceedings (alleged or threatened), or satisfy any resulting judgment against the Company in such proceedings could result in a substantial liability, which could materially and adversely impact the Company’s cash flows and operating results for a particular period.

Arbitration Regarding Gas Purchase Agreement – An entity that purchases, gathers and processes natural gas produced from oil wells operated by the Company in the Williston Basin has claimed that the decline in commodity prices has rendered its gathering and processing operations "uneconomic" and demanded that, effective March 1, 2016, QEP pay additional fees for gathering and processing services. The midstream provider has been unwilling to connect new wells unless the Company agrees to pay the increased fees for production from the new wells. QEP initiated arbitration proceedings in May 2016 to enforce the terms of the existing agreement. The Company estimates that, notwithstanding the arbitration outcome, the range of reasonably possible losses in excess of current accruals, if any, is zero to approximately $2.5 million per month, effective March 1, 2016.